AndroidDreamer (ANDR) - free Android-app with streaming in Local LAN and 3G

[tilleke]

AndroidDreamer (ANDR) - now with streaming in Local LAN and remotely over 3G/HDSPA/WIFI

UPDATE: 02/01/2011 - From now on, all new versions are being distributed through Android Market.

Current Beta 0.49 of 07/01/2011 - read change-log below for recent changes of beta-versions

This beta release supports streaming (in Local LAN and remotely over 3G/HDSPA/WIFI) both for Enigma and Enigma2. Remember that AndroidDreamer is very simple in this moment and does not yet support other features such as EPG, Remote Control, Timer Management etc. It was written quickly to test streaming.

For streaming remotely over 3G/HDSPA/WIFI, please read carefully the attached PDF-guide which will explain how to set up a VPN-connection. The advantage of a VPN-connection is that you only need to open one port in your router (instead of 3) and that it is secured by a password. The use of a VPN also resolves (in most cases) the problems related to using RTPS with routers/firewall which very often does not work with common routers unless very advanced.

You can choose between vPlayer or VLC. The advantage of vPlayer, other than excellent quality, is that there is no need for a separate computer with VLC working as a transcoding-server. However, vPlayer cannot be installed on all devices and in this case VLC is the only option. This is also true for remote-streaming (3G).

Note: this is a BETA and many errors may occur. Better error-handling will be added gradually while the application gets developed further.


Instructions:

(for HTC HD2-users running Android-builds, see note at the buttom of this file)

1) When the application starts the first time, you are prompted to fill in your parameters. I have filled in some dummy-data. Change them according to your parameters. Click thereafter on save. If you are not planning to use VLC then you can leave the parameters regarding VLC as they are. Note: the parameters are the same when using the VPN-connection and thus there is no need for dyndns-addresses in this screen - just use your local IP-addresses.

2) In main-screen, click on Type of Streaming. You can select between vPlayer or VLC (both for LAN and 3g). There is also a special option for VLC (remote) available but it has been disabled in this release. If you decide to use vPlayer make sure to download from the market the latest version before trying to stream.

3a) If you selected vPlayer, then click on View Bouquets, select a channel and confirm streaming when prompted. At this point, vPlayer should open up automatically with streaming.

3b) If you use VLC, then VLC must be installed on a PC that will act as a VLC-server (transcoding-server). Follow these instructions for VLC:

a) Install VLC (I have tested with VLC 1.05 and 1.15) on a computer. I have tested only Windows but it might work on Linux and MAC as well.

b) Start VLC, go to View -> Add Interface -> Web Interface

c) The following might or might not be necessary.:
- If you get connections-errors, then in the videolan-folder (C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\http) in your computer, open the file ".hosts" in a text editor.Remove the hash sign (#) in front of the private addresses of your local network (usually "192.168.0.0/16" or "192.168.1.0/16"). You can also remove the hash sign in front of 0.0.0.0/0. Save the file.

d) if you are going to stream remotely, then click on VPN Settings and connect to your home-network - see the PDF-guide for instructions to set up VPN. If you are going to stream within your LAN, then there is no need to click on VPN Settings and you can go directly to next step.

e) click on View Bouquets

f) select Bouquet and channel

g) click on a channel and you will get a message asking if you want to stream. Say yes

h) select SOUT (there are several options - for use within your LAN, try using MP4V, H264(vb512) or H264(vb256). If you are streaming remotely, then you should use the souts having 3G in their name such as H264(3Gvb192). The vb in the name indicates the bitrate being used. Higher bitrate requires a faster connection. If you have a fast upload at home and a fast connection on your device, you can also try the other souts (without 3G in their names).

i) if everything works, you should see streaming

Please note that when exiting AndroidDreamer, using the regular-back button on your Android-device, VLC will stop the stream. This is important, especially for Enigma2 where otherwise channel-change can be blocked (normal behaviour). If you want, you can use the kill VLC/Stream button as well.

Please report if AndroidDreamer works for you, indicating which Android-device and which Dreambox you are using.

Note for HTC HD2-users: If you are running an Android-build (like I do), please note that settings-parameters might be empty the first time you run ANDR. Fill in your parameters and then save your settings. What regards the VLC-parameters, the DST-port should be 5554 and HTTP-port should be 8080.

Finally I want to thank my beta-testers Didier_74, Daniele, Macchese, Vippen and Albertazzi65 for their invaluable help in testing AndroidDreamer.

Good luck and Happy Streaming!

rgds,
tilleke

Change-log:
-ANDR beta 0.49 (07/01/2011) - ADDED support for Https (SSL), improved error-handling, some code-changes
-ANDR beta 0.47 (05/01/2011) - FIXED a bug, only in VLC-mode, which under certain conditions could launch the media-player before the actual streaming had started resulting in no media being showed.
-ANDR beta 0.45 (02/01/2011) - first release on Android Market

[TheChief73]

File will not open for me, anybody else?






Cheers
TheChief73

[sale12]

Same problem here, I am getting "The archive is either in unknown format or damaged" !

[tilleke]

Hi,

I just replaced the old attachment with a new one in case something went wrong uploading it.

Edit: it seems like there were problems using ZIP so I replaced the attachment with a file compressed using RAR.

Of course, you need to unrar the file on your PC and then transfer the apk-file to your Android.

[tilleke]

Just an update:

After further testing, I got streaming working remotely (3G) as well. Both for Enigma1 and Enigma2.

I will now adapt AndroidDreamer and provide different souts suitable for 3G-streaming with possibility to change bit-rate and so on.

The set-up for 3G is a bit complicated but once it has been set up, it's there and there is no further need to change it.

Stay tuned.

[hristogo]

Just an update:

After further testing, I got streaming working remotely (3G) as well. Both for Enigma1 and Enigma2.

I will now adapt AndroidDreamer and provide different souts suitable for 3G-streaming with possibility to change bit-rate and so on.

The set-up for 3G is a bit complicated but once it has been set up, it's there and there is no further need to change it.

Stay tuned.

Amazing! Gongratulations!
I have a Drembox800 and Samsung Galaxy S android phone and i am looking for posibility to watch from my dreambox for more than 10 months. I hope it will work on Win7. It will be good, if you can (remotly by 3g or WIFI) access the drembox, turn it on, choose the chanell to stream, turn on the PC,start the transcoding with VLC and watch the stream. When you finish to have the posibilitie to turn off the PC and drembox ! (all remotly).

Again, Congratulations for the good work and i am waithing for the new version with 3g support.
I will donate for full working version!

BR,

[tilleke]

I have updated the first post in this thread with the 2nd beta of AndroidDreamer.

News: vPlayer is now supported. You can also now save your settings.

Next release will probably have 3G-support.

[big-hol]

how you getting on with this sounds interesting!

[Twister997]

Is this compatible with HTC Droid Incredible? I would be willing to help with testing.

I am trying to stream video from my home server with VLC and watch it on my Incredible.

[tilleke]

Update: beta 0.3 released (see 1st post).

Now AndroidDreamer (ANDR) supports also streaming remotely over 3G/HDSPA/WIFI.

It has been tested for more than a week with excellent results. I have used a different approach for connecting to Dreambox and VLC-server, namely by using a VPN-connection. It is more secure, only one port (instead of 3) needs to be portforwarded and more importantly it resolves (in most cases) the compatibility-problems which most routers have with the RTSP-protocol used by Android.

Read carefully the instructions and the PDF-guide.

Please let me have your feedback (not only in case of problems but also when it's working). Thanks.

Good luck and Happy Streaming.

[luzak34]

Just wanna check it on my motorola milestone.. but beta0.3 is working only to 28.12.2010 . any chance for new release?

[tilleke]

Hi,

New beta added (0.4) in first post in this thread. Only some code-changes and improved error-handling in this beta. No new features.

[svingen]

Hello!
this app was great!
it there a way to doate some $$$ wold like you to keep up the good work,i have a dreambox 800HD using it on local kabel provider did test it on my cell phone HTC Desire :-)
i have waiting to get my archos 70 (android 2.2) 7 inc and i gone use this when i`am on my cabin and don`t need to get 2 sub on tv great

[tilleke]

UPDATE: 02/01/2011 - new beta (0.45) released on Android Market. Only some code-changes (New features will be added in next releases).

Existing users might first need to uninstall previous beta on device before installing new version from Android Market. This is because the key used for signing has changed.

From now on all new versions will be distributed using Android Market.

[tilleke]

Beta 0.47 of AndroidDreamer was just released on Android Market. It is just a quick bug-fix:

[FIXED a bug, only in VLC-mode, which under certain conditions could launch the media-player before the actual streaming had started resulting in no media being showed]