Android App: Phoenix for SageTV

[Dargason]

Unlocking it on my tablet unlocked it also on my phone... if yours is behaving differently, that's worth noting.

Yes, HW decoder really helps... unfortunately my phone is still SW decoder. I played with some different transcode options last night, but so far I haven't found one that runs on HW on my Samsung Infuse.

[mkanet]

Add me to the Phoenix Android App bandwagon; although, a little late. Looks great stuckless! Works right out of the box.

Im excited to get real-time transcoding to work using VLC; but not sure what I need to do other than install VLC on my sageTV server box.

Will there be a plugin/addon which enables VLC-based streaming? Is there an simple way to get this working?

Currently, I've been using a full blown SageTV PC client + Splashtop to watch TV and other streams; it would be nice have it work through Phoeonix Android app.

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by thatdude90210

Glad to see this app. I only started revisited the forum again (just upgraded my server to Win7 from xp, my previous install was so old it was still on the frey technology folder, so I had to search the forum for info on upgrading to win7) It's probably the closest we are ever going to have to a mobile client/placeshifter.

Welcome back...

Question about the buying/unlocking. How does it work if we have multiple android devices? I bought it on my Galaxy Nexus, but I also have a GTab 10.1. It still have the buy/unlock setting on the Gtab.

Purchases are linked to your google account, so if both devices are linked to the same account, then yes. If not, then no. For now, purchasing doesn't really "unlock" any features, because I haven't decided which features to "lock". Purchasing basically is just a small way to show support for the app (right now)

[Dargason]

Originally Posted by mkanet

Add me to the Phoenix Android App bandwagon; although, a little late. Looks great stuckless! Works right out of the box.

Im excited to get real-time transcoding to work using VLC; but not sure what I need to do other than install VLC on my sageTV server box.

Will there be a plugin/addon which enables VLC-based streaming? Is there an simple way to get this working?

Currently, I've been using a full blown SageTV PC client + Splashtop to watch TV and other streams; it would be nice have it work through Phoeonix Android app.

It's pretty easy to set up.
0. Follow the install guide to set up SageTV, Java 7, install and configure the android app.
1. Install VLC. You need at least version 2.0. Latest version is currently 2.0.5 and that's what I use. It works fine. Skip all the file association stuff, unless you want it. It isn't needed.
2. Make a note of where your executable is. I think the default windows location (on windows 7) is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Videolan\VLC\vlc.exe" or something like that.
3. Start BMT, go to the configuration page, and then select Phoenix Streaming Services -> VLC Options.
4. Enter the path name from 2 into the top box next to "Command". Don't use any quotes, and be case-sensitive.
5. You may want to add the "channels=2" option, as I discussed above. (It will work without it, but you may be missing audio on some recordings.)
6. Save your changes.
7. Start your mobile app, locate recording, long press (or use context menu in upper right) and select "Play on device." It will ask you to pick a profile, and then may ask you to select which video player to use. Depending on your hardware and what video player you have installed, it may or may not work, so you may need a different video player. I think most of us are using MX Player, but I've used several others successfully (VMPlayer, and I think mobo player, and maybe some others.)

I'm probably forgetting something, but those are the basics.

[mkanet]

I just figured out where the "Buy/Unlock" button is. Of course, I bought it in a heart-beat; regardless if it unlocks anything or not. Keep up the great work!

Originally Posted by stuckless

Welcome back...



Purchases are linked to your google account, so if both devices are linked to the same account, then yes. If not, then no. For now, purchasing doesn't really "unlock" any features, because I haven't decided which features to "lock". Purchasing basically is just a small way to show support for the app (right now)

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by Dargason

It's pretty easy to set up.

1. Install VLC. You need at least version 2.0. Latest version is currently 2.0.5 and that's what I use. It works fine.
2. Make a note of where your executable is. I think the default windows location (on windows 7) is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Videolan\VLC\vlc.exe" or something like that.
3. Start BMT, go to the configuration page, and then select Phoenix Streaming Services -> VLC Options.
4. Enter the path name from 2 into the top box next to "Command". Don't use any quotes.
5. You may want to add the "channels=2" option, as I discussed above. (It will work without it, but you may be missing audio on some recordings.)
6. Save your changes.
7. Start your mobile app, locate recording, long press (or use context menu in upper right) and select "Play on device." It will ask you to pick a profile, and then may ask you to select which video player to use. Depending on your hardware and what video player you have installed, it may or may not work, so you may need a different video player. I think most of us are using MX Player, but I've used several others successfully (VMPlayer, and I think mobo player, and maybe some others.)

I'm probably forgetting something, but those are the basics.

I'd like to do this, but am a bit concerned about the "choose components" page of the VLC installer, whereby file associations, etc are listed. I don't really want to change any of the associations on my SageTV server. What am I either a; not understanding, or b; need to select during the install process? Whenver I see "active X", I pause... lol
thanks

[mkanet]

Thanks for the quick reply Dargason!

I did everything as you said. However, it looks like there's still something I'm missing. If I play a recording on my Android device, it says, "No applications cam perform this action."

Your previous posts mentioned something about MXPlayer; so, I installed that to see what happens. However, it says, "Sorry, this video cannot be played".

What am I missing? Thanks for all your help?

Edit: I have a feeling that VLC isn't being accessed by phoenix/BMT; even though I've pointed it to the correct full path. Otherwise, I think I might have been prompted for which profile to use on my phone.

Originally Posted by Dargason

It's pretty easy to set up.

1. Install VLC. You need at least version 2.0. Latest version is currently 2.0.5 and that's what I use. It works fine.
2. Make a note of where your executable is. I think the default windows location (on windows 7) is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Videolan\VLC\vlc.exe" or something like that.
3. Start BMT, go to the configuration page, and then select Phoenix Streaming Services -> VLC Options.
4. Enter the path name from 2 into the top box next to "Command". Don't use any quotes.
5. You may want to add the "channels=2" option, as I discussed above. (It will work without it, but you may be missing audio on some recordings.)
6. Save your changes.
7. Start your mobile app, locate recording, long press (or use context menu in upper right) and select "Play on device." It will ask you to pick a profile, and then may ask you to select which video player to use. Depending on your hardware and what video player you have installed, it may or may not work, so you may need a different video player. I think most of us are using MX Player, but I've used several others successfully (VMPlayer, and I think mobo player, and maybe some others.)

I'm probably forgetting something, but those are the basics.

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by mkanet

Thanks for the quick reply Dargason!

I did everything as you said. However, it looks like there's still something I'm missing. If I play a recording on my Android device, it says, "No applications cam perform this action."

Your previous posts mentioned something about MXPlayer; so, I installed that to see what happens. However, it says, "Sorry, this video cannot be played".

What am I missing? Thanks for all your help?

Edit: I have a feeling that VLC isn't being accessed by phoenix/BMT; even though I've pointed it to the correct full path. Otherwise, I think I might have been prompted for which profile to use on my phone.

Did you check out the install guide.

The most common reason that I'm seeing for it not working, when vlc is setup, is that they are not using Java 7 on the SageTV server.

[farscapesg1]

Originally Posted by BobbyDing

I was having the same problem with VLC not passing the test in Win7 64 bit. I did some tinkering with the permissions for VLC (opening it up to full access for all users), but what seemed to have done the trick was after I saved the changes I went to the refresh option in BMT and did a "refresh configurations". After that the VLC test passed.

Thanks.. that did it. Funny, cause I rebooted the server a couple times thinking maybe something just wasn't registering right. Never though to refresh the configuration on BMT.

Also, it seems like the code is very specific. It wouldn't pick up the path with C:\vlc\vlc.exe... but does with C:\VLC\vlc.exe.

[JerryB]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

I'd like to do this, but am a bit concerned about the "choose components" page of the VLC installer, whereby file associations, etc are listed. I don't really want to change any of the associations on my SageTV server. What am I either a; not understanding, or b; need to select during the install process? Whenver I see "active X", I pause... lol
thanks

When I installed VLC on my server, I didn't select any profiles to associate with VLC since I don't want to change how local media files are played. Since Phoenix Android streaming is working on my machine, these local file associations don't have affect on this streaming.

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

I'd like to do this, but am a bit concerned about the "choose components" page of the VLC installer, whereby file associations, etc are listed.

The file association is basically when you double click on a file or use the "open" option from the menu...

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by Fonceur

The file association is basically when you double click on a file or use the "open" option from the menu...

that's the way I understood it, but it's at a local level only? if none are selected, streaming isn't affected in any way?

[Dargason]

That's correct. Streaming won't be affected.

[mkanet]

You were right. I didnt have Java 7 installed. Only version 6. It looks like I am one more step closer.

Now, I get presented with what profile to use. After I select any profile, I get the message, "Waiting for media stram to be created..." with a spinning circle for 5 seconds or so, then finally:

SageTV did not create a stream URL

Did I miss something else?

Originally Posted by stuckless

Did you check out the install guide.

The most common reason that I'm seeing for it not working, when vlc is setup, is that they are not using Java 7 on the SageTV server.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by Dargason

That's correct. Streaming won't be affected.

Thanks - everything is good now except for one final thing - all test connections work, but when I press "watch on device", I get a "select streaming quality" requester, and when selecting "Low" for example, it reads "SageTV did not create a stream URL"
Any idea?

I have Java 7 installed, as well as all the plugins. I also did a reboot

OK, idiot alert... upon further inspection (with glasses this time) spelling error in BMT configuration. All working now!

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by mkanet

You were right. I didnt have Java 7 installed. Only version 6. It looks like I am one more step closer.

Now, I get presented with what profile to use. After I select any profile, I get the message, "Waiting for media stram to be created..." with a spinning circle for 5 seconds or so, then finally:

SageTV did not create a stream URL

Did I miss something else?

I take it both of us are doing the same thing wrong lol
see my note - check your vlc path url very carefully -spelling - caps etc

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by mkanet

You were right. I didnt have Java 7 installed. Only version 6. It looks like I am one more step closer.

Now, I get presented with what profile to use. After I select any profile, I get the message, "Waiting for media stram to be created..." with a spinning circle for 5 seconds or so, then finally:

SageTV did not create a stream URL

Did I miss something else?

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

Thanks - everything is good now except for one final thing - all test connections work, but when I press "watch on device", I get a "select streaming quality" requester, and when selecting "Low" for example, it reads "SageTV did not create a stream URL"
Any idea?

I have Java 7 installed, as well as all the plugins. I also did a reboot

Sounds like you guys are having the same problem... The code waits up to 10 seconds, checking for the streamable files, and if it returns after 10 seconds and no files exist, then there will be an error on the device.

Streamable files are created in SAGE_HOME/userdata/Phoenix/streaming (by default, unless you change it). So, check in that folder for directories (one per device) and see if any files are being created. Also, there will be .log file of the vlc process that is creating the file, so if vlc had issues creating the stream, then it should be written to a log file in those directories.

Also, I probably don't need to say this... but transcoding on the fly can be quite cpu intensive, and as such, if your machine isn't powerful enough, the client may time out waiting for files to be created.

And finally, the SAGE_HOME/logs/phoenix.log, will contain information about the request, and possible errors that it encounters. Since I can't reliable test the vlc version on Windows you will also need to make sure that you are using vlc 2.0+.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by stuckless

Sounds like you guys are having the same problem... The code waits up to 10 seconds, checking for the streamable files, and if it returns after 10 seconds and no files exist, then there will be an error on the device.

Streamable files are created in SAGE_HOME/userdata/Phoenix/streaming (by default, unless you change it). So, check in that folder for directories (one per device) and see if any files are being created. Also, there will be .log file of the vlc process that is creating the file, so if vlc had issues creating the stream, then it should be written to a log file in those directories.

Also, I probably don't need to say this... but transcoding on the fly can be quite cpu intensive, and as such, if your machine isn't powerful enough, the client may time out waiting for files to be created.

And finally, the SAGE_HOME/logs/phoenix.log, will contain information about the request, and possible errors that it encounters. Since I can't reliable test the vlc version on Windows you will also need to make sure that you are using vlc 2.0+.

thanks for all your help - the answer was that I am paddling the river "denial", and should always wear the 2.0 reading glasses when typing URL's into tiny windows

[mkanet]

stuckless, the first log file gets created; however, it's empty. The second log file I attached as well. Maybe it means something more to you.

Originally Posted by stuckless

Sounds like you guys are having the same problem... The code waits up to 10 seconds, checking for the streamable files, and if it returns after 10 seconds and no files exist, then there will be an error on the device.

Streamable files are created in SAGE_HOME/userdata/Phoenix/streaming (by default, unless you change it). So, check in that folder for directories (one per device) and see if any files are being created. Also, there will be .log file of the vlc process that is creating the file, so if vlc had issues creating the stream, then it should be written to a log file in those directories.

Also, I probably don't need to say this... but transcoding on the fly can be quite cpu intensive, and as such, if your machine isn't powerful enough, the client may time out waiting for files to be created.

And finally, the SAGE_HOME/logs/phoenix.log, will contain information about the request, and possible errors that it encounters. Since I can't reliable test the vlc version on Windows you will also need to make sure that you are using vlc 2.0+.

[JerryB]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

I take it both of us are doing the same thing wrong lol

I don't know if this is your problem but what are you using to play the streamed video on your Android device? In my system, I found that MX Player works great for both transcoded and untranscoded files but moboplayer will only play untranscoded files. When I try to play a transcoded file with moboplayer, I just get a blank screen (no audio or video). Since the transcoded audio/video play fine when I use MX Player, I know my system is producing and streaming a valid file but for some reason moboplayer just doesn't recognizing it.

What I would suggest is 1) trying to play the file using the untranscoded option in an attempt to separate out streaming from transcoding issues and 2) trying different players on your Android device.

Since the ability to successfully stream video content may well turn out to be both device and player dependent, it may be helpful at some point to compile a list of device/player combinations that are successfully being used for video streaming with this app.