Fork of SageTV MiniClient for Android TV

[hb4]

I am starting my first attempt at setting up my new Firestick 4K at a remote location (over the interwebs), and this sounded like a good solution for me to avoid logging in every time, similar to the way Placeshifter acts, but my SageClientProperties file does not have a "secure_remote_login_stv7=C\:\\Program Files (x86)\\SageTV\\SageTV\\STVs\\SageTV7\\SecureLogin.xml" line. I added it, with the 'nope' at the end, but that didn't help. The xml file does exist in the location in that line.

(Edit: After using the space key (mentioned in a previous post) to select 'Automatic Login' at the login screen, subsequent connections do not require login.

Once entering the login credentials, I can browse to Recordings but when I try to play one it goes to the end of the first commercial and then returns to the recordings list. These are MPEG-2 TS files from the HD Homerun Prime. There are plenty of decoder options to play with, but if anyone has a hint; please let me know.

(Edit: I deselected EXOPlayer and it started to play recordings!).

Thanks!

Bill (Who hasn't updated his sig lines for awhile. I'm running Sage 9.2.1.826.)

[megamojo]

I'm not at all sure if the trick I discovered would work over the internet. For me they're still on the same LAN at gig speeds, just on separate subnets on my firewall. I had done some research a year or 2 ago that it might be possible to add some code to sage to tell it what local subnets to trust instead of only its own, but it didn't seem like anyone had any interest in this.

Another thing that may be different on my install is I have no placeshifter users set up. My current install on my Linux server is pretty basic. I had years (decades? I've been using sage since 2004!) of tweaks and cruft in my config from the years when I ran sage as my primary media center on windows, and wanted to get a clean slate when I moved it to my Linux server.

Maybe one of the programming inclined people can look at that file and reverse engineer how it works and how to get around it.

Here is a snippet of the server log from when I connect. This is on a linux server but the client .properties file was copied from my old install, so the path to SecureLogin.xml is completely wrong.

Wed 9/2 23:10:41.565 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24] Server & client support auth caching....
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.565 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24] Splash: Rendering Engine is initializing...
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.565 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24] Creating-3 new UI for client:51514e4c4a50 UIManager:localhost@@51514e4c4a50-10c0f483
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24] UIMgr loading UI from: C:\Program Files (x86)\SageTV\SageTV\STVs\SageTV7\SecureLogin.xml
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [VideoFrame-51514e4c4a50@73f2273b] VF thread is now running...
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [VideoFrame-51514e4c4a50@73f2273b] VF thread is now waiting for 0:00:00.000
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24] Modules: loadXML from C:\Program Files (x86)\SageTV\SageTV\STVs\SageTV7\SecureLogin.xml
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24] ERROR loading STV of:tv.sage.SageException: kind=1; Module.loadXML failure
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24] tv.sage.SageException: kind=1; Module.loadXML failure
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24]  at tv.sage.mod.Module.loadXML(Module.java:815)
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24]  at tv.sage.ModuleGroup.load(ModuleGroup.java:203)
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24]  at tv.sage.ModuleManager.loadModuleGroup(ModuleManager.java:39)
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24]  at sage.UIManager.run(UIManager.java:1084)
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24]  at sage.UIManager.createAltUI(UIManager.java:324)
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24]  at sage.MiniClientSageRenderer.handleNewConnection(MiniClientSageRenderer.java:537)
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24]  at sage.MiniClientSageRenderer.access$700(MiniClientSageRenderer.java:18)
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24]  at sage.MiniClientSageRenderer$1$1.run(MiniClientSageRenderer.java:401)
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24]  at sage.Pooler$PooledThread.run(Pooler.java:254)
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24] Caused by: java.io.FileNotFoundException: C:\Program Files (x86)\SageTV\SageTV\STVs\SageTV7\SecureLogin.xml (No such file or directory)
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24]  at java.base/java.io.FileInputStream.open0(Native Method)
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24]  at java.base/java.io.FileInputStream.open(FileInputStream.java:219)
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24]  at java.base/java.io.FileInputStream.<init>(FileInputStream.java:157)
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.566 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24]  at tv.sage.xml.ModuleXMLParser.parse(ModuleXMLParser.java:111)
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.567 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24]  at tv.sage.mod.Module.loadXML(Module.java:729)
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.567 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24]  ... 8 more
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.567 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24] Modules: loadXML from /opt/sagetv/server/STVs/SageTV7/SageTV7.xml
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.734 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24] Modules: loadXML count = 74133
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.734 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24] Modules: loadXML depth = 118
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.734 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24] Modules: loadXML anon  = 67873
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.734 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24] Modules: loadXML sym   = 74133
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.787 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24] Moving loading of plugin STVI sagexmlinfo to after sageutls because of its dependency on it.
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.787 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24] Moving loading of plugin STVI gtools to after groovy because of its dependency on it.
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.787 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24] Moving loading of plugin STVI web to after sagexmlinfo because of its dependency on it.
Wed 9/2 23:10:41.788 [MiniUIServerConnection@5b7bec24] Importing all currently enabled STVIs into the loaded STV...

[KryptoNyte]

I don't believe I've ever been prompted to login over my local network, so the user/password issue is only when I'm remote (outside the LAN). Maybe your subnets are what triggers the prompt for user/password?

[megamojo]

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

I don't believe I've ever been prompted to login over my local network, so the user/password issue is only when I'm remote (outside the LAN). Maybe your subnets are what triggers the prompt for user/password?

That's most certainly the case. The logic in Sage to determine what's "local" is not very nuanced. I'm sure if it was still the under development they would add in a configurable list of subnets to treat as local without requiring a login. When I migrated my old installation and didn't experience the login prompts that was my first assumption, that the community had done that.

Prior to that I had actually created a super janky workaround where I expanded the subnet mask on my server to trick sage into thinking the local subnet was 10.0.0.0 - 10.0.15.255 and then adding routes to windows to point everything outside of the actual subnet of 10.0.0.0 - 10.0.0.255 to my default gateway. This was on my original server. When I migrated it to a new server I didn't do this step, and when I realized it was still working I thought the code had been updated. It was only when I installed the new miniclient developed in this thread, which came with a fresh client ID and initially empty .properties file, that I realized it was still prompting me for a login, so there must be something in the .properties file making my other miniclients work without a login prompt.

[hb4]

Originally Posted by sic0048

THANK YOU!!!!

I've been able to get the client installed on a Shield previously, but always struggled to get it installed on the Firesticks. With your new fork, it went pretty smooth. The keyboard is still not perfect (I don't think the delete or clear buttons work as expected and pressing the "Automatically Log-in" option brings up the keyboard again - I just hit the "space bar" button to select the option and close out the keyboard), but at least it works well enough to get it up and running.

This is what I was experiencing. I could log in by filling out the name/pwd each time but was never able to figure out how to set the 'Automatically Log-in' option. With this hint, I was able to select that option and am now able to start Sage remotely i.e., 70 miles away from the server, without having to log in each time. Pressing a space bar to select an option just wasn't something I had any idea would work, so thanks, SIC0048!

[jvl711]

Hi All,

For those that beta tested the Fixed Transcoding, I wanted to know if you think it is stable enough to put together a release. Let me know if you saw any issues you think need to be addressed before I create a Pull request for SageTV core and publish new Android Clients to Google and Amazon.

I may ask you guys to test a version of the Sage.jar that does not have any of the debug output, just to make sure I did not inadvertently miss one of the changes.

Thanks,
Josh

[jvl711]

Hi All,

Published a new release yesterday to Play Store and GitHub. Amazon app store to come. I released this earlier than expected because of an issue I encountered in Android 11 with my phone. I assumed that other users would have the same issue, but I do not know that for sure. If you want to use the fixed transcoding updates you will need to use the patched Sage.jar until I get those changes merged into the core, and a new release is pushed.

See first post of thread for release notes.

Let me know if you guys have any questions.

Josh

[tvmaster2]

Does the current Mini Client play ripped VOB files on a Firestick, and/or is the limitation with the Firestick itself? I tried both my Android phone install, and the Firestick, and both times the MiniClient crashed out.

[hb4]

Originally Posted by jvl711

Hi All,

If you want to use the fixed transcoding updates you will need to use the patched Sage.jar until I get those changes merged into the core, and a new release is pushed.

Josh

Will the patched Sage.jar work on version 9.2.1?

[KryptoNyte]

Originally Posted by hb4

Will the patched Sage.jar work on version 9.2.1?

I would guess that it will be okay. I'm using it on 9.2.2 windows 64 bit without much problem. I did make a backup of my original jar file just in case, though.

I used the latest miniclient today remotely for the first time with 1.6.2 client on the Firestick 4k and worked very well. In fact, the only issue that's a bit twitchy is the timeline - sometimes it shows the wrong position, and FF and RW can produce some strange positions in the timeline. I wasn't on a particularly fast, clean Internet connection, so that may have had something to do with these anomalies.

I'm amazed at the quality that can be achieved with just 3000 kilobits per second fixed transcoding option. When I bumped that to 8000 kbps it was extremely clean video. First time I've ever used SageTV remotely at that level of media quality. Thanks for your work on this, Josh.

[jvl711]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

Does the current Mini Client play ripped VOB files on a Firestick, and/or is the limitation with the Firestick itself? I tried both my Android phone install, and the Firestick, and both times the MiniClient crashed out.

Did you try the beta release with the fixed transcode in hd. That might make it work. Set stream type to fixed. And transcode when needed in the transcoding properties.

This will tell sage to transcode any media format the client does not support. I have not tried VOBs myself though.

Josh

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by jvl711

Did you try the beta release with the fixed transcode in hd. That might make it work. Set stream type to fixed. And transcode when needed in the transcoding properties.

This will tell sage to transcode any media format the client does not support. I have not tried VOBs myself though.

Josh

Ok, thanks, I’ll try that. Playing ripped DVD’s of your drives is one of SageTV’s benefits. Thrift stores selling DVD’s for $1, so I’ve got a backload

[hb4]

I can report a major success using the beta and Jar using the Firestick 4K. I replaced the Jar.exe file in my 9.2.1 version SageTV with the one above, sideloaded the beta, and selected Fixed Transcoding and AC3 audio and was able to get a great picture compared to the HD-300 (away from home and the server).

The UI response was snappy, but there were a few delays to working video/audio. There was an ~8 second delay at the playback screen with no video and audio once 'Watch' was selected, then a 6 second delay with a totally blank screen, and finally a 20 second delay with frozen video and no audio. After the delays, full synced video and audio was available. Subsequent recording selections started up much sooner during the session.

All in all, a major improvement over the HD-300 or a cast Placeshifter that we've been using remotely for the last six or seven years.

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by jvl711

Hi All,

Published a new release yesterday to Play Store and GitHub. Amazon app store to come. I released this earlier than expected because of an issue I encountered in Android 11 with my phone. I assumed that other users would have the same issue, but I do not know that for sure. If you want to use the fixed transcoding updates you will need to use the patched Sage.jar until I get those changes merged into the core, and a new release is pushed.

See first post of thread for release notes.

Let me know if you guys have any questions.

Josh

I tested the latest and with always transcode using the defaults the audio is very poor sounds like Alvin and the Chipmunks.

[KryptoNyte]

What do you have the audio bitrate set to? I think I set mine as high as it would go (192 kbps) and it sounded okay. Any chance for an AC3 passthru option if it's not already in there somehow?

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

What do you have the audio bitrate set to? I think I set mine as high as it would go (192 kbps) and it sounded okay. Any chance for an AC3 passthru option if it's not already in there somehow?

The defaults ... I Prefer seeing something like Audio use Source.

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by jvl711

Hi All,

Published a new release yesterday to Play Store and GitHub. Amazon app store to come. I released this earlier than expected because of an issue I encountered in Android 11 with my phone. I assumed that other users would have the same issue, but I do not know that for sure. If you want to use the fixed transcoding updates you will need to use the patched Sage.jar until I get those changes merged into the core, and a new release is pushed.

See first post of thread for release notes.

Let me know if you guys have any questions.

Josh

You have several Jars on the Patreon page which one should we be beta testing with ? I am a bit confused at exactly what is the latest.

You have one here ..

https://www.patreon.com/jvl711/posts?filters[tag]=Transcode

Another here ...

https://www.patreon.com/jvl711/posts?filters[tag]=SageTV

[jvl711]

Originally Posted by nyplayer

You have several Jars on the Patreon page which one should we be beta testing with ? I am a bit confused at exactly what is the latest.

You have one here ..

https://www.patreon.com/jvl711/posts?filters[tag]=Transcode

Another here ...

https://www.patreon.com/jvl711/posts?filters[tag]=SageTV

Sorry, I know I have posted a ton of stuff lately. I will try and summarize them. Let me know if I missed something or have questions.

Fixed Transcoding in HD:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/40951674

All of the fixes or updates for this will be posted here. I have not made any "functionality" changes to this since I did testing with you. I added some extra debug working with Bill yesterday, but there was no functionality changes. I have submitted the changes for the Sage.jar for inclusion into SageTV.

Fix for SageTV conversion issue:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/41162541

This is not related to the Fixed transcoding. This is a bugfix for an issue that I made when adding changes for the format detector plugin. This was already submitted and accepted into the SageTV core.

Fix to SageTV Android Client for Android 11

I expedited the release of 1.6.2 to fix an issue with Android 11 and Pixel 3xl. I was not anticipating releasing this so soon, but thought it would possibly reduce some headaches if other people ran into the same issue I did.

[sacrament055]

Originally Posted by jvl711

Sorry, I know I have posted a ton of stuff lately. I will try and summarize them. Let me know if I missed something or have questions.

Fixed Transcoding in HD:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/40951674

All of the fixes or updates for this will be posted here. I have not made any "functionality" changes to this since I did testing with you. I added some extra debug working with Bill yesterday, but there was no functionality changes. I have submitted the changes for the Sage.jar for inclusion into SageTV.

Fix for SageTV conversion issue:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/41162541

This is not related to the Fixed transcoding. This is a bugfix for an issue that I made when adding changes for the format detector plugin. This was already submitted and accepted into the SageTV core.

Fix to SageTV Android Client for Android 11

I expedited the release of 1.6.2 to fix an issue with Android 11 and Pixel 3xl. I was not anticipating releasing this so soon, but thought it would possibly reduce some headaches if other people ran into the same issue I did.

Does the transcoding sage.jar include the conversion fix?

[jvl711]

Originally Posted by sacrament055

Does the transcoding sage.jar include the conversion fix?

I just checked. I believe the latest one that was posted does.

Josh