Chromecast streaming from DVB-Dream (working for HD and SD)

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meolskopite1984
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Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2016 7:31 am

Chromecast streaming from DVB-Dream (working for HD and SD)

Postby meolskopite1984 » Thu Dec 29, 2016 1:48 pm

Hi

I'm not sure if anyone else would be interested in this, but I have found a way that works to reliably stream SD channels from DVB-Dream to a Chromecast.

I've had rare success with one HD channel as well (BBC World on 19.2E) but nothing consistent, perhaps due to the settings below or maybe a lack of CPU power in my i5 CPU.

What you need:

Chromecast
DVBDream
Lan Streaming turned on within DVBDream to 127.0.0.1:1234
Castnow (https://github.com/xat/castnow)
ffmpeg
NoteJS (I used 32bit version) - https://nodejs.org/en/download/
VLC 2.x

Steps to take:

*Install NodeJS
*Install Castnow (from command line type "npm install castnow -g")
*Download FFMPEG windows binaries https://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/ (again I used 32bit) and put all the .exe files into NodeJS bin folder (for me this was C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\npm).

Now first you need to open up DVBDream and tune into a channel (better to test with an FTA channel at first).
Then open up your command line and first run the following command:

Code: Select all

"C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" --ffmpeg-hw -I dummy udp://@ :sout=#transcode{vcodec=x264,vb=10000,deinterlace,scale=0.75,acodec=mp3,ab=64,channels=1,samplerate=44100}:http{mux=ts,dst=:8085/}
Obviously replace C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe with the location of your vlc.exe file or change to that directory first.

This will open up a new command window (leave open), allow that to start up and then after 5 seconds open a new command window and run the following:

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castnow http://127.0.0.1:8085 --tomp4
NodeJS sets an environment path so this command should work from anywhere. As long as you have a Chromecast on your network then this should stream the SD channel from DVB-Dream to your Chromecast.

Few notes/hints:

*My PC with DVBDream is connected with a LAN cable to my router although obviously the chromecast is wireless
*Check your firewall isn't blocking the HTTP stream created by vlc.exe on port 8085 (Windows firewall might bring up a popup the first time you run that command and you can allow access on this dialog).
*As I said I didnt have much luck with HD (and didn't even try 4:2:2) but when I did have some luck it was by changing the "vb=10000" value to higher values on the first command above. Removing deinterlace may also make a difference and trying vcodec=mp4v or other codecs may also make a difference).
*Its possible to put the two commands together in a batch file and just have shortcut on the desktop to start streaming to Chromecast, use "start /b" to run the first command in the background and "timeout /t 5" to leave a pause before starting the second command.

Any questions I'll try and help but I can't guarantee it will work for everyone! As I say it works for me reliably and with about 30 minutes testing sound stays in sync and stream is uninterrupted after a few hiccups when launching it.

Please post if you have any luck with different vlc parameters to get HD working.

Last edited by meolskopite1984 on Fri Dec 30, 2016 3:43 am, edited 2 times in total.
meolskopite1984
Not too shy to talk
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2016 7:31 am

Re: Chromecast streaming from DVB-Dream (working for SD only)

Postby meolskopite1984 » Fri Dec 30, 2016 3:42 am

Update - This command replacing the first one above works well for me in HD as well as SD

Code: Select all

"C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" --sout-keep --ffmpeg-hw -I dummy udp://@ :sout=#transcode{vcodec=mp4v,vb=10000,hurry-up,deinterlace,scale=0.5,acodec=mp3,ab=64,channels=1,samplerate=44100}:http{mux=ts,dst=:8085/}

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