I'm using VLC to capture various TV progs with a DVB-T2 USB 'dongle'
(forgotten the model of the dongle).

Works OK, but I've only thus far been able to get VLC to tune to the
relevant MUX via giving it the spec. I then have to use VLC's menus to
choose the actual 'station' stream to show/record by going though the
relevant dropdown list and clicking on the one I want.

Not found out how to issue a command that does that as well in one go. When
run VLC lists 'recent' things it has played (and recorded) only with the
MUX frequency and bandwidth. How would I tack a choice of station to that?

Apart from that, works like a charm. And useful to be able to 'monitor'
what's being recorded. (Use a machine that sits out of the way but can be
checked when I wish.)

Once I can do that I'll see if I can get timed recordings.

Using linux.

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scots_Guide/intro/electron.htm
biog http://jcgl.orpheusweb.co.uk/history/ups_and_downs.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

"Jim Lesurf" <noise@audiomisc.co.uk> wrote in message
news:5a417ec2afnoise@audiomisc.co.uk...
> I'm using VLC to capture various TV progs with a DVB-T2 USB 'dongle'
> (forgotten the model of the dongle).
>
>
> Works OK, but I've only thus far been able to get VLC to tune to the
> relevant MUX via giving it the spec. I then have to use VLC's menus to
> choose the actual 'station' stream to show/record by going though the
> relevant dropdown list and clicking on the one I want.
>
> Not found out how to issue a command that does that as well in one go.
> When
> run VLC lists 'recent' things it has played (and recorded) only with the
> MUX frequency and bandwidth. How would I tack a choice of station to
> that?
>
> Apart from that, works like a charm. And useful to be able to 'monitor'
> what's being recorded. (Use a machine that sits out of the way but can be
> checked when I wish.)
>
> Once I can do that I'll see if I can get timed recordings.
>
> Using linux.

Would you be better off using a package such as TVHeadend to handle the
scheduling of recordings and the allocation of different tuners (if you have
more than one) to different programmes that overlap?

There may be ways of scripting VLC to select a mux and then a station within
the stream, and to start/stop recording, but I'd have thought that TVHeadend
(or NextPVR which I've not tried on Linux, only on Windows) might be a
better tool.

In article <tk17pr$1hj9s$1@dont-email.me>, NY <me@privacy.invalid> wrote:
> Would you be better off using a package such as TVHeadend to handle the
> scheduling of recordings and the allocation of different tuners (if you
> have more than one) to different programmes that overlap?

> There may be ways of scripting VLC to select a mux and then a station
> within the stream, and to start/stop recording, but I'd have thought
> that TVHeadend (or NextPVR which I've not tried on Linux, only on
> Windows) might be a better tool.

I've seen cvlc 'recipies' for timed recording. (Which vary!) My endpoint
would be to write a small ROX-Filer app (Linux) that would read a text file
list of recordings required and chug though them.

But not found any info on how to specify the specific 'station' in a
many-station mux. That's what is puzzling me.

VLC's GUI shows a drop-down list naming the stations on the chosen MUX and
I can tick the one I want. But that means doing it in person at the time.

Tend to prefer ROX-Filer as it makes things easy via DND once you've
written the control app for the task.

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scots_Guide/intro/electron.htm
biog http://jcgl.orpheusweb.co.uk/history/ups_and_downs.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

On 04/11/2022 09:23, Jim Lesurf wrote:
> In article <tk17pr$1hj9s$1@dont-email.me>, NY <me@privacy.invalid>
> wrote:
>> Would you be better off using a package such as TVHeadend to handle
>> the scheduling of recordings and the allocation of different tuners
>> (if you have more than one) to different programmes that overlap?
>
>> There may be ways of scripting VLC to select a mux and then a
>> station within the stream, and to start/stop recording, but I'd
>> have thought that TVHeadend (or NextPVR which I've not tried on
>> Linux, only on Windows) might be a better tool.
>
> I've seen cvlc 'recipies' for timed recording. (Which vary!) My
> endpoint would be to write a small ROX-Filer app (Linux) that would
> read a text file list of recordings required and chug though them.
>
> But not found any info on how to specify the specific 'station' in a
> many-station mux. That's what is puzzling me.
>
> VLC's GUI shows a drop-down list naming the stations on the chosen
> MUX and I can tick the one I want. But that means doing it in person
> at the time.
>
> Tend to prefer ROX-Filer as it makes things easy via DND once you've
> written the control app for the task.
>

I only used VLC for TV in Windows with the GUI. But FWLIW I can open VLC
to a particular "station" within a MUX. I do so using a playlist (.xspf
file). By way of example I've pasted below my signature the contents of
a file for BBC1 HD from Crystal Palace.

Many of the entries are null and could be omitted. I'm afraid I'm too
lazy to edit them out. But I hope you may find it helpful to see the
parameters which need to be defined.

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

NB I've set this to wrap at 99 in the hope the following comes through legible. If it doesn't let
me know and I'll post a text file somewhere.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<playlist xmlns="http://xspf.org/ns/0/"
xmlns:vlc="http://www.videolan.org/vlc/playlist/ns/0/" version="1">
<title>Playlist</title>
<trackList>
<track>
<location>dvb-t://frequency=545833000:bandwidth=0</location>
<title>BBC One HD</title>
<extension application="http://www.videolan.org/vlc/playlist/0">
<vlc:id>0</vlc:id>
<vlc:option>program=17540</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-adapter=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-network-name=BBC</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-inversion=-1</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-transmission=-1</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-hierarchy=-1</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-plp-id=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-a-count=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-a-interleaving=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-b-count=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-b-interleaving=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-c-count=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-c-interleaving=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-srate=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-stream=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-pilot=-1</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-rolloff=-1</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-ts-id=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-polarization=</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-lnb-low=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-lnb-high=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-lnb-switch=11700000</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-network-id=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-azimuth=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-elevation=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-longitude=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-range=</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-major-channel=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-minor-channel=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>dvb-physical-channel=0</vlc:option>
<vlc:option>live-caching=300</vlc:option>
</extension>
</track>
</trackList>
<extension application="http://www.videolan.org/vlc/playlist/0">
<vlc:item tid="0"/>
</extension>
</playlist>

In article <2b5dd193-3cdb-bac6-87d0-1f812cad67ac@outlook.com>, Robin
<rbw@outlook.com> wrote:
> On 04/11/2022 09:23, Jim Lesurf wrote:
> > In article <tk17pr$1hj9s$1@dont-email.me>, NY <me@privacy.invalid>

> I only used VLC for TV in Windows with the GUI. But FWLIW I can open VLC
> to a particular "station" within a MUX. I do so using a playlist (.xspf
> file). By way of example I've pasted below my signature the contents of
> a file for BBC1 HD from Crystal Palace.

> Many of the entries are null and could be omitted. I'm afraid I'm too
> lazy to edit them out. But I hope you may find it helpful to see the
> parameters which need to be defined.

Thanks. I'll experiment. :-)

If twerks I can write a simple ROX App that lets me do it automagically via
the station name.

Where does the numbere in the "program=" setting for BBC One HD come from? Do
I need to check all the station 'numbers' in the mux stream? I used to
have to do that when using the knife-and-fork approach getting them from
a (tzap?) scan. Are they listed on the web somewhere for Freeview?

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scots_Guide/intro/electron.htm
biog http://jcgl.orpheusweb.co.uk/history/ups_and_downs.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

On 05/11/2022 10:29, Jim Lesurf wrote:
> In article <2b5dd193-3cdb-bac6-87d0-1f812cad67ac@outlook.com>, Robin
> <rbw@outlook.com> wrote:
>> On 04/11/2022 09:23, Jim Lesurf wrote:
>>> In article <tk17pr$1hj9s$1@dont-email.me>, NY <me@privacy.invalid>
>
>
>> I only used VLC for TV in Windows with the GUI. But FWLIW I can open VLC
>> to a particular "station" within a MUX. I do so using a playlist (.xspf
>> file). By way of example I've pasted below my signature the contents of
>> a file for BBC1 HD from Crystal Palace.
>
>> Many of the entries are null and could be omitted. I'm afraid I'm too
>> lazy to edit them out. But I hope you may find it helpful to see the
>> parameters which need to be defined.
>
>
> Thanks. I'll experiment. :-)
>
> If twerks I can write a simple ROX App that lets me do it automagically via
> the station name.

> Where does the numbere in the "program=" setting for BBC One HD come from? Do
> I need to check all the station 'numbers' in the mux stream? I used to
> have to do that when using the knife-and-fork approach getting them from
> a (tzap?) scan. Are they listed on the web somewhere for Freeview?
>

I don't know if they are listed. I get them by opening the Mux in VLC
then (from any programme) looking at the Codec information where they
are listed. Very much rubbing 2 sticks together but that's me.

And FWIW the following worked for me in London from the command line (in
Windows)

"C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" dvb-t://frequency=545833000
:bandwidth=0 :program=17540

PS

can we have a video of your twerks?

https://www.wikihow.com/Twerk

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

On Sat, 05 Nov 2022 10:29:19 +0000 (GMT), Jim Lesurf <noise@audiomisc.co.uk>
wrote:

> Where does the numbere in the "program=" setting for BBC One HD come from? Do
> I need to check all the station 'numbers' in the mux stream?

Service numbers. Yes.

> I used to have to do that when using the knife-and-fork approach getting them
> from a (tzap?) scan.

You would still have to do that or something similar.

> Are they listed on the web somewhere for Freeview?

No because it would always be out of date and most people aren't interested
anyway, so it's not something they would put on there.

BBC One HD in England is curently 17540, but I expect that's bound to change
with the coming regionalisation. The BBC One SD services are all different
for that reason.

In article <1d40a20b-ca04-373a-62d7-7234f599da5e@outlook.com>, Robin
<rbw@outlook.com> wrote:
> On 05/11/2022 10:29, Jim Lesurf wrote:
> > In article <2b5dd193-3cdb-bac6-87d0-1f812cad67ac@outlook.com>, Robin
> > <rbw@outlook.com> wrote:
> >> On 04/11/2022 09:23, Jim Lesurf wrote:
> >>> In article <tk17pr$1hj9s$1@dont-email.me>, NY <me@privacy.invalid>
> >
> >
> >> I only used VLC for TV in Windows with the GUI. But FWLIW I can open
> >> VLC to a particular "station" within a MUX. I do so using a playlist
> >> (.xspf file). By way of example I've pasted below my signature the
> >> contents of a file for BBC1 HD from Crystal Palace.
> >
> >> Many of the entries are null and could be omitted. I'm afraid I'm
> >> too lazy to edit them out. But I hope you may find it helpful to see
> >> the parameters which need to be defined.
> >
> >
> > Thanks. I'll experiment. :-)
> >
> > If twerks I can write a simple ROX App that lets me do it
> > automagically via the station name.

> > Where does the numbere in the "program=" setting for BBC One HD come
> > from? Do I need to check all the station 'numbers' in the mux stream?
> > I used to have to do that when using the knife-and-fork approach
> > getting them from a (tzap?) scan. Are they listed on the web somewhere
> > for Freeview?
> >

> I don't know if they are listed. I get them by opening the Mux in VLC
> then (from any programme) looking at the Codec information where they
> are listed. Very much rubbing 2 sticks together but that's me.

> And FWIW the following worked for me in London from the command line (in
> Windows)

> "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" dvb-t://frequency=545833000
> :bandwidth=0 :program=17540

Here it would probably be a call to cvlc in an executable file. I'll have a
play... I'll need to set the bandwith to 8 though as leaving it blank
doesn't work with the dongle I use. Need to set to 8 every time.

Ta.

If that works here I can write a simpler app or just have a set of runnable
files, one per station. :-)

> PS

> can we have a video of your twerks?

> https://www.wikihow.com/Twerk

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scots_Guide/intro/electron.htm
biog http://jcgl.orpheusweb.co.uk/history/ups_and_downs.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

On 05 Nov, noise@audiomisc.co.uk wrote:

> > "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" dvb-t://frequency=545833000
> > :bandwidth=0 :program=17540

I can get an executable file containing
vlc dvb-t2://frequency=666000000:bandwidth=8

to start vlc and it finds the mux ok.

But adding a specific station via the trailing

:program=17596

for example (BBC 1 Scot HD, here) causes it not to work. So as before I
then have to look at the dropdown list to choose which station on that MUX
that I want.

Maybe I'm using the wrong PIDs but they are taken from what VLC shows for
the codecs, etc.

Note values may be different here in Scotland to down south.

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scots_Guide/intro/electron.htm
biog http://jcgl.orpheusweb.co.uk/history/ups_and_downs.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

On 05/11/2022 17:59, Jim Lesurf wrote:
> On 05 Nov, noise@audiomisc.co.uk wrote:
>
>>> "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" dvb-t://frequency=545833000
>>> :bandwidth=0 :program=17540
>
> I can get an executable file containing
> vlc dvb-t2://frequency=666000000:bandwidth=8
>
> to start vlc and it finds the mux ok.
>
> But adding a specific station via the trailing
>
> :program=17596
>
> for example (BBC 1 Scot HD, here) causes it not to work. So as before I
> then have to look at the dropdown list to choose which station on that MUX
> that I want.
>
> Maybe I'm using the wrong PIDs but they are taken from what VLC shows for
> the codecs, etc.
>
> Note values may be different here in Scotland to down south.
>

Try:
vlc --program=17596 dvb-t2://frequency=666000000:bandwidth=8

--
Brian Gregory (in England).

On 05/11/2022 17:59, Jim Lesurf wrote:
> On 05 Nov, noise@audiomisc.co.uk wrote:
>
>>> "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" dvb-t://frequency=545833000
>>> :bandwidth=0 :program=17540
>
> I can get an executable file containing
> vlc dvb-t2://frequency=666000000:bandwidth=8
>
> to start vlc and it finds the mux ok.
>
> But adding a specific station via the trailing
>
> :program=17596
>
> for example (BBC 1 Scot HD, here) causes it not to work. So as before I
> then have to look at the dropdown list to choose which station on that MUX
> that I want.

you need a space before the ":program". It's not a DTV parameter.

> Maybe I'm using the wrong PIDs but they are taken from what VLC shows for
> the codecs, etc.
>
> Note values may be different here in Scotland to down south.
>
> Jim
>

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

On 06/11/2022 08:04, Robin wrote:
> On 05/11/2022 17:59, Jim Lesurf wrote:
>> On 05 Nov, noise@audiomisc.co.uk wrote:
>>
>>>> "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" dvb-t://frequency=545833000
>>>> :bandwidth=0 :program=17540
>>
>> I can get an executable file containing
>> vlc dvb-t2://frequency=666000000:bandwidth=8
>>
>> to start vlc and it finds the mux ok.
>>
>> But adding a specific station via the trailing
>>
>> :program=17596
>>
>> for example (BBC 1 Scot HD, here) causes it not to work. So as before I
>> then have to look at the dropdown list to choose which station on that
>> MUX
>> that I want.
>
> you need a space before the ":program".  It's not a DTV parameter.
>

sorry, shd be "not a /DVB/ parameter" - i.e. it's not about tuning. It's
about picking a track within the stream

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

In article <a7ba38f3-4285-11d9-3ba2-9977d29558ff@outlook.com>, Robin
<rbw@outlook.com> wrote:

> you need a space before the ":program". It's not a DTV parameter.

I noitced the space and tried that but it still didn't work. Maybe because
I was also doing something else wrong at the time.

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scots_Guide/intro/electron.htm
biog http://jcgl.orpheusweb.co.uk/history/ups_and_downs.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

In article <jsnvagF6nd3U1@mid.individual.net>, Brian Gregory
<void-invalid-dead-dontuse@email.invalid> wrote:

> Try: vlc --program=17596 dvb-t2://frequency=666000000:bandwidth=8

YES! Bingo! :-)) Twerks for me... but not on camera. 8-]

Ta Muchly. I can now set up a way of starting up capture/viewing without
having to plod though the GUI every time and remember details like the
station PID.

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scots_Guide/intro/electron.htm
biog http://jcgl.orpheusweb.co.uk/history/ups_and_downs.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html