Devs: Watch two channels with ONE TV card possible? (1 Viewer)

[jcee]

Is this possible? I mean at the same time?!

The background: One transponder holds multiple channels (PIDs).
So if you use the new tv engine and hook up to clients with a TV connected to each of it, they both could watch two different shows at the same time.

Of course when switching to a new transponder, a new subset of all channels comes active.

I know this feature from the past, from my dbox cable reciever. Whenever you tuned to a transponder, it allowed you to stream the active channel to a PC and all the other that are on that transponder.

OR it would allow you to zap between all the channels on that transponder while a recording takes place, without interfering it..

A friend (using Sceneo/TVcentral) just told me that this is possible with the product he is using, so I was wondering if this is working (or will be) with the new tv engine?!?!?

 

[Frodo]

Possible? in theory yes but not supported at the moment.
Note that there are some challenges like:
- 3 ppl watching 3 different channels but all on 1 transponder, now one of them zaps to a channel on another transponder. What to do ?
- pay-tv channels. Not all cams can decode more then 1 stream at a given time.
So if 3 ppl again want to watch 3 different channels on 1 transponder, then it might happen that only 1 of them gets to see something and the others dont simply because the cam cannot descramble more then 1 program

Frodo

 

[knutinh]

But arent those the same problems that has to be controlled today if the number of users is larger than the number of tuners? Either the last request (resulting in rsource over-use) is denied, or some users may have priority.

For me, the ability to record one channel while viewing another channel on the same mux would be really cool. On the other hand, I do realize that this may take a lot of work compared to the number of users interested in such a feature.

Perhaps the BDA drivers themselves should advertise such support, meaning that any program can subscribe to one or more mediastreams, given certain restrictions?

regards
Knut

 

[Roberdin]

I think the main problem is presenting this to the average user. How do you explain that "some" channels can be watched at the same time as others? Or that one channel is available because someone else is recording another? Is it desirable to expose this functionality?

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

Then, unfortunately from the few will be, why can't i have the facility to watch any two channels i like with one tv card.

But as a potential future workaround, showing a option (within the Tv\recording scheduled) a option to record another program on the same mux, with a mini epg to choose from.

Nice idea, would like to see any other peoples thoughts about this.

 

[jcee]

I see the problem, Frodo.

I was just curious what you guys think. Because TVcentral seems to manage this, but I guess this works because they can asume only one user, instead of TV server having to serv multiple users.

I dont know how it currently works in MP TV server, when you have 3 cards and 4 viewers. What happens if viewer No.4 decides to watch TV? Does he/she get a info that no TV card is available OR does MP tell him, that he only can watch one of the three channels that the other 3 viewers are currently watching?

Without really knowing the concept of TV server, I could imagine there would be a solution where TV server broadcast a list of currently available channels. When two viewers come in, and the third arrives he/she can still select all*) channels. If viewer No.4 comes in, he/she should see a list of the available channels. As soon as one of the other viewers quit, more (or all) channels come available.

*) I was just thinking: What if you have different tv cards? One for DVB-C encrypted with CAM and one DVB-T and one DVB-C (no cam)?!
I guess TV server manages and looks into the list, if there is a tv card available to show that channel..?!? Hmm..
... got confused...

But I guess you got the idea. The tracking of channels/cards busy could be PID based!?

Nevertheless, I understand, that this is not a feature of MP. And this does not make me feel unhappy about this great piece of software. Continue the good work

 

[funkstar]

I've always liked the idea of using DVB multiplexes to their max. And now with dual tuner cards, it is possible to have all the UKs Freeview (non encripted) channels available to multiple clients using just three cards

Could be a huge bonus to whole house installations with several people or a family all potentially watching or recording on different channels.