Channel list for TV sets and players¶
Important
Beta version 2.1. What is described here exists only in beta version 2.1: it is installed from the beta repository and only with a licence; the stable version 2.0.2 and the demo edition do not have it. The beta version comes without warranty, and support is best effort (Beta testing programme).
Since version 2.1.0.470 the node exports a map of its channels by itself — the file that is loaded into the hotel TV system, into set-top box middleware or into an IPTV player. Numbers and addresses do not have to be copied into the list by hand: the node takes them from its streams and outputs.
Channel numbers¶
The channel number is set by the “Channel number (LCN)” field on the “Stream” tab of the stream editor: from 0 to 9999, 0 meaning no number (Configure stream). Changing it does not restart the stream, and the number does not go into the stream itself: it is needed only for the channel list. The logical channel number in the tables of an MPTS multiplex is set separately, on the multiplexer output (Multiplexer).
Draw up the numbering plan in advance, together with the multicast address plan (Addresses and TTL): number — channel — group and port.
Export¶
The “Export channel list” item of the “Operations” menu on the streams screen (channel list export). You choose the format, the protocol (UDP, RTP or all), whether to include paused streams and, for CSV, a byte-order mark for spreadsheet programs. The export is available to any role.
What goes into the list. One line for each multicast output of an SPTS stream — UDP, RTP or Pro-MPEG with an IPv4 group and port:
the channel number, the stream name (display name) and the service identifier (SID);
the group address;
the binding to an EPG channel, if the stream is bound to one (in M3U —
tvg-id, by which players find the programme guide);the OTT address — the HLS master playlist, if HLS delivery is enabled for the stream.
MPTS streams do not go into the list. Paused streams and outputs go in only if this is selected. Lines are ordered by channel number, followed by channels without a number, by name.
Formats¶
Format |
Used for |
|---|---|
M3U |
IPTV players and set-top boxes: the channel number ( |
CSV |
A table for record keeping and import: number, name, SID, address, protocol, OTT address. For Excel, enable the byte-order mark. |
XML |
A simple channel list for your own systems and middleware. |
Philips ChannelList.xml |
Philips hotel TV sets (MediaSuite): UDP multicast only, without RTP and OTT. Preset numbers are unique: a channel without a number or with a duplicate number gets the next free number after the highest one. The channel elements are inserted into the channel map of the TV settings clone on a USB drive. |
The Philips and CSV formats are available while “Hotel TV” is on for the node (Hotel TV); M3U and XML are always available.
The Philips format is built from the manual for Philips HFL5011T TV sets (“Installing IP channels”) and has not yet been tested on a real TV set. Test loading the list on a sample TV set before installing on site.
