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DVBViewer Media Server Announcement


hackbart

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Advance information for our customers:

 

This year we will release two new major versions: DVBViewer Pro 6.0 and DVBViewer Media Server 2.0 (former Recording Service).

 

The most important change: In contrast to the Recording Service the DVBViewer Media Server will not be a beta version anymore Using it will require another licence in addition to the DVBViewer licence:

 

  • Customers who already have a DVBViewer licence will get a Media Server licence for € 21,-.
  • Customers who want to use the DVBViewer Media Server, but don't have a DVBViewer licence yet additionally need to purchase DVBViewer for € 22,-, yielding a total of € 43,-.

 

This means, we will offer the Media Server like the Recording Service as a DVBViewer-based add-on.

 

The new versions will provide several enhancements and new features. In the last months the development focussed on streaming. DVBViewer and the Media Server will be able to handle streaming sources as channels in the channel list. Several network protocols carrying a transport stream or MP3/AAC audio stream are supported. In other words: Internet TV and Radio are integrated as a new virtual tuner type that enables to handle the channels like DVB channels, which means, they can be added to the favourites list, recorded, shown as PiP etc. A selection of other enhancements:

 

  • The iOS web interface of the DVBViewer Media Server can also be used on Android mobile devices. It's still under construction, but already usable.
  • The Sat>IP Server of the Media Server additionally provides HTTP output and supports displaying a remote CAM menu in DVBViewer.
  • Increased maximum number of simultaneous live streaming clients (now 10 for the Live Streaming Server and Sat>IP Server each). Please contact bhackbart@cmuv.de if you need a licence for professional purpose that supports more than 10 live streaming clients at the same time.
  • DVBViewer 6.0 allows to configure the main window appearance in a more flexible way and supports a frameless style.

 

Please note that the DVBViewer Media Server will not support the out-dated Unicast DVB Server anymore, since its functionality is fully covered by the RTSP/Sat>IP server. If the Unicast DVB Server is essential for some reason please stay with version 1.33.2 beta.

 

Answers to questions that you may want to ask:

 

  • Why do I need a DVBViewer licence for the DVBViewer Media Server? I want to use another media player.

 

The DVBViewer Media Server requires suitable facilities for maintenance, monitoring and trouble-shooting. DVBViewer Pro and powerful tools like TransEdit and TSPlayer, that are included in the DVBViewer licence, are tailored for this task.

 

We have considered to offer a stand-alone package containing the Media Server plus tools “outsourced” from the DVBViewer environment (e.g. a channel list editor). However, this would cause a lot of extra work, yielding the same or an even higher price than for the DVBViewer & Media Server combo without any advantage for users. Therefore we have decided to keep the Media Server as DVBViewer add-on.

 

  • Can I still use Recording Service 1.33.2 for free?

 

Yes. Recording Service versions earlier than the DVBViewer Media Server 2.0 will remain free of charge, which means, they will not require an additional licence besides a DVBViewer licence. Recording Service 1.33.2 will still be available for some time in the “Older Versions” section of the download area.

 

  • Can I use the new DVBViewer Pro 6.0 in combination with the last free Recording Service version 1.33.2?

 

You can, in the sense of “it will not be disabled or prohibited”. However, there is already one major drawback. Recording Service 1.33.2 and earlier will regard Internet TV / Radio channels stored by DVBViewer 6.0 in a shared channel list as unknown objects and delete them. Since the incompatibilities will increase in future, we strongly recommend to also stay with DVBViewer Pro 5.6.4 if you want to stay with Recording Service 1.33.2.

 

  • Does the licence allow to use the DVBViewer Media Server on more than one PC?

 

We tolerate it under certain conditions, as for the DVBViewer. Please read more about it here (point 3.)

 

  • Will updates for the DVBViewer Media Server be free of charge?

 

Basically yes. Currently there are no plans to deviate from our line. However, things must be viewed realistically. Updates are limited to the lifespan of the product, of course. This applies to the Media Server and DVBViewer. Furthermore we cannot exclude that we may come to a point where an update fee for future major releases becomes inevitable in order to enable further development. If it comes to that we will inform about it early in the forum.

 

However, looking at the past suggests that this will not happen in the foreseeable future. Though there were always people predicting that DVBViewer will be dead and gone soon, we have managed to continue development and provide free updates and tools for 14 years by now. We want to go on with it as long as circumstances allow us to do so.

 
Edited by Griga
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  • 2 years later...

Information for our customers (-> German version).

 

First the short version for those who have not much time to read:

 

The old Recording Service is no more available in the download area, and there will be no support for it anymore. It has been replaced by a new product called "DVBViewer Media Server Basic" (short form "DMS Basic"). It is free for users who have purchased DVBViewer Pro and requires no additional licence.

 

DMS Basic is a basic or "light" version of the well known DVBViewer Media Server. It is able to work as background recording engine and DVB hardware administration for applications belonging to the DVBViewer family (particularly DVBViewer Pro/GE and TransEdit) that are running on the same PC. There are no restrictions in this respect.

 

Additionally DMS Basic serves as trial version for customers who are considering to buy the Media Server full version. DMS Basic can be used to access media (TV, radio, video and audio files...) in the home network, for example on other PCs, smartphones or even TV sets. Compared to the full version, there are some limitations:

 

  • DMS Basic is a single-user product. It cannot deliver two or more streams simultaneously, except as Sat>IP (RTSP) server to clients belonging to the DVBViewer family on the same PC.
  • Clients are restricted to read-only (guest) access, except if DVBViewer Pro or a browser showing the Web Interfacer is running on the server PC. The restriction applies to Media Server add-ons and clients (including DVBViewer) that are running on remote devices. They can play a media stream and display the EPG, but are not able to create or change timers, execute tasks, delete recordings, remote-control DVBViewer, change the Media Server configuration etc.
  • The conversion (transcoding) of TV/Video to another format or bit rate is restricted to a maximum resolution of 640 x 360. This particularly applies to TV and video playback in a browser. The full version can deliver HD resolution (1280 x 720).
  • DMS Basic cannot automatically update the EPG and create timers according to EPG search criteria.
  • DMS Basic cannot send an e-mail notification after a recording is finished.
  • EPG monitoring for automatically adjusting timers to a changed start time and starting/stopping recordings by the EPG running status is not available.
  • Recordings can be transcoded to MKV/MP4/MP3 by specifying the appropriate “after-recording-task” in the timer, but not at a later point in time.
  • The Media Page of the web interface does not display statistics (how often / when last played).

 

If you want more, you can easily upgrade to the DVBViewer Media Server full version. After ordering by using the “Help -> Order/Unlock Add-Ons" menu item in DVBViewer and paying 21,- €, all you have to do is to download it, install it "over" the basic version and enter the licence data that you have received via e-mail.

 

Answers to questions that you may want to ask:

 

  • Why has the Recording Service been removed from the download area? It can do some things that DMS Basic can't.

The Recording Service hasn't been developed any further since 2017. There is an increasing number of known bugs (also security issues) and incompatibilities with recent DVBViewer versions. In contrast to the out-dated Recording Service DMS Basic will be updated continuously in future. Media Server full version releases will be accompanied by corresponding DMS Basic releases. And last but not least we want to earn money by selling the Media Server full version. Without this we can't keep DVBViewer and Media Server development up.

 

  • Does DMS Basic as "trial version" expire after some time? Does it contain ads?

No. There are no ads and no time limits, only functional restrictions.

 

  • Why should I use the Media Server for "DVB hardware administration"?

The idea behind it is to let only the Media Server access and control DVB hardware directly. Clients receive a network stream if they want TV/Radio. This centralised management avoids conflicts, enables optimised hardware usage and allows to prioritise timer recordings, so that they are guaranteed to be executed, even if the required tuner is occupied by clients or activities like scanning. The server interrupts the stream if the hardware is needed for something more important.

 

  • What are the advantages of using DMS Basic as recording engine?

The Media Server is able to perform recordings in the background, even without a user being logged on in Windows. For scheduled recordings it can wake the PC from sleep mode or hibernate, which is easier than using the Windows Task Scheduler for it (as DVBViewer does). Additionally the Media Server allows to check timers and recordings on remote PCs/devices by using the Web Interface.

 

  • What does "web interface" mean in this context?

The Media Server has no conventional Windows user interface, but publishes a kind of web site. It can be opened in every browser in the home network in order to control the server, play streams, view the current status, change settings etc. There are two web interface versions: One for desktop computers and one for mobile devices with touch display.

 

  • How can DMS Basic receive EPG data without EPG update functionality?

Like DVBViewer, DMS Basic receives EPG data if a frequency gets tuned on which such data is broadcasted. Every recording or client receiving TV/Radio from the server triggers EPG reception. However, the full version is additionally able to collect EPG data by scanning frequencies automatically in the background, thus taking care that the EPG is complete, even for channels that are not tuned by a recording or client.

 

  • What is the "automatic timer creation" feature that is missing in DMS Basic?

It is based on the powerful EPG search function, that is also available in DMS Basic. "Automatic timer creation" (or short "auto-timer") means that the Media Server scans EPG data for search terms. A match automatically schedules a timer recording for the corresponding programme. You can let the Media Server full version execute this task after each EPG update. This feature can be used for series recording, for example. Several options allow to control how the search is performed and how timers are created. In DMS Basic you need to create the timers manually from the list of search results.

Edited by Griga
costs updated
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