HDHomeRun client for the Syabas Networked Media Tank

The HDHomeRun Client allows viewing and recording of streams from the ATSC/QAM HDHomeRun networked digital TV tuner on the Popcorn Hour 100 series and other devices based on the Syabas Networked Media Tank. The Popcorn Hour 200 series is currently not supported.

Installation

The latest version is available in CSI.

Configuration

After installation, the client must be configured with the available tuner and channel information. The configuration files are located in the Apps/HDHomeRun Client/config directory. Upon initial installation, three sample configuration files are copied into the config directory:

channels.txt - the file that lists the available channels
tuners.txt - the file that lists the available tuners
playlist.jsp - a playlist file for skipping through channels

channels.txt

The channels.txt contains all of the channels that are to be available for viewing or recording on the NMT. One line describes each channel. The format is:

name,tuner_group,channel_number,program_number,icon,

name - the name of the channel as it will appear in the GUI
tuner_group - the name of the file listing the tuners where the channel is available
channel_number - physical channel number. The modulation type can also be included, such as 8vsb:56, but is not necessary unless the HDHomeRun is unable to determine the modulation type itself.
program_number - physical program number
icon - icon to display in the GUI. The icon must be in the Apps/HDHomeRun Client/gayaui/images/hd or Apps/HDHomeRun Client/gayaui/images/sd directory for the HD or SD interface, respectively. The image width and height dimensions should not exceed 45x35 for HD and 35x25 for SD.

For example, if "4.1 WNBC" is available on the tuners listed in tuners.txt on physical channel 28 and program 1, using the icon nbc.gif, the appropriate line in channels.txt is:

4.1 WNBC,tuners,28,1,nbc.gif,

tuners.txt

The tuners file contains a list of the available tuners, with one tuner listed per line. The format is:

device_id-tuner_number

For example, tuner 0 on device FFFFFFFF is represented as FFFFFFFF-0

Multiple files can be used to support different groups of tuners. For example, one file could list all tuners connected to an antenna, and another file could list all tuners connected to cable. The tuner_group in each entry of channels.txt specifies which file to use. The file name listing the tuners is the same as the name used in channels.txt, with .txt appended on the end. For example, a tuner_group called "cable" in channels.txt would require a cable.txt file listing the available tuners.

playlist.jsp

The playlist.jsp file is a sample file that demonstrates how to access content from the HDHomeRun tuner with a playlist. The URL used is:

http://localhost:43466/hdhomerun?device=xxx&channel=n&program=n

The following options are used:

device=xxx (for example, device=tuners) : Specifies the tuner group.
channel=n (for example, channel=8vsb:56 or channel=56 or channel=8vsb:457000000) : Specifies the channel to tune. Supported modulations are auto, 8vsb, qam, qam64, and qam256. The physical channel number or frequency can be used. If the modulation is omitted, the HDHomeRun will attempt to determine the modulation.
program=n (for example, program=1) : Specifies the program to tune. The channel and program number must be the physical channel and program, and not the logical channel and program.

Don't forget the VOD attribute in the <a> element for the live TV links.

You can determine the physical channel and program numbers by going to http://www.silicondust.com and clicking on "What channels will I receive?"

The playlist will give "back" and "next" functionality. When using the playlist, the PREV and NEXT buttons on the remote can be used to cycle through the channels in the playlist.

Do not pause the playback. That feature is not yet supported.

Contact Information

Author: Andrew J. Robinson
Email: ajr@bellatlantic.net
ajr on the Networked Media Tank forum

If you find the client useful, and would like to make a donation, please use the button below. This will help me to purchase a newer version of the NMT :-).