B-series Digital Broadcaster analog models are capable of generating a network stream (a.k.a. web preview) for remote channel monitoring of a channel or encoder. You can enable web preview streaming for any channel or encoder.
Note: Pro and HD models that play 1920x1080i HD content do not support this feature. Transcoding a live stream is very CPU-intensive at this bitrate.
To monitor remotely across the web, enable port 8686 on your router or firewall, or forward another external port to port 8686 on the server. Contact your IT department as needed.
Warning: Network streaming can send large amounts of data across your network. This can cause network congestion if not coordinated with your IT department. Please confirm with your IT department before enabling.
Network Streaming for a Channel
The network stream for a channel will show video playouts only. External sources from a video switch or device will not be streamed. JPEG images and overlays will not be streamed. To configure a channel for network streaming, login as an admin and:
1. Click the Config tab.
2. In the Channel Setup section, click the link for channels to display the Edit Channel page. (On an encoder, go to the Feed Setup section and click on encoder settings to display the Configure Encoder page.)
3. Under Actions, click the Edit icon .
4. In the Monitoring box, set the following:
- Check the “Enable Network Streaming?” box.
- Network Streaming IP: 127.0.0.1
- Network Streaming Port: 1234
Note: If you cannot see the Monitoring box, your server does not offer the network streaming feature. Network streaming is available only on analog models.
5. Click Save in the Monitoring box.
Network Streaming for an Encoder
The network stream for an encoder will display the entire source feeding the encoder. If you would like to monitor a station output or channel and see everything including overlays, JPEGs, and external sources, you can route the source to the encoder input (for example via the video switch) and stream the encoder. To configure an encoder for network streaming:
1. Click the Config tab.
2. In the Feed Setup section, click the link for encoder settings.
3. In the Monitoring box, set the following:
- Check the “Enable Network Streaming?” box.
- Network Streaming IP: 127.0.0.1
- Network Streaming Port: 1234
4. Click Save in the Monitoring box.
Only one resource including channels and encoder feeds may be streamed at a time. If you try to enable network streaming for a resource and another resource is already streaming, you will see a note such as “To enable network streaming for this channel, disable network streaming for Encoder Feed 1” in place of the Monitor box.
Viewing the Stream
Once you have configured network streaming to generate a web preview you can view the stream with a media player. Two examples are:
Windows Media Player
1. Click on the Windows Media Player icon to open it.
2. Click on Now Playing .. (More) Options…
3. Click on the Network tab.
4. In the Streaming proxy settings section, highlight the HTTP protocol and click the Configure button.
5. Click on the Use the following proxy server radio button. In the Address window, enter: mms://<server_ip_address>:8686/b1000.mp4
6. In the Port window enter 1234
7. Click the OK button to return the Options page. Click the OK button. The video stream should appear in Windows Media Player.
Video LAN Client (VLC)
1. Click on the VLC icon to open it.
2. Click on File .. Open Network Stream. . .
3. Click on the HTTP/HTTPS/FTP/MMS radio button. In the URL window, enter: mmsh://<server_ip_address>:8686/b1000.mp4
4. Click the OK button. The video stream should appear in the VLC window.
After you have monitored the channel for a few minutes and are satisfied the playout or encode is going well, return to the Channel Setup or Feed Setup section of the Config tab and disable network streaming.
Disabling Network Streaming
1. Click the Config tab.
2. In the Channel Setup section, click the link for channels, then under Actions, click the Edit icon OR In the Feed Setup section, click the link for encoder settings.
3. In the Monitoring box, uncheck the “Enable Network Streaming?” box.
4. Click Save in the Monitoring box.
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