myTheatre and XBOX

[rtv_73]

Has anyone successfully set up and XBOX to view remotly streamed video from myTheatre? If so, could you share your experience?

I have been trying for a while with XBMC with myTheatre.py and MyTheatre with AVBroadcaster without luck.

Thanks

[overdose]

I got it to work but it somewhat choppy at times. The thing to check is when you ftp into your xbox if you have anything in your python folder. I know some releases of xbmc have the ability to run python scripts but dont have the python libraries installed. if you dont have a heap of *.py's under your python folder you will need to find python23.zlib file. Unrar /unzip it to your python root in the xbmc folder on the xbox. ie: f:/apps/xbmc/python.

I ended up downloading the entire source for xbmc and pulled the zlib from there:

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=87054&package_id=122530


I got the streaming/epg files from that chicken site not the seanster avb d/l. I couldnt get seansters to work for me. The chicken 2.0 has the epg server as well... really nice to see what you are watching.

http://www.kickinchicken.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=54587


I also found that my 2.4/512 would ouput a better stream if the video display was off on it while streaming and I also changed the priority to real time as I was running nothing else (its a deticated HTPC).

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what I had to do (c/p from another site):

MyTheatre
AVB - A/V Broadcaster Plugin with EPG Information


This MyTheatre plugin is an improved version that includes EPG information in the channel listings. It is built in conjunction with modifications to the XBMC myTheatre.py python script v1.0 for XBOX . Setting the XBMC cache size to the minimum allows streaming to work reliably so people who are having issues should try it.

Unzip the AVB.zip file into your MyTheatre\Plugins directory and setup as follows:



DO NOT click “START BROADCAST”
XBMC establishes the http connection and AVB pumps out packets through it. If you were to activate broadcasting and also use the http connection then you would be using twice the bandwidth.

There's a button on xbmc that will display the video statistics. On an controller it is the small black button on the bottom right corner.
Start video playing and then pop up the statistics and keep an eye on the cache. Odds are it will start around 24% and dwindle down to 0% and die.

It works like this:

MyTheatre calls AVB and says here's a chunk of data.
AVB then sends that chunk out over tcpip, letting the tcp stack deal with splitting the data into appropriate sized packets.
The process repeats.
That's it.

So, if the cache can't stay filled, it could be MyTheatre not calling the function often enough, or xbmc not reading the stream fast enough.
I don't know how much data MT sends per call so maybe there's an opportunity to optimize filling up packets. I don't know.

I have used many different versions of xbmc and mytheatre.
Sometimes you get a combination that works and sometimes you dont.

Right now, mine tends to work after a few false starts and I can live with that.

PC Setup:

1. Ensure that your Favorite Channels are set up in MyTheatre. Only Favorites are available to view in XBMC. The group NONE has everything as well but its alot easier having the groups.

2. Configure Mytheatre AVBroadcaster to stream http to the Xbox
Network Settings - enter ip address of xbox
Set http port (default 8000)
Network protocol - HTTP/RTSP On, XNS off

EPG Server setup:

3. Place the xbmcepg directory into you Mytheatre directory (normally c:\Program Files\Mytheatre). This will leave xbmcepg as a new subdirectory (normally c:\Program Files\Mytheatre\xbmcepg).

4. Run the program myTheatreEPGServ.exe

5. If it is working a message “Mytheatre server active” will appear

6. If using WinXP firewall open TCP ports for AVB and EPG (defaults 8000 and 8001)

Notes:
-EPG is optional.
-myTheatreEPGServ.exe must be running for the EPG to work.
-EPG uses port 8001 by default. If you want to use a different port then pass it as a parameter to the program:
e.g. myTheatreEPGServ.exe 8001
-If you want to install xbmcepg in a different location then pass the path to Mytheatre as a second parameter
e.g. myTheatreEPGServ.exe 8001 "c:\Program Files\Mytheatre"

XBOX Setup:

1. Ensure you can receive http broadcast in xbmc by following these instructions:

Create a file called "DVB Stream.strm" and open it in notepad paste "http://192.168.0.100:8000/dvbcore.mpg" of course replace the ip address with the ip of your computer. save and upload to the xbox audio folder or your audio share(like you would internet streaming files). Open the file and it will buffer for a second then start playing.
2. Edit the start of myTheatre.py for the IP and port of the computer running myTheatre.

ServIP = IP of the computer running myTheatre
e.g. ServIP = '192.168.0.1'

AVBServPort = Http set in AVBroadcaster (default=8000)
e.g. AVBServPort = 8000

EPGServPort = Port for python EPG server, if in use (default=8001)
e.g. EPGServPort = 8001

ChangeDelay = delay for channel change in seconds (default=4, max = 18)
e.g. ChangeDelay=4
This causes a delay between changing channels. If you experience problems viewing tv immediately after channel changes try increasing this value.

example settings:

##################################################
##########
#Set IP address of PC running MyTheatre
ServIP = '192.168.0.1'
#
#Set port for avbroadcaster http
AVBServPort = 8000
#
#Set port for python EPG server
EPGServPort = 8001
#
#Set delay for channel change in seconds (default = 4, max = 18)
ChangeDelay=4
##################################################
##########

3. Put myTheatre.py in xbmc scripts directory and run it.

4. On running script you should see the MyTheatre favourites groups. Use remote 'select' or controller 'A' to enter channel listing or to watch tv channel. When watching tv channels use remote 'display' or controller 'X' to toggle between channel list and tv. Use remote 'menu' or controller 'back' to return to the favourites groups list or to exit.

5. Use remote 'info' button or controller white button whilst highlighting a channel name to see the EPG. Use remote 'select' or controller 'A' whilst highlighting EPG items to see more detail.

Notes
-EPG is optional (you can change channels and watch tv without it)