Monash TV Set-up

MRS has been testing TV streaming across the network. This is a free service that allows you to watch certain free to air television stations on a computer connected to the Monash Network.
Step1 : Download and install the client
I recommend VLC. There are versions for Mac, Windows and Linux. The Windows version can be found for free at
ftp://help.mrs.monash.edu.au/pub/tim/mplayer/latest-vlc-win32.exe
Download and install the application.
Step 2 : Get VLC to listen to SAP Announcements
Open VLC, go to Tools, Preferences, Show Options (All), Playlist, and then Services Discovery, SAP, and enable IPv4 SAP Announcements.
SAP Announcement
Then Click Save
Step 3 : Close and Restart VLC.
For the SAP Announcements to work, often you need to restart VLC. Close it and Open it again. It's Windows, get used to it :)
Step 4 : Populate your Playlist.
Now VLC is running again, under the Playlist Menu, select Show Playlist. It should look like the Window below.
Playlist
In about a minute the SAP will populate, and a whole lot of channels will appear there.
Windows may pop-up a windows blocking firewall rule when you try this. You need to allow the TV stream in, if you want to watch it.
Step 5 : Watch TV.
Pick a channel and start watching. There should be a SAP Group called MonashTV which has the Monash Channels within it.
FAQ
1) What's the latest version of vlc, and should I use it ?
You should be using whatever the vlc community recommend at http://www.videolan.org/
2) What's the cost of using this service ?
All the streams that show up in the SAP announcement list are free to watch. They're travelling around aarnet, and are supplied as a base part of the aarnet service. That said we can't control what channels appear there, and their quality etc. The only ones that Monash has any control over are the MonashTV ones..
3) The picture looks funny when things move fast
 Try changing the Interlacing mode. Right click on the picture the choose the De-interlace Option, and then move it off Disable.
4) How can I find out more about VLC?
Go to their website http://www.videolan.org/
5) Can I just play a playlist with VLC?
Download a playlist and then right click on it, and select play with VLC.
6) Where are the UCTV Streams?
The Univeristy of Canberra TV streams have been removed due to legal concerns. See their announcement
7) Channel Ten looks jerky, why is that?
You can change your options to smooth this out. Preferences -> Input / Codecs -> Access Modules -> Advanced settings -> UDP/RTP -> Turn caching from 300ms to 400ms or higher if needed...
8) Can I record the streams?
The TV streams have the same legal/copyright restrictions as normal free to air recordings.
A Windows short-cut that looks like
"C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" --intf wx udp://@239.255.0.1:1234 --sout #duplicate{dst=std{access=file,mux=ts,dst=c:\abc.ts}}
Will record the abc stream to c:\abc.ts
9) Can I use something else to watch the streams?
mplayer works with the streams also. The syntax you need is mplayer udp://@239.255.0.1:1234
It won't pick up the SAP broadcasts but plays streams fine, and is a little more robust than vlc, but less user friendly.
10) The playlist isn't showing up??
You can try manually forcing vlc to play a stream.
Media - Open Network - Protocol (udp) address (as given below) - play.
11) VLC isn't working properly still??
You can try re-booting the pc, and re-installing vlc.
It's also possible for PC's security software to block VLC. Try disabling the security software, and then try VLC again. Don't forget to re-enable it.
12) The Streams don't work over wireless?
The Wireless Network can't carry the TV streams. It's a Monash Australia Wired service only.
13) Where can I see on-line tv guides??
There are a few about. Here's a link to one of them http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/TV/static/MelbourneNight.html
14) VLC shows SAP streams inconsistently after upgring VLC??
We've had a lot of issues reported with VLC 2.x. We've reported them to the vendor who supports the tv streaming appliances. In the meantime downgrade VLC to 1.x.
Channel Listing

Terrestial Channels.
 MultiCast Address
ABC Channels
ABC Melbourne
 239.255.0.1
ABC2 Melbourne
 239.255.0.2
ABC3 Melbourne
 239.255.0.35
ABC News 24
 239.255.0.21
ABC DiG Radio
 239.255.0.3
ABC DiG Jazz 239.255.0.4
Channel Seven
7 HD Mate
 239.255.0.5
7 Guide
 239.255.0.6
7 Digital
 239.255.0.7
7 TWO
 239.255.0.22
7 TV4ME
 239.255.0.18
Channel Nine
Nine Go
 239.255.0.8
Nine Digital
 239.255.0.9
Nine Digital HD
 239.255.0.11
Channel Ten
TEN Digital
 239.255.0.10
TEN ONE HD
 239.255.0.12
TEN Eleven Digital
 239.255.0.13
Special Broadcast Service. SBS
SBS
 239.255.0.16
SBS 2
 239.255.0.17
SBS RADIO 1
 239.255.0.19
SBS RADIO 2
 239.255.0.20
Channel 31
Channel 31
 239.255.0.33
Satellite Channels
 MultiCast Address
Host : Sat-stream1 - Card 0 - AsiaSat3s, Freq 4000, SR 26850, FEC 7/8 - STAR TV
Channel V Chinese
 239.255.0.44
Phoenix Chinese Channel
 239.255.0.45
Phoenix InfoNews Channel
 239.255.0.47
Xing Kong
 239.255.0.46
Host : Sat-stream1 - Card 1 - AsiaSat3s, Freq 2780, SR 28100, FEC 3/4 - Star UTSAV
STAR UTSAV
 239.255.0.51
Host : Sat-stream2 - Card 0 - AsiaSat2, Freq 4000, SR 28125, FEC 3/4 - SatLink
RTR Planeta
 239.255.0.71
RAI International 
239.255.0.72
TVE
 239.255.0.73
RTPi
 239.255.0.74
Cubavision
 239.255.0.75
France24
 239.255.0.76
Luke TV
 239.255.0.77
Host : Sat-stream2 - Card 1 - AsiaSat3s, Freq 3760, SR 26000, FEC 7/8 - PCM Network
NOW
 239.255.0.61
Russia Today
 239.255.0.63
Muslim TV1
 239.255.0.64
Muslim TV2
 239.255.0.65
Al Jazeera International
 239.255.0.66
TV5
 239.255.0.67
DW-TV ASIA
 239.255.0.68
Supreme Master TV
 239.255.0.69
Host : Sat-stream3 - Card 0 - Palapa C2, Freq 4080, SR 28125, FEC 3/4 - Satelindo
Global TV
 239.255.0.81
MetroTV
 239.255.0.82
CH3
 239.255.0.83
Spacetoon
 239.255.0.84
Host : Sat-stream3 - Card 1 - Intelsat5, Freq 3940, SR 27690, FEC 7/8 - Intelsat

BBC World
 239.255.0.91
EWTN Pacific Rim
 239.255.0.92

TV Stats
Feel free to email me feedback on the service to tim@help.mrs.monash.edu.au