Cineca DVB software

17 Oct 2007

A Free, Linux-Based Open-Source DVB-H IP-Encapsulator

Ciao, We have the pleasure to announce an interesting outcome: a DVB-H enabled IP encapsulator!
Our friends at Telecommunications Research Center Vienna made an interesting plug in on top of JustDvb-It.
Go get this package at Amuse page.
Other info inside the README.txt file. BTW Amuse is an amusing project!
Happy hacking and thank you FTW guys!

| Dvb Core/IP Encapsulator | 2007.10.17-10:40.00

27 Jun 2007

Release of JustDVB-IT 2.0

After some many months, CINECA is proud to present the 2.0 version of JustDVB-IT, our GPL licensed DVB software.
JustDVB-IT is a transport stream (TS) generator that can be connected to a DVB network through a DVB-ASI output interface.
Read all the fantastic new features of this software: compressed modules, LCN and EPG, crypto features and download JusDVB-IT for free. There a new live cd to use as a quick demo.
If you didn't registered yet or you lost your account, sign up here
What's new:

• Compressed modules (impreve efficiency)
• LCN and EPG for enhanced basic esperience of the tv user (info about events)
• stream events "do it now" to make easy synchronized apps to the audio/video stream
• crypting streams
• documentation: manual.txt renamed readme.txt for the ease of the casual user..
• python script for complete generation
• Livecd too..

Happy hacking!

| Dvb Core/Carousel Server | 2007.06.27-16:27.00

27 Apr 2006

Release of JustDVB-IT 1.1

CINECA is proud to present the 1.1 version of JustDVB-IT, our GPL licensed DVB software.
JustDVB-IT is a transport stream (TS) generator that can be connected to a DVB network through a DVB-ASI output interface.
Sign in and download JusDVB-IT for free.
If you didn't registered yet or you lost your account, sign up here (registration form is currently italian only).
What's new:

• Bug fix for IdWay mhp middleware
• DtRecord: removed, if you need it, you can use the official tool from Dektec
• EIT: bug fix
• tstdt: added new, generates gmt time from server clock and restamp TDT packets
• documentation: manual.txt added
• tools/tsloop: support multiple input, removed buffering, good for transport scheduling
• config: shows an example of CBR muxing and multicarousel from MainConcept's input

Happy hacking!

| Dvb Core/Carousel Server | 2006.04.27-18:20.00

Moving to a new site

Finally we can move to a better place: the new blog is here
We hope to begin a more frequently updated news letter with the hottest tech announces..
Bye, andrea venturi

| Administration | 2006.04.27-18:02.00

07 Nov 2005

A DSMCC decoder for the masses

For the many people who need to decode, for educational purpose, the MHP applications filesystems on air, we suggest to give a quick glance to this well thought out DSMCC decoder Red Button.
Actually, it's a bit rough, but we are committed to help the main developer enhancing it with regard italian broadcaster interactive world, to make it a good tool for debugging and testing!
This is a good analisys tool complimenting dvb-snoop. All in all, a really good value for the bucks! :-)
The JustDvb-It team

| World News | 2005.11.07-14:27.00

28 Oct 2005

yambo: an MHP XML browser..

It's been a long time since the last post, anyway, now it's time for the next step, so we'd like to open up our free software (GPL licensed) MHP XML browser: Yambo v1.0 (Yet Another Micro Browser Open)

BTW This is just the first rough version, so dont take for granted that it works easily, well and in every STB; this is NOT a bug-free solution NOW
Actually it does not work OOB on openmhp 1.03; but it works on several STB we havei in our lab.
We are here to get feedback, indeed! and patches and suggestions so to make it quickly the best open micro browser on the net (there aren't so much free, anyway! ;-) )
We made two different packages: a binary only for the content developer, and a source for the MHP developer..
Inside the package you'll find a README in english and some sample. BUT you should already know what are you doing. otherwise, if you need to start quickly deploying contents and don't have knowledge or time, you can hire us. this is EXACTLY our business plan!
Beware: the registration page is still in italian only, actually! we are going to translate it ASAP (after november, 3); but don't worry, skip the intro and fill the field at the end with email address. you'll get a password by email and get soon to the download page.
Again: THERE IS NO WARRANTY, YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY!
And now the URL:

http://www.cineca.tv/labs/mhplab/

Let us know how it works for you.

Bye

Andrea Venturi

| Mhp Apps | 2005.10.28-16:46.00

29 Aug 2005

Let's meet @IBC2005

Hi! This year, we'll attend the IBC2005 friday 9 and saturday 10. so we thought: "why not meet face to face with all the people who are using our suite JustDvb-It!".
We want to give you a big thank you to let us become so quickly a so well respected competitor in the DVB solutions arena
We know from the blog logs how many people are eager to learn the latest and greatest news from this project so why not speak about:

• new functionalities (HDTV, datacasting, DVB-H)
• new hardware (OS, systems, dvb cards)
• new environments (IPTV..)

So, if you want to schedule a quick talk with us (Andrea Venturi and Roberto Ciacci), write an email to us and let find some time to meet..
Dont be too much, otherwise we'll not be able to harvest all the gadget we want!
The Cineca DVB staff

| World News | 2005.08.29-16:42.00

14 Jun 2005

Interesting proof of concept for a cheap dvb-t modulator

I don't know if you already stumbled on this interesting "proof of concept" about dvb-t modulation with really the cheapest equipment: gnu/linux and a simple modern vga card.
If the software programs behind this soft dvb-t modulator concept will be realeased, every one will be able to "produce" and test MHP application with our carousel without expensive equipment.
This could be really a complimentary element to our suite JustDvb-It useful for a cheap MHP lab for universities and other interested parties..
Good job, Fabrice!

| World News | 2005.06.14-18:32.00

20 May 2005

Release of JustDVB-IT 0.5

After many months we are back again!
Go get the the latest and greatest 0.5 version JustDVB-IT There is better support for multiple MHP xlet and system table insertion timings. Other info inside the README.txt.
The recipe, this time is:

• untar the package (tar xvfz JustDVB-IT-0.5. tgz ; cd JustDVB-IT-0.5)
• compile the drivers (cd drivers/dvbasi/Dta1xx ; make install)
• compile the library (cd libs; make install)
• compile the tools (cd tools; make install)
• insert the Dta driver (Dta1xx.init start)
• start the demo config (cd config ; ./start.sh )
• enjoy on a MHP STB (but warm up that dvb-t modulator in advance!! ;-)

Happy hacking!

| Dvb Core | 2005.05.20-11:48.00

17 Nov 2004

Another little gem in our lab: Sony HDR-FX1

We can proudly show our first HDTV enabled device: a brand new Sony HDR-FX1

you can get more info on the press release and in this "dedicated site". We can already tell that this little beast provides quite good MPEG2 transport streams (MP@H1440). If you want to "feel" this HDTV, you can try to see (maybe using VLC ) a 30 second shot of the external of our premises in this sunny autumn! (beware: this is a 100MB file)
If you have some feedback, please send us comment and everything!
Have a nice day..

| Misc Projects | 2004.11.17-16:06.00

18 Oct 2004

Release of Live CD based on Knoppix!

The Satexpo finally has gone and we are quite tired but happy .. anyway, we'd like to release the Live CD CreaTV (the md5sum is 31d161a3ccbedd59ad1e0b55468cbfc6)
This is all you need to make a one man band interactive digital tv.. :-)
The recipe this time is:

• Put a Dektec DVB ASI card on a PC
• Connect the PC straight to the modulator DVB-T
• Burn this image on a CD; choose a re-writable to reuse it when you'll find it's just garbage! ;-)
• Put the CD in the PC
• Power on the PC
• Tune the STB MHP on the modulator channel
• Enjoy the video and play Quadra
• Email us your best score (the return channel isn't working yet!!)

Have a good week end!

| Misc Projects | 2004.10.18-15:01.00

22 Sep 2004

JustDVB-IT goes to Satexpo 2004!

Hi, guys,
It's with great pleasure that i'd like to invite you to join us in Vicenza (IT) for the forthcoming Satexpo 2004 where we'll show at our booth (Pad F Stand: DT12) a complete DVB interactive lab and we'll present the live cd of JustDVB-IT (based on Knoppix, of course).
By the way, at the show we'll give away some copies for free (as freedom..) and then we'll put on the web an iso image soon after the end of the show..
The JustDVB-IT team

| Administration | 2004.09.22-12:03.00

24 Aug 2004

Interesting project: openmhp.org

This post just to spread the voice about another interesting project: OpenMHP
This project is the other side of our one! With a "free" MHP stack, we could just envisage many good things:

• an MHP stack finally bug free! ;-)
• MHP over DVB-S (think dreambox!)
• MHP for MS and LINUX OS to grab the 150EUR for an interactive DTT from the Italian Government! ;-)

Let's support it, too!
The Videoportal staff

| Mhp Apps | 2004.08.24-17:20.00

22 Jul 2004

Release of JustDVB-IT 0.3 ; with ip encapsulator

We are back, two weeks later our first public show out..
We are a little disappointed with the feedback. more than forty downloads and no comments at all :-( Maybe, because MHP is just a little topic today, in this huge DVB world..
Anyway, now it's time of another release: enhanced support in MHP and the first release of our ip encapsulator!
Go get this third second release of JustDVB-IT. Other info inside the README.txt.
To get the ip encapsulator running, the recipe is:

• Read the script in the dir "iptraffic"!
• Put in place the following test bed :

            +------+
            | host |
            +------+
               | (4)
          +-------------------------+
          |         internet        |
          +-------------------------+
           (3) |           |
          +------+ (5) +---------+ (6) +----------+
          |router|-----|iptraffic|-----| dvb-t mod|
          +------+     +---------+     +----------+
           (2) |                             | (7)
      +--------------+                +-------------+
      |    pstn      |                |    air      |
      +--------------+                +-------------+
               |                         |
               | modem(1)         nova-t | (8)
               |                         |
               |    +----------------+   |
               +----|     user pc    |---+
                    +----------------+
  
  

• So we used a cisco router with a couple of ethernet ports and an access modem. You can get a sample config here. Of course, you can do it with a linux router with modem and serial port.. let us know!
• Have another ethernet port (5 in the picture above) in your ip encapsulator; remember, all the traffic coming from the router will be "forwarded" on the ts stream (replacing only PID null) out of the ASI port!
• Setup a demo pc with a modem and a DVB-T card (we used a nova-t) with the proper data driver (under an OS coming from Redmond!)
• Beware the forced ARP association, in the router config, between the destination ip address (10.0.0.11) and the MAC address of OUR dvb-t card!! CHANGE as needed. It'll be moved to the ip encapsulator config in a later release!

Happy hacking!

| Dvb Core/IP Encapsulator | 2004.07.22-17:27.00

06 Jul 2004

Launch on linux-dvb mailing list

Today we made the launch posting on linuxdvb mailing list, so, hello to all the linuxdvb ML users!
This is Yet Another Blog about DVB and MHP from the broadcaster side. We hope you can find here some useful info, tools and people to share ideas and solutions for a better interactive digital television
Bye

| Administration | 2004.07.06-14:21.00

Release of JustDVB-IT 0.2

We made it again! Go get the second release of JustDVB-IT There is better support for multiple MHP xlet and system table insertion timings. Other info inside the README.txt.
Next, we hope to release soon an IP encapsulator module..
The recipe, as usual, is:

• feed a audio/video ts
• mux it with a MHP app
• drive a DVB ASI card (actually the dektec one)
• enjoy on a set top box (if you happens to have a dvb-t modulator lying around! ;-)

To get the "boost", look at the start.sh script inside the directory cindemo.
Happy hacking!

| Dvb Core | 2004.07.06-11:50.00

22 Jun 2004

An open source software Mpeg multiplexer

Another missing piece for a complete open source MPEG solution is coming out on the 'net: mplex13818.
We'll need some time to evaluate how good it is in a real world of "cheap" STB.
The Videoportal staff

| World News | 2004.06.22-18:04.00

First MHP apps: quadra game

Now you can find the first MHP application you can use to test your complete interactive digital tv chain. It's based on the very same plot of quadra, an old time popular game. Wait some days and we'll put in place the source too.
It's an early version so there should be some bug and glitch. please send us comments to video portal staff
The Videoportal staff

| Mhp Apps | 2004.06.22-17:53.00

15 Jun 2004

Release of JustDVB-IT 0.1

We are quite happy to announce the release of the first alpha version of our DVB solution You'll be able to:

• feed a audio/video ts
• mux it with a MHP app
• drive a DVB ASI card (actually the dektec one)
• enjoy on a set top box (if you happens to have a dvb-t modulator lying around! ;-)

Enjoy!

| Dvb Core | 2004.06.15-18:32.00

12 Jun 2004

Which kind of carrier are you thinking for you DVB headhend application?

| Polls | 2004.06.12-20:49.00

10 Jun 2004

Let introduce the newly created MHP apps corner

Hi, i'd like to invite you to join us in this newly created corner for MHP applications produced in Cineca. Here, we'll announce software releases of our MHP demo applications..
We are working, now, on these MHP applications:

1. a RSS news reader
2. a simple porting of the tetris game
3. a graphical and interactive meteo application
4. a T-learning interactive engine

more news to come. Stay with us..
Bye
The Videoportal staff

| Mhp Apps | 2004.06.10-18:50.00

A new kid on the blog!

We are quite happy to announce yet another blog: this time the topic is Open Source solutions in the Digital Television World! This blog should focus on:

• The italian market of DTT services
• The cineca value proposition as a service provider
• A mailing list (archived) where meet other people involved in interactive DTT
• A complete solution for MPEG2 television (up to DVB ASI output port)
• Our MHP carousel server
• A bunch of free (as freedom) MHP applications

Let's the ball start rolling

| Administration | 2004.06.10-03:01.00