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I have heard many things (seems to be rumors) about the speed of streaming. But in practice there are at least in the streaming of HDTV content to the PC some problems. Whether live or recorded broadcast movie: again and again in the test occurred in the short stuttering. The streaming of "normal" programs, however, always worked smoothly, even when multiple streams simultaneously received. Maybe, I am doing something wrong. I want to know more about the streaming of HDTV.
First, one might suspect the problem was due to the high data rate of HDTV and thus resulting network congestion. High-quality channels such as that of the ARD transfer its normal program at a data rate to the 6000 Mbit / s. For critical items such as a sports broadcast, the data rate increases even up to 8000 Mbit / s. In contrast, HDTV shows with a good quality image 12000-16000 Mbit / s. Must save a transmitter of money, he often reduces its data rate. Niche channels as ever fall to below 1500 Mbit / s, HDTV is broadcast in part with 5000 Mbit / s to blur. In the test environment, the Dreambox achieved when transferring files, however, a data transfer rate of 8MB / s and thus 65 Mbit / s of user data. Thus should be the data rate of HDTV streams no problem.
The reason for the stuttering can be found rather in the VLC player. Classic TV is encoded in MPEG2. When playing an MPEG2 stream is the CPU utilization on a Core 2 Duo at 2.66 GHz and 2 MB of L2 cache at around ten percent. However, HDTV uses H.264 (MPEG-4) to transmit at the same bit rate significantly better images. Here, the decoding is much more complicated. In the test system, the CPU utilization was most HDTV streams beyond 70 percent. In high-motion scenes, the CPU went to stop, and stuttering was the result. In a more modern comparison system with a Core 2 Duo with 3 GHz and 4 MB L2 cache, the CPU utilization was during HDTV playback at only 30 percent. There were also no picture interference. Thus one can assume that this is no intrinsic problem of DM 8000th Rather, you simply need a powerful PC to be able to play HDTV streams from the Dreambox 8000.
For the Dreambox series with its MIPS- CPU , there is also a version of the SMB server Samba. This allows the Dreambox as a file server in any Windows network environment include. They are then not only for storing shared computer documents helpful. It is advisable to store all media files like MP3s, pictures and videos on it. Then, this only from any PC can not play, but also in the living room directly from the Dreambox via WLAN with mobile players anywhere in the house. The installation of Samba is the Gemini image very easy. The blue function key and then the so-called Blue Panel addons called settings. Then you charge the current list of addons from Gemini- Server and choose the Samba server under plugins. This will be installed after the download and must be configured just yet. The smb.conf configuration file of the Samba server is in the file directory under / etc / samba. For the first time use it is almost finished already configured, for fine-tuning it is best to back the DCC. As the screenshot gallery shows, you change the FTP window to / etc / samba and open the smb.conf with a right click. Now you only have the name of the workgroup parameter in the "work group" according to the suitable matching network configuration. More on the customization provided by the Samba shares.
Who would not only on the PC, but everywhere in the house listening to the Dreambox, for which offer UPnP media player. These mostly by wireless connected devices have relatively little inherent intelligence. A UPnP- server is ready for them, the lists of all available songs available to the players only need to display it. The user can then select the desired song or playlist on a simple display. Some UPnP-clients provide the music on their speakers then again, other one connects to the input amplifier of an Audi. The Dreambox DM 8000, there is a UPnP server plug-in that title on the hard disk with UPnP in the network offers. The UPnP server is already incorporated in the Gemini image and must therefore initialize it. The option is hidden in the blue panel under services / daemons. A simple click on "OK" to the remote starts the UPnP server, a few options can be on "Settings" change.