VU+ Player Manual

download VU+ Player Manual

of 30

Transcript of VU+ Player Manual

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    1/30

    1

    VU+ Player Manual

    Section 1 - Overview

    VU+ Player is an Android app designed to allow you to control and stream from any

    satellite receivers you own, either from the same network as the receiver, or from aremote location. Although designed for the VU+ range of receivers, it should work

    with any Linux receiver. There are three main purposes for this app:

    1) As a substitute remote control while viewing your TV. If you do not like equipment

    on display, your receiver can be paced out of site (and IR remote range) and this app

    used to control it.

    2) A means of watching your satellite receiver on a portable device at home. For

    example if you want to watch a different channel to the one displayed on the

    connected TV, you can stream an alternative channel from any receiver with two

    tuners. Watching the streamed channel has no effect on the one being viewed.

    VU+Solo2 owners can enable the transcoder function. This will enable streaming on

    an alternate port (8002 by default) with the ability to watch HD channels with reduced

    bit rate. This function is experimental and still under development.

    3) A remote viewer. You must have a very good upload speed from home and

    download speed from your current location. The app can work from anywhere in the

    world where you can get a WiFi connection. All you need is a dynamic DNS address

    at home, e.g. DynDNS and forward ports on your router. Possible scenarios are

    airport lounges, coffee shops, hotels, etc. VU+Solo2 owners can enable the transcoderfunction and take advantage of this.

    The home screen of VU+ Player (horizontal):

    Figure 1

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    2/30

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    3/30

    3

    Section 2 - Settings

    When first installed the app goes straight to the initial settings dialog to allow you to

    enter the details of your receiver(s)

    Figure 3

    Fill in the fields as follows:

    1) Receiver Profile Name: Your choice e.g. VU+Solo2

    2) IP-Address. The IP address of your receiver, e.g. 192.168.1.100. It is advised youdisable DHCP in your receiver and give it a fixed IP address. This is the one you

    should enter here.

    3) Dyn.DNS Add: If you have a dynamic DNS address e.g. myname.dyndns.org else

    leave blank.

    4) Port Number: The port your receiver's WebIF uses (default is 80) Change this if

    you are intending to log in from outside your LAN, e.g. with dynamic DNS. Example

    8889.

    5) User Name: This is "root" by default

    6) Password: Blank by default (No password)

    7) No zap before streaming: Select only if you have two or more active tuners.

    8) Enable transcoding: Experimental, currently on VU+Solo2 only.

    9) Port number for transcoding can be entered here. Default port 8002.

    10) Default Box Profile: Select if this is the only receiver, or the one you want to use

    by default.

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    4/30

    4

    Once a profile has been created the back button produces a dialog confirming whether

    to save the new settings:

    Figure 4

    If save is selected, another dialog asks whether you want to use the new settings.

    Figure 5

    If this is the only receiver then choose "Yes". If this is another profile and you do not

    want to use it then select "No"

    If you select the "Settings" button again, with at least one receiver set up then you get

    the option to review your settings:

    Figure 6

    If you do not want vibration feedback when using the app as a remote control

    substitute, then select "Disable Vibrations in RC"

    If you intend to stream from any of your receivers select "Enable Remote Streaming"

    If you have a dynamic DNS address then select this to allow you to stream video

    when away from your home LAN (Local Area Network)

    Selecting "Handle Receiver Profiles" allows you to add/edit/delete any profiles:

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    5/30

    5

    Figure 7

    To add a new profile select the "Add new receiver profile" and you will be returned to

    Figure 3 above. If you select an existing profile you can Select, Edit or Delete it:

    Figure 8

    Home Screen.

    There is a menu (the triple dot icon) on the top right corner:Selecting this:

    Figure 9

    Menu > About: Gives software version and developers name:

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    6/30

    6

    Figure 10

    Long tap on the VU+ icon gives a dialog with screen settings and the IP address of the

    Android device you are using

    Figure 11

    Menu > Support: Opens your device browser to VU+ Homepage

    Menu > Enforce Dynamic DNS: If connected to your LAN and a dynamic address has

    been entered, this will force the device to use the external address of your network, as

    if you were away from home. (Useful to test streaming) If you are on a LAN

    elsewhere with the same I.P. range as at home this will prevent errors from occurring

    as your receiver is not present.

    Menu > Help - Dynamic DNS: Explains points above.

    Menu > "Enable/Disable no zapping" function is for twin tuner receivers and allowsyou to stream one channel while watching another on the TV screen.

    Menu > "Enable/Disable transcoding for streaming" function is an experimental

    function for VU+ Solo2 receivers with transcoding enabled on the receiver.

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    7/30

    7

    Section 3 - Controls

    Selecting "Controls" gives you the following:

    Figure 12

    Selecting the forward arrow on the Power Controls tile switches you to the first of a

    series of three screens representing most of the buttons on the VU remote control.

    This section will deliberately not operate unless connected via your LAN. (If you are

    in a remote location you would be unable to see the result of your choices!) The first

    of these screens is "Watching":

    There is no change in the appearance on your device screen as you are using it as a

    remote control.

    Figure 13

    This responds as you would expect. Volume and Ch. up/down, Subtitles and Teletextare self explanatory.

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    8/30

    8

    Audio brings up your audio choices (Mpeg / AC3 /NAR etc)

    "Video" gives you access to your default Movie location, where recordings are stored.

    Selecting any recorded file starts it playing.

    The second screen is "Navigation"

    Figure 14

    This allows you to select your full EPG, or the general Menu, with all its subsequent

    choices to set up your receiver. You can set up a timer from the EPG as well.

    The final screen is "Play"

    Figure 15

    This screen allows you to control the playback of recordings and alter the volume.

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    9/30

    9

    Power Controls screen:

    "Standby": Allows you to put your receiver into Standby state (after confirmation)

    "Wakeup": Allows you to take your receiver out of standby state (after confirmation)

    "Restart GUI": Allows you to re-start your receiver's Graphical User Interface (after

    confirmation)

    "Deep Standby": Allows you to put your receiver into deep standby state (after

    confirmation)

    "Reboot": Allows you to re-boot your receiver (after confirmation)

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    10/30

    10

    Section 4 - Timers

    This part of the app is only for viewing and editing existing timers, or adding a

    manual timer at a set date and time. If you want to set a timer via the EPG, as you

    normally would while in front of the TV with the remote, then this is covered later.

    Starting at the home screen, selecting the first tile "Timers":

    Figure 16

    The timer screen lists any timers that already exist. There is a menu on the top right

    side with two options:

    Menu > "Add manual timer:"

    Figure 17

    "Action": Choose Record or Zap

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    11/30

    11

    "Enabled": Selected by default

    "One-Time event": Selected by default displays fields "Start Date" and "End Date"

    "Recurring Event": When selected gives field "Recurring Days:"

    Figure 18

    Selecting "Start Date" or "End Date" displays a tool window (One Time Event only)

    Figure 19

    Use this to select your Start/End date(s)

    Selecting "Start Time" or "End Time" displays a tool window (One Time Event and

    recurring)

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    12/30

    12

    Figure 20

    Use this to select your Start/End time(s)

    Tapping "Event Title" brings up your keyboard. Type in a name for the event. The

    "Event Description" acts similarly.

    Figure 21

    Tap "Tap here to select a channel" switches to the bouquets screen and allows you to

    choose your channel:

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    13/30

    13

    Figure 22

    Once you have selected your channel it appears in the timer screen (Figure 24):

    Figure 23

    "Tap here to select a location" allows you to choose where to store your recordings:

    Figure 24

    When completed the back arrow prompts to save the timer.

    Figure 25

    Tap "Yes"

    Figure 26

    Menu > "Clear Timers", which deletes any timers that have already run:

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    14/30

    14

    Figure 27

    Selecting "Yes" removes expired timers:

    Figure 28

    If there are no remaining timers once cleared:

    Figure 29

    You are left with an empty screen:

    Figure 30

    Timer List (refer to Figure 16)

    If you select one of the timer events in the list, the lower half of the screen displays

    this event in more detail.

    Two buttons are available : Edit and Delete

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    15/30

    15

    Figure 31

    Selecting "Delete" brings up the following dialog

    Figure 32

    Yes to confirm and the timer is deleted.

    Selecting Edit returns you to the timer screen (Figure 21) allowing you to edit and

    save as before.

    Setting a timer from the EPG (Not using the "Timers" part of the app)

    If you are not in front of the TV, or away from home, then you can still do the job of

    setting a timer. From the home screen tap "Services" to get your bouquets (Figure 25)

    Select the Bouquet you want. Tap the channel you want to record from:

    Figure 33

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    16/30

    16

    Figure 34

    Tap "EPG"

    Figure 35

    Tap "Full EPG"

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    17/30

    17

    Figure 36

    Select the event you want to record. If this is the event you want to set then tap "Set

    Timer":

    Figure 37

    Tap OK when this screen appears:

    Figure 38

    Confirm you have set the timer by navigating back to the home screen and tapping

    "Timers":

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    18/30

    18

    Figure 39

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    19/30

    19

    Section 4 - Extra

    Figure 40

    Button > "Receiver Information":

    Figure 41

    Button > "Grab Screenshot" gets a screenshot of the video image currently being

    displayed:

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    20/30

    20

    Figure 42

    Tapping "Refresh" updates the image to the current frame displayed.

    Tapping "Save" will dump a jpeg image in the SD card (Internal if your device does

    not have an external SD card)

    Button > "Search EPG":

    Figure 43

    Enter your search text and start search. For example "News":

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    21/30

    21

    Figure 44

    This assumes you have set up your EPG and populated it.

    Selecting a search result gives you 3 options:

    Figure 45

    "IMDb" starts device browser at IMdb page, or starts IMDB app if installed.

    "Set Timer" enters it into the Timers database

    "EPG" gives more details:

    Figure 46

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    22/30

    22

    Button > "Send Message":

    Figure 47

    Allows you to send an on-screen message to the TV connected to your receiver.

    "Message": Type your message into the text box.

    "Type": Select the type of message Warning, Info or Error

    "Timeout" Select the time the message is displayed on screen.

    "Send" Sends the message to your TV

    Button > "Signal Meter":

    Figure 48

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    23/30

    23

    Section 5 - Services

    There is an info button on this tile to give you further information about the current

    channel:

    Figure 49

    Button > "Next Event" to view next EPG event details.

    Button > "Imdb" opens IMDB app if installed, or opens default browser to IMDB

    homepage.

    Button > "Stream" to start streaming and open selected media player.

    Figure 50

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    24/30

    24

    Tap "Services" to go to your bouquets (as Figure 25):

    From here tap your required bouquet, e.g. Entertainment:

    Figure 51

    Selecting a channel gives you three options:

    Figure 52

    1) "Zap" will change to the selected channel

    Stream will zap and stream the selected channel, unless you have used the "Enable no

    zapping before streaming" option has been chosen from the main menu AND you

    have two tuners active on your receiver. You can then stream a different channel to

    the one currently displaying on your TV screen. If you stream an SD channel this

    should be clear and smooth. HD is device and network dependant.

    Initially the channel streams and an overlay gives details. This disappears after a few

    seconds and leaves a clean interface:

    While viewing a stream if you tap on the screen you will get the overlay seen here:

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    25/30

    25

    Figure 53

    The menu items available are shown in this composite image:

    Figure 54

    "Services" > "TV" to display bouquets:

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    26/30

    26

    Figure 55

    From here you can select another channel and switch streams

    Services > Radio: Not yet implemented

    Audio > Select Audio Channel (Not currently available on transcoded streams)

    Video Layout > Original Layout: Displays the streamed video in its original size.

    Shown here- SD PAL 720 x 576 on 1280 x 800 tablet:

    Figure 56

    Video Layout > Scaling: The default display method (Figure 52)

    Video > Stretching: The video now fills the screen. Depending on it's aspect ratio,

    some distortion may occur (e.g. elongated head), but there are no black borders:

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    27/30

    27

    Figure 57

    Video > Zooming: This fills the available screen, but zooms in to preserve the aspect

    ratio. No distortion seen, but some areas of the image are not displayed:

    Figure 58

    2) Tap "EPG" gives the EPG for the selected channel:

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    28/30

    28

    Figure 59

    Next Event gives the details :

    Figure 60

    Full EPG gives the full EPG for the selected channel

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    29/30

    29

    Figure 61

    Zap, Stream, IMdb and Set Timer operate as already described

    Finally there is a menu option in the services area: which can show all channels if

    required.

    Figure 62

    Menu > Show all channels (TV) to load the list:

    Figure 63

  • 8/12/2019 VU+ Player Manual

    30/30

    Section 6 - Movies

    Movies takes you to the default movie directory:

    Figure 64

    Button > Stream: Streaming does not use the transcoder as yet, so has the same

    problem with HD as viewing live TV. SD Recording playback (Original Size):

    Figure 65

    Button > Delete:

    Figure 66