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Boost DVBViewer Functionality with DVBLink: Features & Tips

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DVBLink is a server-side solution that captures DVB (satellite, cable, terrestrial) and IPTV streams, manages channel lists and EPG, and makes live TV and recordings available to client applications and devices on your network. DVBViewer is a Windows-based TV playback application that supports direct DVB hardware and also acts as a client for DVBLink servers, offering a polished program guide, recording management, and playback features.

If you want centralized tuning and streaming across multiple devices, DVBLink acts as the backend while DVBViewer is a powerful frontend client.

Prerequisites

  • A Windows PC to run DVBLink Server (server components are Windows-based).
  • DVBViewer installed on one or more Windows clients (can be the same PC).
  • A supported DVB tuner (satellite, cable, terrestrial) connected to the DVBLink server machine, or an IPTV source (M3U, multicast).
  • Network connectivity between the DVBLink server and DVBViewer clients (same LAN or routed network).
  • Valid DVBLink Server license (free trial available; some features require paid license).
  • Basic familiarity with network IP addresses and Windows firewall settings.
  1. Download the latest DVBLink Server installer from the official DVBLink website.
  2. Run the installer as Administrator and follow prompts. Typical components are: DVBLink Server, DVBLink Database, and optional plugins (IPTV, SAT>IP, EPG Grabbers).
  3. When the installer asks about service mode, install DVBLink Server as a Windows Service for reliable background operation.
  4. After installation, open the DVBLink Server web interface (default URL: http://localhost:8080 or http://:8080). The web UI is used for most configuration steps.

Tip: On first run the installer may prompt to install database or codecs. Allow necessary components; you can change most options later.

Step 2 — Configure Hardware Sources

  1. In the DVBLink Server web UI, go to the Hardware or Sources section.
  2. Add your physical tuner(s). For local PCIe or USB tuners, the server should auto-detect them. For networked tuners (SAT>IP), add the device by IP.
  3. For IPTV sources, use the IPTV plugin: add an M3U playlist URL or define multicast streams.
  4. Verify each source can tune channels and receive MPEG-TS streams (use the built-in preview or stream test).

Notes:

  • For satellite tuners, configure LNB settings, DiSEqC for multiswitch/LNBs, and Diseqc motor if needed.
  • If using SAT>IP, ensure the SAT>IP server supports the tuner and the network allows multicast if required.

Step 3 — Scan Channels and Import EPG

  1. Use the DVBLink channel scanner to create channel lists (one per delivery system: DVB-S/S2, DVB-C, DVB-T/T2, IPTV).
  2. For each tuner, select transponders or use automatic blind scan if supported.
  3. After scanning, assign logical bouquets/groups and mark favorite channels.
  4. Configure EPG sources: DVBLink can extract DVB EIT EPG from broadcast streams, import XMLTV files, or use online EPG grabbers.
  5. Map EPG data to channels and verify program guide entries appear.

Tip: For satellite, import transponder lists (TP lists) for your orbital position to speed scanning. For IPTV, many playlists include channel names and sometimes EPG links—use those.

  1. In the web UI, go to Server Settings → Streaming & Sharing or similar section.
  2. Enable MPEG-TS or HTTP streaming as needed; configure port numbers and stream formats (TS over HTTP, RTSP, HLS, etc.). DVBViewer commonly uses the DVBLink-specific server protocol but also supports TS streams.
  3. Create user accounts and set access rights for channels, streaming, and recording. Assign passwords or use anonymous access only on trusted networks.
  4. Configure transcoding if you need to lower bitrate for remote clients — install required codecs or enable built-in transcoder if available.

Security note: If exposing the server to the Internet, use strong passwords, nonstandard ports, and consider VPN or reverse proxy with TLS.

Step 5 — Install and Configure DVBViewer as Client

  1. Install DVBViewer on the client PC(s). Use the latest version compatible with your DVBLink server.
  2. Open DVBViewer and go to the Options/Settings menu → DVBLink. Enable DVBLink client mode (or add a DVBLink source).
  3. Enter the DVBLink server address (e.g., 192.168.1.50:8080) and the user credentials you created on the server.
  4. DVBViewer will fetch channel lists and EPG from DVBLink. Choose which channel list (satellite/cable/IPTV) to use.
  5. Test playback: open a channel and confirm video/audio play smoothly. If not, try different stream types (direct TS, MPEG, or DVBLink remote stream).

If DVBViewer is on the same machine as the server, you can also configure DVBViewer to use local DVB devices directly—use that only if you don’t need central streaming.

Step 6 — Set Up Recording Storage and Scheduler

  1. In DVBLink Server settings, set recording paths and storage quotas. Choose a fast disk for smooth recording (SSD recommended for many simultaneous recordings).
  2. Configure recording formats (TS, MPG, or container) and filename templates.
  3. From DVBViewer, schedule recordings using the EPG (right-click program → Record) or by creating manual timers. DVBViewer sends schedules to DVBLink, which performs the actual recording on the server side.
  4. Set retention rules and automatic cleanup if disk space is limited.

Best practice: Keep recordings and system drives separate to avoid fragmentation and performance hits.

Step 7 — Optimize Performance and Network Settings

  • Network: Use wired Gigabit Ethernet between server and client for best performance. For Wi‑Fi, prefer 5 GHz and strong signal.
  • CPU: Transcoding consumes CPU. Offload transcoding only when necessary or use hardware-accelerated encoders (Intel Quick Sync, NVENC) if supported.
  • Disk: Use RAID or large-capacity drives for many recordings; ensure write speed meets simultaneous recording demands.
  • Tuner sharing: Limit the number of simultaneous streams per physical tuner (each tuner can only decode channels on the same transponder). Use multiple tuners or configure DVBLink to combine tuners into a pool.

Common Troubleshooting

  • No channels visible in DVBViewer: Check server address/port and credentials; ensure channel lists were scanned and assigned; verify DVBLink service is running.
  • Playback stutters: Check network bandwidth, CPU usage (for transcoding), and disk I/O on the server. Prefer direct TS streaming if available.
  • EPG missing or incorrect: Confirm EPG source settings, re-run EPG import, and ensure channel-to-EPG mapping is correct.
  • Tuners not detected: Reboot the server, verify drivers are up to date, and check Windows Device Manager. For network tuners, verify IP connectivity and SAT>IP compatibility.
  • Ports blocked: Ensure firewall allows DVBLink ports (default web UI port and streaming ports). On router, forward ports only if remote access is required.

Advanced Tips

  • Use channel editing to create custom bouquets and rename channels for a cleaner DVBViewer interface.
  • If you have multiple DVBLink servers, DVBViewer can connect to each — useful for remote locations or load distribution.
  • Enable HTTPS on the DVBLink web interface via reverse proxy (e.g., nginx) if you need secure remote access.
  • Use SAT>IP for flexible tuner placement — put the tuner near the dish/antenna and stream over the network.
  • Automate EPG grabs with scheduled tasks or EPG plugins to keep program data fresh.

Example Quick Checklist

  • Install DVBLink Server and required plugins.
  • Add and scan tuners/sources.
  • Configure EPG and channel mapping.
  • Enable streaming and create user accounts.
  • Install DVBViewer client and connect to server.
  • Test playback and schedule a recording.
  • Optimize network, CPU, and disk settings.

If you want, I can write a one-page quick-start checklist, produce example DVBLink and DVBViewer configuration screenshots (described steps), or tailor instructions for a specific OS/hardware (e.g., SAT>IP, specific tuner models, or remote access).

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