Home streaming solution

[Hoggle]

I presently have a backend RAID containing a collection of videos, and a MediaGate MG-350HD as a frontend, accessing data via NFS. This works well, but I would like to be able to watch live television and pre-recoded content via a single device.

This will probably take me down the HTPC route, but I'm having trouble locating software that can do what I need.

I'd like a single server to receive DVB signals from no less than five transponders, and multicast only the streams I want via the network. I'd also like to have access to pre-recorded content on an NFS server (not necessarily the same server). In an ideal world, being able to schedule recordings, use Teletext, and view EPG data would be handy too, but those are secondary considerations. The important thing is being able to access any content via simple use of a remote control.

I don't personally mind looking through folders to find videos, as is the case with the MediaGate. In fact, I prefer doing that over a fancy GUI with IMDB data etc, but when it comes to live television, it does need to be as simple as pressing a button on the remote to change the channel.

Any suggestions welcome.

[Injuised]

I take it when you mention transponder your talking about DVBS signals

If you dont want to go down the HTPC road try a Dreambox, They run on linux,
May be Openmedia has more to say on this

[openmedia]

Actually we have looked at this sort of thing for commercial customers. Multicast streaming a number of transponders is always interesting, but you really need a higher grade of switched router than a typical home has.

[nickrout]

A bit late to this conversation, but do you really need to multicast all the channels? Or just control which one is going to you at any one time?

Anyway there are probably linux tools to do this. I know dvbstream will output the whole mux or selected parts of it from satellite. Its pretty network intensive of course. I guess if you have a number of sources you could run a number of instances of dvbstream.

vlc is also a contender to do this, it will do all sorts of neat tricks if you look at the documentation pages online.

I don't know of any point and click solutions.