Tsreader

TEST REPORT Analysis Software

• Displays all of the available PIDs
in the digital transport stream
• Easy recording of desired PIDs
• Graphic display of faulty streams
• All functions can be controlled
remotely
• Can be set up as an IPTV
broadcaster in your own network

TSReader
154 TELE-audiovision International — The World‘s Largest Digital TV Trade Magazine — 01-02/2013 — www.TELE-audiovision.com www.TELE-audiovision.com — 01-02/2013 — TELE-audiovision International — 全球发行量最大的数字电视杂志 155

TEST REPORT Analyse Software

Professional Software
for Analyzing, Recording
and Monitoring DVB, ATSC,
ISDB and DTMB
Transport TSReader
01-02/2013

Streams
Best Software for Digital Transport
Stream Analysis

www.TELE-audiovision.com/13/01/tsreader

In the good old analog TV channel A is assigned This is where TSReader Hewitt. We introduced him
days it was all much sim- a video PID of 100 and an comes into play. It’s a soft- to you in the 05-06/2012 is-
pler: the video and audio of audio PID of 101 while TV ware tool designed exactly sue of TELE-audiovision with
a channel were modulated channel B would get a video for this situation. It’s avail- a detailed report. The pro-
on one frequency and then PID of 200 and an audio PID able in three different ver- fessional version of TSRead-
broadcast from one trans- of 201, and so on. In addi- sions (Lite, Standard and er with all of its functions is
mitter or uplinked to a satel- tion to this data, the various Professional). Exactly what 18MB in size. The hardware
lite and then further distrib- PID tables are also included the differences in functions requirements are not all that
uted to the target areas. in the stream allowing the are between the two ver- high: an 800 MHz processor
receiver to find the correct sions can be seen in our ta- to process SD streams and
Digital transmissions on PIDs within the data stream ble - all the different features a 2.5 GHz processor for HD
the other hand are much and associate them with the are listed in detail there. The content are recommended
more involved and complex right TV channel. author of TSReader is Rod as are a graphics card and
in that they could contain
as many as ten channels
depending on picture qual-
ity and in some cases even
more than that! On top of
that there are various audio
tracks, subtitles, EPG data
and let’s not forget the en-
cryption of the content. All
of this information must be
carried on one single fre-
quency in such a way that
the receiver on the other
end can correctly read and
process that data.

The digital transport
stream is a fairly complex
and confusing thing. Trans-
mitter and receiver can only
keep track of all the infor-
mation when it’s tagged with
its own PID (packet identi-
■ Rod Hewitt developed the TSReader analysis software. We previously reported on his activities in
fier) number. For example, the 06-07-08/2012 edition of TELE-audiovision.

156 TELE-audiovision International — The World‘s Largest Digital TV Trade Magazine — 01-02/2013 — www.TELE-audiovision.com

1 5

1. When TSReader is started for the first
time, the proper profile has to be selected.
2. A wide-ranging database of reception
hardware for a PC is available for
selection.
2 3. The processor load for each section of
the main window can be individually set.
4. SD as well as HD signals can be
presented as live video
5. TSReader’s main window with its wide
assortment of settings capabilities
a monitor with a minimum port stream data.
6. The VLC Player can be remotely
resolution of 1024 x 768 pix- controlled directly from the TSReader
els. TSReader supports the The rather empty selec- 7. The TSReader can record individual
channels or all the channels on a
Windows 2000, XP and Vista tion window that appears transport stream. A multitude of settings
operating systems and we’d after starting the program capabilities are also available here
like to point out here that it for the first time only serves
also functioned on our Win- as a way in the TSReader
dows 7 32-bit test PC with- installation to add as many
out any problems. profiles as desired. These 6
profiles will later be used to 3
After starting this tool for receive the channel and pro-
the first time, a relatively cess the transport stream.
empty program window ap- We especially liked the abil-
pears. Upon closer inspec- ity to set up an icon on the
tion the reason for this initial desktop or in the start menu
view quickly becomes clear: of the PC for each individual
it’s another outstanding profile making it extremely
TSReader feature. But first easy to start TSReader in
things first. the desired profile with a
single mouseclick. And if
In order to be able to even the PC itself is powerful
process a transport stream, 7
the TSReader has to be able
4
to one way or another re- or blends in a window that to the user’s system so that
ceive it and Rod Hewitt has can be used to control the even those systems that
come up with a rather smart reception hardware installed aren’t quite run-of-the-mill
solution to make TSReader in the PC. While no settings are supported.
as universal as possible. capabilities are available
Before the program is even when opening a transport A database with a total
started, the user has to se- stream or calling up a net- of 188 satellite entries be-
lect the hardware he is us- work stream, a variety of tween 180° east and 177°
ing from a list of several them can be accessed by west that includes the tran-
dozen entries as well as how opening the tuner window. sponder data in the C-band
TSReader will gain access to and Ku-band is also provid-
the transport stream. And it’s here where the ed. The satellite and tran-
TSReader shows how well- sponder data is for the most
This extensive list includes rounded it is and just like part up-to-date and consid-
profiles for PC reception ac- you’d expect with profes- ering how much data there
cessories from nearly every sional tools, all of its func- is, it’s really well organized.
known manufacturer (such tions can be completely be If needed, the TSReader can
as DekTec, Tevii, etc.) as set up as needed. Not only also import an updated list
well as profiles for recep- is the DiSEqC 1.0 protocol or even a list created by the
tion of transport streams via supported, the user can also user in CSV or SDX format.
Multicast or Unicast network enough, multiple instances cess to multiple reception profile, the TSReader opens define the LOF parameters
transmissions. There’s also of TSReader with different cards at the same time. a transport stream, requires individually. The supply volt- Once the TSReader has
the capability to process profiles can be run at the the input of a Unicast or age and the 22 kHz signal recognized a stream, it in-
previously recorded trans- same time; this provides ac- Depending on the selected Multicast network address can also be easily matched stantly starts analyzing and


8

The structure of the trans-
port stream includes a listing
of all the PIDs that are dis-
played in the form of a tree
diagram. In this way you
can easily see which PIDs
belong to what channels and
how the datastream is con-
structed.

The Details column reveals
details of each PID marked
in the overview column and
graphically displays all of the
active PIDs in the transport
stream. The visual display of
the available content takes
the form of thumbnails for
each individual TV channel
and provides a quick over-
9 view of all the transmitted
content.

Double-clicking on one of
the thumbnails is all that’s
needed for TSReader to
start playing back the se-
lected channel. This is where
the freely downloadable
VLC player goes into action
(download from www.video-
lan.org). It can be controlled
directly through TSReader.
It doesn’t matter if it’s an SD
or HD broadcaster in MPEG2
or whether you’re dealing
with the H.264/MPEG4 stan-
10 8. TSReader’s main window
9. The bandwidth use of dard. And as long as we’re
individual PIDs is graphically talking about standards, the
displayed
10. The list of all active PIDs TSReader supports DVB,
ATSC, ISDB and DTMB.
processing it. The main win-
dow then switches over to In our tests with a variety
its Tools standard view and of transport streams in DVB
is split into three large sec- (SD and HD), the analysis
tions. To the left the struc- and processing of these sig-
ture of the transport stream nals functioned without any
along with other bits of in- problems. The demand on
formation is visible, just to the processor remains rela-
the right can be seen a col- tively low allowing you to
umn of detailed information easily use the PC for other
and all the way to the right work. We liked the ability
of the screen is the visual to set up a variety of basic
display of what’s contained settings for each individual
in the transport stream. profile. This lets you, for


11 14
example, set up the prior- connected to the PC’s PCI In addition to the record- performed quite well in our
ity of the TSReader based slot or an external USB 2.0 ing of transport streams, the tests. We were able to ef-
on the available hardware device, the data can not second huge application for fortlessly record the entire
with just a few mouse clicks only be analyzed a number the TSReader is the ability to architecture of a transpon-
and this for all three sec- of different ways, it can also analyze and monitor a trans- der exactly the way it was
tions of the main window. be recorded on the PC’s hard port stream as well as to received from the ASTRA
While you would most likely drive. And it’s here that the export the different tables satellite at 19.2° east. Even
let TSReader have priority TSReader shines with all of (PAT – Program Association storing the entire EPG data-
over all other programs and its settings capabilities be- Table, PMT – Program Map base of a transport stream is
services if you have a mod- ginning with the selection Tables , NIT – Network In- possible and functioned per-
ern PC with a powerful CPU, of the desired channels in 15 formation Table, etc.). Either fectly in our tests. We also
stepping down to a slower the transport stream (the the HTML or XML format can liked the graphical display of
PC allows the simultaneous TSreader is also a demutli- be used here; both of them the EPG; you can get a quick
use of other tools and pro- plexer that can extract in- 17
grams. dividual channel sections
out of the data stream),
If the TSReader receives continuing with the splitting
a data stream via hardware into multiple files depend-
12 ing on the EPG of individual
broadcasters up to setting a
maximum size for recorded
data. Even the recording of
some or all of the PIDs is
possible.

In our tests this function
performed exceptionally;
even recording for hours at
16
a time and activating the
Split function did not disturb
the TSReader. The entire re-
ceived data stream was re-
corded on our test PC’s hard
drive without any errors.
18
13

11. One or more channels in the transport stream can be
retransmitted as Unicast or Multicast via LAN
12. EPG overview of a transport stream
13. Graphic display of all active PIDs
14. If desired, PIDs from the transport stream can also be manually
entered
15. If there’s an error, TSReader automatically sends out an e-mail;
it essentially calls for help on its own.
16. The extensive satellite and transponder list comes with up-to-
date data. LOF and other LNB parameters can be individually set
up
17. Some or all of the PIDs of a transport stream can be recorded.
18. A previously marked channel is being recorded in MPEG format
with all of its associated PIDs


19
overview – you might not bandwidth use of each in-
have guessed that a tool like dividual PID. In fact, that
TSReader would have had would be the only way to
something like this. identify any savings poten-
tial and where you might
If you were to set up your be able to increase the da-
own transport stream with tarate. In addition to the
the help of a multiplexer, it static values provided by the
would be absolutely impera- TSReader in the main win-
tive to have a grasp on the dow, there’s also a variety

20

19. The TSReader is also a demultiplexer that can record some or
all of the channels in a transport stream
20. The PAT of an ASTRA 19.2° east transport stream in HTML
format
21. The entire EPG data from a transport stream can be exported
from TSReader in XML format

21


FEATURE Lite (free*)
Standard Professional of graphical display capabili- 22
($99) ($399)
ties that would allow you to
Decodes MPEG-2 tables with DVB, ATSC and Digicipher II extensions.
view the desired information
Decodes MPEG-2 video in thumbnail format.
visually. This would make
Decodes MPEG-4 and H.264 video in thumbnail format. it very easy for the user to
22. The NIT of an ASTRA 19.2 east transport stream in
Decodes VC-1 video in thumbnail format. control the operation of the XML format
Thumbnails can be exported as they are generated to JPEG files for remote monitoring via a multiplexer and, if neces- 23. The technician can see in the status window if the
web browser. transport stream is error-free
sary, intervene should there
High speed parallel PMT parser
be too many null or ghost
Parallel stream decoding (thumbnails display very quickly)
packets.
23
Parses MPEG, A/52 (AC3) and DTS audio streams to show bitrate/mode settings.

Parses AAC audio streams to show bitrate/mode settings In the case of errors
Generates scope-style thumbnails for MPEG, AC3 and AAC audio streams within the datastream,

Shows A/52 (AC3) dialog-normalization.
the TSReader also lets you
Indicates CC/DTVCC streams for ATSC streams and VBI/Teletext/Subtitle/WSS/VPS on DVB search, for example, for
muxes. missing or erroneous PIDs.
Supports a wide range of MPEG-2 hardware input and output devices Transport streams can
also be fed from a file. It also displays the labels for
Records the transport stream to a disk file. FTA and encrypted channels
Records an individual program to a disk file with PAT/PMT regeneration into files with a very in different colors so that
flexible file naming scheme.
Decodes IP/DVB transmissions in MPE format with decodes of the MAC and IP destination the user can easily differen-
addresses.
Can save the payload from TCP and UDP transmissions and act as a multicast UDP/IP/DVB tiate between them.
router.
PID usage graph with percentage displays for each PID.
A status window with
Actual bitrate on PIDs carrying PCR and estimated bitrates for non PCR carrying PIDs.
green and red blocks (green even possible to convert the Unicast or Multicast is sup-
PID graph is color coded to indicate unscrambled and scrambled PIDs. indicates error-free sections current video signal from ported. Here at the TELE-
Counts continuity and TEI errors on mux and PID-by-PID basis. while red indicates sections the transport stream from audiovision test center we
with errors) makes it easy MPEG2 into H.264/MPEG4 took a closer look at this
Variable resolution real-time or average charting.
for a technician to monitor (if needed) and then directly function using an IPTV re-
Table report generation into HTML.
the entire transport stream pass it along via LAN or the ceiver; we were able to feed
Export mux information to XML Internet. If the TSReader it with a variety of error-free
and quickly identify any
EPG data export to XMLTV format for use with myHTPC and other HTPC frontends. problems if they should oc- ever comes across some and interference-free HD
interface, professionals as at a head-end station, and
Automatic transport stream recording and export for unattended operation. cur. He can also recognize form of an error, it can send channels that were received
well as ambitious amateurs is therefore an inexpensive
with a single look if a broad- out an e-mail with informa- by TSReader live via satel-
Control over D-VHS decks for unattended HDTV recording (Windows XP). will easily be able to work alternative for smaller com-
caster is constantly switch- tion on the particular er- lite.
Supports plugins written for MultiDec. with this program. panies and programming
ing from FTA to encrypted ror. You could say that the
providers compared to other
Manually defined channels can be added to any multiplex.
and vice versa which, for TSReader is thus able to call The TSReader is a piece
It’s clear that together more expensive products.
Record PIDs from a mux either as separate files or combined in their received order. 1 16 64 example, would suggest an for help all by itself. of software that, thanks to
with the ability to control the The TSReader has been part
Multiple card support in a single system with qualified drivers. error in the encryption. its wide range of functions
program remotely and its of the basic equipment for all
It should also be men- and its attention to detail, is
Serial receiver control for Motorola DSR-4800 and Tandberg Alteia Plus/TT1260 receivers. error reporting capabilities, of our TELE-audiovision test
TCP/IP based remote control server to allow TSReader to be operated remotely by other Of course, software de- tioned that the TSReader perfectly suited for profes-
software.
TSReader is perfect for long- centers for quite some time
veloper Rod Hewitt also re- can also control external sional applications.
Graphing capability Limited term operation, for example, now.
alized that the TSReader in hardware; this could be a

Expert Opinion
EPG grid for DVB and ATSC networks.
many cases would also be number of digital receivers Beyond that, the free
Record scheduling from EPG Grid using the standard Windows Scheduler. used for continuous control connected via a serial inter- Lite version offers the user
A feature-packed transport stream analyzer
Video mosaic shows all video streams in the mux. of a multiplexer which is face (fast becoming an older at home a peak behind the
that is easy to use and, thanks to its profile
Archiving mode - records all programs from all or some channels within a mux. why the remote control of method) or a D-VHS deck walls of digital TV. It doesn’t
system, can be used in any application. It can
Profiles - different configurations for TSReader allowing multiple instances to run the entire system becomes through a firmware connec- matter if it’s a self-made
simultaneously.
process SD as well as HD signals and gives
an absolutely required function making it possible to DVB data stream that you
EPG server to provide programming information to other TSReaders running in archiving mode.
tion. decode and record MPEG2 want to control and moni- + the user a deep look inside the world of DVB/ Thomas Haring
TELE-audiovision
Closed Caption decoder (EIA-608/EIA-708) for caption monitoring.
ATSC transport streams. Thanks to its many Test Center
streams without putting a tor, the TSReader offers Austria
export and display functions, all of the inter-
Stream monitor function with alarms (ETR 290 style). For this reason, the load on the CPU of the PC. the necessary features and
esting information can easily be stored and displayed.
UDP Forwarder - routes programs or the entire mux to UDP unicast/multicast. TSReader includes its own functions for every applica-
The TSReader does not have any excessive hardware
small server which can be If the TSReader is set up tion.
Custom descriptor decoding requirements so that even older PCs could be used with this
used to remotely control within a network, it could
Hardware Forwarder - routes the transport stream to ASI and LVDS output devices. program.
every function via LAN or then also be used as an IPTV Thanks to the nicely or-
■ Table 1: Features and Editions server since the passing on ganized menu structure and
* free for personal, non-commercial use More Informationen: www.tsreader.com
the Internet. In conjunc-
of live transport streams via the optically designed user
– None
tion with the VLC Player, it’s


1 4 6

2 5 7

TSReader
in use worldwide with
different transmission standards

1. Terrestrial TV in in Las Vegas, USA (UHF 43)

2. Terrestrial TV in in Chengdu, China (UHF 40)

3. Cable TV in in Porto, Portugal (UHF 48)

4. Satellite TV in from SATMEX (12.080H)

5. Satellite TV in from TURKSAT (12.015H)

6. Terrestrial TV in in Munich, Germany (UHF 52)

7. Terrestrial TV in in Vienna, Austria (UHF 60)

3 8 8. Terrestrial TV in in Sao Paulo, Brazil (UHF 19)


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