Remote video

[jwshome]

I want to be able to replicate a TV reporter doing a remote broadcast. So, for example, I would like to send audio and video from one location (let's say using a laptop and a webcam) via the internet to another location, where I want to take that audio/video stream and send it into audio and video mixing boards. We could send video to the mixing board as component video, or s-video, or possibly even DV video. The mixing board is a hardware board, not software, in our studio.

I can use a computer at the receiving end, or a specialized device. We'd be willing to spend thousands, but not tens of thousands, of dollars to find a solution.

I can't find anything on the internet that will do exactly this, but I'm sure I am missing it. Can anyone suggest a way to do this?.

Thanks in advance.

[guns1inger]

Pre-recorded or live ?

Windows Media Encoder or VLC can encode and broadcast video over the internet (not sure if VCL can do it live, but probably can) so if you have a laptop with a webcam, you can quickly set up a live stream. If you need to use an external camera then you will also have to have a capture card or dongle in the broadcasting computer.

At the other end you need a computer with video/audio outputs (most graphics cards support video out) which is plugged into the desk. This machine receives the broadcast and outputs it to the video out ports. You can use VLC or WMP to receive the stream just by giving it the ip address/port of the broadcasting PC.

The biggest issue is quality. Your quality will be determined in part by the ability of the sending PC to encode the video quickly enough at high enough bitrates, but mostly by the connection speeds of the two machines, and the quality of the route being traversed. For instance, broadcasting over wireless will result in much lower quality than over a fast DSL connection, and broadcasting using a public wifi network will be even worse in most cases.

But it is (a lot) cheaper than satellite time

[jwshome]

Thanks for the quick response. I have two followup questions:

1. How do I redirect an incoming video stream to the outbound video card? Or does the PC do this automatically - i.e. any video that is playing in WMP is automatically routed to the outbound video port (in the same way that audio in WMP is routed to the headphones jack on the audio card)?

2. If the sending PC is behing a NAT'd firewall, and I don't have control over that firewall (i.e. say it is in a hotel, or in someone else's office), is there another way I can direct the stream into the studio than by giving the studio the IP of the sending PC? I presume I could run a Media Server in the studio, and have the sending PC send video to taht, and from that to the receiving PC?

[guns1inger]

All you can do is display what is on the screen out through an external port. This is controlled by your video card drivers. You would get the stream playing in your player, go to full screen mode, and send the signal out to the video port. It is the same as connecting it to a TV for viewing.

If you are behind a NAT'd firewall you may well be screwed for streaming, and may have to capture locally, ftp to a server, and then process the video. This will remove the broadcast element completely, but would allow you to work with source quality footage (big files though). The other method, in this situation, might be something like Ustream, where you push to them, and they broadcast.

[jwshome]

Excellent, thanks very much. Very helpful.

[edDV]

If you want to do this right check out renting or buying a LiveU backpack.
http://www.liveu.tv/index.html

They have conquered net streaming with redundancy. Multiple cell network connections are needed to assure minimal drops while mobile. If you are broadcasting from a fixed location, less redundancy is needed. TechTV uses this packpack to cover conventions and other live events where mobility is required.

Traditional TV stations/networks use microwave links or satellite uplink. Many fixed locations like stadiums, convention centers and government facilities are pre-cabled for fiber*. There are many local services in large cities for fixed point connection or microwave.


*Many TV sports, talk show or other fixed point connections are made with the Vyvx fiber network. The advantage of fiber over satellite is low latency which is particualrly important for 2 way conversation without traditional satellite delay. Vyvx was acquired by Level3.
http://www.level3.com/index.cfm?pageID=382

[edDV]

2. If the sending PC is behing a NAT'd firewall, and I don't have control over that firewall (i.e. say it is in a hotel, or in someone else's office), is there another way I can direct the stream into the studio than by giving the studio the IP of the sending PC? I presume I could run a Media Server in the studio, and have the sending PC send video to taht, and from that to the receiving PC?

Your choice is direct internet connection, using traditional microwave/sat uplink or inventing your own way. Like LiveU, there are services out there that have a business pushing the state of art forcing video through consumer wireless telecom networks.