| As far as marketing goes I guess this article may | | | | and have no problem) |
| one day bring me some hate for teaching some | | | | - Install or Update your DirectX (windowsupdate.com) |
| dumbass to build online infomercials, but I assure you | | | | - Install VLC |
| my motives are far less industrious. | | | | Step 2 FOR NAT(using DHCP for home networks) |
| If you live outside North America, like me, you might | | | | DSL/CABLE Routers |
| think watching your favorite TV provider back home | | | | - Go to your router and click on Port Forwarding |
| was impossible. In fact for years I figured I was just | | | | - Enter your VLC server's IP address and the desired |
| stuck with crap TV and limewire downloads. | | | | port for forwarding. |
| Trailerpark Boys, Battlestar Gallactica, and Family Guy | | | | - Your router should accept the setting and tell you |
| had become pleasures I relied on friends to send me | | | | everything is ok |
| in the mail, years after they aired. Until now... | | | | Step 3 |
| I have been fiddling with this all day and I will say | | | | - Fire up VLC |
| VLC ( is one of the coolest open source programs I | | | | - Go to File > Open Captue Device > Video Device |
| have come across in some time. Platform support is | | | | Name > Refresh.. (wait a moment) click on the |
| universal from Win32, *Nix to even long dead BeOS. | | | | default bar and then click on your capture device |
| These are also the people behind Google Video if | | | | driver (the one that came with your card) |
| that is any indication. VLC allows you to stream video | | | | - Now click Stream/Save > Settings |
| online, multicast, save incoming streams, and do all | | | | - Click on Play Locally and MMSH. Insert YOUR |
| sorts of cool things only people with lots of money | | | | LOCAL IP ADDRESS and DESIRED port (for folks |
| should be able to do - like open your own TV station. | | | | using NAT thats 192.X.X.X that you forwarded on |
| The quality is really amazing and of course endlessly | | | | your router earlier) |
| tweakable. Oh and ya did I mention it is completely | | | | - Click on Video Codec and select your Video Codec |
| free? Ok I did, onwards... | | | | format (I use WMV since I am using WMP), then |
| I tested VLC by getting a friend to stream DISH | | | | select a good bit rate like 192 or 128, then select the |
| Network to me from the US and it was VERY | | | | size of the picture in your player (1 - 2) |
| watchable. Keep in mind this was streaming from | | | | - Repeat the instructions above for audio |
| Seattle, WA to Bangkok, TH. 18 hops. | | | | - One VERY IMPORTANT quality setting is TTL - |
| Streaming using a Video Capture Card | | | | Type 10 at a minimum. This tells VLC the number of |
| What you will need: | | | | routers your stream will probably go across. |
| - Operating System | | | | - Click Ok and Click Ok again to start your stream |
| - 1 Video Capture Card | | | | Step 4 |
| - Drivers for Video Capture card (go to to find | | | | - Open WMP and click on File > Open URL |
| software drivers for video capture cards) | | | | - Type |
| - DirectX 9.0c | | | | - Your video will take a bit to buffer but then you |
| - VLC (please get the nightly CVS version, a lot of | | | | should see your pictures. |
| good folks work really hard on this software, and | | | | I would love to hear results from anyone else |
| PLEASE donate to them if you can) | | | | working with VLC. My next step is to setup a |
| - A network connection | | | | remote control with an external IRD box, so I can |
| - Windows Media Player | | | | change channels - yes people ARE doing this! Check |
| - A WHOLE LOT of patience | | | | my official VideoLan Tutorial thread for updates on |
| Step 1 | | | | this project. |
| - Install Capture Card (I use all ATI Wonder Cards | | | | |