All things related to multicast

[Frank Fulchiero <>]

Hi, not sure there is any interest in discussing this problem, but I  
am concerned that we have these great multicast networks, but it's  
hard to figure out when there are compelling, or any, programs to  
watch. We seem to have no centralized or really useful discovery/ 
announcement system. This makes practical use of multicast video, on  
a world-wide basis, much harder.

DVGuide was a great start http://dvguide.arts.usf.edu/

No criticism on the thankless volunteers that manage it, however its  
use/usability does not seem to have increased since I first saw it a  
few years ago. I requested that we be listed a month or two ago, but  
no results. Since then we have had problems with our multicast  
streams, so thankfully it did not happen. I will give the "system"  
the benefit of the doubt, and figured I did something wrong, but I  
often also get SQL errors.

Additionally, it may be possible to improve the layout if more  
"channels" are listed, by putting them on the vertical instead of  
horizontal axis, like here http://tv.msn.com/tv/guide
Though in this format, it's also hard to "spotlight" special events,  
which is important.
I emphasize I am not criticizing, just wondering if there is room for  
improvement, and who is in the position to assist here.

I see interesting programs in SAPs that are not in DVGuide, which  
leads to SAP issues. It's great to have a built-in discovery  
mechanism in clients like VLC, but many institutions are sending out  
SAPs for programs that can't be viewed.

Then, there is no modern SAP server, it seems, that can be used by  
institutions that need one, especially for the more efficient H.264  
codec. I accidentally created a nasty SAP storm a few weeks ago when  
I  changed just a few parameters in miniSAPserver. It would be useful  
if I2, the Commons, or an institution could offer to host SAPs, even  
at a cost, for those of us that don't have the resources to set up a  
SAP server for just a few streams.

Personally, I am under a bit of pressure to get more use out of the  
multicast bandwidth we pay for, to justify the expense.
It would be useful to us to have an easier way to find multicast  
video, and we are not yet able to create SAPs for our H.264 streams,  
which have twice the efficiency of the MPEG2 ones.

TOPIC TWO- any advancements in the area of multicasting commercial or  
state-sponsored international channels, especially in the areas of  
copyright?

Anyhow, does the above resonate with anyone? Sorry, it's somewhat of  
a disorganized brain dump on a busy morning, but wanted to get it  
out. I am sending a copy to the multicast working group list, as some  
of these issues may overlap their areas of interest. My apologies if  
you get this twice, or if the issues are not relevant.

Thanks,

Frank Fulchiero
Digital Media Specialist
Connecticut College