TSReader |
MPEG-2 Transport Stream Analysis and Recording |
What's Here?
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Introduction |
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Features and Editions |
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Computer Requirements |
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Screen Shots |
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Developer Info |
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Sales and Licensing |
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Download TSReader Lite |
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Related Software |
TSReader is a transport stream analyzer, decoder, recorder
and stream manipulator for MPEG-2 systems. It supports DVB, ATSC,
ISDB, and Digicipher® II extensions to the base MPEG-2
specification.
TSReader gives the user the "big picture" overview of
what's being carried inside MPEG-2 transport streams and can be
very useful for finding errors or inefficiencies. If you're not
familiar with MPEG-2 transport streams, we suggest reading our
web page about North American MPEG-2
Information as this covers this subject in depth.
Digicipher is a registered trademark of Motorola
Broadband
TSReader was developed because we saw a need for a reasonably priced MPEG-2 transport stream analyzer that when exposed to a stream coming from a file, satellite, terrestrial, cable, or IP source would show an overview of the channels and tables carried in the mux along with decoding of many aspects and implementations of MPEG-2.
TSReader comes in three different editions - Lite, Standard and Professional. The grid below shows the features of TSReader and which version supports which features.
Feature | Lite (free *) | Standard ($99) | Professional ($399) |
Decodes MPEG-2 tables with DVB, ATSC and Digicipher II extensions. | ![]() |
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Decodes MPEG-2 video in thumbnail format. | ![]() |
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Decodes MPEG-4 and H.264 video in thumbnail format. | ![]() |
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Decodes VC-1 video in thumbnail format. | ![]() |
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Thumbnails can be exported as they are generated to JPEG files for remote monitoring via a web browser. | ![]() |
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High speed parallel PMT parser | ![]() |
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Parallel stream decoding (thumbnails display very quickly) | ![]() |
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Parses MPEG, A/52 (AC3) and DTS audio streams to show bitrate/mode settings. | ![]() |
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Parses AAC audio streams to show bitrate/mode settings | ![]() |
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Generates scope-style thumbnails for MPEG, AC3 and AAC audio streams |
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Shows A/52 (AC3) dialog-normalization. |
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Indicates CC/DTVCC streams for ATSC streams and VBI/Teletext/Subtitle/WSS/VPS on DVB muxes. | ![]() |
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Supports a wide range of MPEG-2 hardware input and output devices Transport streams can also be fed from a file. | ![]() |
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Records the transport stream to a disk file. | ![]() |
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Records an individual program to a disk file with PAT/PMT regeneration into files with a very flexible file naming scheme. | ![]() |
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Decodes IP/DVB transmissions in MPE format with decodes of the MAC and IP destination addresses. | ![]() |
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Can save the payload from TCP and UDP transmissions and act as a multicast UDP/IP/DVB router. | ![]() |
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PID usage graph with percentage displays for each PID. | ![]() |
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Actual bitrate on PIDs carrying PCR and estimated bitrates for non PCR carrying PIDs. | ![]() |
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PID graph is color coded to indicate unscrambled and scrambled PIDs. | ![]() |
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Counts continuity and TEI errors on mux and PID-by-PID basis. | ![]() |
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Variable resolution real-time or average charting. | ![]() |
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Table report generation into HTML. | ![]() |
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Export mux information to XML | ![]() |
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EPG data export to XMLTV format for use with myHTPC and other HTPC frontends. | ![]() |
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Automatic transport stream recording and export for unattended operation. | ![]() |
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Control over D-VHS decks for unattended HDTV recording (Windows XP). | ![]() |
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Supports plugins written for MultiDec. | ![]() |
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Manually defined channels can be added to any multiplex. | ![]() |
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Record PIDs from a mux either as separate files or combined in their received order. | ![]() |
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Multiple card support in a single system with qualified drivers. | ![]() |
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Serial receiver control for Motorola DSR-4800 and Tandberg Alteia Plus/TT1260 receivers. | ![]() |
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TCP/IP based remote control server to allow TSReader to be operated remotely by other software. | ![]() |
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Graphing capability - see screenshots below. | Limited | ![]() |
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EPG grid for DVB and ATSC networks. | ![]() |
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Record scheduling from EPG Grid using the standard Windows Scheduler. | ![]() |
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Video mosaic shows all video streams in the mux. | ![]() |
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Archiving mode - records all programs from all or some channels within a mux. | ![]() |
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Profiles - different configurations for TSReader allowing multiple instances to run simultaneously. | ![]() |
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EPG server to provide programming information to other TSReaders running in archiving mode. | ![]() |
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Closed Caption decoder (EIA-608/EIA-708) for caption monitoring. | ![]() |
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Stream monitor function with alarms (ETR 290 style). | ![]() |
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UDP Forwarder - routes programs or the entire mux to UDP unicast/multicast. | ![]() |
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Custom descriptor decoding |
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Hardware Forwarder - routes the transport stream to ASI and LVDS output devices. |
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What that means you can do with TSReader
OK, so after all that technical mumbo-jumbo, here's some of the things our users are doing with TSReader:
Stream Analysis |
Find PIDs in a mux quickly even if the MPEG-2 tables aren't correct |
Spot channels within muxes that occasionally switch from scrambled to FTA |
Analyze new transmissions and get all the pertinent technical information about the mux in just a few seconds |
Stream Recording |
Record free-to-air SD and HD programs directly to the hard drive |
Record free-to-air HD programs directly to D-VHS decks |
Recording the entire mux and later using TSReader as a demultiplexor to pull out the individual programs |
Stream Monitoring |
Spotting if an encoder is running correctly or how much bandwidth is being wasted on null or ghost packets |
Monitoring JPEG thumbnails of free-to-air MPEG video to verify correct encoder operation |
Exporting automatically DVB tables for real-off-air stream verification |
Transcoding the MPEG-2 stream in real-time with VLC to MPEG-4 and then streaming over the Internet - allows remote monitoring of the transmitted stream anywhere in the world |
Stream Viewing |
Stream free-to-air HD over Firewire to D-VHS decks for real-time decoding with no CPU load and no DirectShow filter issues |
Watching free-to-air SD live on the XBox with XBox Media Player |
Streaming to VLC which can decode for playback, transcode for Internet streaming and a whole variety of other neat things |
Watching video real-time through the Stradis Professional decoder. Even with the cost of a 4:2:2 capable Stradis card, this solution is still thousands of dollars less than a 4:2:2 capable commercial receiver |
Streaming video over a network to a Roku HD-1000 HDTV player. Capable of handling MPEG-2 HD streams up to about 50 Mbps. |
To run TSReader successfully, you need:
See what TSReader looks like. We suggest looking at the first picture to get an overview of what TSReader is showing. Click the thumbnail for a full size screen shot.
Many people use TSReader with their own custom code for special applications. We have a Developer's Index available which links to relevant documentation. We also welcome feedback from customers and suggestions to improve TSReader.
Sales and Licensing Information
Both TSReader Standard and TSReader Professional can be purchased using a credit card via our on-line sales partner, Digital River or using a credit card or PayPal account on the Paypal system. Digital River delivers the latest TSReader immediately - Paypal will require manual processing. Orders are also accepted by means of a purchase order for commercial establishments but please get in touch with us first.
TSReader Lite is free for personal non-commerical use but lacks certain features and limits recording/playback to one minute at a time. Once you purchase TSReader Standard or Professional you'll be able to download the full released version immediately when ordering from Digital River and with all payment options will receive an email with instructions for accessing the private update and prerelease area reserved for clients. Non-Digital River purchasers simply need to login to this site to download their TSReader setup utilities.
The TSReader license allows operation by a single user on a single PC. This means that if you're on a team at work and have multiple team members using TSReader, each needs their own license, but if you're using a copy on your main work PC and you sometimes use a laptop in the field you only need one license since only PC will be used at a time. Conversely, if you have a PC at the office and a monitoring PC in a remote location, that PC needs it's own license.
We do not offer discounts on TSReader nor site licenses and we do not provide discounts to resellers. There are two exceptions to these rules: Either OEM customers who bundle TSReader with their own product or large orders of 100 licenses or more. For either of these situations, please feel free to email us.
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Purchase TSReader Professional on-line via Digital River for $399 per license. Updates to TSReader Professional are included for one year from purchase date and $79 per year after the first year. Digital River delivers TSReader immediately. To upgrade from TSReader Standard to TSReader Professional, please use the upgrade option in the TSReader Support and Upgrade Portal. |
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Purchase TSReader Professional on-line via Paypal for $399 per license. Updates to TSReader Professional are included for one year from purchase date and $79 per year after the first year. Paypal requires manual processing so your order may take a few hours to deliver via email. |
If you wish to rewnew support or upgrade using PayPal, please follow this link.
If you cannot use a credit card to purchase TSReader, you can perform a wire transfer to our account. Once our bank has confirmed the funds transfer, we will issue licenses electronically.
Our bank details are as follows:
Wachovia Bank
PO Box 563966
Charlotte NC 28262-3966
USA Account Name: COOLSTF.COM
Account Number: 2040000086516
Wire Routing Code: 055003201
SWIFT Code: PNBPUS3NNYC
Please click this link to download TSReader Lite. TSReader Lite may only be used in commercial environments for brief evaluation purposes. To use TSReader Lite on a day-to-day basis in a commercial setting violates the license agreement - you must purchase at minimum a TSReader Standard license.
We suggest you read the README file by clicking this link and if you have questions about TSReader, have a read through our support info.
Technical support is provided to registered users only - follow this link to log into our Support and Update site. Also follow the link if you're not sure of your password - help will be provided.
A number of developers have written add-on or plugin software for TSReader. Here's a list of those that TSReader might find useful. If you've developed some software that you believe should be listed here, please let us know.
Name | Description | Website |
TSReader Channel Manager | Allows easy manipulation of the TSReader transponder/mux lists. Especially useful for European users. | http://www.denton.privat.t-online.de/ |
DVD from TSReader | Not actually a program, but a description of how to easily convert a transport recording generated by TSReader into DVD VOB files. | http://www.denton.privat.t-online.de/tut_DVD_Creation.htm |