Dune HD Media Player Driver

[CinemarDave]

We have released a device driver for the current line of Dune HD Networked Media Players. This driver is a member of the AV family is fully supported by DVDLobby as a media playback device. The driver provides two-way feedback of the critical player operations. So if you need a player for a remote room or want a more standard playback device instead of the HTPC then this is a good option. I've been playing movies on the player here for the past two days. So far it has done a wonderful job of playing everything I've asked it to. All current models should be supported. I am using a Dune HD Smart B1 for driver development.

[benny32]

Dave,

I am intrigued by this but am concerned about large file size mkv's. For example, I have some 25gb Lord of the Rings rips with DTS-HD MA audio streams that choke my Atom based htpc. Have you tried feeding this device a file that large over the network? Also, any screenshots of the interface, I couldn't find anything on their website showing the interface. Ideally I wold replace some smaller outer room atom based htpc's with these if they work well with big files.

[CinemarDave]

I have played several 30GB+ Blu-ray movies across the network without any issues. Since the files are read from the NAS as they are needed the bit rate is not that bad. Take a 2 hour movie that is 30GB in size. That equates to about 4.2MB / second network traffic. No problem if you have a Gigabit network backbone.

As for user interface the Dune looks like any blu-ray or dvd player. Except it is being controlled from DVDLobby. I have my Dune configured so that it boots to a blank screen so I never see the built in file browser that is on the Dune since DVDLobby is controlling everything. It's a pretty impressive player. Certainly more advanced than the older Networked Media Tanks devices I played with.

[benny32]

Sounds great, I've just had such mixed results with these small form factors. Like I said my atom based machines just choke on anything more 10gig even though the resolution is the same, not sure why that is but my i7 based htpc just powers through. Gigabit all around so I have to believe the processor is to blame which is what makes me leary of these little SoC devices. I'm probably going to pick one up and give it a shot though!

[EUROTECH]

Benny, check RAM and timings. I have used many atom based processors and have not run into that issue. Alot of companies are using atom based processors for HTPC, and I am currently using one as my main theater pc. I have a seperate video card for passing video/audio via hdmi. Your GPU on your board should be doing all the processing. I used to run MLServer on an atom, now that really puts the machine thru its paces. Also, what software are you using for video. I have been using TMT5, until recently where it just stopped playing DVD rips. Bluray is no issue. I went with MPC-HC and its night and day! Starts up immediately with the new driver from Dave, and just plays what ever you throw at it. Best of luck.

Eurotech

[monteourdog]

I am only using my Dune as a standalone (using the iPad app to control) currently and have streamed 20GB blu-ray ISO's no problem. This player is quiet, small and really does a great job.

Now to connect to MLServer.

I have been getting various errors in trying to initiate a "PlayFile" or "PlayMovie" because I don't know how to address the file/folder:

- DVD example: \Movie Name\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO_TS.IFO

- BRD example: \Movie Name.iso

The above is how my movies are stored. All reside in a NAS and are "mapped" to the Dune via nfs.

- Dune example: IP: NAS-IP, \volume1\HD01

- NAS example: IP: Dune-IP, nfs share \volume1\hd01

All works when browsing via an iPad app or using the supplied IR remote.

And for MLS, I have tried many combinations of pathing the movie to the NAS via the plugin.
- Can you please provide context for both commands "PlayFile" or "PlayMovie" when using a Dune? Example:

Code: Select all

AV|1~PlayFile~//NASIP/NASVOLUME/NASSHARE/movie_name/VIDEO_TS\VIDEO_TS.IFO

- Is it possible to send a URL when using

Code: Select all

AV|1~URL

Cheers!

[monteourdog]

Can you please provide the syntax used to play a movie from an "NFS" connection?

[CinemarDave]

According to their documentation it is something like

nfs://10.0.0.1:/VideoStorage:/SomeFolde ... DEO_TS.IFO

[monteourdog]

I had tried an assortment of possibilites including that stated on the Dune HD website (http://dune-hd.com/resources/support/additional_features/ip_control/dune_ip_control_overview.txt).

Nothing is working so far. It is possible that I am not understanding how to properly address the NFS share on my NAS but I think I am entering correctly.

CinemarDave, in your above reply you stated that you are streaming - are you using the plugin? Have you initiated a play from the plugin? What syntax are you using - AV|1~PlayFile~ and then?

[CinemarDave]

I don't have any NFS type shares. My NAS is an UnRaid box and the shares are SMB so all I have to pass is the unc name \\servername\sharename\path. The path names are case sensitive. If you type the path names into Content Manager you have to match case. Better to browse to the movie file and select it. Does Windows see the shares as normal SMB shares? If so then so should the Dune.

[rileydog]

Just got a Dune from Cinemar and I love it. This solution seems so better than building a PC to stream video. I am trying to make it work with ML - I setup the device driver, typed in the IP address for my Dune and set the port to 80.

The variables were created, but, I see the following issues:
The plugin itself reports the Status is stopped but it is playing a movie.
The av_9_time isn't being updated - it is stuck on 00:12:25
The av_9_perccent is stuck too.

Thanks

[CinemarDave]

The driver has to constantly poll the Dune player for status. Open this URL in a browser and see if your XML looks like mine

http://<<DUNE IP ADDRESS>>/cgi-bin/do?cmd=status

Code: Select all

<command_result>
<param name="protocol_version" value="3"/>
<param name="player_state" value="file_playback"/>
<param name="playback_state" value="playing"/>
<param name="previous_playback_state" value="paused"/>
<param name="last_playback_event" value="external_action"/>
<param name="playback_url" value="/tmp/mnt/smb/0/A Clockwork Orange/A Clockwork Orange (1971).mkv"/>
<param name="playback_speed" value="256"/>
<param name="playback_duration" value="8196"/>
<param name="playback_position" value="277"/>
<param name="playback_is_buffering" value="0"/>
<param name="playback_volume" value="100"/>
<param name="playback_mute" value="0"/>
<param name="playback_video_width" value="1280"/>
<param name="playback_video_height" value="692"/>
<param name="audio_track" value="0"/>
<param name="subtitles_track" value="-1"/>
<param name="playback_window_fullscreen" value="1"/>
<param name="playback_window_rect_x" value="-1"/>
<param name="playback_window_rect_y" value="-1"/>
<param name="playback_window_rect_width" value="-1"/>
<param name="playback_window_rect_height" value="-1"/>
<param name="playback_clip_rect_x" value="-1"/>
<param name="playback_clip_rect_y" value="-1"/>
<param name="playback_clip_rect_width" value="-1"/>
<param name="playback_clip_rect_height" value="-1"/>
<param name="osd_width" value="1920"/>
<param name="osd_height" value="1080"/>
<param name="video_enabled" value="1"/>
<param name="video_on_top" value="0"/>
<param name="video_zoom" value="normal"/>
<param name="audio_track.0.lang" value="eng"/>
<param name="audio_track.0.codec" value="Dolby Digital"/>
<param name="subtitles_track.0.lang" value="eng"/>
<param name="subtitles_track.0.codec" value=""/>
</command_result>

[CinemarDave]

The Dune driver was just updated to make it more friendly with NFS type file shares. The previous version of the driver assume Samba (Windows) type file shares and this made the Dune reject files coming from NFS shares. This should no longer happen. If you are using NFS type file shares then make sure you prefix the path to your movies with nfs:. This is ONLY for NFS file systems. Windows users do not have to do anything.

The polling routine was optimized so that it would not try to poll with a current poll was still pending.

[rileydog]

I type that URL and the response is "Not found." - it isn't a cannot find webpage with a bad URL, I believe the dune is returning this. Is there some setting to turn on URL capabilities? I checked all the setup options I could find and didn't see anything. Thanks.

[rileydog]

Sorry - scratch that last post - but, I am playing a movie and the XML says it is stopped - strange. I am playing the movie from the Dune via the Dune interface - I didn't issue any commands from ML... Is there some setting in Dune to get this to update?

Code: Select all

<command_result>
<param name="protocol_version" value="3"/>
<param name="player_state" value="dvd_playback"/>
<param name="playback_state" value="stopped"/>
<param name="previous_playback_state" value="stopped"/>
<param name="last_playback_event" value="no_event"/>
<param name="playback_url" value=""/>
<param name="playback_speed" value="256"/>
<param name="playback_duration" value="6203"/>
<param name="playback_position" value="298"/>
<param name="playback_dvd_menu" value="0"/>
<param name="playback_is_buffering" value="0"/>
<param name="playback_volume" value="100"/>
<param name="playback_mute" value="0"/>
<param name="playback_video_width" value="720"/>
<param name="playback_video_height" value="480"/>
<param name="audio_track" value="-1"/>
<param name="subtitles_track" value="-1"/>
<param name="playback_window_fullscreen" value="1"/>
<param name="playback_window_rect_x" value="-1"/>
<param name="playback_window_rect_y" value="-1"/>
<param name="playback_window_rect_width" value="-1"/>
<param name="playback_window_rect_height" value="-1"/>
<param name="playback_clip_rect_x" value="-1"/>
<param name="playback_clip_rect_y" value="-1"/>
<param name="playback_clip_rect_width" value="-1"/>
<param name="playback_clip_rect_height" value="-1"/>
<param name="osd_width" value="-1"/>
<param name="osd_height" value="-1"/>
<param name="video_enabled" value="-1"/>
<param name="video_on_top" value="-1"/>
<param name="video_zoom" value="other"/>
</command_result>