Astra Media Address Format
In Astra, the media source or destination is described using a media address that resembles a typical URL. This format makes it easy for users to understand and work with the different components involved in managing media streams.
The media address format consists of three main components: type, address, and options. It follows the structure:
type - represents the protocol or method used for receiving or transmitting media streams
address - is a type-specific string that indicates the source or destination of the media stream. This can vary depending on the protocol being used
options - protocol-specific and general settings that affect the behavior of the media stream. Options are separated by an '&' symbol
Let's take a closer look at each of these components and their respective roles in the address format.
dvb - media source received via a DVB Tuner or Virtual adapter
udp - UDP multicast or unicast
rtp - RTP multicast or unicast
http - HTTP based protocols: HTTP MPEG-TS or HLS
srt - SRT protocol
rtsp - RTSP protocol, commonly used in IP camera streams
file - MPEG-TS file on the server
udp - UDP multicast or unicast
rtp - RTP multicast or unicast
srt - SRT protocol
http - HTTP based protocols, by the default HTTP MPEG-TS, or HLS if media address ends with .m3u8 extension
resi - DVB-C modulator by DigitalDevices
tbs - DVB-C modulator by TBS
file - save stream to the MPEG-TS file, or directory on the server
np - (NetworkPush) the HTTP-based protocol, used to send streams from Astra to the remote server
In the media address format, the type-specific address component determines the source or destination of the media stream based on the chosen protocol. To learn more about the address formats for each media type, please refer to the following articles:
Receiving UDP with Astra
Receiving SRT in Astra
General input options play a critical role in fine-tuning the receiving and processing of media streams. These options allow you to modify various parameters that affect the behavior of the media stream, such as filtering, analyzing, and modifying.
pnr=PNR - the program number/SID (Service ID) retrieves the channel with the specified number from the stream
set_pnr=PNR - to change PNR. The value must be between 1 and 65535
set_tsid=TSID - to change TSID (Transport Stream ID)
biss=1122330044556600 - use BISS key for decrypting stream. Read more: Decrypt streams with BISS CAS
cam - use DVB-CI for decrypting stream
cam=CAM-ID - use Softcam for decrypting stream
ecm_pid=PID - to define ECM PID (not recommended)
cas - skip service data about conditional access systems. Used to transmit an encrypted stream
filter=N,... - stream filtration, used to remove the specified PID. Identifiers are separated by commas
filter~=N,... - stream filtering, used to remove all data except specified PID and service tables. Identifiers are separated by commas
map.SRC=DST - change PID to the specified values. SRC - the original identifier or data type. Possible types: pmt, video, audio, ait, language code. DST - required identifier. The value can be between 16 and 8190
no_sdt - to delete channel information: channel name, operator name (SDT Service Description Table)
pass_sdt - SDT transfer without processing. By default, if pnr is set, Astra transmits information only on the selected stream
no_eit - delete EPG event information (EIT - Event Information Table)
pass_eit - EIT transmission without processing. By default, if pnr is set, Astra transmits information only on the selected stream
no_analyze - disables checking for changes in the stream
cc_limit=N - set CC error limit. If the number of CC errors exceeds the set limit, Astra will switch to the backup source (if available). Default: no limit is set
bitrate_limit=RATE - set the minimum bitrate for the analyzer in Kbit/s. The source will be considered non-working if the stream bitrate is less than the specified value. Default: 16 Kbit/s for stream without video data and 128 Kbit/s for stream with video data
pass_data - pass the elementary streams containing the data (data-pid). By default, Astra deletes this data
order - sort PID in the PMT table. Often used with the lang parameter to select a priority audio track. In this example, we will set the English audio track first (default): map.audio.ita=1475&map.audio.eng=1472&order=1472,1475
lang - set the language property for the audio track. Example: lang.1241=eng where: 1241 - pid, eng - language code.
Understanding the Media Address Format
The media address format consists of three main components: type, address, and options. It follows the structure:
type://address#optionstype - represents the protocol or method used for receiving or transmitting media streams
address - is a type-specific string that indicates the source or destination of the media stream. This can vary depending on the protocol being used
options - protocol-specific and general settings that affect the behavior of the media stream. Options are separated by an '&' symbol
Let's take a closer look at each of these components and their respective roles in the address format.
Receiving Media Types
dvb - media source received via a DVB Tuner or Virtual adapter
udp - UDP multicast or unicast
rtp - RTP multicast or unicast
http - HTTP based protocols: HTTP MPEG-TS or HLS
srt - SRT protocol
rtsp - RTSP protocol, commonly used in IP camera streams
file - MPEG-TS file on the server
Transmitting Media Types
udp - UDP multicast or unicast
rtp - RTP multicast or unicast
srt - SRT protocol
http - HTTP based protocols, by the default HTTP MPEG-TS, or HLS if media address ends with .m3u8 extension
resi - DVB-C modulator by DigitalDevices
tbs - DVB-C modulator by TBS
file - save stream to the MPEG-TS file, or directory on the server
np - (NetworkPush) the HTTP-based protocol, used to send streams from Astra to the remote server
Type-Specific Addresses
In the media address format, the type-specific address component determines the source or destination of the media stream based on the chosen protocol. To learn more about the address formats for each media type, please refer to the following articles:
Receiving UDP with Astra
Receiving SRT in Astra
Introduction to General Input Options
General input options play a critical role in fine-tuning the receiving and processing of media streams. These options allow you to modify various parameters that affect the behavior of the media stream, such as filtering, analyzing, and modifying.
pnr=PNR - the program number/SID (Service ID) retrieves the channel with the specified number from the stream
set_pnr=PNR - to change PNR. The value must be between 1 and 65535
set_tsid=TSID - to change TSID (Transport Stream ID)
biss=1122330044556600 - use BISS key for decrypting stream. Read more: Decrypt streams with BISS CAS
cam - use DVB-CI for decrypting stream
cam=CAM-ID - use Softcam for decrypting stream
ecm_pid=PID - to define ECM PID (not recommended)
cas - skip service data about conditional access systems. Used to transmit an encrypted stream
filter=N,... - stream filtration, used to remove the specified PID. Identifiers are separated by commas
filter~=N,... - stream filtering, used to remove all data except specified PID and service tables. Identifiers are separated by commas
map.SRC=DST - change PID to the specified values. SRC - the original identifier or data type. Possible types: pmt, video, audio, ait, language code. DST - required identifier. The value can be between 16 and 8190
no_sdt - to delete channel information: channel name, operator name (SDT Service Description Table)
pass_sdt - SDT transfer without processing. By default, if pnr is set, Astra transmits information only on the selected stream
no_eit - delete EPG event information (EIT - Event Information Table)
pass_eit - EIT transmission without processing. By default, if pnr is set, Astra transmits information only on the selected stream
no_analyze - disables checking for changes in the stream
cc_limit=N - set CC error limit. If the number of CC errors exceeds the set limit, Astra will switch to the backup source (if available). Default: no limit is set
bitrate_limit=RATE - set the minimum bitrate for the analyzer in Kbit/s. The source will be considered non-working if the stream bitrate is less than the specified value. Default: 16 Kbit/s for stream without video data and 128 Kbit/s for stream with video data
pass_data - pass the elementary streams containing the data (data-pid). By default, Astra deletes this data
order - sort PID in the PMT table. Often used with the lang parameter to select a priority audio track. In this example, we will set the English audio track first (default): map.audio.ita=1475&map.audio.eng=1472&order=1472,1475
lang - set the language property for the audio track. Example: lang.1241=eng where: 1241 - pid, eng - language code.
Updated on: 18/05/2023
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