So I'm always playing around with ideas and technology....
I noticed that Walmart has these really cheap $20 ONN streaming boxes, so I
thought I'd try one out.
The impetus of this partly was because I use Larix Broadcaster (free app) on my
phone and iPad to do live broadcast streams on my TV station. I had noticed
that there was another free app called Larix Player available for Android TV
(what the ONN boxes are).
Firstly, Larix Player is very easy to use...put in the address of a valid
stream ( SRT, RTMP/RTMPS, HLS, MPEG-DASH) and it plays out full screen.
Haven't tested outside of my office network or for an extensive time but seems
promising as a way to send live streams (sports, parades, etc.) back to your
station. SRT is supposed to improve streaming quality when you're on a
wireless or dodgy network so that's something I want to check out further.
Maybe this would even be useful for sending your station stream from point A to
point B?? (I have that need myself)
Now to the ONN box itself. Like most streaming boxes, it's easy to set up,
puts out great quality video and is really small. Not bad for $20 bucks. An
interesting tidbit I noticed is that - at least when I connected my Black Magic
Design Video Assist Monitor/Recorder - HDCP did not kick in, so I was able to
record anything I streamed. So at this point I'm assuming the HDMI output
would work with broadcast encoders too.
As an after thought, I remembered that some people are using these Android
TV-based boxes for digital signage. Loaded a free app called Slideshow for
Android by Milan Fabian. It is easy to upload files to the box and set up a
basic playlist including graphics and video files.
So, how would this $20 box work as a playout device for a simple looping
sub-channel?? Interesting question. This could be a still graphics channel
with public service announcements, sports schedules, local weather forecasts
and advertisements. Perhaps a way to sell and air real estate listings? How
about pictures of cars from your local auto dealer? Might now make a lot of
money, but more than zero! And if you are doing a graphics only channel, the
bit rate would not have to be high, so you could use bandwidth wisely. Maybe
you could get a radio station onboard and use their audio and have them promote
your TV station in exchange....just a few ideas...
The software also does a good job playing out video files so there are some
options there.. music videos?? Infomercials?? Maybe, just not sure how much
storage there is on the box...
Got too many other projects I'm working on right now, but maybe I can dig into
this one day!
Jon C. Moon
Ridgeline TV Channel 99
706-897-0872
www.ridgelinetv.net <http://www.ridgelinetv.net/>
