Which generic media players can handle h.264 .ts files?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Which generic media players can handle h.264 .ts files?

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19062 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16302

Lifetime subscriber

#136488 28-Nov-2013 22:52

I'm looking for a cheap and simple (no streaming or wireless) HDMI digital media player that can play the h.264 .ts files from my terrestrial and satellite receivers. The problem I have run into is lack of clear information on the inexpensive generic devices I am interested in. Some say they support h.264 or TS mpeg but it's not clear whether they can actually read the high definition transport stream files my receivers create and the vendors I have talked to don't really seem to know either. I know from experience that only a select number of software players (MPC-HC, VLC, Video Redo) can cope with these files and I'm reluctant to buy something on-line that might not work. Can anyone help, either with information or recommendations?

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

1080p

1332 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 152
Inactive user

#942578 28-Nov-2013 23:58

Deinterlacing 1080i h.264 streams is an expensive task which will likely require a fair amount of CPU resource. Something an inexpensive media device is certain to be short on.

If I were starting from scratch I would buy an Intel NUC. They are not cheap but being able to run Windows and therefore any media player you know works is a good trade IMHO.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19062 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16302

Lifetime subscriber

#942699 29-Nov-2013 09:47

Thanks for the response but my needs actually lie elsewhere. My cheap receivers do a perfectly good job of recording and playing back the (quasi-) hi-def content broadcast on terrestrial Freeview TV1, 2, and 3, as well as some satellite programming. What I want to do is share some of these programmes with my completely non-technical step-daughter who lives in Oz. Converting hi-def transport stream files for DVD playback is slightly ridiculous when it is so much easier just to give her the higher quality digital files on a USB pen drive. All she needs is a simple media player with HDMI output that can plug into her TV. I'm a pensioner and cannot afford high quality high priced super gear that does all kinds of fancy tricks that I don't need or want. I just want to find a simple media player box that can handle h.264 transport streams. If a PVR receiver costing less than $100 can do this, surely a cheap media player exists that can also do it. That is my question.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 125

#942719 29-Nov-2013 10:03

A Raspberry Pi with XBMC will do it. Not sure how it handles media from USB.

.ts is just a container format, it sometimes uses odd codecs which can be troublesome.

@KnightNZ

ilovemusic

1469 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 307

#942727 29-Nov-2013 10:15

most quality stand alone media players would suffice ?

go to dick smith or whoever with a friendly return policy and get a wd or some such, if it doesn't work take it back.

:)

dolsen

1483 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 319

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#942728 29-Nov-2013 10:17

Although no longer sold, my Apacer AL670 can handle playing the ts streams recorded via mediaportal without issue. Has extra stuff (network streaming - which is what I use), but also works well with the usb sockets. Was less than $100.
You could look for a second hand one, or, perhaps their replacement?

JimmyH

2898 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1554

#943002 29-Nov-2013 17:25

Based on my experience, the h.264 is unlikely to actually be much of a problem. Most decent media players should handle it OK.

Your problem with terrestrial recordings will likely be the audio. Freeview terrestrial uses the very non-standard HE-AAC V2 (LATM) audio codec, which most media players won't handle. Neither will a lot of conversion software.

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 136

#943015 29-Nov-2013 17:44

My A C Ryan works just fine with all my recordings (.ts) and files.

lchiu7

6521 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 543

Trusted

#943254 29-Nov-2013 23:57

My two Popcorn Hour A200's play the streams fine.

Plus while not asked, they are one of the few media players that can stream Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master over HDMI from .ts or mkv files for decoding by a suitable AVR.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19062 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16302

Lifetime subscriber

#943319 30-Nov-2013 10:10

Thanks for the tips guys. I realise that it can be tricky playing these sorts of files and that's why I thought it would be sensible to ask here first. My own experience is limited but what I have found is that my two receivers can play each other's files without any problem. The terrestrial stb is an older Orton and the satellite one is a locally repackaged generic unit called YH which is basically an Openbox without networking capability.

I use Media Player Classic as my software player and Womble for editing mpeg files. Neither can read the TS files from either stb. I upgraded the media player to MPC-HC and that works fine. So does VLC. And so does Video Redo. I bought that specifically for editing the .ts files. I have never had any kind of audio issues with any player.

I have been looking at this one: http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/home-audio/home-theatre/auction-668441386.htm. I think it should work but I can't verify that before purchasing so am still trying to make up my mind.

Thanks again to everyone for the helpful suggestions.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

lchiu7

6521 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 543

Trusted

#943430 30-Nov-2013 16:28

Having experienced the immense frustration with dealing with DVB-T broadcast video I am happy I found a hardware solution to play them. It was just annoying have to do all the editing on the files to make them playable.

That being said I have been recording the AB games on Prime (I don't have Sky) for my brother to watch in LA.

I edit the files with TS Packet Editor which while not frame accurate, does allow me to delete most of the ads.

I then re-encode them using Handbrake (which understands AAC-HE LATM audio) into MP4 (H.264)/AAC in a MP4 container for him to download from me to watch.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

farcus

1626 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 437

#943447 30-Nov-2013 17:11

if you are gonna send the files via USB then I would remux them into a different container beforehand - something like .mp4 or .mkv for compatibility sake.
Avidemux will do this for you easily in a matter of seconds.

I think most currently available media players will do what you want. If it was me I'd go with raspberry pi with raspbmc.

HP

Shop now for HP laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

kiwigeek1

637 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 12
Inactive user

#944474 3-Dec-2013 02:08

I suspect a thecus N5500 or N7700.. will do it.. it even has hdmi so can connect directly to the smart tv
and play directly using a VLC module.. they have better cpus and memory then the lesser models

however I havent tried it on my N4800eco model.. it also has hdmi and cost me $2000 (Prob cheaper now too)..all up
for 16TB with 1 drive used as raid 5
http://www.thecus.com/product.php?PROD_ID=83

streams anything as far as I can see.. to all my gear.even over wifi. tablets phones and tvs but not tried 2
different media sources at same time but directly should ahndle the big files
serviio module is tops (done by 3rd part developer) default is rubbish twonky

even has many usb 3 ports esata and heaps more

depends how much you want to spend on storage with media capabilities and usefulness

kiwigeek1

637 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 12
Inactive user

#944475 3-Dec-2013 02:15

you might like MEGUI.. its a powerful encoder for videos for PC using freeware tools
that with avidemux 2.6 also freeware are tops for video editing and transoding
disable reservoir on audio.. so its not split across interleaves though

also rebox Mkv to MP4 is handy to change container to mp4 so works on xbox
does it in a few seconds..

google it dont have link.

also
mkvmerge GUI is handy tool as well.. again all free!