Supported Video Streaming Protocols

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Last updated: Oct 07, 2024Version comment
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Though these formats should work with most remote video streams, the quality will vary on a case-by-case basis. Video streaming has been tested and optimized for streaming sources within a local network, not from remote servers. If you do wish to stream video content from a remote source, we suggest testing the setup thoroughly before deployment to ensure it meets standards of quality and reliability.

If you are running into video quality issues as a result of poor network performance, you can try increasing the size of the streaming buffer on the player. You can also reduce the default latency of streaming video.

You can display streaming video using Video Stream states or HTML5 pages. If you are writing a BrightScript application, the roRtspStream object handles all streaming protocols (despite its name). 

Supported formats and configurations are described below. Note that video bitrates and profiles tend to be limited by Internet bandwidth rather than the video decode rate of the player.

Do not use ports 8888 or 9999 since these ports may be used by the BrightSign OS.

HLS

BrightSign players support HLS live streaming, but large playlists (which usually result from the server delivering a DVR playlist rather than a LIVE playlist) will cause performance issues.

  • Encapsulation: MPEG2-TS for video streams (raw AAC or MP3 for audio-only streams)

  • Codec: H.264 or H.265 for video streams

UDP/RTP

The following UDP/RTP encoders have been tested and are proven to be compatible with BrightSign players: Exterity e3535 and Comm-Tec ProTUNE III

If the video stream is using RTSP to control connections between endpoints, the video must be encapsulated using MPEG2-TS.

  • Encapsulation: MPEG2-TS or MPEG4

  • Codec: H.264 or H.265 for video streams

HTTP

  • Codec: Any video codec currently supported by BrightSign players (including H.265 for 4K models).

Encryption Protocols

BrightSign players support several video encryption protocols (via HTML or custom BrightScript).

Other

Customers have reported that the following streaming servers and stream types are compatible:

  • Wowza Streaming server: Apple HLS (H.264, AAC Audio), Default RTSP stream for Android Mobile devices (tested with FW 6.2.45 and BrightAuthor 4.6.0.8)

  • Source-Specific Multicast (IGMPv3) streaming is supported with firmware versions 6.2.147 and later. To access a source-specific multicast stream, use the following URL format:
    udp://<source_ip_address>@<multicast_address>:<port>Â