Create a TV channel with a multicast source¶

This guide explains how to configure a TV channel in Catena SE with a source available in the local network via multicast.

In practice, the most common case is SPTS: one UDP multicast stream contains one TV channel.

Sometimes you may receive MPTS: one UDP multicast stream contains multiple TV channels (programs). In this case you must select the required program inside the MPTS.

What you need¶

• Multicast group and port of the source, e.g. 239.0.0.1:1234.
• For MPTS: the program identifier (often called program/service id, PNR, or service_id).
• Network reachability from Catena SE to the source (VLAN/routing/IGMP, depending on your network).

SPTS: one channel per multicast¶

The steps are:

1. Create a new TV channel
2. Add a multicast source (see below)
3. Verify that the channel plays in the built-in player

1. Create a new TV channel¶

Go to the Channels section, enter the channel name (e.g. multicast) and create the channel.

After creation, the new channel’s page opens.

2. Add a multicast source¶

Open the Inputs tab. Initially the source list is empty.

Click Add source, set the multicast URL (for SPTS, address and port) and save.

How to specify an SPTS source¶

If your source is SPTS, it is enough to specify the multicast address and port:

udp://239.0.0.1:1234

Example: udp://239.0.10.1:1234 — group 239.0.10.1, port 1234.

3. Verify playback¶

Switch to the Basic tab and confirm that the built-in player shows the stream. For multicast, startup may take a few seconds.

MPTS: multiple channels in one multicast¶

If the multicast carries MPTS, Catena SE must “extract” the required program from the MPTS and then process it like a normal channel.

How to specify an MPTS source¶

If your multicast source is MPTS, you must specify which program to select.

Use the programs=<id> parameter in the source URL.

Example:

udp://239.0.0.1:1234?programs=101

Where 101 is the program identifier (PNR/service_id) inside the MPTS.

If you do not specify programs=..., the system may try to process extra programs from the MPTS, which increases load and can lead to unpredictable results.

How to find programs=<id>¶

programs=<id> must match how your provider/headend labels the channel inside the MPTS.

Usually you can get this number by:

• requesting it from your DVB/IPTV equipment or signal provider;
• inspecting the MPEG-TS in a transport stream analyzer (PAT/PMT tables contain the program number / service id).

Common multicast issues¶

When capturing multicast, the most common reasons a stream “does not start” are network-related rather than Catena SE:

• IGMP/IGMP snooping is misconfigured and traffic does not reach the node.
• Multicast arrives on the wrong node/interface (especially in multi-homing setups).
• UDP packet loss due to link congestion or queue drops.

If the source is unstable, use the failover scenario from Input failover.