During these latter-days we have a requirement to webcast worship meetings. To make this process easier I've created a firmware for devices that use the J-Tech Digital H.264 IP Encoder which takes advantage of the Remote Config URL that is provided by the Meetinghouse Webcast portal.
My Stake consists of 4 buildings and 14 wards. I needed a solution that encompassed the following requirements:
- Reliability: Reduce as many points of failure as possible
- Repeatability: Can reliably be deployed across chapels with ease
- Low cost: No expensive web camera, computers, or software
- Stationary: The podium can move up and down
- No-fuss: Power on/off to start and stop the webcast
- Simple configuration using the Church provided Meetinghouse Webcast system
- Easy to train and delegate
The Church provided Meetinghouse Webcast system combined with this project, has satisfied all my requiremens and made all my meetings 100% automated. I have successfully been running meetings for two months with no issues.
Please feel free to improve on this firmware. I accept pull requests.
- J-Tech Digital H.264 IP Encoder
- Stake Technology Specialist, Assistant Stake Technology Specialist, Stake Clerk, or Assistant Stake Clerk LCR Permissions
- HDMI Feed from a computer or camera
- RTMP URL and Stream
- Video bitrate
- Audio bitrate
No, all settings are left untouched. The only time a setting is changed is if all of the following are true:
- Auto configuration is enalbed
- A valid Auto configuration URL is configured
- The Auto configuration URL tells this firmware to change any of the above 3 settings. (changes are checked every 10 seconds)
- Configure the network settings as required for your meeting house using the instructions that came with your device.
- Download the current github release or checkout this repository and create your own build.
- Upload the
up.rarfile to the encoder. Note: this file MUST be namedup.rarelse the upgrade fails.- In the H264 Encoder webpage navigate to System > Upgrade
- Select Choose File and click Upload
- When the upload is successful you must reboot the encoder to install the update.
- System > Reboot
- Configure the encoder.
-
Click on
Auto Configurationmenu item. -
Add the auto config URL
This URL is found in the Meetinghouse Webcast portal under theTeradekmenu located at the top of the page. If you have not registered your device, now is a good time to do so. Serial Number will be set by the webcast encoder, no need to configure. -
Click the
Enablecheckbox -
Click
Save Configurationbutton
-
- Schedule an event in the Meetinghouse Webcast portal.
- Select the encoder you registered in Select Your Encoder
- Your device will now auto configure when the Meetinghouse Webcast starts the event.
-
You can only webcast 1 meeting at a time. The auto configuration system handles this well and will tell your device what to do.
-
Options to stop the webcast:
- Unplugging the encoder.
- Unplug the HDMI input or power off the HDMI device. This option will display a no input detected screen
You can customize this screen by creating a 1280x720 PNG file then run the following command:
ffmpeg -i screenshot-nosig.png -pix_fmt yuv420p nosig.yuvThe
nosig.yuvfile needs to be located in theup/directory and then runmake build-firmware
-
Some meetinghouses have an
recording outputfrom the meetinghouse sound system. I've found this output in these locations:- Under the sacrament table. Find where the microphone is plugged in. You may have to get under the table and look around. I had to use a flashlight as it was well hidden in one of my buildings.
- Podium
- Wall
The meetinghouse sound system is monophone and you should use a Female to Male RCA splitter to take the left channel and split it to the right. I had a lot of feedback about only having the left channel working.
-
I use a cheap $15 camera from Amazon. It is RCA based and has a builtin micropohone. The microphone does not work well. I use a RCA to HDMI converter which costs $16.
