The reason I edited the wiki at all was because the existing entry was/is not adequate when I actually tried to use
sidecar, and there was some trial and error required. Neither does it flow logically, nor even explain why a user might need
sidecar. But it seems a certain user thinks it's his own personal fiefdom (and in his haste, has broken a link to further resources).
So, for the benefit of newcomers to
sidecar, I have painstakingly reconstructed the wiki entry as I left it (and was destroyed by an idiot), as best I can given the differences in formatting between wiki entries and forum posts, and improved it some more. Note the use of text formatting to identify context. The use of punctuation and abbreviations throughout the wiki are not according to my style, so those are also altered to my preference below (because it's not on the wiki any more!)... but why would
anyone write
?!!
Sidecar
Recreates "sidecar" files .hmt and .nts for a .ts source file.
The sidecar files are normally created at the time the recording is made, and are essential for HDR-FOX/HD-FOX to provide the full range of transport control (including bookmarks), or access subtitles, surround sound, etc. Without sidecars, a .ts will play (with limited controls) provided it is not encrypted, but without subtitles etc. A recording might be stripped of its sidecars if the user was not aware of their importance and only transferred the .ts. Files imported from elsewhere (eg created by a video editor or converted from a download) do not have the relevant sidecar files in the first place.
Other media formats (eg .mp4) will play, also with limited controls, but cannot have sidecars. Converting them to .ts (M2TS – see Note 3) permits the addition of sidecars, which regains extensive transport control and the use of subtitles, surround sound, etc (presuming these are present in the .ts).
The
sidecar operation is available as an action on the
OPT+ menu for recordings from the WebIF:
WebIF >> Browse Media Files >> OPT+ >> Sidecar Files (see Note 1). A pop-up dialogue box provides user controls and options.
sidecar can also be run on the command line. Command line options are (see Note 2):
Code:
humax#sidecar
sidecar v2.8, a utility for the Humax HD/HDR Fox T2, by raydon (c) 2014-2018
Usage: sidecar [-options] <recording name minus .ts extension>
-n : Create new .nts file
-h : Create new or update existing .hmt file
-x : Exclude Prog/PMT ID's from .hmt file
-c : <Channel number for .hmt file>
-t : <Channel name for .hmt file>
-p : Display progress bar
-i : Display infomation
Enclose recording or channel name in quotes if they contain spaces or special characters e.g. &.
humax#
NOTES
- The "Sidecar Files" option is only available on the OPT+ menu or on the command line if the sidecar package has been installed. The package is not installed by default and can be installed by the user via WebIF >> Package Management >> Available. The menu option is greyed out if the file is an unsuitable candidate (eg is not a .ts, or has not been decrypted).
- On the command line: if provided with no command options, sidecar displays the help and exits.
- Source video not native to the HDR-FOX/HD-FOX, or which has been processed using some third-party application, may not be compatible. In particular: the file must be in M2TS format (192-byte packets, instead of 188-byte packets as is standard for TS), even though it has the .ts extension. Conversion can be achieved (on the command line) using ffmpeg:
ffmpeg -i <input_file>.<type> <output_file>.m2ts
mv <output_file>.m2ts <output_file>.ts
- There are versions of sidecar compiled for Linux and Windows platforms Here.
- sidecar can recreate valid .hmt and .nts files for both video and radio recordings.
- sidecar cannot process encrypted files (as per original recordings). If the .ts file has not been decrypted since it was recorded, but has lost its .hmt file, the OPT+ option is available and sidecar can create a dummy .hmt file which is sufficient to allow the file to be decrypted as follows:
- Use sidecar to create a dummy .hmt file;
- Decrypt the .ts via the OPT+ menu in the WebIF;
- Use sidecar again to create proper .hmt and .nts files, thus providing full transport control.
Alternatively, recordings missing the original .hmt file can be decrypted using the stripts utility.
