MpdCast DAB

=====================

MpdCast DAB combines two major functionalitities:

• DAB+ streaming server with support for radio text and live pictures
• MPD to Google cast streaming application, including song / program details (text and pictures) for
  • MPD local database
  • TvHeadend
  • The included DAB+ streaming server itself

MpdCast DAB uses the DAB+ implementation of welle.io (https://github.com/AlbrechtL/welle.io).

Table of contents

• Installation
• Configuration
• Usage
  • Command-line parameters
  • DAB+ Server
• Supported Hardware
• Building

Installation

Pre-built packages for Debian or Ubuntu 24.04+

(commands to be executed with root permissions)

• add-apt-repository ppa:lamarqe/ppa
• apt update
• apt install mpdcast-dab

Configuration

MpdCast DAB reads mpd.conf and requires / reads the following properties in it:

• audio_output of type "httpd" must be enabled
• the name property must be set to your chromecast device name, eg: "Nest Hub"

example config:

audio_output {
        type            "httpd"
        name            "Nest Hub"
        encoder         "lame"          # optional, vorbis or lame
        port            "8000"
        bind_to_address "0.0.0.0"               # optional, IPv4 or IPv6
        quality         "7.0"                   # do not define if bitrate is defined
        bitrate         "192"                   # do not define if quality is defined
        format          "48000:16:2"
        max_clients     "0"                     # optional 0=no limit
}

Usage

Command-line parameters

Parameter	Description	Default Value
-p PORT, --port PORT	Communication port to use	8864
-c CONF, --conf CONF	MPD config file to use	/etc/mpd.conf
--disable-dabserver	Disable DAB server functionality	False
--disable-mpdcast	Disable MPD Cast functionality	False
--verbose	Enable verbose output	False

DAB+ Server

The DAB+ server comes with a simplistic UI, accessible via the configured port.

The scan will generate a .m3u8 playlist looking similar to the example below. The playlist can be used with any audio player like VLC or MPD.

#EXTINF:-1,gong fm
http://192.168.2.48:8864/stream/6C/gong%20fm
#EXTINF:-1,GONG NUERNBERG
http://192.168.2.48:8864/stream/10C/GONG%20NUERNBERG
#EXTINF:-1,HIT RADIO N1
http://192.168.2.48:8864/stream/10C/HIT%20RADIO%20N1
#EXTINF:-1,KLASSIK RADIO
http://192.168.2.48:8864/stream/5C/KLASSIK%20RADIO
#EXTINF:-1,LIEBLINGSRADIO
http://192.168.2.48:8864/stream/10C/LIEBLINGSRADIO
#EXTINF:-1,max neo
http://192.168.2.48:8864/stream/10C/max%20neo

Supported Hardware

MpdCast DAB is intended to be used with an RTL-SDR device (https://www.rtl-sdr.com/)

Building

General Information

The following libraries and their development files are needed:

• Python >= 3.11
• FFTW3f
• libfaad
• librtlsdr
• pybind11

Debian / Ubuntu Linux

This section shows how to compile MpdCast DAB on Debian or Ubuntu (tested with Ubuntu 24.04).

1. Install the base requirements

sudo apt install git build-essential cmake

2. Install the following packages

sudo apt install python3-dev libfftw3-dev libfaad-dev librtlsdr-dev pybind11-dev

3. Clone MpdCast DAB

git clone https://github.com/Lamarqe/mpdcast-dab.git

4. Build MpdCast DAB (using cmake)

cd mpdcast-dab
cmake -B build
make -C build -j3

5. Run MpdCast DAB and enjoy it

export PYTHONPATH=$PWD
./mpdcast_dab/__main__.py