Orb is easy to install. Follow these simple directions and you'll have remote access to your home computer and be Mycasting in no time!

Before installing Orb, we recommend you to check Orb's System Requirements to ensure that your PC is properly configured to successfully install and run Orb.

Before you start your installation make sure that your computer is connected to internet so a connection to Orb's servers can be established. Also make sure you are logged with a Windows account that has full administrative privileges. Orb will not be properly installed or will not correctly run on your PC without these account privileges.

During Orb installation, you may receive a warning from your anti-virus software or firewall: make sure you give full permission for all Orb applications to run on your system and that you also allow them through your firewall.

As part of the Orb installation process, you will be prompted to create an Orb login and password: make sure you write down this information for your records. Note that the password is case-sensitive.

Why do I get NSIS Error?

This error occurs when there is a corruption in the download of the Orb application. Before you re-download it, you need to first clear your browser cache (Tools > Internet Options... > Delete Files...), then make sure you do not select "Run", but instead choose SAVE AS... when prompted. download the latest Orb 2.0 application again to your hard drive, once the download is complete, run the executable.

If you have a TV tuner and intend to stream TV in Orb, verify that your tuner:

• is compatible for analog TV, it is a tuner with a built-in MPEG-2 hardware encoder; for digital TV, it is an ATSC tuner (in the US), or a DVB-T tuner (outside of the US);

• properly works in its native PVR application (WinTV2000, Media Center, etc.) and you have the latest tuner drivers installed on your PC;

• is not in use by another TV application when going through the Orb installation. It is important that you have exited all PVR applications for Orb to properly detect your tuner: restart your PC if necessary to ensure that no such program is running in your Windows Task Manager.

• Close all other applications so Orb can update your system files during the setup process.

Network Configuration

It's a good idea to write down your original network and proxy settings before making any changes. Incorrect settings can cause Orb to either malfunction or not function at all, and can even prevent your computer from accessing the Internet.

Firewall

If you are attempting to connect to Orb for the first time from behind a firewall, when Orb is launched you may receive one or more Security Alerts notifying you that an Orb application is attempting to access the Internet. For Orb to run properly on your system, you must select to "Unblock".

Proxy Server on a LAN

If you install Orb on a computer that is part of a Local Area Network (LAN), and your LAN accesses the Internet via a Proxy Server, you may experience connection issues in which Orb applications are prevented from connecting to the Internet and, therefore, to our servers. Proxy information is unique to your network and can only be obtained from your network administrator.

Orb Streaming Ports

When you stream media in Orb, depending on your system configuration, Orb will either use UPnP and stream directly from your Orb PC to your Orb client device, bypassing Orb stream servers or your streams will be sent via Orb stream servers. The following lists the ports you will need to open in most cases:

For Windows media streams (.ASX), you need to be able to connect to TCP port 80. This is the standard HTTP port; no special configuration should be needed.

For Real media streams (.RAM) and 3GP streams (.SDP), you need to have incoming TCP port 554 and UDP ports 13398 to 13401 open.

If you install Orb behind a restrictive corporate firewall, you need to ensure that outgoing TCP ports 82, 85 and 86 are open on your PC to connect to Orb servers.

Note: if you are already hosting a Web server in the LAN where your Orb PC is located, TCP port 80 will most likely be in use by this Web server. In this case, you will need to change either the DirectStream Windows media port or disable UPnP (Click Orb tray > Configuration > Advanced) in Orb.

For all other cases, it is recommended to activate and use UPnP.

Step-by-Step Installation & Configuration

Orb Installation

1. Double-click OrbSetup.exe to launch the NSIS installer, which will guide you through the Orb setup process and then click Run.

2. Click Next on the "Welcome..." screen.

3. Read the License Agreement and then click "I Agree" if you accept the Terms of Use: the installation process will begin.

4. Select your destination folder where Orb should be installed, or leave the default location, then click Install.

5. Click Next to setup your Orb account

Orb account setup

6. If you are a new user then:
   - Create your Orb login and password and re-type password in the respective f ields
   - Enter your email address as well as your First and Last Name.
   - Click Next to continue

Note that it is important that you enter a valid email address for 2 reasons:

- valid email is required to recover a lost login or recreate a forgotten password;
- the first time you share media in Orb, you will be required to verify this email address.

7. If you are an existing user, click Already have an Orb account, enter your Orb login and password, then click OK.

System Check

8. Now click Next to perform Orb System Check.

Your Media on your TV

9. If you wish to use Orb as your Digital Media server then select Yes so that you can use Orb to stream your videos or music to your TV using your Xbox 360, PS3, or a digital media player. You can disable this feature anytime via Orb tray (click Orb tray > Configuration > Advanced > Uncheck "Enable UPnP AV MediaServer")
   
   Now click Next to select Wireless, Wired or Both: Some devices on wireless, some on wired (as applicable per your network setup) to let Orb know the way your game console or digital media player is connected on your network
   
   Note that if you do not have a TV Tuner then your configuration is done: you will skip the below TV setup steps.

TV setup

10. If you...

do not have a set-top box and your TV cable connects directly to your tuner, click Next to go straight to the configuration of your TV program guide in step 12.

do have a set-top box, indicate how that set-top box connects to your tuner: via coaxial (channel 2, 3 , or 4), composite video, or S-video, then click Next.

Important: Note that the wrong TV input selection will result in failure to display the video when streaming TV or, if outside of the US, will prevent Orb from detecting local TV channels.

Orb will then configure your set-top box remote control so you can change TV channels through Orb.

Note: You need an USB Infrared Receiver/Transmitter*, a.k.a. "IR Blaster", for Orb to be able to communicate with your set-top box.

Also check the Live TV section of our Knowledge Base where you would find Knowledge Base articles related to Live TV Setup

Configuring Set-Top Box Remote Control

11. If you have Vista Home Premium or Vista Ultimate

Make sure that you have configured your IR Blaster and it works fine on your Media Center application and then select "I watch Live TV through my Media Center Application" when prompted during Orb TV Setup.

All other Windows OS platforms

Note that for Orb to detect your IR code, it is important that you position your set-top box remote control not more than 1 inch away from the IR blaster.

Click Detect and then press and hold button "0" as instructed. If Orb cannot detect your remote, give it another try by selecting Try again.

If Orb cannot detect your remote at all, click Back twice, to return to the screen in the previous step above, then select Learn. The IR setup will walk you through repeated steps to learn your remote control keys, one by one.

After Orb successfully detects or learns your remote IR codes, indicate whether on your remote control you must press the "Enter" or "OK" key after selecting a channel number.

*At this time, the Orb IR blaster program (for changing local TV channels on a set-top box) does not work on the Vista Home Basic and Business editions.

Configuring your TV Program Guide

12. Enter your ZIP code, then click Get List.

Select your TV Service Provider from the list generated, then click Next. Orb will start downloading your TV program. Depending on the number of channels you have subscribed to, it may take up to 2 hours to complete the initial retrieval of your TV guide. Note: After the initial setup, Orb will perform daily TV listings updates and will download your TV program schedule for the next 7 days.

Click Close! You are done! You are now ready to go to http://mycast.orb.com and start streaming your media or TV.

Adding Media

By default, Orb indexes media from My Music, My Pictures, My Videos and My Documents folders from your start-up drive.

If you have your media folders stored on other drives in your PC, external USB drives, or network (LAN) drives, you need to add these folders to your Orb media database via Orb tray (click Orb tray > Configuration > Media).

You can include as many folders as you want, but if you have pretty large media library, allow more time for Orb to index these files and add them to your media database. So, it may take some time for these just added folders to be displayed in your Orb account on the Mycast Web UI

Also check out Setting up your Orb system in User Guides section of our support portal.

Setup Live TV

Watch Live TV *

Watch live or recorded TV shows including news, sporting events and more while on the go - no waiting for long downloads.

Schedule Live TV Recordings *

Schedule to record any television show when you are away from home. You can even schedule an "Orb Pass" and all episodes of your selected programs will be recorded.

Watch and Record Internet TV

Watch Internet TV shows including those not available through cable or satellite. Orb can record these shows to watch at your convenience. Record your favorites and watch when you want to.

TV Listings

See what's playing on your home TV from just about anywhere. Orb can display your personal TV listings on any Internet-enabled remote device.

Requirements for Live TV

*To stream / record Live TV, your TV cable needs to be connected to the TV tuner card on your Orb PC.

In general, Orb supports all analog tuners with a built-in hardware MPEG-2 encoder (aka. MPEG-2 tuners) and Over-The-Air (OTA) Digital Tuners - ATSC Tuners.

DVB tuners

Most DVB-T (terrestrial) digital tuners should work in Orb. However, this functionality is offered as a "beta" and is therefore not fully supported at this time.

DVB-S (satellite) digital tuners do not work in Orb at this time.

Software-based, non-MPEG2 TV tuners

At this time, most non-MPEG2 tuners (such as: ATI All-In-Wonder family of tuners; Hauppauge soft-PVR USB tuners; etc.) will work in Orb. However the implementation of this functionality is still in beta and therefore not supported at this time. If you cannot make your non-MPEG2 tuner work in Orb, search Orb forum posts at http://forums.orb.com where issues related to this type of tuners are discussed, and basic setup tips are offered.

Set-Top Boxes

If your TV setup includes a Set-Top Box (STB), to change TV channels in Orb you will need a Microsoft MCE-compatible USB Infra-Red (IR) Blaster (usually comes bundled with the MCE remote control).

Remote Controls and IR Blasters

The following Remote Controls include IR Blasters supported by Orb:

USB-UIRT (Universal Infrared Receiver Transmitter)
Philips Media Center Remote Control
SMK Remote Control for Windows XP Media Center Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition Remote Control
Hewlett Packard Remote Control for Windows XP Media Center Edition

Live TV installation scenarios

Whether you receive TV cable with a cable, satellite, set top box, or a regular antenna (analog or digital), Orb has a solution to ensure you get your TV anywhere. Of course, as for all other applications of Mycast, the PC where you have installed Orb needs to be always on for you to watch TV remotely! This is true for all installation scenarios described below.

Without a TV tuner card

Scenario 1

Just install the Orb application on your home PC and you are done! You can view and record Internet TV channels which are listed and found under "Internet TV" in "TV/Webcams" application.

Orb features hundreds of Internet television stations from dozens of countries! You can also add your favorite Internet TV channels by using our "Add Custom Channel" feature.

Additionally, you can enjoy Orb's Program Guide without the need for a TV tuner card. The Program Guide lets you know what is on TV. You can search program listings by channel, time or genre.

With a TV tuner card

With a TV tuner card, you can add to your TV viewing experience by connecting your television service to your Orb home PC source and enjoy the TV channels you are used to!

Installing a TV tuner card in your home PC usually takes only a few minutes. There are two types available from manufacturers: internal (PCI based) and external (usually USB based). See: Requirements for Live TV in Setup Live TV

Scenario 2
Connecting your analog cable

In this scenario, you simply connect the Coax cable coming from your wall to the TV tuner card Coax input jack of your TV tuner card while installing the card into your home PC.

The Orb install process will take into account the available channel line-up and service provider, and within minutes, you are ready to enjoy your analog cable channels in Orb, at home, and on the go!

Scenario 3
Connecting your analog or digital antenna

In this scenario, you simply connect your television antenna to the TV tuner card "antenna" input jack of your TV tuner card while installing the card in your Orb home PC.

If you receive digital terrestrial television, you will need a TV tuner card equipped with a digital TV tuner (ATSC in the United States, Canada, Mexico or DVB-T in many other countries). Some TV tuner cards are "hybrid" and support analog and digital TV.

Scenario 4
Connecting your television set-top box

In this scenario, you simply connect your television set top box to the TV tuner card "antenna" or "cable" input jack of your TV tuner card while installing the tuner card into your Orb home PC.

This installation works for either a set-top box connected to a cable Coax ("CATV"), a satellite dish on your roof, or a dedicated digital terrestrial television antenna which then connects to a dedicated set-top box (1).

In this case, there may be up to two connections to make:

First, a series of cable will carry the video and sound signals (2) from the set top box to the TV tuner card;

Second, when supported by some TV tuner cards, an IR blaster cable will make your set top box change channels upon instructions sent by your Orb home PC (to change channels and make recordings, for example). This cable usually has an IR "eye" which is placed in front of the decoder IR reader, so that channel changing signals can be blasted to it.

(1) Also called a "zapper" box - for example, the Freeview system in the UK.
(2) You may use S-Video to carry video signal, while RCA cables (white and red) may be used for audio

Tips and Advice

Depending on the size of your home, and how distant your den and your home office where the Orb home PC may be, it may be tricky to lay some cable across two rooms to connect your decoder and your PC.

You may therefore want to consider an interesting layout suggested by some ORB users:

1. set-up your Orb PC (a dedicated machine) close to your television set top box - then connect your set top to the TV tuner card on this PC - that will be your "Orb PC"

2. connect this Orb PC, preferably with a WiFi network access, to the home network and Internet

3. now, set-up your Orb media folders and discover all the media located on all your other PCs at home by adding media folders via Orb tray.