FieldStation42

FieldStation42 turns your Linux computer or Raspberry Pi into a broadcast and cable TV simulator. Instead of picking something to watch, you flip channels. Scheduled programming plays on its own timeline, with commercials, station bumps, and all the in-between stuff that made old-school TV feel alive. Learn more at fieldstation42.com.

What It Does

• Scheduled programming — build real TV schedules with daily lineups, prime time blocks, marathons, and seasonal programming
• Multiple channel types — network TV, movie channels, guide channels, radio stations, IPTV streams, and looping displays
• Commercials and bumps — short clips fill the breaks between shows, just like real TV
• Web console — configure and manage your stations from a browser
• Web remote — change channels and control playback from your phone or any device on the network
• IR remote support — use any IR remote with a Flirc USB receiver
• On-screen display — channel banners and now-playing info overlay on the screen
• Extensive REST API — control playback, change channels, query status, and build your own tools and integrations against a full HTTP API
• Runs anywhere — Raspberry Pi, any Linux machine, or Windows via WSL

Documentation

Full documentation, installation guide, and channel configuration walkthroughs are at:

fieldstation42.com

Quick Start

# Install dependencies
sudo apt-get install mpv python3 python3-pip python3-venv

# Clone the repo
git clone https://github.com/shane-mason/FieldStation42
cd FieldStation42

# Run the installer
bash install.sh

# Activate the environment
source env/bin/activate

# Start the web console
python3 station_42.py

Then open a browser and go to http://localhost:4242 to configure your first channel.

For the full step-by-step walkthrough, see the Getting Started guide.

Requirements

• Linux (Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm recommended, Ubuntu, Mint, Debian, or WSL on Windows)
• Python 3.10 or newer
• MPV

Support the Project

If you're getting value from FieldStation42, consider supporting it on Patreon. It helps keep the project active and the documentation current.

Contributing

Bug reports, feature requests, and pull requests are welcome. Please open an issue before submitting large changes.