Set up a home media server. Your home multimedia server for your TV. Laptop or other PC
One of the characteristics that distinguishes some modern televisions from others is their degree of intelligence. In a figurative sense, of course. We are talking about the technological advantages of the so-called Smart TV. Conventional digital TVs, as a rule, can play the role of the TV itself, working in tandem with a receiver, play media content using the built-in player (alas, often with a limited list of readable formats), and also serve as a monitor for a computer, game or TV set-top box . Whereas Smart TV, they are also smart TVs, are able to participate to a greater extent in the chain of content reproduction as independent participants.
1. About media streaming and DLNA technology
Smart TVs are actually the same computers, because they have their own hardware capabilities, have their own software, can connect to wired and wireless networks. And the last thing is almost complete independence from source devices. The advantages of direct TV access to the Internet are obvious, but there are many of them when local access to the computer. Streaming media from a computer to TV is the TV's direct access to files on the computer. Streaming eliminates the fuss with flash drives and external hard drives. Files are transferred from the computer to the TV over the network. Without the participation of a computer, as long as it is simply turned on, without the participation of a smartphone, without the participation of set-top boxes and other source devices, all permitted material can be played using a TV - video, photos, music, any media files that such a TV can play.
DLNA technology allows devices on the same network to exchange media content. Many people support her modern devices, capable of connecting to the network - computers, tablets, smartphones, TV and game consoles, and, of course, Smart TV. For example, smart TVs from LG that support DLNA technology have a proprietary Smart Share application - a shell of this technology with a user interface. Applications from other Smart TV brands are called differently and, accordingly, have a different interface. In particular, the smart ones Samsung TVs The shell for DLNA technology is the standard AllShare application. And for Sony TVs - this is the Vaio application Media Server.
How to set up streaming media from a Windows computer - PC or laptop - to TV? We will examine this issue in detail below.
2. What do you need to set up streaming from a computer to TV?
To set up streaming from a computer to a TV, as mentioned, it is necessary that the latter supports the network. By the way, to stream media files, the Smart TV “status” for the TV is not required. The TV may not have super-functionality; it simply must support the network and allow the selection of a signal source with at least primitive standard functionality. Such a TV must have a built-in Wi-Fi module or an Ethernet network port. As a rule, modern Smart TVs provide both options - both a wired and a wireless network connection.
Both devices - the TV and the PC or laptop - must be connected to a single local network. When connected to a router (router), any devices - computers, smartphones, tablets, set-top boxes, smart TVs - are automatically combined into one small network. Of course, if you don’t have a router, you can get by by directly connecting the TV to your computer over the network. What you need to do this is to connect network cable to the Ethernet ports of devices. But in this case, if the computer has only one network port (one LAN card with one Ethernet port), you will have to constantly reconnect the cable from the TV and the cable from the Internet provider. It is not comfortable. A router must be in the house if there is a question of unlocking the potential of Smart TV. well and Wi-Fi router– a simply necessary thing if smartphones or tablets are used in the house.
The method of connecting the TV to the network - wired or wireless, if it provides both options, is not important.
The next condition for streaming is configured access using DLNA technology to the media library folders on the computer. On Windows, this can be done in several ways.
3. Setting up network access to computer files in Windows Media Player
A way to configure access to computer files in Windows without the need to install third-party software is to use the standard Windows Media Player.
On the Windows Media Player toolbar, click the “Stream” option and check the box next to:
- “Enable media streaming...”
After enabling this option, a system window with streaming parameters will open, where you can specify the name of the media library and flexibly configure the availability of media content for specific network devices: leave the preset resolution for some, and remove it for others.
The configured permissions will allow other devices to access files over the network only in the user profile folders. These are the “Video”, “Music”, “Pictures” folders, which are displayed in Windows Explorer along with disk partitions, drives and removable devices of the computer. If this is more than enough, you can start testing file playback on your TV using local applications that work with DLNA technology.
But storing files in user profile folders is on system disk- not the best idea both from the point of view of having free space on drive C, and from the point of view of preserving these files in case of a critical failure Windows operation. As a rule, media libraries of impressive size are stored on non-system partitions of the computer disk. Folders of such media libraries must be added in a separate step to the Windows Media Player library,
To make the contents of other computer folders available for streaming to the TV in the Windows Media Player window, click the “Arrange” option, select “Manage Libraries”, and in it – one of the content types: “Music Library” for audio files, “Video” for video files , “Gallery” for photos and pictures.
A window will open with a list of existing libraries, and to add the desired folder to this list, click the “Add” button on the side. Add this folder in the Explorer window that opens, then click “Ok” in the list window.
An alternative way to add folders with media content to the system list of folders with public access for devices home network– adding to the library using the context menu command in Windows Explorer. At any time, any folder on your computer where videos, music or photos are stored can be accessed for playback from network devices. To do this, you need to open this folder in Explorer, call up the context menu and select the “Add to Library” command. The folder will be added to the appropriate library and its contents will be available for streaming.
The list of folders with video and audio files open for streaming will also change when changes are made to it using the standard Windows 10 Movies and TV and Groove Music applications. In the settings section of both applications, you can add and remove folders to local collections of video and audio files. Local application collections work in conjunction with system libraries.
4. Setting up network access to computer files using the LG Smart Share program
Some Smart TV brands have their own desktop software operating systems, through which you can configure access to media files on your computer. These programs can be downloaded from the TV manufacturers' website or on the Internet. For example, to allow Samsung smart TVs to access computer content, the South Korean corporation created the Samsung Allshare program. And for LG TVs, the LG Smart Share Windows program for PC is available for free download on the company’s website. Let's take a closer look at it. On the LG website, select the version for Windows and download.
Installation of LG Smart Share is standard. After launching the program, you need to select any of the proposed content settings options - Movie, Photo, Music.
In the window that appears, access must be enabled. If it is disabled, set the switch to the “On” position.
Switch to the “My Shared Files” tab. Here you can allow access to files in the specified folders. Using a button in the form of a folder with a plus sign, you need to add any other folders with media content to the existing folders of the user profile. After adding, click the “Apply” button at the bottom, then “OK”.
Everything - now the content of all folders displayed in the “My Shared Files” tab of the program will be available for network devices, in particular for TV.
In the program settings tab just below - “My device settings” - you can change the computer name. Using this name, the computer will be identified on the network for other devices.
The LG Smart Share utility process will automatically start along with the Windows system, providing further access to your computer's media files.
To make sure that everything works as it should, launch the SmartShare application on the TV.
Go to the “Devices” section and select our media server.
Open any of shared folders, which contains media files.
Let's try to play the file.
5. Setting up network access to computer files using the Home Media Server program
Another way to provide TVs, set-top boxes, mobile and other devices that support the network and DLNA technology with access to your computer’s media content is the Windows program “Home Media Server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)”. The program works with many popular TVs: LG, Samsung, Toshiba, Sony, Philips. Using this program, a DLNA server is launched on the computer, to which all network devices can connect. By default, the program allows you to manage server files from the TV - essentially, computer files.
The advantage of using Home Media Server over all of the streaming options listed above is that it has more features and is more customizable. The program provides various transcoders for video and audio files, which allows you to convert media content, if it initially exists on the computer in a format not supported by the TV, into a format that is supported by it. You can additionally configure the broadcast of individual Internet channels (radio and digital television) on your TV.
“Home Media Server” can be downloaded absolutely free on the creators’ website.
Download the program, install it and run it. Upon startup, the initial settings window will immediately appear. You can leave everything as default and refuse to scan media files. Let's move on to the program settings in a separate order.
In the program window, click the “Settings” button on the toolbar at the top of the window.
In the settings window that opens, we will see the category tabs on the right. In the first tab “Media Resources”, using the “Add” button, we can add any folders with media content to the program list to give them access for streaming. Shared access can be opened immediately to all partitions of the computer disk (C, D, E, etc.), to all network drives, to all connected removable media. To do this, you need to check the boxes next to the required options at the bottom of the window - respectively, “Local disks”, “ Network drives" and "Removable devices".
The Media Resources settings tab provides many options for the added folders. For example, by clicking the “Change” button, we will be able to exclude hiding files and directories, remove certain types of files, set a different folder name - and all this within the framework of the DLNA server, without changes on the computer.
At the bottom of the “Media Resources” tab there are separate sections with an abundance of different settings. In the “Scanning” section, you can pay attention to the option “Always use file name as the name of the media resource.” Without checking this option, the names of media files in Russian will be converted to transliterated Latin letters or unreadable crocodile.
In the “Devices” settings tab we will see a list of all detected network devices that will have access to DLNA server files. Any of the devices on the list can be disabled by removing the green activity button.
In the “Server” settings tab, instead of the default DLNA server name, we can set our own name, for example, more convenient for perception. Next to the server name field we will see its port - 45397. It may happen that the antivirus or firewall running on the computer will block the operation of the DLNA server. In case of such blocking, the DLNA server port must be granted permission to work in the antivirus or firewall settings.
Also in the “Server” tab, you need to pay attention to the default option that prevents the computer from going into sleep mode while the DLNA server is running. If it becomes necessary to put your PC or laptop into sleep mode, the DLNA server will need to be stopped in the future. If, on the contrary, the checkbox for the option “Prevent the computer from going into sleep mode while the server is running” is not checked for some reason, it is better to check it. Otherwise, watching a movie on TV will be unceremoniously interrupted as soon as the laptop goes to sleep to save battery power.
The Home Media Server program has a very rich selection of settings, and its potential can be revealed gradually, testing certain features as you become familiar with them. For now, let's limit ourselves to the settings already made and save them. Click “Ok” below and agree to scan media files in the configured folders.
After the program completes the scanning process, we can launch the DLNA server. To do this, click the “Launch” button on the toolbar at the top of the main program window.
Home Media Server works in background, and the program can be controlled from the system tray. By calling the context menu on the program button in the system tray, the DLNA server can be stopped, started, or restarted.
Automate this process so that the DLNA server starts automatically with starting Windows, you can in the program settings. The last settings tab “Advanced” provides in the “Startup” column options for autoloading the program itself when Windows starts, autostarting the DLNA server when the program starts, as well as installing its background service in the Windows system.
Once the DLNA server is running, all available media content on the computer can be played on the TV through a local DLNA application. In the TV app, the DLNA server will appear as a connected playback device. Inside it, folders with computer media content configured in the Home Media Server program will be available.
You can launch available media content for playback not only in the TV application. You can also assign the Home Media Server program to start playing media files on your TV. To do this, in the main window of the program, select the appropriate content - click on the “Movies”, “Music” or “Photo” button on the toolbar at the top. The right side of the program window will display folder files that were previously accessed for broadcasting to the TV. Select the desired video, audio file or picture from the list, call the context menu on this file and select “Play to” among the commands. In the list of devices that appears, select the TV. The selected movie, track or photo will unfold on the TV screen.
6. "Bring to device" function Windows 8.1 and 10
The function of starting playback of media files on a computer with displaying images on a TV is also provided as part of the standard functionality in versions of Windows 8.1 and 10. If the Windows system allows playback of media files on the computer by network devices in the Windows Media player, as discussed above, a movie, audio track or photo You can launch it on your computer and continue watching or listening on your TV. This is a handy thing when you don’t particularly want to fiddle with the TV remote control and look for, for example, the desired movie among a bunch of other media files, killing your nerves with monotonous flipping through file after file.
To launch a media file on your computer, you need to open the context menu on it in Windows Explorer and select the “Bring to device” command. This is the command for Windows systems 10. In Windows 8.1, this context menu command is called “Play To”.
After this, we will see a list of network devices available for playback. Choose a TV. Running file will unfold on the TV screen, and on the computer screen we will see a small Windows Media player window with a playlist where you can additionally add some files.
7. Bring to Device feature in Windows 10 Movies & TV app
Available for media files in context menu Windows Explorer the “Bring to device” function is also implemented in Windows application 10 "Cinema and TV". It works on the principle of launching a video file in an application on a computer and continuing to watch it on a network device, in particular, on a TV screen. Open the “Movies and TV” application, launch the video and in viewing mode, click the first button at the bottom – the button to connect to available playback devices. A list of all network devices defined for outputting the video file will appear in a small window. Choose a TV.
In the future, you can continue watching the movie again on your computer, in the “Movies and TV” application. This is a great idea for a home filled with digital technology that is connected into one network. For example, having started watching a movie on the TV screen in the living room, you can continue watching it on the kitchen TV screen. And then you can move back to the living room with the film. And to do this, you just need to pause for a couple of simple actions on the computer.
8. Conclusion
As you can see, the choice of ways to configure the computer part of the chain of interaction between the computer and the TV over the network is great. Despite the fact that the article turned out to be voluminous, in fact, not all programs on the software market for implementing multimedia streaming from a computer to a TV are considered. Setting up your TV is easier.
As mentioned above, your computer's media files can be accessed through local smart TV apps. And these are the above-mentioned Smart Share for LG TVs, AllShare for Samsung, Vaio Media Server for Sony and others. IN regular TVs, supporting a network where the firmware does not provide separate applications, access to computer files can be configured by selecting a media server as a signal source. In many cases, the source button on the TV remote is called “Source”.
Have a great day!
The DLNA media server opens up wide possibilities for broadcasting video and other media files from one device to another via WiFi. Since this technology is cross-platform, it can be used to transfer images from a laptop or PC running Windows to a TV or set-top box. Android control. The previous article aroused such interest among readers that I decided to develop this topic and talk in more detail about the capabilities of a UPnP home media server on Windows, as well as how to organize work with the Home Media Server and SmartShare programs.
What are DLNA and UPnP?
The Integrated Digital Network Consortium (DLNA) is a group of companies that have come together to create a common, open standard for connecting devices. All devices that support DLNA can automatic mode, being on the same network, tune in to receive from each other and view content.
What types of devices support DLNA?
DLNA-compatible devices are TVs, Cell phones, PCs and laptops, music players, game consoles such as Sony PlayStation 3, home media players, personal computers, Android phones, Blu-Ray players, tablets, wireless printers, camcorders, flat screen TVs, routers and HiFi systems. First of all, make sure that your device has this support. All DLNA Certified devices have a logo or sticker indicating that the product has been tested to meet DLNA requirements and is capable of connecting to other certified devices. Next, the device must have a description of the type of digital content supported (for example, audio, video, photos), as well as the type of purpose (for example, server, printer, player, etc.). More detailed description accepted notation at the end of the article.
Currently, The Digital Living Network Alliance's membership list includes most of the major players in the market, such as Intel, HP, Motorola, HTC, Microsoft, Samsung, LG and Panasonic. These companies create products that work well with each other. Only Apple remained on the sidelines and developed its own standard - AirPlay. So if you have a device from the Apple family, you won’t be able to include it in your media network consisting of devices from other manufacturers.
How to use DLNA media server on Windows?
DLNA devices are designed to be interconnected. Each device is assigned its own class depending on its purpose. For example, any storage device belongs to the Digital Media Server class. These are mobile phones that store photos, music and videos in their memory. Any device that can receive and play digital content from another DLNA device will be a Digital Media Player. This is your TV that can play videos, music and photos from other devices.
In order to create a home media server and start using it, you will need at least one DLNA server for storing content (for example, a laptop or mobile phone) and one DLNA device for playing it, for example, such as a TV.
DLNA devices connect and communicate with each other through a configured home network. The layout of this network is probably similar to your home Internet network. In reality, a router is the central point of communication in a network and is used to connect devices to each other.
Here's a short list of what you'll need:
- TV with DLNA support
- at least one DLNA digital media server, such as a file server, laptop or phone
- router
- one of three for connecting the receiver to the transmitter: Powerline adapters (for distributing the Internet via the power grid), Ethernet cables or wireless adapter to connect to your network.
Setting up a DLNA home media server on a Windows computer or laptop?
We have come close to the topic of setting up a home media server via DLNA. First of all, you need to connect a laptop and a TV that supports this technology (for example, Samsung with Smart TV) to the router. There are several ways to do this. This is discussed in detail in, but they are briefly listed below. Which one to choose is up to you, depending on how far the router is from your TV and other connected DLNA devices.
Ethernet cable
If your router is close to your TV, an Ethernet cable is the easiest way to connect them.
Simply connect one end of the cable to the TV's Ethernet port and the other to the router's port.
Wireless bridge
If you have a wireless router, or your TV is far enough away, you might want to consider installing a wireless bridge to connect your TV to your router. The wireless bridge connects to the TV via an Ethernet port, and to the router via wireless communication. Or, if your TV supports WiFi via a built-in or external adapter, then connect it to the router directly.
Some wireless routers, such as those from Buffalo Technology, are DLNA certified and are specifically designed for a DLNA home network.
Via electrical network, without cables
A network using the electrical grid is great way set up a network throughout the house. Installation using your home's electrical network is simple and safe. Since existing wiring is used, cables are no longer required for connections within the DLNA network. Almost all manufacturers produce adapters for connecting to a power outlet. network equipment. They are called Powerline devices. Next, you simply connect the plug of the router, TV and other devices to the power outlet as usual, but now all your devices will form a DLNA network
Before you can transfer files from your computer, you must install the appropriate software on it. Options include Windows Media Player 11 or 12 (included in new version Windows 7) or VAIO Media Server (for TV from Sony), AllShare for Samsung, LG Smart Share, Home Media Server, etc. After installing the software, you can select files to transfer to the TV - photos, videos, music files etc. How the transfer occurs depends on the software you're using, but typically it involves specifying a playlist, library, or files, or adding them to the appropriate folders.
Let's now look at the most popular programs that allow you to stream files from your computer to other devices.
Windows Media Player
To set up Windows Media Player to transfer files from your laptop to your TV, follow these steps:
Launch Windows Media Player, open the menu ( right click on the toolbar on which the deactivated arrows are located), section Tools > Options 
SAMSUNG Allshare Software
You can download it here. More advanced compared to the previous program, but again only for Samsung. It is based on the *DLNA standard, and with its help you can share multimedia content not only on your TV, but also on many other devices that support the *DLNA standard: computers, tablets, camcorders, digital cameras, mobile phones, etc.
The operating procedure is as follows:
Install the program, launch it, go to Tools > Settings > Sharing (Tools - Settings - Folder Settings) and select the folder from which the files will be open for sharing.
After that, go to the “Privilege Settings” tab and grant access to our TV. All shared folders and files will appear in the main program window
Now, for greater clarity, watch a video demonstrating how to work with these programs from Samsung.
Home Media Server - Home Media Server
This is another cool one free program to organize a full-featured media server from your computer, from which files can be broadcast to other devices included in local network- not only a TV, but also a tablet with Android OS, for example. Its advantage is that it is suitable for any TV that supports network connections, for example the same inexpensive LG. Download latest version Can .
Let's take a closer look at how to use the Home Media Server. After installing it, you will be asked several times to set the basic parameters - here we click “Cancel” everywhere, but we do nothing, since we will configure everything later.
We get to the main program window.
In addition to viewing files, this program also allows you to broadcast streaming broadcasts from the Internet to your TV. But we’ll talk about this separately.
I hope that now it has become clearer to all blog readers what a DLNA media server is (not to be confused with) and how to connect to it various devices. Well, after carefully studying all this information and competent implementation, you can build something like this:
By the way, the phone can also work as a server - but more on that in a separate article about DLNA on Android. You can learn about the same by following the link.
For a snack, there are many more delicacies - the most popular questions with answers, a glossary of terms and visual videos on DLNA. And don’t forget to subscribe to blog news using the form below the article so you don’t miss the next article in the DLNA series. It will focus on the universal cross-platform media server Xbox Media Center (XBMC).
FAQ
Are all TVs DLNA certified?
No, not all TVs support DLNA. To make sure yours supports the DLNA network, look for the corresponding logo on it.
What should I do if my router is located a long distance from the TV?
There are two options if your router is located far from the TV and other devices
DLNA connection using a wireless bridge or electrical cable. This way you can connect your TV and devices to the router
- DLNA wirelessly. This article describes detailed actions on installation.
Is it possible to connect other devices to the DLNA server via WiFi?
Some DLNA devices have built-in WiFi functionality. The method of connecting via WiFi will depend on the device itself. You may need to enable WiFi or Network Sharing in order to connect to your router (and DLNA network).
My TV does not connect to the media server. What should I do?
Check the cable and connections between the TV and the router, and between the DLNA devices and the router.
Check your network settings on your TV. Connecting a TV to the network is described in detail in a separate article, the link to which I provided above.
Which devices support DLNA?
There are a number of devices that support DLNA. Visit the Integrated Digital Network Consortium (DLNA) website
My TV does not see some devices. What should I do?
If the TV does not find content on another device, the following reasons are possible:
Your TV or other DLNA device is not connected to the network.
The problem is with the router or the network.
The other device does not support DLNA or is not a Digital Media Server, in other words, it does not have memory to store files.
Your PC or laptop does not have the appropriate DLNA server software installed.
Depending on your network settings, you may need to disable the firewall feature on your laptop. You should be aware of the risks associated with this activity. They are entirely your own responsibility. If you don't know what to do, seek professional help.
Which network setup method is better - cable or wireless?
It all depends on the remoteness of the network components and how desirable the presence is visible cables in the house. A cable network, however, may perform slightly better than a wireless one. A few more tips:
Try to avoid complex network setups with multiple subnets and hubs as this may impact the performance of your DLNA network.
If you want to be able to stream HD video files, we recommend using a network speed of at least 200 Mbps for more stable performance.
When choosing an Ethernet cable, choose Cat5e over Cat 5 as this will allow your network to grow more efficiently. high speed work.
Can I rotate images when the TV is connected to a PC?
No, you cannot rotate images on the screen. You must rotate the image on your laptop or other device before it can be displayed on your TV screen.
Photos appear distorted on the TV screen. Why?
As you enlarge the photo, the image quality may deteriorate. For optimal quality, display photos at their native resolution, even if they don't fill the entire screen.
My photos don't fill the entire TV screen
Images may not fill the entire screen. It depends on their resolution and format. For optimal image quality, do not change the native resolution.
What file types are supported by DLNA devices?
It depends on the device itself. Check out the DLNA certification specific device
or visit the DLNA website. Depending on the network device, some files may be converted before
transmission.
Below is a list of files that are typically supported by DLNA devices:
Images: JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF, TIFF
Audio: MP3, WAVE, AAC, AC-3, Ogg Vorbis, LPCM, AMR, WMA
Video: AVI, FLV, MPEG2-PS, MPEG4, H.264 SD, WMV, WMA
Can I store files on my TV?
No, your TV is a DLNA media player. This means that it is capable of finding and playing files from DLNA media servers that contain content.
Do I need to install additional software on my PC or laptop to transfer files? Where can I find this software?
Yes, in order for your PC or laptop to transfer files within a DLNA network, software installation is required. In some cases, such as Windows Media Player, the necessary software is already installed.
Is it possible to access iTunes or share and play DRM files online?
No, although this may also depend on the codecs supported by different devices.
Why aren't the names of the files and folders with my photos displayed?
Some folders or files may not be displayed on the TV screen if certain characters are used in their names. Try changing the name and repeating their transfer to the TV. Please note that on many models, only the Latin alphabet is supported in the names of files and folders with photos.
My DLNA server device is listed on the TV screen, but the files are not available. Why?
The connection between the DLNA device and the router may have been lost. Check cables and connections. To check the connection between your DLNA device and your TV, you can also run an automatic diagnostic test, which is different for each model.
Sometimes video quality when streaming wireless transmission quite low. Why?
The quality of your wireless network connection can vary depending on the distance between the bridge and the router, any interference in the room, and the quality of the wireless router itself. To improve picture quality, use a wireless router that supports 5GHz video streaming and place the router as close to wireless bridge.
DLNA Technology Conventions
When using DLNA connections, you can create a connection between any devices that work with this standard, and each of them can act in different roles. To refer to them precisely, a number of terms are used, which are described below.
The first group of device connections, which are used mainly in the home, is called HND (Home Network Devices)
| DMS (Digital Media Server) - media server. These are devices that are the source, that is, which contain the files that we want to watch on another device. This could be a computer with the special software listed above installed, or a NAS device that has DLNA support. |
| DMP (Digital Media Player) - media player, or DLNA client. These are the devices that receive content from the media server and can either play it or transmit it to another device, acting as a media renderer. These are TVs, game consoles, independent monitors, home theaters, etc. |
| DMR (Digital Media Renderer) - media renderer. A device capable of playing content received through a media controller, which in turn transmits it from a media server. Usually the same ones that can do this are those listed above in media players. |
| DMC (Digital Media Controller) - media controller. Allows you to find files on the media server and transfer it for playback on the media renderer. These are tablets, smartphones, digital cameras with support WiFi connections |
| DMPr (Digital Media Printer - devices that provide printing services for others - these are also printers. Media players (DMP) and media controllers (DMC) are capable of transferring printed information to them. tablets | |
| M-DMU (Mobile Digital Media Uploader) are portable gadgets that can upload files to servers. For example, digital cameras, camcorders or phones. |
| M-DMD (Mobile Digital Media Downloader) - portable devices, which can find and download media content from DMS and M-DMS servers (mobile phones and media players) |
| M-DMC (Mobile Digital Media Controller) are portable media controllers that have the ability to find content on media servers and broadcast it to DMR media renderers - phones and PDAs. |
Thank you! Did not help
It's no secret that over time we accumulate a lot of all kinds of films, photographs and the like, and all this is usually stored on the computer.
But it wouldn’t be bad to watch a movie that you just downloaded from the network on a large TV, and not on a PC screen, but to do this you need to transfer this movie to a flash drive, or burn it to a disc.
In a word, there is a lot of unnecessary movement. But there are solutions, this is a multimedia server.
Don't be alarmed, this is not a completely separate computer with hard drives. This is a program that performs strictly the tasks assigned to it.
So let’s look at several programs that can provide access to media content from other devices or programs.
Let's start with the theoretical basics of what DLNA and Smart Share are.
DLNA(in its own words) is a technology that allows devices that are connected to the same network and support DLNA technology to exchange media content (video, photos, music).
Now, almost all devices support DLNA technology: computers, TVs, smartphones, game consoles, etc.
Smart Share is a proprietary application (technology) of LG. If you can say so, then this is a kind of shell for working with DLNA.
Other TV manufacturers call these programs differently. Samsung has AllShare. SONY – VAIO Media Server.
And so, without a doubt, you can watch photos, films, etc. that are on your computer or even smartphone on your TV.
But first you need to set up DLNA (Smart Share) between your PC and TV (the TV must be able to connect to the network)
What does it mean?
This means that both the TV and the computer must be connected to the same one, no matter how they are connected. (via Wi-Fi or cable)
And so you have a router, but there is no Wi-Fi on the TV. We can simply lay a network cable from the router to the TV.
Our router must be connected to the Internet and configured. We also need a network cable. We connect one end of the cable to the router, into the yellow connector.
On the TV, connect the second end of the cable to the network connector.
You can debug the router itself using the knowledge gained in this article:
Next, we need to set up file distribution from the computer so that the TV can play videos from the required folders, or show photos. We just need to open up access for this. This can even be done using standard Windows Media Player.
But there is a very good and absolutely free program " Home media server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)", which is an excellent analogue of Smart Share from LG, or for example AllShare from Samsung.
And so, friends, a media server for a computer that will upgrade your TV and make it much more functional.
Home Media Server
Home media server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP) is a program that provides media resources (photos, audio and video files) of your computer to other UPnP (DLNA) devices on the home network.
For example, Philips, Sony, Samsung, LG, Toshiba TVs, game consoles Sony Playstation 3, XBOX 360, media players WD TV Live, Popcorn Hour, Dune, Boxee Box, IconBit, ASUS O!Play, iPad/iPhone/iPod, mobile and PDA devices.
The program includes various audio and video file transcoders that allow you to convert media resources into a format supported by the playback device.
It is also possible to convert the frame format of video files to the screen format of the playback device (the color of the addition is specified by the user), select an audio track, and subtitles. You can choose to transcode from any minute.
The program includes transcoding profiles for VLC Media Player. You can redirect Internet radio and Internet television streams from your computer to your media devices.
The program supports Digital TV (C, S, T), you can redirect streams digital television from your computer to your media devices.
The program supports managing DMR (Digital Media Renderer) devices. You can use the “Play to” function for an individual device and a group of devices.
This is a whole harvester, the functionality of which knows no bounds.
The only drawback will be the terrible interface of the program, but since it is needed to play movies on the TV, this will not be a big problem. The program is absolutely free and is only available in the Windows version.
First, we need to download and install the program itself. I recommend downloading from the official website: https://www.homemediaserver.ru/index.htm. There's always a new version there!
After installation, launch the program with a shortcut on the desktop. Let's go to the program settings. We won't do anything special there. We will simply indicate local disks, flash drives, external HDD and, or folders, the contents of which we want to see on the TV.
For example, you can open only a few folders with movies, photos and music.
A settings window will open. In the first category, Media Resources, we need to indicate which disks or folders we want to see on the TV. By default, standard folders with photos, videos and music are open there.
The program is trying to sort everything. And in order not to get confused in all these folders on the TV, I advise you to open general access to local disks. This means that you can open any file on your TV that is stored on these local drives (drives C, D, E, etc.).
You can also specify individual folders, or for example external hard disk. To do this, click on the Add button on the right and select in Explorer the desired folder, flash drive, or hard drive. These are the basic settings, click on the Ok button and agree to scan media resources.
Next, you can start the DLNA server itself. To do this, simply click on the “Launch” button. Now, just turn on the TV. If everything is connected correctly, it should appear in the “Home Media Server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)” program.
To do this, go to the Playback Devices (DMR) tab, and on the right, click the Update button.
VIDEO:
So Plex .
The most popular and perhaps quite convenient option. Having launched the server on your computer, you can manage it from a browser, set up a media library, add subtitles, etc.
Plex downloads all the information about the movie automatically and does it perfectly in most cases. The TV sees the Plex server without any problems and plays everything perfectly.
The disadvantage of Plex and other similar programs is that the TV does not see the subtitles built into the film, but for me and I don’t think this has any special significance for you.
Plex is free, but you'll need to buy a subscription for additional features.
https://plex.tv/
PS3 Media Server.
Initially, PS3 Media Server was distributed as an add-on to the PlayStation 3, allowing you to play movies on your TV using the console.
Then the program began to live a separate life. Like previous alternatives, it supports DLNA playback and requires no fiddling with setup.
http://www.ps3mediaserver.org/
Serviio, is far from the most popular multimedia server. The app is free, but can be purchased for $25 PRO version, which allows access to your content from any network, not just your home one.
And this allows you to play content from the WEB (this function is given as an introduction and in free version). Serviio has Android apps, but they act as a secondary control panel for the backend on the computer.
http://www.serviio.org/
Kodi or (XBMC)
XBMC was created to bring video playback functionality to the Xbox. Then the project split off and now Kodi is one of the most popular media centers, supporting almost all platforms due to its open source.
Kodi has apps for iOS and Android that allow you to use your smartphone as a remote control. The service relies on donations and is absolutely free.
http://kodi.tv/
Good luck, Friends!
A free application that allows you to open folders with movies, music or pictures to play it all on your TV screen, audio player, PDA or tablet.
To become familiar with the program's functions, you will need a little understanding of the UPnP abbreviation. This is a set of protocols that allow you to connect several devices and then exchange data between them.
Now imagine the situation: you have long wanted to watch some movie, but it’s still not on the TV program. Thanks to the media server, you can turn on the movie on your computer/laptop, and the image will be on the TV screen. In addition to transmitting video, you can stream music (for example, to a player), online radio and TV.
It is worth noting that the Home Media Server is quite simple to set up. All you need to do is open the program, add folders in the settings from which the broadcast will be carried out, select a device (all detected devices are automatically connected) and turn on the desired movie, song, picture.
Download home media server possible for Windows 7, XP or 8.
Possibilities:
- broadcasting media content to TVs, players, tablets;
- playing online TV and radio on devices;
- opening a file on several devices at once;
- function parental controls, which gives you permission to view only the files you select on a specific device;
- transmission of subtitles for video;
- limiting the broadcast time on the selected device.
Advantages:
- Russian interface language;
- Home media server is distributed free of charge;
- large list of supported devices.
Things to work on:
- outdated interface design;
- Some devices do not sync well with the program.
If you have a lot of electronics in your home that support the UPnP protocol, then this application will make your life more comfortable. The only negative is the outdated interface design, but it does not at all affect the quality performance of the program’s functions.
Now every Internet user has the opportunity to store their media files on a home server without using computer memory. This is very convenient if you collect your favorite films, videos or video clips, and you can view all this not only on your PC, but also on your LG TV. This review is devoted to a detailed consideration of this topic and answers the question of users on how to set up an upnp dlna home media server for an LG TV.
To be able to take advantage of all the benefits home server on your LG TV, you need the computer and TV to be connected to the Internet via the same network, this can be either wi-fi or cable.
To synchronize devices you will also need special program, it is called “Home Media Server”, you can download it from the official LG Store. In the case of a PC, the program can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s official website, but you need to activate it on both devices, and then agree to the offer to synchronize them.
- If it is not possible to handle the settings yourself, take advantage of the very convenient offer that is presented on our website: calling an LG service center technician to your home.
How to set up upnp dlna home media server for TVLG: Access folders and files
Open the settings interface of the “Home Media Server” program and select “media resources”, here specify the path to all folders and files that you want to play on the TV. To make your task easier, you can open access to local disks, then you can play all the files. Once you have decided on the access rights, you can start the dlna server itself; the corresponding button is located at the very bottom of the main screen of the “Home Media Server” program.
All will be shown here visible devices To connect, you need to select your TV.
In turn, on TV you can activate the Smart Share application; on smart TV it is installed by default. Open Smart Share, on the main screen you will see an icon with a picture of a folder and the inscription DLNA server. This icon will appear if you have already activated and configured the “Home Media Server” on your computer or laptop and both devices are connected to the same network.
Open the server folder and select the video or music folder, now you can play them on your smart TV.