Many have probably heard about DLNA technology, and someone is already using its capabilities. DLNA technology is implemented in the Windows operating system, so all DLNA compatible devices can communicate with the computer. Samsung (AllShare) and LG (SmartShare) proprietary technologies are based on DLNA. What is DLNA and how can this technology be useful to you?
The following briefly describes how to use DLNA functions and capabilities when watching videos and photos, listening to music from a computer and other DLNA-enabled devices on other video / audio equipment that may have a better screen and speaker system.
How does DLNA work?
The initiators of the creation of the DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) standard, which makes it possible to combine various multimedia devices as part of a home network, were; Intel, Sony, Microsoft, Nokia, Philips, etc. Today DLNA is supported by more than 230 manufacturers.
As a medium for the transmission of media content, a local network is used, which becomes home multimedia. Device connections can be wired (Ethernet) or wireless (Wi-Fi). DLNA allows connecting devices to automatically configure itself and stream media content for viewing and listening. Sometimes this will require you to install and configure additional software. The visual center of such a media network is usually a large flat-panel TV.
For example, you can organize the transfer:
- from computer to TV
- from smartphone to music center
- from your NAS to your tablet.
The possibilities of DLNA enabled devices are endless. You can place a selection of new photos on the network storage, with the ability to view it by all family members on TV screens, smartphones, tablet computers. You can watch a movie recorded on the hard drive of your home computer in your bedroom.
Most new TVs support DLNA, incl. all smart models that can also go online. If your TV does not support, there is no big trouble in this. You can buy a DLNA-compatible media player or Blu-ray player, which at the same time will further expand the capabilities of your media network, having often more advanced codecs than those built into the TV.
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, manufacturers can denote device compatibility with this technology in different ways:
- AllShare (Samsung)
- SmartShare (LG)
- Simple Share (Philips)
- AirPlay (Apple's DLNA version).
Network creation
Before proceeding with a practical solution to the problem, it is necessary to understand that there are two types of DLNA devices. One of them is called a server and acts as a transmitter, the other type is a client, it receives a streaming signal. Network-attached storages (NAS) with DLNA support can act only as a server, a TV can only be a client, but computers, smartphones and tablets, depending on the situation, can become servers or clients. For streaming from the server, you need to install the appropriate software if it is not preinstalled by the manufacturer. Like on a DLNA TV or NAS. The installed software is free and paid.
How to set up a DLNA server
Install, if necessary, DLNA application. Allocate (or, as they often say, "share" from the English share) movies, music and other files that will be available to other devices on the network. If the files are stored on the hard disk of the computer, they will have to be placed in the appropriate Windows Libraries (Videos, Pictures, Music) on the "C" drive. The TV connected to the network will look for them there.
When you turn on the TV for the first time, it should find paths to DLNA servers. In order to subsequently connect to select the material necessary for the viewer. If you cannot find the DLNA server, try using other software on the server. To start the automatic search function, select the corresponding item in the TV system menu. Sometimes this function can be assigned to one of the buttons on the remote control.
As a software application on the server, you can use: Plex, Twonky, TVersity, PS3 Media Player.
There are several popular DLNA apps for Android and Apple iOS mobile devices: UPnPlay, Twonky, Plex, AirPlayer.
Disadvantages and limitations
Based on the single DLNA standard, each manufacturer develops its own version of the technology, so there may be inconsistencies in certain configuration options. So, the following possible problems can be noted.
HD video support is not available on some devices.
Not all types of codecs are supported by video and audio devices. There are the most popular ones, which include mpeg2, mpeg4, avi, wmv, DivX.
A wireless connection does not always allow high-quality video streaming without delays, in which case you will have to connect via a cable.
The open standards that DLNA refers to is great, but the consequence can be a problem of incompatibility. Therefore, use the software recommended by DLNA TV manufacturers for the server. So for Sony PS3 Media Server is better, LG recommends Plex, Samsung TVs love their own software.
- DLNA - what is it and who needs it
- Windows media server dlna,
- A short overview of dlna server programs
- Home media server is the best among equals, or a user's headache
- Server side setup
- Alternative and development
DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance)- a set of technologies for real-time display of various kinds of media content by devices united in one local network. Initially, this standard was developed, and several companies (Sony, Intel, Microsoft, Samsung Nokia, Matsushita, Philips, Hewlett-Packard) united in a group to create devices compatible with this technology. At the moment, there are more than 200 manufacturers producing compatible equipment.
home media server setup
In simple terms, this is a stationary computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone, TV and other "smart" equipment for viewing photos and video files, listening to musical compositions. Media content becomes shared for each device on the local network. All gadgets must be on the same IP network and connect to each other either wired (Ethernet) or wirelessly (Wi-Fi).
How to set up dlna
All devices with dlna support are conventionally divided into two types: servers and media players. The former mainly store and provide others with access to content. The latter, for the most part, only reproduce the files the user needs. For example: a personal computer contains photographs; it can store and play them both on its monitor and on the screen of a networked TV, tablet, or phone.
The division is conditional because now a lot of mobile electronics can both store and display content. For example, smartphones with special software installed may well play the role of a server.
This technology is very useful for users with a large number of "smart" devices at home, as it allows you to store multimedia content in one place, and not in the memory of each device. A very relevant "feature" for significantly deprived of memory mobile devices.
Windows and dlna
In the operating system from Microsoft, this technology has appeared since version 7. However, it is hidden so deeply that it was rather difficult for an ordinary user to find it and configure it. In Windows 8, it became possible to use for playing video files on devices connected to the local network.
This is done by right-clicking on the file and selecting the Send to ... item from the menu.
But before that, you still need to set up your home media server. In the "Control Panel" we find the item "Home Group", in the window that appears, select "Create a home group". Next, we will be asked to choose which type of file is available for access for the homegroup.
In the next window, we need the item "Allow all devices on this network, such as TV and game consoles, to play shared content", after clicking on which you will need to come up with the name of the media server and enter it in the proposed window.
This completes the setup and you can already play the allowed files with dlna devices on your computer. For this, each of them has certain points (AllShare, SmartShare ...).
A description of how to use them is included in the instructions for use.
It is easy to use the software built into the system and it consumes less hardware resources. However, there is a high probability that the format of various multimedia files may not be understood by the player, since Windows transfers them as they are. Third party programs have been created to solve this problem.
Overview of dlna server programs
Of the many dlna media server programs, several stand out. They are all free, but provide additional features for a fee. All the rest are either highly specialized, or simply provide information transfer in the local network and are an add-on to the Windows server. The following programs create a non-Windows home dlna server.
Codi- a project that grew out of XMBS. Due to its cross-platform functionality it works on Windows, IOS, Linux, Android.
It is a huge "media combine" that can find on the network, recode, download, play a huge number of formats. For this we are very much appreciated by users of TV set-top boxes.
A very bulky home media server, which is initially difficult to configure, it has a minimum number of add-ons. Different items are downloaded and installed for different functions. In this regard, it is rather difficult to set up, but it has large support and Russian-speaking too.
Plex Is another multi-platform home media server. It has high-quality localization and a huge number of features. But in this regard, it consumes a lot of system resources and is usually used for individual devices used as multimedia set-top boxes.
HMS- a program with a huge number of functions, absolutely free. The main difference is the on-the-fly file transcoding for playback even with outdated devices. Works only in the Windows environment, consumes significantly less resources, and therefore can be installed on a regular home computer. We will consider setting up this program below.
HMS server side (home media server)
The program interface is simple and setting up the first launch takes place in a few clicks. Before setting up the TV, first, click the "Settings" icon, on the "Media resources" tab, add folders that can be viewed by connected devices. Adding is done by clicking on the "+" on the right side. For each folder, you can select the type of files, which further helps when searching for them. =>
On the next tab "Devices" we add devices that are allowed to access files. It is very convenient to select the type of gadget from a variety of presets at the top of the window. It includes a large number of game consoles, TVs from different manufacturers, smartphones and routers. As a result, the settings will change for each selected device. If you tick the box Add devices automatically, the program will automatically detect the type of device and adapt to it.
In the "Server" tab, we only need to enter a name for the created server. The rest can be left blank, unless of course there are several networks and connections at home.
The item "Transcoder" allows you to configure data transcoding so that any connected device would play data, regardless of whether it supports them or not. The tuned HMS processes the file in real time into a format supported by the TV.
The rest of the tabs will allow you to fine-tune the program, which most users will not need at the initial stage. Therefore, close the settings and click the "Run" button at the top of the window. After that, the media server will start scanning the folders open for access and create lists of files that the connected dlna device will see.
In the main window of the program, you can also select the resource we need and, through the menu, by the right button, transfer it to the player on the network. It is very convenient and you do not need to search for data by the dlna device itself.
The program has great user support. The official forum thoroughly understands the problems in the operation of software with various devices, which helps to configure any technique.
Configuring a client device
The process of setting up equipment for playing multimedia files is different for each device and is usually indicated in the instructions for use. The same item on any device is the choice of the server, the name of which we came up with when setting up. And a request to connect to the network, a positive answer to which needs to be done only once, in the future the server will be considered allowed.
Alternative
Recently, there has been a rapid development of cloud technologies. There are more and more devices that have access to the Internet. And storing data on physical media is no longer so relevant. Of course, a collection of films of several hundred copies can hardly fit into any cloud service. And to increase the amount of allocated space you have to pay. At the same time, an unlimited Internet channel with high speed is required.
Media resources are stored in the "cloud", and access to it is provided to any device connected to the account. The plus is that there is no need for the dlna server side as a separate device. Simply put, you do not need a constantly working hard drive with a large number of files. Access to files is not only within the radius of the home local network, but also throughout the territory where there is access to the Internet.
With the development of Internet technologies, the home dlna server, dlna gives way to "cloud" data storage, leaving the former the opportunity for the time being to exist in apartments that do not seek modern user technologies.
What are DLNA and UPnP?
The Integrated Digital Networking Network (DLNA) Consortium is a group of companies that have joined together to create a common, open standard for connecting devices. All devices that have DLNA support can automatically, while in the same network, be configured to receive from each other and view content.
What types of devices are DLNA capable?
DLNA-compatible devices are TVs, mobile 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, TVs flat screen, routers and HiFi systems. First of all, make sure your device has this support. All DLNA certified devices carry a logo or sticker that indicates that the product has passed DLNA compliance testing and is able to connect with other certified devices. Further, the device must have a description of the type of digital content supported (for example, audio, video, photographs), as well as the type of destination (for example, server, printer, player, etc.). A more detailed description of the accepted designations is at the end of the article.
The Digital Living Network Alliance currently 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 interact successfully with each other. Only Apple remained on the sidelines, which 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 does DLNA media server work 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 capable of receiving and playing digital content from another DLNA device will be a Digital Media Player. This is your TV that is capable of playing videos, music and photos from other devices.
In order to create a home media server, you will need at least one DLNA server for storing content (such as a laptop or mobile phone) and one DLNA device to play it, such as a TV.
DLNA devices connect and communicate with each other through a configured home network. The scheme of this network is possibly similar to the structure of your home Internet network. In fact, the router is the central point of communication on the network and is used to connect devices to each other.
Here's a quick list of what you'll need:
- DLNA TV
- at least one DLNA digital media server such as file server, laptop or phone
- router
- one of three for connecting the receiver to the transmitter: Powerline adapters (for distributing the Internet over the mains), Ethernet cables, or a wireless adapter to connect to your network.
Setting up DLNA Home Media Server on 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 accomplish this. This is discussed in detail in, but they are briefly listed below. You decide which one to choose depending on how far the router is from your TV and other connected DLNA devices.
- Ethernet cable
If the router is close to the TV, an Ethernet cable is the easiest way to connect them.
Simply connect one end of the cable to the Ethernet port on your TV and the other to the port on your router. - Wireless bridge
If you have a wireless router, or if your TV is remote enough, consider installing a wireless bridge to connect your TV to the router. The wireless bridge connects to the TV via the Ethernet port and to the router wirelessly. Or, if your TV supports WiFi via a built-in or external adapter, then connect it to the router directly. - Power supply, no cables required
A plug-in network is a great way to set up a network for your entire home. Installation using your electrical home network is simple and safe. Since the existing wiring is used, cables are no longer required for intra-DLNA connections. Almost all manufacturers of network equipment produce adapters for connecting to a wall outlet. They are called Powerline devices. Next, you just 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
Some wireless routers, such as those from Buffalo Technology, are DLNA certified and specially designed for DLNA home networks.
Before you can transfer files from your computer, you need to install the appropriate software on it. Options include Windows Media Player 11 or 12 (included in the new version of Windows 7) or VAIO Media Server (for Sony TV), AllShare for Samsung, LG Smart Share, Home Media Server, etc. After installing the software, you can select files to transfer on TV - photos, videos, music files, etc. How the transfer takes place depends on the software used, but as a rule, it comes down to specifying a playlist, library or files, or adding them to the appropriate folders.
Let's now take a look at the most popular programs that allow you to transfer 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:
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 can be used to share multimedia content not only on the TV, but also on many other * DLNA-compliant devices such as computers, tablets, camcorders, digital cameras, mobile phones, and more.
The order of work is as follows:
Now, for a better understanding, watch a video demonstrating how to work with these programs from Samsung.
Home Media Server - Home Media Server
This is another cool free program for organizing a fully functional media server from your computer, from which files can be broadcast to other devices on the local network - not only a TV, but also a tablet with Android OS, for example. Its plus is that it is suitable for any TV with support for network connections, for example, the same inexpensive LG. You can download the latest version.
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 set everything up later.
We get to the main window of the program.
In addition to viewing files, this program also allows you to broadcast streaming from the Internet to your TV. But let's talk about this separately ..
Hopefully, now all blog readers have a clearer understanding of what a DLNA media server is and how to connect various devices to it. Well, after a careful study of all this information and a competent implementation, you can build something like this:
By the way, the phone can also act as a server - but more on that in a separate article about. You will also learn how to connect to your home media server.
Lots of other delicacies for a snack - the most popular questions with answers, glossary of terms and visual DLNA videos. And do not forget to subscribe to the blog news through the form below the article so as not to miss the next article in the DLNA series. It will focus on the Xbox Media Center Universal Cross-Platform Media Server (XBMC).
Frequently asked Questions
Are all TVs DLNA certified?
No, not all TVs support DLNA. To make sure yours is DLNA capable, look for the appropriate logo on it.
What should I do if my router is located a long way from the TV?
If your router is far from TV A and other devices, there are two options.
- DLNA: Connect using a wireless bridge or electric cable. This way you can connect your TV and devices to the router.
- DLNA wirelessly. This article describes the detailed installation steps.
Is it possible to connect other devices to DLNA server via WiFi?
Some DLNA devices have built-in WiFi function. The way to connect via WiFi will depend on the device itself. You may need to activate WiFi or Network Sharing in order to connect to your router (and DLNA network).
My TV won't 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 setting on your TV. Details about connecting TV to the network are described in a separate article, the link to which I gave above.
What devices are DLNA capable?
There are a number of DLNA-enabled devices available. Check out the Integrated Digital Networking (DLNA) Consortium website
Some devices cannot be seen by my BRAVIA TV. What should I do?
If your BRAVIA TV cannot find content on another device, the following could be the case:
- Your TV or other DLNA device is not connected to the network.
- The problem is with the router or network.
- The other device does not have DLNA support or is not a Digital Media Server, in other words does not have the memory to store files.
- Your PC or laptop does not have the appropriate DLNA server software installed.
- Depending on your network settings, your laptop may need to disable the firewall function. You must be aware of the risks associated with this action. They are entirely your personal responsibility. If you are unsure how to proceed, seek professional help.
Which is the best way to set up your network, wired or wireless?
It all depends on the distance of the network components and on how desirable the presence of visible cables in the house is. A wired network, however, may perform slightly better than a wireless one. A few more tips:
- Try to avoid complicated network setup schemes with multiple subnets and hubs as this can affect the performance of your DLNA network.
- If you want to be able to stream HD video files, we recommend using a network with a speed of at least 200 Mbps for a more stable performance.
- When choosing an Ethernet cable, choose Cat5e over Cat 5 as this will allow your network to run faster.
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 appears on the TV screen.
Photos are distorted on the TV screen. Why?
When a photo is enlarged, the image quality may deteriorate. For optimal quality, display photos at their native resolution, even if they do not fill the entire screen.
Are my photos not filling 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 their native resolution.
What file types are supported by DLNA devices
It depends on the device itself. Check the DLNA Certification for your device
or check the DLNA website. Depending on the network device, some files may be converted before
transmission. Below is a list of files that are generally 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 BRAVIA TV is a DLNA media player. This means that it is capable of finding and playing files from DLNA media servers that contain content. Your DLNA-compatible BRAVIA TV delivers an amazing audiovisual experience for watching movies and listening to music. In every sense, TV is the ultimate DLNA media player.
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 the DLNA network, software installation is required. In some cases, such as Windows Media Player 11, the required software is already installed. The following are programs that allow you to exchange files within the DLNA network and which you can download for free: The connection between the DLNA device and the router may have been lost. Check cables and connections. To check if the connection between your DLNA device and your TV is working, you can also run the Auto Diagnostic Check, which differs from model to model.
Sometimes the video quality when streaming wirelessly is quite poor. Why?
The quality of the wireless network connection may vary depending on the distance between the bridge and the router, any interference in the room, and the quality of the wireless router itself. For better image quality, use a wireless router that supports 5 GHz video streaming and place the router as close to the wireless bridge as possible.
DLNA Conventions
By using DLNA connections, you can design a link between any devices that work with this standard, each of which can act in different roles. A number of terms are used for their precise designations, which are described below.
The first group of device connections that are used mainly at home is called HND (Home Network Devices)
 | DMS (Digital Media Server) is a media server. These are the devices that are the source, that is, which contain the files that we want to view on another device. This can be a computer with the special software listed above installed, a NAS device that has DLNA support. |
 | DMP (Digital Media Player) is a media player, or DLNA client. These are the devices that receive content from the media server and can either play it or transfer it to another device, acting as a media renderer. These are TVs, game consoles, independent monitors, home theaters, etc. |
 | DMR (Digital Media Renderer) is a media renderer. A device capable of playing content received through a media controller, which in turn transmits it from the media server. Usually they can do the same as listed above in media players. |
 | DMC (Digital Media Controller) is a 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 for WiFi connections. |
| DMPr (Digital Media Printer - devices that provide print service for the rest - these are printers. Media players (DMP) and media controllers (DMC) are capable of transmitting printed information to them. |
Another group of devices - MHD (Mobile Handheld Devices) - are portable devices capable of transmitting and receiving content - mobile phones, tablets, smartphones, camcorders, cameras.
 | M-DMS (Mobile Digital Media Server) - mobile media servers. Gadgets that are able to distribute stored content to mobile players (M-DMP), media renderers (DMR) and printers (DMPr). these can be mobile phones or portable media players. |
| M-DMP (Mobile Digital Media Player) is a mobile media player capable of playing video from servers - stationary and mobile (DMS and M-DMS). This role is played by telephones, PDAs, | |
 | M-DMU (Mobile Digital Media Uploader) - portable gadgets capable of uploading files to servers. For example, digital cameras, cameras or telephones. |
 | M-DMD (Mobile Digital Media Downloader) - portable devices that 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 renters - phones and PDAs. |
Background:
So, there was a need to give the opportunity to watch movies from my server on the TV. Well, it would seem, we raise DLNA, for example miniDLNA and the problem is solved. That was until there was a need to give the same opportunity to parents who live in another place, and they did not want to install a server or a simple nas there. It was decided to connect our networks by tunneling traffic and give access to my film library.
Preparation:
I have installed an excellent router with my parents for a long time, with which I have been working and trust for a long time - Mikrotik 951Ui 12HnD. If you are not familiar with this magnificent router, I advise you to get acquainted. Pricing policy allows you to choose solutions for both home and office. At the same time, we get the functionality as in expensive enterprise solutions.
I also had Mikrotik in my apartment, with only one difference, I had all gigabit ports. Without hesitation, I raised the pptp tunnel and then it started ...
First problems:
In contrast to the classical method of streaming audio and video, DLNA data segment is slightly different. And it immediately became clear after I sniffed the traffic.
Some of these requests went through PPTP, some did not. After I studied the traffic dump, I came to the following conclusions:
- From the server side, we must increase the ttl traffic from the DLNA server, because by default ttl = 1. (This is only needed for SSDP traffic)
- Install multicast package on microtik, and enable PIM on tunnel interfaces.
- Do not forget to register routes to local networks behind tunnels.
- From the DLNA server side, we register the route 239.255.255.250 as the gateway, we indicate the tunnel interface.
don "t fragment
And then it dawned on me! The packet size exceeds the MTU that PPTP provides us, and you cannot fragment! Unfortunately, in the miniDLNA server settings, I could not find an option to limit the packet length.
Victory decision:
As a result, the simplest IP-IP tunnel provides us with the necessary MTU, MRU, and MSS, but we are faced with the problem of dynamic addressing from the provider, if you have static on both ends, you are in luck!
You can also try limiting mtu on the interface to which the NAS is connected. In this case, packets will obviously have a small MTU, which will fit into any tunnel, but this can significantly load the CPU.
Addition:
Do not forget that watching movies is a heavy load on the network in terms of channel width. When within the local network, it's not scary, but between networks, when the provider controls the channel width ... In general, I advise everyone to enable QoS, give priority to your server, and any connections to it, and we can wait an additional 30 ms to open the page.
If you have any wishes, I will describe in detail how to configure Mikrotik.
Articles that I have used.
All devices that have a DLNA module have been tested in advance and have a corresponding sticker on the case.
It is also necessary to have a description of the type of content supported, there is a DLNA server, a printer or a player, that is, the module allows you to transfer a certain type of content - images, signals, sound.
All these devices can be freely connected to each other, depending on the purpose, the technique has its own class. The classes can be distinguished as follows:
- Digital media servers. This category includes storage devices such as mobile phones.
- Digital media players. This includes devices that can receive and play digital content. For example, a TV that can play music and sound from another device.
How to create a home network
The DLNA home network scheme is similar to the data transfer scheme over the Internet.
It is he who provides the connection of devices to each other. To set up your home network, you need the following:
- TV for playback.
- Media server for data storage, phone or laptop.
- Router - used to provide a connection between transmitting and receiving devices.
- Cables or wireless adapters are required to connect DLNA to the network.
- Powerline adapters - will allow you to distribute the Internet over the mains.
The first thing to do is connect the playback media device to your router.
There are several ways to do this - connecting by power supply, via cable, or via a wireless bridge.
- Plugging in your media device with an electrical outlet is a great way to set up a network throughout your home. For this, ordinary electricity is used, no cables are needed. For configuration, only the Powerline adapter is useful.
All that is required is simply to connect the TV to the network via the adapter and the DLNA home network will start functioning. - If your router and TV are close to each other, it is best to use a cable connection. The Ethernet cable connects to the TV and router port.
- Creating a media group using a wireless bridge is appropriate when the TV is located far from the router. The bridge can be connected to a TV via a cable, and to a router via a wireless network.
Advice: the optimal solution for any case is the electrical connection.
The next stage of setup is to connect other DLNA devices to the router.
After connecting to the TV, you can connect any DLNA server to the network - laptop, phone, tablet.
But if this is not possible, you can connect them using the above methods.
Thus, the TV will be able to “see” the devices and play the content.
Setting up DLNA HomeGroup Devices
In order for the TV to recognize the content, the media group devices must be configured. For laptop and tablet, you will need to install special software.
These programs can be:
- Windows Media Player 11 or 12.
- VAIO Media Server (for Sony TV).
- AllShare for Samsung.
- LG Smart Share.
- Home Media Server.
The group must be allowed access to the laptop, this can be done in the software settings by activating the media exchange.
These can be music files, images or videos. Typically a library or list is created that the media device can play back later.
Not every smartphone can be connected to a DLNA group. But those that have this feature connect via Wi-F to a wireless router.
Advice: for the network to work, the following algorithm should be performed:
- Wi-Fi must be included in the favorites list and set to automatic connection.
- Disable power save mode.
- Activate file sharing.
