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The home media server does not see the TV. Setting up UPnP DLNA Home Media Server - How to Use on Windows

  • DLNA - what is it and who needs it
  • Windows media server dlna,
  • A short overview of dlna server programs
  • Home media server - the best among equals, or a headache for the user
  • Setting up the server part
  • Alternative and development

DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance)– a set of technologies for displaying various types of media content in real time by devices united in one local network. Initially, several companies (Sony, Intel, Microsoft, Samsung Nokia, Matsushita, Philips, Hewlett-Packard) developed this standard and also united into 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 desktop computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone, TV and other “smart” equipment for viewing photos and video files, listening to music. Media content becomes common to every device on the local network. All gadgets must be on the same IP network and connected 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 reproduce them both on its monitor and on the screen of a networked TV, tablet, or phone.

The division is conditional because now many mobile electronics can both store and display content. For example, smartphones with special software installed may well act as 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, rather than in the memory of each device. A very relevant feature for mobile devices that are significantly deprived of memory.

Windows and dlna

In the operating system from Microsoft, this technology appeared starting from version 7. However, it is hidden so deeply that it was quite difficult for the average user to find and configure it. In Windows 8, it became possible to use it to play video files on devices connected to the local network.

This is done by right-clicking on the file and selecting Transfer to... from the menu.

But before that, you still need to configure your home media server. In the “Control Panel” we find the “Home Group” item, in the window that appears, select “Create a home group”. Next, we will be asked to choose what type of file the homegroup can access.

In the next window we need the item “Allow all devices on this network, such as TVs 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.

At this point, the setup is almost complete and you can now play authorized files with dlna devices on your computer. For this purpose, each of them has certain points (AllShare, SmartShare...).

A description of how to use them is included in the instructions for use.
The software built into the system is easy to use and consumes less hardware resources. However, there is a high probability that the format of various types of multimedia files may not be understood by the player, since Windows transfers them as is. 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 others are either highly specialized or simply provide information transfer on the local network and are an add-on to the Windows server. The programs listed below create a home non-Windows dlna server.

Codi– a project that grew out of XMBS. Due to its cross-platform, it works on Windows, IOS, Linux, Android.

It is a huge “media combine” that can find, transcode, download, and play a huge number of formats on the network. For this we are very much appreciated by users of TV set-top boxes.

A very bulky home media server, initially difficult to configure, it has a minimal number of add-ons. Different elements are downloaded and installed for different functions. In this regard, it is quite difficult to set up, but it has large support and Russian-language support too.

Plex– another multi-platform home media server. It has high-quality localization and a huge number of possibilities. But in this regard, it consumes a lot of system resources and is usually used for individual devices used as multimedia set-top boxes.

H.M.S.– a program with a huge number of functions, absolutely free. The main difference is the transcoding of files on the fly for playback even by outdated devices. It 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.

Server part of HMS (home media server)

The program interface is simple and setting up the first launch takes place in a few clicks. Before setting up your TV, first click the “Settings” icon, and on the “Media Resources” tab, add folders that can be viewed by connected devices. Adding occurs by clicking on “+” on the right side. For each folder, you can select a file type, which later 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. This 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 check the Add devices automatically checkbox, the program itself will determine 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 empty, unless of course there are several networks and connections at home.
The “Transcoder” item allows you to configure data transcoding so that any connected device reproduces the data, regardless of whether it supports it or not. The configured HMS processes the file in real time into a format supported by the TV.

The remaining 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 “Launch” button at the top of the window. After which the media server will begin scanning accessible folders 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 use the right-click menu to transfer it to the player within the network. This is very convenient and there is no need to search for data using the dlna device itself.
The program has great user support. On the official forum, problems in the operation of the software with various devices are thoroughly understood, which helps to configure any equipment.

Setting up a client device

The process of setting up equipment for playing multimedia files varies for each device and is usually indicated in the instructions for use. The same point on any device is to select a server, the name of which we came up with during setup. And a request to connect to the network, a positive response to which needs to be made only once, will be considered allowed by the server in the future.

Alternative

Recently, cloud technologies have been rapidly developing. 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 is difficult to fit into any cloud service. And to increase the amount of allocated space you will have to pay. This requires an unlimited Internet channel with high speed.

Media resources are stored in the cloud, and access to it is provided to any device connected to the account. The advantage is that there is no need for a dlna server as a separate device. Simply put, you don’t need a constantly running hard drive with a large number of files. Access to files is available not only within the radius of the home local network, but also throughout the entire territory where there is access to the Internet.

With the development of Internet technologies, the home dlna server, dlna is giving way to “cloud” data storage, leaving the former the opportunity for the time being to exist in apartments that do not strive for modern technologies of users.


Home media server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)- 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, Sony Playstation 3, XBOX 360 game consoles, media -players WD TV Live, Popcorn Hour, Dune, Boxee Box, IconBit, ASUS O!Play, iPad/iPhone/iPod, mobile and PDA devices.

With this program you can connect IPTV to your TV and watch channels such as: Viasat Sport, Viasat Explorer, Viasat History, Viasat Nature, Comedy Club TV, Sport 1, HD Media, Viasat TV 1000 Action and many other channels found on the Internet

The program also 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.

Program features:
Home Media Server supports DMR (Digital Media Renderer) device management, you can use the "Play to" function for individual device and group of devices.

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 Television (C, S, T), you can redirect digital television streams from your computer to your media devices. For example, using the Home Media Server, you can connect IPTV to your TV and watch in good quality such channels as: Viasat Sport, Viasat Explorer, Viasat History, Viasat Nature, Comedy Club TV, Sport 1, HD Media, Viasat TV 1000 Action and many other channels found on the Internet

Supports DMR (Digital Media Renderer) device management, you can use the "Play to" function for individual device and group of devices.

Supports external and internal subtitles. If the device does not support subtitles, then the program can include subtitles (2D and 3D) in the video stream during transcoding.

Installing and configuring a home media server:

If you want to create a home entertainment network based on your TV and computer, which will provide all the capabilities for playing content of various formats, then you should be interested in learning how to set up a home media server. Let's learn how to install the server creation software and then see what features it provides to users.

Connecting a computer and TV

Before you start installing a home media server, you need to resolve the issue of connecting your computer to your TV. It is better to make a wired connection between devices using a LAN cable and a router. Of course, you can use a wireless connection, but then you become dependent on the antenna power and the presence/absence of obstacles.

To avoid possible problems with playing movies in Full HD format, it is better to use a LAN cable, carefully laying it between the computer, router and TV.
The router, of course, must be configured to access the network, otherwise no media server will work. If you have figured out the question of how to set up the Internet on Windows 7, then you can proceed directly to installing and configuring the program.

Program installation

The installation process itself is extremely simple: you only need to specify the directory in which the application's executable files will be stored and decide whether to create a program shortcut on the desktop.
After assigning installation parameters, click the “Install” button. Wait until the installation is complete to begin setting up the program.

Setting up the program

When you first launch the program, it should appear with initial settings where you need to select your media device.

Depending on the type of hardware you specify, the Native Support field will display a comma-separated list of supported formats.

If your TV can play some formats that are not in the “Built-in support” field, then check the “Custom device” checkbox. Manually write the formats supported by your equipment and click “Next” to move to the next settings window.
In the “Media resource directories” window, you need to make directories or local and network drives visible to your device (“share”). By default, standard folders are open, but to avoid confusion with them, it is better to allow access to local drives. To perform this procedure, check the boxes of the drives that you want to make available through the media server and click the “Scan” button.

You can also manually add directories or external media. To do this, click the “Add” button, select the directory you need and start the scanning process.

After scanning local and removable drives, in the program interface you can see a complete list of audio, video and photos stored on your computer.

Remember that the more multimedia information the program has to check, the longer it will take to start, so do not overdo it with the number of “shared” directories.
The next setting item is backup settings. You can specify your path to store the backup used to restore program data, or leave everything as is.

After clicking the “Run” button, the backup process will begin. You can specify which parameters you want to save in the backup file by checking them. After completing the data backup procedure, click the “Close” button.

Starting the server

After setting up all the important parameters, you can proceed directly to enabling the DLNA server on your computer. To do this, click on the “Launch” button - a message will appear on the screen that the start was successful.

After starting the server, you need to turn on the TV. If the connection is established correctly, it will appear on the “Playback Devices” tab in the program. If the list is empty, update it using the special button on the right panel.

Test the server by running files from your computer on your TV screen:

Open any file located in the directories to which you have shared access.
Right-click on it and select "Play on...".
Specify the connected TV.

If the Home Media Server program is configured correctly, the file you launched from your computer will appear on the TV screen. But opening media files from a computer is not always convenient, so you need to learn how to additionally run them directly on the TV.

Viewing files on TV

After setting up the server on your computer, you can go to the TV and try to open the “shared” folders through it. Different TV models connect to the created server in their own way. For example, LG devices have a built-in Smart Share app.

Select the created home server as the signal source. If this item is not on the list, update the list of sources.

Don't forget to configure your firewall by temporarily disabling it; otherwise, the firewall will block the TV's attempts to connect to the home server.
After selecting the signal source, you will see a directory of folders, among which there will be directories “shared” on the computer. You can launch available files and watch them on your TV screen.

Possible applications

The Home Media Server program provides users with several interesting features that allow them to expand the functionality of a regular TV into a true home entertainment center.

Interactive television

To enjoy all the benefits of interactive broadcasting, you can set up Rostelecom television. But there is another option that allows you to do without concluding an additional agreement with the provider - download an interactive television playlist and launch it through your home media server.

Open the main program window and drag the interactive television playlist downloaded to your computer in *.m3u format into it.

Go to the “Internet TV” tab in the navigation menu.
Click on the “Settings” button on the top panel. In the menu on the left, select the "Devices" tab and select your TV.

In the window that appears, select the “Files, subtitles” section from the menu on the left. Go to the "Internet TV" tab. Specify the value "Input Stream" in the "Transcoding" line. Here you can enable/disable subtitle support.

After setting all the necessary parameters, click “Ok” to save the changes.
For IPTV to work, you need to install the VLC Player program. Installing this application will not be difficult even for a novice user, since the convenient installation wizard does everything automatically - all you have to do is click the “Next” button.
The next step is to restart the home media server, which is done by clicking a special button on the top panel of the program.

After this, you can go to the TV and select the “Internet Television” folder in the media server directory. If you downloaded the working playlist and installed it correctly, you will see a list of channels presented in it.

Of course, this is not the most convenient option for playing interactive television, especially if the user has a Smart TV or has configured the IPTV function from the provider. However, if you have nothing but a home server, then using the “Home Media Server” program can be called the most adequate solution.

Podcasts

If your TV does not support Smart TV, but you want to be able to watch online broadcasts, then you can delegate some smart TV functions to the Home Media Server program using installed podcasts.

Podcasts in this case are files that allow you to directly launch online cinemas on your TV. For example, on the forum of the official website of the Home Media Server application, it is possible to download a podcast for playing and managing video files from the VKontakte social network.
Download the desired podcast to your computer and drop it into the main program window, as you did with the interactive television playlist file.

Expand the “Podcasts” section and select the application you downloaded for online broadcasting. Right-click on it and select “Update”.

Wait for the update process to complete and go to your TV. Find the “Podcasts” folder and select the application downloaded through the media server inside it.

What's new in version 2.10.1

1. Updated transcoder ffmpeg-1.dll (version 3.0):
added support for Intel QSV (Quick Sync Video);
Support for the "Maximum transcoding advance" setting has been restored.
2. The subtitles module has been updated (support for the new version of ffmpeg-1.dll).
3. Main form of the program:
added hotkeys:
F2 - editing information about a file, directory;
Alt + T - editing the transcoding profile of the current file;
Added "Open folder" menu item to the file list context menu
(shows file location in Windows Explorer).
4. Updated transcoder TsMuxer.exe and profiles using TsMuxer (if profiles
transcodings have changed, it is recommended to restore the profiles from the distribution).
5. To transcoding profiles “Movies (additional)”, “Movies (Remixing)”,
"Movies (Optimal)" added support for the "Maximum advance" setting
transcoding" (the setting is not enabled during test transcoding).

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 running Android. 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 have DLNA support can automatically, while on the same network, be configured to receive from each other and view content.

What types of devices support DLNA?

DLNA-compatible devices include 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 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.). A more detailed description of the accepted notation is 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, 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 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.

To create a home media server, you will need at least one DLNA server to store the content (for example, a laptop or mobile phone) and one DLNA device to play it back, 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 to connect the receiver to the transmitter: Powerline adapters (for distributing the Internet via the power grid), Ethernet cables or a wireless adapter for connecting 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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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 a wireless connection. Or, if your TV supports WiFi via a built-in or external adapter, then connect it to the router directly.

    3. Some wireless routers, such as those from Buffalo Technology, are DLNA certified and are specifically designed for a DLNA home network.

  3. Via electrical network, without cables
    Networking using a power grid is a great way to set up a network throughout your home. 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. Adapters for connecting to a network outlet are produced by almost all manufacturers of 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 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 to 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:


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:


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 free program for organizing a full-featured media server from your computer, from which you can broadcast files to other devices included in the 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. You can download the latest version here.

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 all blog readers have become clearer about what a DLNA media server is and how to connect various devices to it. 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. You will learn how to connect to a home media server.

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 your TVA and other devices

  • DLNA: Connect via wireless bridge or electrical cable. This way you can connect your TV and devices to the router
  • DLNA wirelessly. This article describes detailed installation steps.

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 BRAVIA TV does not recognize some devices. What should I do?

If your BRAVIA TV does not find content on another device, there may be the following reasons:

  • 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 distance of the network components and how desirable it is to have 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 reach faster speeds.

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. View your device's DLNA certificate
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 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-enabled BRAVIA TV guarantees an amazing audiovisual experience when watching movies and listening to music. In every sense, the TV is the best 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 a DLNA network, software installation is required. In some cases, such as Windows Media Player 11, the required software is already installed. Below are programs that allow you to share files within the DLNA network and which you can download for free:

Windows Media Player (version 11 and above)
VAIO Media Server (for Sony)
Smart Share (for LG)
TVersity
SimpleCenter
Home Media Server
GMedia Server
Geex Box
MythTV
Mini DLNA

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 the video quality when streaming wirelessly is quite poor. 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 the wireless bridge as possible.

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 for 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 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, video cameras, cameras.

M-DMS (Mobile Digital Media Server) - mobile media servers. Gadgets that are capable of distributing content stored on them to mobile players (M-DMP), media renderers (DMR) and printers (DMPr). these could 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 phones, PDAs,
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 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 renderers - phones and PDAs.

Home media server (UPnP)- a universal program that provides access to the contents of your computer’s hard drive to electronic devices such as TVs, players, game consoles. Data is transmitted via the UPnP (DLNA) protocol. This program works with TVs, game consoles, stereo systems, mobile phones and smartphones.

Today, human life in modern realities is very difficult to imagine without high technology. Each of us is surrounded by laptops, computers, televisions, and stereo systems. It often happens when you really want to watch your favorite movie on a big TV or play a computer game through a console. The multifunctional home media server software package for Windows is designed to solve such problems. With its help, you can organize full access to all media contents of your computer’s hard drive.

Download Home Media Server for free

(35.7 MB)

The Home Media Server program is small in size. You can install a home media server in just a few minutes. Its main capabilities include transcoding video and audio into a form that is supported by a TV or tape recorder. You can also customize subtitles, select the desired picture size for any screen, and select audio tracks yourself. The user has the opportunity to send Internet radio or television directly to the TV or player.

If you can't imagine your life without digital television, you can also download a home media server. It supports all modern digital formats (C, S, T), works perfectly with the VLC Media Player program and can, using the Digital Media Renderer function, transmit a digital signal to other electronic devices.

The home media server in Russian has wide functionality. It is possible to save transcoding profiles. Their use greatly simplifies setup when connecting new devices. Downloading a free home media server (DLNA) is recommended for owners of Philips, Sony, Panasonic, JVC, Toshiba, Samsung TVs and players. Each of them has all the necessary connectors for interaction via the UPnP protocol with a personal computer. Thus, with the help of this program you can significantly expand the capabilities of these TVs.

All novice users are advised to take a look at the official website of this application. There is a wonderful forum where solutions to the most common problems are described in detail. You can also learn how to effectively connect a particular device.

You can download the home media server without registration and SMS on the SoftAttaka website. We always provide the latest and most relevant updates.

In general, the Home Media Server program is conceived by the developers as a home media server. But most often HMS is used as a DLNA server. It is ideal for this purpose and has many useful settings, often functioning even better than official programs such as LG SmartShare PC SW and the standard method of setting up DLNA via Windows Media Player. The idea is to allow the TV to play movies, music, pictures and other content directly from your laptop or computer. At the same time, they must be connected to the same home network, for the organization of which a router or router is usually used. After that, all that remains is to configure the program, and it’s done. You can download it on the official website http://www.homemediaserver.ru by clicking on the "Download" button.

Installing Media Server is as easy as shelling pears: unpack the archive and run “setup.exe”, where we agree to all the conditions and click the “Next” button everywhere. After successful installation and launch of HMS, the main program window will appear. When you launch it for the first time, select your TV from the list of devices (for example, LG TV). You can add media resources to which your TV will have access in the next window or in the settings later. In the program data backup and recovery window, click “Run” and “Close”.

HMS as DLNA server

We immediately go to the program settings. Here we have to configure our home media server like DLNA. To do this, in the “Media Resources” category in the very first tab “Directory List”, using the “Add” button, indicate the paths to the folders on our computer where the media files that you would like to see on an LG TV or other are located. After adding all the folders, click "Scan". Although we will set up auto-scanning of new media resources, new elements still sometimes do not appear automatically, and you need to scan using this button manually.

On the "Scanning" tab, it is important to enable automatic scanning of directories when they change and start the program, so that new media files are immediately displayed on the TV.

In order for Home Media Server to start when the computer boots, in the “Advanced” category you need to check the boxes “Start the program when you start a Windows session” and “Install the Windows Home Media Server service...”. Setting up HMS for the DLNA server is complete, click OK.

Next, select the “PC Connection” tab and click the “Next” button 3 times. Please note that in step 3 your home network is selected (wired or wireless, depending on how you connect the TV), otherwise select it.

In step 4 you should see your PC. If it's not there, restart the server, this usually helps. Next, select the device and go to the “Connected devices” item.

View Media

After the first connection, our device will be displayed in the last item of LG SmartShare - “Connected devices”. If it is not there, restart the server on your PC. For example, to watch movies you need to select the “Movies” folder, then “Media resource directories”.

Here you will see a list of folders added in HMS settings. Go to any folder and launch the movie. Sometimes the TV may write that "The file type is not supported." Don’t despair, this is a glitch, try to run it again and everything will work out 2-3 times.

Features of HMS

The advantages of a home media server from Serviio are as follows:

  • on the TV you can see a clear PC folder structure;
  • the ability to start playing media files on TV from the program itself on a PC. To do this, you need to select a file from the list and click on the green Play button, which is present if the TV is turned on;
  • relative stability of operation (after PC SW DLNA from LG it’s just a fairy tale);
  • a large number of settings.

Flaws:

  • some confusion for beginners;
  • Sometimes automatic scanning of new files does not work;
  • Periodically you have to restart the server for the device to appear on TV.

Despite these shortcomings, HMS is ideal as a home media server, including DLNA. Details on setting up the Home DLNA server are in the following video.

Other options

The capabilities of the Home Media server reviewed do not end with DLNA. HMS can provide access to computer media resources using UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) technology and the HTTP protocol. This is more relevant for smartphones and tablets.

But this server can do a lot more for DLNA. For example, you can give access not only to computer resources, but also to streams of Internet radio and IPTV television. It is also possible to broadcast so-called podcasts from various online cinemas, such as hdserials.ru, hdkinoklub.ru and hundreds of others. There are also possibilities for transcoding media files of a format that is not supported on TV. How do you like this? All this will be discussed in the following articles, subscribe to our newsletter, as well as VKontakte and Twitter.