My quest to get DLNA working on the Hopper...

[DustoMan]

I don't want to go and read 10 pages of posts to catch up on where you guys are at with DLNA, but I just wanted to pass along something I've found that seems to work for me when it comes to getting files to play back on the Hopper/Joey.

I've been downloading some WRC coverage from Europe off of torrent sites and they come in a variety of different formats. (XVID, raw .ts files, etc.) I've been using HandBrake to convert those videos into .MP4 files with it's "Regular - High Profile" preset and they play back perfectly on the Hopper/Joey when I drop them into the Video folder share on my Windows Home Server 2011. Hope this helps you guys out.

 

[Allamand]

When you do the conversion like this, can you fast forward and rewind when watching the shows?

 

[chrimiller48]

Myron, I remember reading somewhere that even if one has an HIC installed each Joey also requires a separate Ethernet connection to the home network to be able toaccess DLNA. Of course, I've also read that the Joey only needs the HIC to access DLNA so who knows. Do you have HIC installed on one of your Joeys? If you do and if you have the proper length Ethernet cable, run it from your network router/switch directly to one of your Joeys to see if DLNA works

 

[DustoMan]

When you do the conversion like this, can you fast forward and rewind when watching the shows?

No, I think it's a UI limitation as the Arrow keys in the overlay move you forward and back within your playlist.

Myron, I remember reading somewhere that even if one has an HIC installed each Joey also requires a separate Ethernet connection to the home network to be able toaccess DLNA. Of course, I've also read that the Joey only needs the HIC to access DLNA so who knows. Do you have HIC installed on one of your Joeys? If you do and if you have the proper length Ethernet cable, run it from your network router/switch directly to one of your Joeys to see if DLNA works

I have an HIC, and my joey boxes do not have Ethernet plugged into them. The HIC bridges together your MoCA network with your home network so your Hopper/Joey's get IP addresses served up by your home router. If you don't have an HIC, then you need Ethernet to the Joeys so they can pull an IP from your home router.

 

[voodooevil]

I can get my converted blurays to play as mp4.
Had anyone manage to get 5.1 audio
and any luck with FF and RW for video.
I think the stream of mp4 over hopper looks better then mkv over my bluray player.
???
THanks..Joe

 

[iron_c]

I just had my 1H/3J system upgrade today. Went fine and learning the nuances of it all. One thing I did want to check into was the DLNA feature, as I've got a Roku already serving up Plex/Playon very well, but one less box to explain to the family the better.

Currently the Joeys aren't connected via ethernet, no HIC - so I don't expect any DLNA access there. My experience so far is just with my direct ethernet connected Hopper.

I have a series of media server software running on my Win 7 system: Plex 0.9.6.3, PlayOn 3.5.11 (trial period), just installed PS3 Media Server 1.53.0 as I've used it in the past with good results.

So far, the only DLNA server the Hopper "sees" and I can play files from is PlayOn. I've streamed 720p mkvs without a problem. The quality is a bit degraded and I haven't really paid attention to whether audio is just stereo or if any 5.1 comes through. The "channels" PlayOn provides also work. What I don't like is it costs a bit to use.

Plex just has issues with DLNA as it's still a new feature and it seems to require some custom setup of a DLNA profile, which I don't feel like learning right now. Through the Roku, Plex is awesome. I'm hoping someone cracks the client profile code soon as Plex is my preferred media server.

Someone else mentioned having luck with PS3 Media Server and I'm a bit perplexed as to why my Hopper won't list it. I don't see any settings that would keep it from showing up. I am going to double check my Firewall settings, but don't expect there to be any issue there. Any settings I should be aware of?

 

[voodooevil]

Hey iron_c.
I am trying to get rid of my WD media hub/player. We are in the same boat.
I managed to get mkv to play using mezzmo, but it only comes over as stereo.
Did the ff or rr work for you at all. I really want this to work
thanks...Joe

 

[iron_c]

voodoo - No I couldn't get ff/rr to register even though it shows up in the UI when you first start playing something. That is definitely a consideration, especially for tv show streams. My PlayOn trial is almost up, but I prefer the UI/navigation of Plex over what DLNA provides. My kids can't navigate through directories easily - Plex just makes it dead simple. What I wish someone would do is create a Plex client app that works on the Hopper, but I am not holding my breath on that.

My plan for now is to stick with a Plex/Roku setup. The Roku HD box just dropped in price at Walmart to $48 - so I might pick up one more later. I get all my Plex movies and Roku has Amazon VOD - which we get from our Prime acct. With the price of movies at the theater, it isn't too much to pay $1.99 for some old movie on Amazon, when there's nothing else to watch. Especially with the kids home during the summer.

Plex is supposed to be a DLNA server, but there's considerable setup to get the client side (Hopper) to see it and I'm not finding anyone who's cracked that code yet. If I can get that working, then it will be there in a pinch - but I don't think I'd completely switch to just the Home Media option due to the folder navigation required. XBMC/Plex UI is just something you can't walk away from after using it.

 

[Cocophone]

DLNA is not very useful without fast forward or rewind working. I couldn't get serviio to work. The hopper and joey would see the Serviio but would never list any files. I got Plex DLNA server and J River Media Center DLNA server to work and play MKV video files, but no FF/RW.

 

[Barry9196]

Save yourself a headache and do what I did. Build an inexpensive HTPC (less than $300) with an HDMI output running Windows 7 Media Center. You'll get full 1080p output as opposed to the Hopper's 1080i. You don't need to deal with DLNA. You can plug directly into your receiver for video and audio switching. It is so much easier to use.

And on top of that, when the Hopper loses one of your DVR recordings, you now have a computer hooked up to the TV. Go to the network's website and stream the missing episode right to your TV.

 

[Jadarock]

Thanks to your post I finally found a server that works with my Mac and hopper. I've only ran into one problem so far. I can see my iTunes library on my hopper but for some reason I can only play certain music. It seems the only music from iTunes that will play is in MPEG-1 layer 3 format. Unfortunately most of my iTunes music is in AAC audio files and they will not play. I can see them but instead of a thumbnail pic on the songs I show a big question mark. Any idea what I can do about that? I asked this question in another thread that I started a while back. But I thought you may know since you know so much about this PS3 server.

I had the same problem. Go to your iTunes preferences/general click on import settings and set it for mp3. Then you can right click on a track and the option to convert it to mp3 should be available. Then you can just delete the AAC version.

 

[Cocophone]

Save yourself a headache and do what I did. Build an inexpensive HTPC (less than $300) with an HDMI output running Windows 7 Media Center. You'll get full 1080p output as opposed to the Hopper's 1080i. You don't need to deal with DLNA. You can plug directly into your receiver for video and audio switching. It is so much easier to use.

And on top of that, when the Hopper loses one of your DVR recordings, you now have a computer hooked up to the TV. Go to the network's website and stream the missing episode right to your TV.

I'm thinking about getting a MK-802 or similar this summer

 

[MontyL]

Thanks, all, for your words of wisdom!

My recent entry into the Dish world (1H/2J) also brought me into the dark universe of DLNA... although I can say that my current server configuration of minidlna (sorry Windows folks, Linux only) linked to 2.4TB of Video, Audio, and Pictures seems to work quite well, albeit quite geeky in that there's no gui to configure the server. I too am looking forward to some bright soul figuring out that X codec allows the Hopper or Joey to FFW/RWD, or that Dish makes it work with a software update, but unlike others, I don't know any better or have a PS3/XBox/Roku/MPC/etc that I've grown fond of (used to do video with my a-hem... tweaked DirecTiVo).

Having seen Plex for the first time in my life, in this thread, I'll be giving it a whirl, too.

 

[tropez]

Problems with Mezzmo and this device.

Here are some videos of this issue in action.

 

[tropez]

 

[tropez]

FFMPEG info on the file I used in testing.


ffmpeg version N-40693-gc457a29 Copyright (c) 2000-2012 the FFmpeg developers
built on May 15 2012 12:57:14 with gcc 4.6.2
configuration: --enable-memalign-hack --arch=x86 --target-os=mingw32 --cross-prefix=i686-w64-mingw32- --enable-static --disable-shared --enable-zlib --disable-postproc --prefix=/home/peter/ffmpeg/build/gpl --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libx264 --enable-gpl --extra-libs='-lx264 -lpthread' --enable-runtime-cpudetect --extra-cflags=-I/home/peter/cc/include --extra-ldflags=-L/home/peter/cc/lib --pkg-config=pkg-config --disable-w32threads
libavutil 51. 51.100 / 51. 51.100
libavcodec 54. 21.101 / 54. 21.101
libavformat 54. 5.100 / 54. 5.100
libavdevice 53. 4.100 / 53. 4.100
libavfilter 2. 73.100 / 2. 73.100
libswscale 2. 1.100 / 2. 1.100
libswresample 0. 11.100 / 0. 11.100
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from '\\DISKSTATION\storage\public\movies\Rated PG-13\[1993] Jurassic Park (PG-13).m4v':
Metadata:
major_brand : mp42
minor_version : 0
compatible_brands: mp42isom
creation_time : 2009-02-06 16:30:19
encoder : HandBrake 0.9.3 2008112300
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At least one output file must be specified


---> DB Level Info: 30, 77
---> Frame rate: 23.98
---> Aspect ratio: 423:232

 

[greglwood]

I loaded and tried several dlna servers on my iphone trying to play music on the hopper via Home Media. None of them seem to work with the hopper though they did with other phones and windows.
In any event i now have all these servers (devices) listed in the device list of home media despite the fact I have uninstall all of them. How do you clear out or delete old entries in the home media device list.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Try downloading and installing TVmobili A Free DLNA Media Server For Mac, Windows, and Linux set it up then go to the settings where you can see all the DLNA clients on your network, change the Hoppers and Joeys to use the DIRECTV profile (not the Hopper and Joey profile) then things work. I am now able to play almost all of my MKV HD Bluray rips. The ones that dont play are those with a strange audio codec. For example when I play the movie Greese I get static noise while the picture is perfect.)

 

[TheKrell]

Grease? Greece? Geese? I'm only familiar with a movie by the name of "Grease", but I'm not that conversant with nature or foreign films.

 

[aikoentp]

My Hopper 3 was working with my PC and my Synology 212J as a NAS. There was a SW update and now it only buffers off of the Synology. Very frustrating.