Plex with a Panasonic TV

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pgs2050

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#114419 19-Feb-2013 14:29

I have a Samsung Smart TV and recently noticed the Plex app. I installed this on the Samsung TV and setup the Plex Media Server on my PC. The TV connects to the home network wirelessly and I am able to stream media stored on the PC to the TV via the Plex interface.

I also have a Panasonic TV (2011 Vierra with 1080p whatever - smart tv?). I don't have a wireless dongle for this device, but even if I did, it would not be of use with Plex (There is no Plex app for Panasonic TV's - only LG and Samsung have them).

I would like to stream video to this TV as well and considering that the Plex Media Server is already running on the PC, it seems that I need a device that will run the Plex Media Player, connect to the TV via HDMI, etc.

The Plex android app runs well on a Nexus 4 but I'm not keen on using the phone to output a movie to the TV (I think this was possible until the recent 4.2.2 update - I don't know much about this). I have also tried the app with a cheap Chinese tablet (Ainol Advanced I) but the wireless connection between tablet and home network is not good enough for smooth video streaming.

Can anyone suggest a device or an alternative solution?

reven

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#765807 19-Feb-2013 14:44

you should be able to use upnp on that tv (assuming it has upnp), plex has a upnp server so any upnp device (xbox, ps3, xbmc, most new tvs) can still view all the plex library, but you wont have the nice interface (should get thumbnails though).

ajobbins

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#765809 19-Feb-2013 14:48

Couple of options

a) Plug you PC running Plex server into the TV and use the Plex client on there
b) Get something like a RaspberryPi and run Rapbmc and PleXMBC
c) Get a network adapter for your TV and use the DLNA capabilities of Plex and your TV. You won't get the nice Plex interface, but it should work. Note your PC will need to be powerful enough to transcode on the fly anything your TV doesn't support natively.

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Oblivian

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#765830 19-Feb-2013 15:17

I have an ST, and was using serviio and its DLNA. Which I found troublesome as the profile still couldn't get what it can and can't play right.

Now, I simply fire up XBMC on the PC and use the inbuilt media player to play it all via XBMCs uPnP streaming. Not tried any 1080 but it sure does 720, mpg, mp4, avi, FLV just fine.

pgs2050

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#765831 19-Feb-2013 15:17

Thank you reven and Adam for those suggestions.

I will start off with a wired connection to the home network and the DLNA with Plex option. I don't want to get the wireless adapter since there is no native app to match with Plex.

That should keep me going until I gather the rest of the kit need for Plex on Raspberry Pi. So far I have the Pi, SD card and power cable. Need to add wireless network, keyboard/mouse or remote. Well I now remember that I resisted this idea up 'til now due to reports of slow menu functions on the Raspberry Pi (running XBMC for Android)

Has anyone had any experiences with a capable android media player available here in NZ? Capable = good wireless connection (10m, 1 internal wall), 1080p video output over HDMI, basic sound, remote.

I've just began researching the Roku devices, prices are not that different to a Panasonic network adapter. Also looking into 2013 model Cheap Chinese tablet - Ainol and the like must have improved their build quality standards over the last 18 months.

reven

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#765835 19-Feb-2013 15:20

only android device I would touch that is currently available is the pivos device that sponsors the xbmc project.

its what the xbmc devs use to develop xbmc for android on.

when the ouya comes out, im hoping that will be a great option (ill report back in april :))

ajobbins

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#765836 19-Feb-2013 15:21

PleXBMC on a Pi can use th controls of your TV remote via HDMI CEC. No need for a dedicated remote. Magic

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pgs2050

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#765839 19-Feb-2013 15:24

Oblivian: I have an ST, and was using serviio and its DLNA. Which I found troublesome as the profile still couldn't get what it can and can't play right.

Now, I simply fire up XBMC on the PC and use the inbuilt media player to play it all via XBMCs uPnP streaming. Not tried any 1080 but it sure does 720, mpg, mp4, avi, FLV just fine.

How do you connect your TV to the network? I have a TH-L42E30 (no wireless adapter) that should allow similar playback once connected.

I spend a considerable amount of time prepping my library for use with XMBC, but since I stumbled upon Plex, I note that Plex is quite capable of collecting the metadata on its own.

reven

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#765841 19-Feb-2013 15:25

just be aware that CEC doesnt send a lot of remote buttons to XBMC, so you can use it and navigate xbmc, but you wont be able to use all the buttons eg your remotes "guide" button or perhaps the channel up/down and number buttons (depends on tv).

IMO CEC is nice, but I rather use the pulse-eight motorola nxyboard remote designed for xbmc.

ajobbins

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#765844 19-Feb-2013 15:27

reven: IMO CEC is nice, but I rather use the pulse-eight motorola nxyboard remote designed for xbmc.

This is the very remote I use and it's great. BUT I don't currently use my Pi and my media PC doesn't so CEC. If it did, I would use the TV remote and have the Moto as a backup for when I needed fast text entry

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reven

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#765845 19-Feb-2013 15:28

pgs2050:
I spend a considerable amount of time prepping my library for use with XMBC, but since I stumbled upon Plex, I note that Plex is quite capable of collecting the metadata on its own.

xbmc should be able to get all the metadata by itself as well, assuming you have you media organized and not just dumped into a generic folder like D:\allmyvideoswithnostructure eg mine is

\\server\tv
\\server\movies
\\server\music
\\server\kidsmovies
\\server\musicfilms

\\server\tv\[series]\[season x]\[episode]
\\server\movies\[moviename (year)]\[movie file]

pgs2050

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#765848 19-Feb-2013 15:39

Yes, I realise that XBMC can do this as well. Because Plex came into the picture (for me) after I sorted the existing library (with Ember/MCM/MC and XBMC). Plex has only had to attend to the odd new addition it is looking shinier than XBMC.

It appears that the OUYA is the device to go for - Plex will have a native app, hope both deliver.

From the helpful responses, it appears that all I need to acquire to get going on 2 suggestions is a long network cable! I will try out uPnP and PlexMBC.

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Oblivian

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#765851 19-Feb-2013 15:44

pgs2050:
Oblivian: I have an ST, and was using serviio and its DLNA. Which I found troublesome as the profile still couldn't get what it can and can't play right.

Now, I simply fire up XBMC on the PC and use the inbuilt media player to play it all via XBMCs uPnP streaming. Not tried any 1080 but it sure does 720, mpg, mp4, avi, FLV just fine.

How do you connect your TV to the network? I have a TH-L42E30 (no wireless adapter) that should allow similar playback once connected.

I spend a considerable amount of time prepping my library for use with XMBC, but since I stumbled upon Plex, I note that Plex is quite capable of collecting the metadata on its own.

Built in WiFi or Eth. Both do a scan of the network and find XBMC within seconds (you have to enable UPnP streaming in XBMC options)