DLNA Problem: "Cannot connect. Please confirm Network connection and settings"

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bramwell

161 posts

Master Geek

#210197 17-Mar-2017 14:10

Hi there

I'm hoping someone might be able to help with 2 issues please.

We have a Panasonic Viera TV UT50Z and a Panasonic Blu Ray in the BTT series.

First problem is we can no longer see the laptop screen on the TV with an HDMI cable via the 'PC' selection on the TV screen.

Second problem is with DLNA. I've managed to set it up and can see the home network on the TV screen, which includes 2 laptops and the Vodafone ADSL Router. I can even see the icon for the movie I have sitting in Windows Media Player on my laptop. However whenever I try to play or view anything on either laptop I get the message "Cannot connect. Please confirm Network connection and settings".

In home network settings on my laptop I've ensured that "all devices are allowed to access my shared media".

I ran a "Homegroup Troubleshooter" which tells me there is a network issue, but network diagnostics cannot tell the the problem.

If anyone is able to help that would be great as it's driving me craaaaazy!

Thanks
Chrissie

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#1742872 17-Mar-2017 17:46

might be bettter getting a DLNA server program like Serviio, plex or kodi and using that to select what media you want to share. it seems to be a lot easier and more reliable and using windows/windows media player to stream

bramwell

161 posts

Master Geek

#1742875 17-Mar-2017 18:02

Thanks Jase

I've actually set it up with both Windows Media Player and another called "Mezzmo". I'll give it a go with Serviio to see if that makes a difference.

:-)

bramwell

161 posts

Master Geek

#1743764 19-Mar-2017 12:26

Hi again I'm the OP. I should have said in my original post that I can't view the PC through the HDMI cable even when selecting "HDMI" 1 or 2 on the Panasonic system.

Any ideas on the DLNA? Anyone?

Thanks

robjg63

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#1743798 19-Mar-2017 13:46

bramwell:
Hi again I'm the OP. I should have said in my original post that I can't view the PC through the HDMI cable even when selecting "HDMI" 1 or 2 on the Panasonic system.

Any ideas on the DLNA? Anyone?

Thanks

Well of course check the input on the TV. You can surely verify that it is HDMI 1 OR 2 by the markings on the TV.
Check under the laptop control panel, under display, does it show a second screen?
If not can you try and detect it from the laptop?
It should just see the TV as a display screen.
Otherwise, is the cable a dud perhaps?

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

robjg63

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#1743800 19-Mar-2017 13:50

Hmm, Regarding the DLNA issue, could it be the TV doesn't like the file format perhaps. What sort of file are they? I seem to recall a Samsung TV that would just display stupid irrelevant messages if it didn't know how to decode the file.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

bramwell

161 posts

Master Geek

#1743807 19-Mar-2017 14:01

Hi Robjg

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

The the HDMI cable, yes it's HDMI2 but can't see it there. The laptop has been set to 'duplicate screen'. The laptop can see the Viera as a display screen. So perhaps the cable has given up.

Re the DLNA, I've tried various formats on both video and pictures. No luck :-(

robjg63

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#1743815 19-Mar-2017 14:11

I remember having a play with serviio a while back and it was pretty good. It is worth you giving it a go.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

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Jase2985

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#1743824 19-Mar-2017 14:38

unsure how hdmi comes into the DLNA side of things?

you should have the DLNA server (Plex, serviio etc) running on a computer that is on the same network as the TV is connected to. from there you need to open up the TV's built in Media Player (UPnP or something similar) that should be able to find the DLNA server and view any files you have imported into it. from there it should be able to play them.

If the pc is connected to the TV via HDMI then you are just duplicating the screen and essentually just watching the movie on the laptop while displaying it on the tv screen.

Jase2985

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#1743825 19-Mar-2017 14:39

robjg63: I remember having a play with serviio a while back and it was pretty good. It is worth you giving it a go.

ive been using it for years as i dont really care for all the extra frills that plex and kodi offer.

bramwell

161 posts

Master Geek

#1743826 19-Mar-2017 14:40

Thanks Jase

The HDMI and DLNA are 2 separate issues.

As I can't connect via DLNA I was just trying to at least get a cable connection to my PC so I would watch something.

Thanks :-)

bramwell

161 posts

Master Geek

#1743834 19-Mar-2017 15:02

Hi again

I'm not sure if I made it clear, or whether it makes a difference, that I'm trying to connect through the Blu-Ray player rather than the TV - at the moment - I have tried via the TV. The Bluray player has a digital transmitter in it. The TV does not have a dongle. Both appliances are DLNA certified.

Am I supposed to connect either appliance to the router or my laptop in order to first get the network set up?

Thanks

robjg63

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#1743898 19-Mar-2017 16:48

No - you didnt make it clear - your post indicated that the TV was trying to connect to your network and failed.

If you cant connect your TV to the network, then you will have to use the Blu-ray.

Ignore your laptop for now.

Is the Blu-ray connected to the TV via an HDMI cable?

Does the Blu-ray have a wifi dongle or is connected via a cable to your network/router?

Connect your blu-ray to your network (via ethernet cable or wifi)

Enable DLNA services on the PC/laptop that has the content you want to access:

https://www.howtogeek.com/215400/how-to-turn-your-computer-into-a-dlna-media-server/

Start the DLNA software on the blu-ray - any joy?

EDIT:Clarify

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

bramwell

161 posts

Master Geek

#1743925 19-Mar-2017 17:13

Thanks Robjg

I have tried both the TV itself and the Bluray.

The TV doesn't have a dongle. We have a Panasonic BTTT775 which has a wireless LAN built in, a "digital transmitter".

The TV and Bluray are hooked together with an HDMI.

I have tried connecting both the router and my laptop to the TV and the Bluray. With my laptop connected to the TV I was able to get through all 5 of the Home Connection Tests, but with the TV attached to the router I could not get past 'Check Acquired IP Address'.

I'll have another go in case I missed something ...

robjg63

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#1743944 19-Mar-2017 17:35

bramwell:

Thanks Robjg

I have tried both the TV itself and the Bluray.

The TV doesn't have a dongle. We have a Panasonic BTTT775 which has a wireless LAN built in, a "digital transmitter".

The TV and Bluray are hooked together with an HDMI.

I have tried connecting both the router and my laptop to the TV and the Bluray. With my laptop connected to the TV I was able to get through all 5 of the Home Connection Tests, but with the TV attached to the router I could not get past 'Check Acquired IP Address'.

I'll have another go in case I missed something ...

So, when you say dongle I assume you mean a wireless dongle for network connection?

So your TV doesnt have the ability to be connected to your network via wifi - but does have a network socket so you could connect to your router with cable?

On your home network, something has the content (movies etc) - this will be your DLNA server.

If this is a PC/laptop, you need to enable the DLNA services as per the last post I made.

Once you have done that, the content on the DLNA server (laptop/PC) should be accessible by the DLNA clients (Blu-ray/TV)- these are the devices that want to access the content from the DLNA server.

The DLNA server AND the DLNA clients need to be connected to the same network - doesn't matter too much whether that's via wifi or cable - but they have to all be connected.

You dont need your laptop to be connected directly (HDMI) to the TV.

You would have the laptop/PC with the movies connected to your network.
You would have enabled the DLNA services on that device.
You have the blu-ray connected to the TV.
You have the blu-ray connected to your network.
You start the DLNA client on the Blu-ray - and hopefully it can see (and play) the movies.

EDIT:

P39 of this http://www.theatresystem-manual.com/manuals/panasonic/Panasonic_SC-BTT775.pdf - which I think is your Blu-ray manual, also mentions where the movie files have to be on you DLNA server (the PC with the movies).

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

robjg63

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#1743954 19-Mar-2017 17:51

In my experience, windows DLNA server can be pretty cranky and restrictive - hence the comments made earlier (Jase2985) about installing serviio. This is a program (serviio.org - free version is fine) that will be your DLNA server on the device that has the media files. Its a while since I played with it, but it was a lot more reliable than the inbuilt windows DLNA server and let you make the library of content anywhere you like on your PC - it was very flexible.

There is quite a good serviio setup video on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wogYXjbZWZs

Where he says samsung TV I guess you are using your Blu-ray - unless you can connect your TV which you said also had DLNA client ability to your home network.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

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