Panasonic DLNA

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ronw

1222 posts

Uber Geek

#138054 18-Dec-2013 11:09

I have a Panasonic DMR-BWT835 Blue-Ray Freeview Recorder and would like to be able to oull videos of my PC using DLNA. However the Panaonic only seems to recognise mp4 files and refuses to play any other type.
I am not sure if this is a problem at the PC end or the Panasonic end.
As a media server I have tried Serviio and TVMobli but at the Panasonic end it can see the files but will not play. Most of the files are avi or mkv
Any ideas as to what is wrong please

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1961 posts

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#954196 18-Dec-2013 11:59

If you read the manual you'll find that's quite correct. I have the BWT720 and it is extremely limited in the files it will play via DLNA (or any other way).
It will play Recorded Video when the server is another DIGA plus Jpeg, AVCHD, MPO, MP4, MP3, Mpeg2 and Flac. I guess the 835 will be the same. Easiest way to play more files is to put them on a USB stick or in the case of .avi burn to a DVD asthey won't play from USB. Best solutions is to do what I did and get a media player. These recorders are really designed to record off air and playback, or play pre-recorded discs hence either not much use or extremely restricted for anything else.
The media information pages in the front of the manual tell you which media plays what sort of files.

ubergeeknz

3344 posts

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Vocus

#954197 18-Dec-2013 12:01

Some back ends can re-encode / change containers on the fly, such as Plex. Possibly worth looking into but tbh you'd be better off getting something like a WD Play.

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#954250 18-Dec-2013 12:58

Ron, if it's new - take it back or hit Panasonic up for a refund. I've two Panasonic DVD players that claim DLNA functionality. One works (BD77) - one doesn't (BDT320) - same issue as you. Plays some filetypes but not the most common (avi).

I did briefly look at working out what wold play and converting any that needed it but in the end it was too much trouble. They do stream OK straight to the TV.

Panasonic couldn't care less about DLNA - they stick the logo on the box but forget to add BUYER BEWARE.

Yes it's misleading advertising and I complained to the Commerce Commission. But Panasonic told them it did work so my complaint was binned.

Bigglz the BDT320 specs do include .avi under DivX format (p43 in the manual).

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#954352 18-Dec-2013 14:46

ADKM:
Bigglz the BDT320 specs do include .avi under DivX format (p43 in the manual).

The BWT720 doesn't play Divx (.avi) via DLNA though. Also won't play it from a DVD+R but it will play from a DVD-R.
.avi and .mkv will only play from BD-R, DVD-R, CD, and USB.
But as I said, it's not designed to be a media player. If you wan't to play a range of files you need a media player. That's what they are designed to do.
My Sony TV will play more files via the LAN than the Panasonic recorder.

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#954377 18-Dec-2013 15:09

If you wan't to play a range of files you need a media player.

Maybe and if starting from scratch that's probably the ticket. But devices that claim to have
DLNA capability SHOULD work with at least the most common format - and plenty do. In fact LOL
I bought the 320 because the 77 worked so well. Big mistake - even though its newer.

farcus

1554 posts

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#954421 18-Dec-2013 16:41

. . . But devices that claim to have DLNA capability SHOULD work with at least the most common format

well the most commonly used containers now are either .mp4 or .mkv
The most common codec is h264 (AVC)
does it play those back?

JimmyH

2886 posts

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#954464 18-Dec-2013 19:09

ADKM:
If you wan't to play a range of files you need a media player.

Maybe and if starting from scratch that's probably the ticket. But devices that claim to have
DLNA capability SHOULD work with at least the most common format - and plenty do. In fact LOL
I bought the 320 because the 77 worked so well. Big mistake - even though its newer.

DLNA is, essentially, a networking protocol. AVI and MKV aren't formats, they are containers. The audio/video in them can use a variety of codecs. No player, DLNA or otherwise supports every codec out there - and units like the Panasonic are some of the more limited ones out there viz., codec support.

I second the recommendation to use a media player - I use WD Lives and they cope with pretty much everything I can throw at them, with the notable exception of Freeview recordings containing HE-AAC v2 audio - including streaming from my Panasonic to other rooms. Don't get me wrong, I love my Panny, but it isn't the right bit of kit for what you are trying to do. I don't know about other units, but the WD ones have some of the broadest ranges of codec support out there.

Alternately, a NAS/Server to hold the media that is capable of transcoding on the fly and has DLNA server software with a profile to spit out something the Panny can cope with could be an option. The media player route is simpler/cheaper though!

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Quinny

885 posts

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#954839 19-Dec-2013 14:14

Try Serviio. I use it with my Panasonic tvs just fine. Its also free.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#954881 19-Dec-2013 14:46

Have you tried Windows Media Player. I just had a play and it seems to stream .avi files to my BWT720 and Sony ex720.

Quinny

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#954887 19-Dec-2013 14:54

Adding link to Panasonic section of Serviio forum - http://forum.serviio.org/viewforum.php?f=13&sid=1da63f46276a589535d0685e81d8e5c5 as missed you had tried it in first post.

Open Serviio and check the panasonic is using the right the Panasonic BD Player codec. The above has links for some other models. Hope it helps.

Oblivian

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#954889 19-Dec-2013 15:03

They give a damn about DLNA. In the fact they provide a certified transport type on the device. Which is all they need to do.

The consumer however, with a drive for low prices. Doesn't realise that to fully use the cababilities over it require hardware/processing/codecs to do so.

Most people have come to the realisation a cheaper android mobile is always going to be a lot slower than a $500 one. Purely because it has a lower spec CPU and RAM in it. Sure, it has the new version of OS on it. But it doesn't mean its going to work as fast as a higher priced/spec'd one.

DLNA devices are essentially the same, cheaper units often support only what is considered mainstream format. Or separate from requirements of DLNA transport and display, are able to decode - media playback from USB, limiting you to 2Gb in most cases. Or only the common real-world formats.

DVR and cameras produce AVI and mp4/MOV video. That's all the need to target in reality to your average mum and dad. MKVs are as stated, a container. Which has largely been picked up by the pirates of the world and media format-shift genre to package larger video lenghts/outputs. So usually only tech savvy people in the know want extra requirements and usually check beforehand how far pase the cheaper model you need to go to obtain it.

I was shown a newer panasonic yesterday, the DLNA abilities were low. However its now negated with the up-spec 500mA twin USB outputs on the front of it which can take a 2.5" drive. Or, you can go a little more expensive. All the upscaling you can point a stick at, and the offshoot of the processing power, full media support too.

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#954943 19-Dec-2013 16:13

Ron, have you made anything of this ? Helped any ? I did try Serviio but seemed to get a better picture with Twonky. Windows media Player could be worth trying but if Ron can see the files but not play them would it make any difference. (I haven't got WMP installed).

Sure I'd love a media streamer/player as it seems to fix a lot of problems. Although the BD77 does a great job and really couldn't be better. The other device used here (Panasonic Vierra TV) has more trouble but only with filetypes it can't decode. And sometimes can't pause, resume ff etc.

Today a NetComm NF4V arrived for VDSL and has 2 USB ports for file sharing via DLNA. Anyone has any experience with these ?

ronw

1222 posts

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#955001 19-Dec-2013 17:45

Thanks to everyone that had suggestions how to improve the Panasonc PVR
I have tried most of those ideas but nothing works. I have used several backends and it makes no difference Panasonic will just not play any vido format except mp4.
I want to keep using the Panasonic for its freeview features so have decided to ignore DLNA altogether. I have an old PC that I have installed in the lounge with XBMC on it. It can readily see all the Windows shares on my main computer and pull across and play any format. I have a HDMI connection on the PC so have that plugged straight into the TV. It works fine just another device in my lounge but cannot help that

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Oblivian

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#955002 19-Dec-2013 17:53

And for anyone else taking note that doesn't like the transcoding apps but has a later model Panny with smart

Despite profiles in serviio and plex saying it can play some types you can often change to a diff profile and play the others. But no all-in-1. I use the XBMC sharing method. No transcoding and if it REALLY cant play it, it won't

http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=HOW-TO:Share_libraries_using_UPnP

grolschie

911 posts

Ultimate Geek

#955702 21-Dec-2013 08:21

With Serviio, which profile did you use? You might need to manually assign the "Panasonic BD player" profile instead of the "Generic" profile. It quite possibly needs a custom profile created for it though. The folks at http://forum.serviio.org can possibly help create one. There is plenty of info there to get you started.

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