OT: Streaming from PC to TV

terrypin wrote on 9/3/2015, 3:11 PM

Anyone else streaming from PC direct to TV (wirelessly or ethernet cable)?

I've been doing so via my WD unit but I've just upgraded my 7 year old Panasonic TX-32LXD52 32" LCD to a modern 40CX800. The installer set it up so that, using my router, I can view video files from my PC. Hopefully therefore I can retire the WD. But I have a basic question about navigation which the installer was unable to answer.

The detailed navigation steps will clearly depend on the type and model of TV, but the Panasonic displays nine high level folders, corresponding to those on my XP PC that I originally set up (with difficulty) years ago. Such as My Videos. So far so good.

But on opening that, I expected to see its 40 or so subfolders etc, and then my files, as in the familiar Explorer tree structure. But instead the tree seems to be 'flat', showing every video file within that large top level folder. And, worse, it's not in any apparent sequence! So I have to search through hundreds of entries to find my choice.

It's hard to understand such a major flaw in design. Or maybe there's some setting I've not found? If there are any here with a similar setup I'd appreciate any feedback about this please. Or even if you're not streaming yourself, perhaps you have some insight into the issue?

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 9/3/2015, 4:14 PM

Hi Terry

. . . . Anyone else streaming from PC direct to TV (wirelessly or ethernet cable)? . . . .

Yes - via WiFi to Sony smart TV. I see a normal folder / files structure menu on the TV in several variations eg All videos, By Genre etc.

However I am using Windows 10, Windows 8.1 also gave the correct folder / file structure and the TV was recognised as a valid device to stream to.

. . . . It's hard to understand such a major flaw in design. Or maybe there's some setting I've not found? . . . .

That is possible, Panasonic have occassionally come up with some oddball menu styles and options - one of the reasons I bought Sony video cameras, TV and BD player.

Hopefully you may get a response from the other forums you have posted in as this is a TV issue.

John EB

terrypin wrote on 9/3/2015, 4:32 PM

Thanks John.

I suppose another possibility (other than Panasonic poor design) is that it's an XP issue.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

terrypin wrote on 9/9/2015, 7:27 AM

For info, here's the reply I had from Panasonic:

In response, the Television is connected to your PC via DLNA.

The DLNA feature is a basic feature and unfortunately this is how the Television detects the content.

The technology behind the Television is not as good as the technology used for laptops and the Television will not be able to display the subfolders I`m afraid.

johnebaker wrote on 9/9/2015, 2:11 PM

Hi Terry

An interesting reply!

Playing video on my PC can be done in 2 ways:

From the Sony TV connecting via DLNA to the Public Videos folder, it displays the folder structure correctly.
From the PC I can play video to the TV and whatever was being watched is overriden by the video being pushed - a bit like having the remote control when someone else is watching. The ability to play to a device was introduced with Windows 7.

John EB

Scenestealer wrote on 9/10/2015, 9:28 AM

Hi Terry

I am surprised the guy was able to set it up to connect to your XP computer at all because XP is not DLNA capable without installing a separate Twonky Media player software program. I had the same problem with Vista and the work around is doing it all via WMP11 but I could not seem to get that to work from my PC, so ended up having to access my media library by sharing it on my wifes W7 computer WMP. This required opening her media player and letting it scan for my new media files so gave up on that and got a WD Mycloud NAS which is DLNA. This shows the server on the Panasonic smart TV after choosing the media server app. then Enter brings up the subfolders - All videos, by date, by folder, etc., so I save all my finished exports to the WD which also gives me a back up.

That Panasonic response is a standard fob off but it was them that eventually put me onto the Media server limitations of XP and Vista.

John I think you are talking about the WiDi (Wireless display) feature of later Windows versions and interestingly Magix actually enabled MEP2014 to do this from the program but could not include it with 2015. Pity, as would have been good when working on a project in the lounge room, on my MS Surface Pro which has a small screen!

Peter

johnebaker wrote on 9/10/2015, 1:28 PM

Hi Peter

. . . . John I think you are talking about the WiDi (Wireless display) feature of later Windows . . .

WiDi hardware is not installed on my Windows 8.1 or 10 computers. The option Play to device enables streaming to any compatible network connected device - more details here - and uses Windows Media Player to control the TV.

John EB

terrypin wrote on 9/10/2015, 5:36 PM

John, Peter,

Thanks both. Lots to think about and experiment with there. I now have both streaming methods available, so it's probably faster to navigate to my target video using my old WD unit. But I'd really like to find a way of using the Panasonic, if only I can get a familiar folder structure.

I haven't yet spent much time looking into it, but one early exercise I'll try is to copy 50 or so videos into a folder that currently has very few, and see if they get sorted alphabetically - unlike the existing heavily populated folders I tried earlier. I could live with a 'flat' structure, but not if it's in seemingly random sequence!

johnebaker wrote on 9/11/2015, 2:54 AM

Hi Terry

As another check, if the TV will play from an exterenal USB device, is to copy a few short videos into folders on a USB memory stick, plug this into the TV and see if you get a true folder structure.

HTH

John EB