Related
I have been wondering what kind of setup for home networking and media access people use, as they have been trying to build one of my own and I would interested in other ideas on how to improve it or what alternatives people are using.
This is what I came up so far:
Router: Linksys WRT320N
WiFi, Local Network
DynDNS to have fixed address for dynamic IP
Central Storage / Media server: QNAP 219p
runs Samba/NFS shares,
UPnP server
Download station (http/torrent)
controlled through web interface
bonus: low power consumption
Media Player: TV + WD TV Live Box.
WD TV has DLNA, UPnP connectivity and can access network shares.
WD can also be flashed for custom firmware WDLXTV, that has a few extra options like streaming apple trailers, Revision 5, etc right to your TV.
Media Player: Ubuntu PC + notebook/Windows Notebook.
automount several shares from QNAP
runs XBMC to access QNAP UPnP for media streaming
Mobile: Desire HD
Qmobile to stream my QNAP media (wifi or 3g) - it is developed by QNAP themselved, but they still have a lot of room for improvement.
PCFileSync - I have setup a special share on QNAP, that syncs with my Android device with PCFileSync. The app itself is launched by Tasker whenever the phone connects to my home SSID. Unfortunatelly it does not autokill, once I leave my network, as Kill does not work on Froyo. (I am hoping for PCFileSync tasker plugin)
The phone can see the WD TV DLNA service and I can stream any video from the phone right to my WD TV as long as the HTC media player can play it (this is somewhat limiting to mp4 I guess)
Tasker to check location, turn wifi on/off and connect me to my home server
Astro file manager to access samba shares
TwonkyMedia Server to create another UPnP server from my phone, but desires DLNA now took over the Twonky functions.
Andromote to control UPnP device like WD TV Live - not very reliable for now, cannot really build playlist etc.
TODO list:
Better remote control WD TV Live from Android. Andromote more or less works on a good day, but I am looking for a more reliable alternative. WDLXTV has a Webinterface, so that maybe one way of doing it.
OpenVPN service running on my router. I have a vague idea this should be possible by flashing a custom firmware to the router, but I did not have the courage a time to start fiddling with it. But a lot of media streaming like UPnP work only on local network, so to get it running truly mobile, I guess needs to be done.
X10/Insteon Home Automation - still exploring what kind of solution to choose. X10 with Heyu linux libraries should run on QNAP as it runs linux itself, but I cannot find the CM11E module on sale anywhere and the newer CM15Pro does not seem to work with linux. And I do not really want to set up another home server. Any tips or suggestion would be appreciated.
Thanks for you tips and suggestions.
Hi guys,
When using chrome on PC we can type: file//192.168.x.xxx to access the file on server file. However, when using Android phone, is it anyway around that I can access file (mp4 file) on server using Chrome? The reason that I need to access the file using Chrome is I want to cast it to my PC.
Or anyway that send mp4 file to my TV using ChromeCast (my chromecast is unroot)
Any help would be appreciated.
playboy8888 said:
Hi guys,
When using chrome on PC we can type: file//192.168.x.xxx to access the file on server file. However, when using Android phone, is it anyway around that I can access file (mp4 file) on server using Chrome? The reason that I need to access the file using Chrome is I want to cast it to my PC.
Or anyway that send mp4 file to my TV using ChromeCast (my chromecast is unroot)
Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Real Player will play files via URL and has just added Chromecast support...
Not sure what you mean by streaming to PC since you get the file in chrome using the URL already.
Asphyx said:
Real Player will play files via URL and has just added Chromecast support...
Not sure what you mean by streaming to PC since you get the file in chrome using the URL already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply. But what I mean is on PC I when using chrome I can type URL to access the file on Server, however, when using chrome on Android phone, the link URL is not possible.
Is there any other way around I can use chrome on Android Phone to access the file on Server???
playboy8888 said:
Thank you for your reply. But what I mean is on PC I when using chrome I can type URL to access the file on Server, however, when using chrome on Android phone, the link URL is not possible.
Is there any other way around I can use chrome on Android Phone to access the file on Server???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chrome for Android doesn't support extensions, so it's moot (not to mention, even if it did work, it would kill your battery and overheat your phone with the CPU load for the required real-time decoding and re-encoding).
You could
Run Plex Media Server on your PC and Plex client on your phone. This will make whatever you give Plex access to playable on phone and on Chromecast regardless of the original format, because your PC would do any required transcoding of the video to a Chromecast-compatible format.
Run a DLNA server on your PC and use Avia on your phone. This would let Avia on your phone "pull" the video from the PC and "push" it to Chromecast. Only videos in Chromecast-compatible format will play, though.
Install RealPlayer Cloud and upload your videos from your PC to RealPlayer Cloud. RealPlayer Cloud does any requires transcoding via their SurePlay feature, so you will be able to play what you have uploaded to RealPlayer Cloud on phone and Chromecast regardless of the original format.
bhiga said:
Chrome for Android doesn't support extensions, so it's moot (not to mention, even if it did work, it would kill your battery and overheat your phone with the CPU load for the required real-time decoding and re-encoding).
You could
Run Plex Media Server on your PC and Plex client on your phone. This will make whatever you give Plex access to playable on phone and on Chromecast regardless of the original format, because your PC would do any required transcoding of the video to a Chromecast-compatible format.
Run a DLNA server on your PC and use Avia on your phone. This would let Avia on your phone "pull" the video from the PC and "push" it to Chromecast. Only videos in Chromecast-compatible format will play, though.
Install RealPlayer Cloud and upload your videos from your PC to RealPlayer Cloud. RealPlayer Cloud does any requires transcoding via their SurePlay feature, so you will be able to play what you have uploaded to RealPlayer Cloud on phone and Chromecast regardless of the original format.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your answer,
Background:
I have a netgear WNDR3400v2 router that has a readyshare USB port (no DLNA server though). I have loaded a few chromecast compatible video's on a usb drive and plugged it into my router. I have also copied the exact same files on my android device.
I am using avia for casting.
Scenario 1: (when video is stored locally on my android device) - WORKS
I open avia, lookup the video to play and cast it to chromecast. all works well.
Scenario 2 (Same video is stored in my router storage. Avia is NOT casting to chromecast) - WORKS
I open ES file explorer, and lookup the network storage. Locate the video and play it to avia player from ES file explorer.
AVIA window opens and video is played flawlessly.
Scenario 3 (Same video is stored in my router storage. Avia is casting to chromecast) - DOES NOT WORK
I open ES file explorer, and lookup the network storage. Locate the video and play it to avia player from ES file explorer.
AVIA window opens and only casts audio to chromecast. No video is displayed on my TV, only audio is casted.
Has someone faced this issue and solved it? please share how did you make it work.
Ideally, I would like to store all my local media on a USB device and attach it to my router, and then be able to cast it to chromecast.
Appreciate any help.
Thanks and a very happy new year to you all!
smrsxn said:
Background:
I have a netgear WNDR3400v2 router that has a readyshare USB port (no DLNA server though). I have loaded a few chromecast compatible video's on a usb drive and plugged it into my router. I have also copied the exact same files on my android device.
I am using avia for casting.
Scenario 1: (when video is stored locally on my android device) - WORKS
I open avia, lookup the video to play and cast it to chromecast. all works well.
Scenario 2 (Same video is stored in my router storage. Avia is NOT casting to chromecast) - WORKS
I open ES file explorer, and lookup the network storage. Locate the video and play it to avia player from ES file explorer.
AVIA window opens and video is played flawlessly.
Scenario 3 (Same video is stored in my router storage. Avia is casting to chromecast) - DOES NOT WORK
I open ES file explorer, and lookup the network storage. Locate the video and play it to avia player from ES file explorer.
AVIA window opens and only casts audio to chromecast. No video is displayed on my TV, only audio is casted.
Has someone faced this issue and solved it? please share how did you make it work.
Ideally, I would like to store all my local media on a USB device and attach it to my router, and then be able to cast it to chromecast.
Appreciate any help.
Thanks and a very happy new year to you all!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only a few Options for you right now...
1 - Re-Encode (Transcode) All of your video Library to MP4/H264/AAC 4-8Mbps VBitrate. All files in that format should play without issues on the CCast (exception bad Network congestion or Reception. aVia should work for you in this example as will anything that has CCast support. (See #3 as an add on to this Option as it might give you a better Interface)
2 (and obviously the BEST Option) - Run a DLNA server that does Transcoding on the fly. Map the drives on your Router to the machine running the DLNA server and add that drive to the DLNA Server Library, Plex and Twonky are both considered the best DLNA servers out there and Plex gets a plus for having an Android App that is far superior as far as Display and it supports CCast directly. Twonky doesn't have an App that supports CCast but you can use aVia with both of those DLNA Servers. But Ples Server with Plex app is probably the best most complete solution right now (Transcoding and a few bugs not withstanding)
All Options that follow will require you doing Option 1 because they do not Transcode, and having aVia Player installed
3 - Get Movie Browser UPnP (another Paid App), Set up sources via UPnP (Your router seems to support this and if not) or Samba. When you try and play a Video for the first time it should ask you what Player to use, Select aVia.
(sorry forgot to add #4)
4 - Install Playon Server on your Desktop, It will aggregate all media the Desktop can see and if you use aVia as a Player for now that will work. PlayOn is promising CCast support in their App soon so when they do aVia will no longer be needed. PlayOn I hear DOES do some transcoding but aVia doesn't and until they support CCast natively I can't say for certain if you could skip Option 1 using this method.
So you pretty much have two choices. Re-Encode all of your Library or Set up a DLNA server that will transcode the source files for you on the fly and as needed.
Thats the best method for supporting media streaming to ALL of your devices.
If you have an old computer laying around that has more than a Pentium 4 Proc then Throw Linux on it, get Plex for Linux and it should be powerful enough to transcode for you. Windows would take up too many resources but Linux is lean enough to get away with an older proc.
smrsxn said:
Background:
I have a netgear WNDR3400v2 router that has a readyshare USB port (no DLNA server though). I have loaded a few chromecast compatible video's on a usb drive and plugged it into my router. I have also copied the exact same files on my android device.
I am using avia for casting.
Scenario 1: (when video is stored locally on my android device) - WORKS
I open avia, lookup the video to play and cast it to chromecast. all works well.
Scenario 2 (Same video is stored in my router storage. Avia is NOT casting to chromecast) - WORKS
I open ES file explorer, and lookup the network storage. Locate the video and play it to avia player from ES file explorer.
AVIA window opens and video is played flawlessly.
Scenario 3 (Same video is stored in my router storage. Avia is casting to chromecast) - DOES NOT WORK
I open ES file explorer, and lookup the network storage. Locate the video and play it to avia player from ES file explorer.
AVIA window opens and only casts audio to chromecast. No video is displayed on my TV, only audio is casted.
Has someone faced this issue and solved it? please share how did you make it work.
Ideally, I would like to store all my local media on a USB device and attach it to my router, and then be able to cast it to chromecast.
Appreciate any help.
Thanks and a very happy new year to you all!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I read your scenario 2 and scenario 3 a number of times and I can't figure out what's different in the setup between the two.
The result is different, but both lead up with opening in ES File Explorer and playing it via Avia?
I must be missing something...?
I find that DNLA feature on many routers is often buggy. My USB drive connected to one of my routers will show mp4 files as music on any Android DNLA media player. However, mkv files will show up as a video file.
My solution was to rename mp4 extention to mkv. Now Avia sees it as video and cast away.
bhiga said:
I read your scenario 2 and scenario 3 a number of times and I can't figure out what's different in the setup between the two.
The result is different, but both lead up with opening in ES File Explorer and playing it via Avia?
I must be missing something...?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Differnce is that avia is not casting in scenario 2, but casting in scenario 3.
When avia is not casting, then video plays fine on my device.
When avia is casting same video, then only audio plays on chromecast.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk
Asphyx said:
Only a few Options for you right now...
1 - Re-Encode (Transcode) All of your video Library to MP4/H264/AAC 4-8Mbps VBitrate. All files in that format should play without issues on the CCast (exception bad Network congestion or Reception. aVia should work for you in this example as will anything that has CCast support. (See #3 as an add on to this Option as it might give you a better Interface)
2 (and obviously the BEST Option) - Run a DLNA server that does Transcoding on the fly. Map the drives on your Router to the machine running the DLNA server and add that drive to the DLNA Server Library, Plex and Twonky are both considered the best DLNA servers out there and Plex gets a plus for having an Android App that is far superior as far as Display and it supports CCast directly. Twonky doesn't have an App that supports CCast but you can use aVia with both of those DLNA Servers. But Ples Server with Plex app is probably the best most complete solution right now (Transcoding and a few bugs not withstanding)
All Options that follow will require you doing Option 1 because they do not Transcode, and having aVia Player installed
3 - Get Movie Browser UPnP (another Paid App), Set up sources via UPnP (Your router seems to support this and if not) or Samba. When you try and play a Video for the first time it should ask you what Player to use, Select aVia.
(sorry forgot to add #4)
4 - Install Playon Server on your Desktop, It will aggregate all media the Desktop can see and if you use aVia as a Player for now that will work. PlayOn is promising CCast support in their App soon so when they do aVia will no longer be needed. PlayOn I hear DOES do some transcoding but aVia doesn't and until they support CCast natively I can't say for certain if you could skip Option 1 using this method.
So you pretty much have two choices. Re-Encode all of your Library or Set up a DLNA server that will transcode the source files for you on the fly and as needed.
Thats the best method for supporting media streaming to ALL of your devices.
If you have an old computer laying around that has more than a Pentium 4 Proc then Throw Linux on it, get Plex for Linux and it should be powerful enough to transcode for you. Windows would take up too many resources but Linux is lean enough to get away with an older proc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, I have ensured that video is chromecast compatible already.
When I copy the video to my sdcard on my tablet, and cast via avia, then I get both video and audio on my tv. (1st scenario in my list.)
When I delete the video from my tablet's sdcard, and instead lookit up from my routerstorage via es file explorer, then only audio plays..no video.
So it's not a transcoding issue.
Steps to reproduce
- copy any video file that works with chromecast from your device to another network location.
- use es file explorer to lookup the file on network and play it to avia
- this time avia will not cast the video. Only audio will come on the tv.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk
smrsxn said:
Differnce is that avia is not casting in scenario 2, but casting in scenario 3.
When avia is not casting, then video plays fine on my device.
When avia is casting same video, then only audio plays on chromecast.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ooooh I think I understand now.
In Scenario 2, Avia is not connected to Chromecast, but in Scenario 3, Avia is already connected to Chromecast?
I'm not sure whether ES File Explorer's Send to/Open makes a copy of the remote file locally before opening - I think it might.
If that's the case, it might be a difference of available bandwidth between scenarios 2 and 3.
In scenario 2, ES File Explorer copies the remote file to local.
In scenario 3, ES File Explorer is copying the remote file to local while Avia is trying to send the incoming data back out to Chromecast.
The copy action is probably bursting/clogging the wireless connection so the Avia-to-Chromecast transfer isn't able to send the video data fast enough to Chromecast. The video data is getting to Chromecast too late and Chromecast is throwing them away instead of showing them.
That is, of course, if I'm correct that ES File Explorer's network browse makes a temporary local copy or cached chunk.
Possible diagnosis... atleast its adding up.
Let me try with low bitrate mp4 and see if that changes anything.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk
SOLVED!!!
Happy to report that this issue is solved by using vget to stream network media.
It works excellent... i will start a new thread as vget does much more than just network storage casting...
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk
There have been many great apps to stream local media on PC/laptop to chromecast. But what if the PC is not in the same room with your TV?
I have got a laptop upfloor connected to the network with cable (can connect to wifi if necessary), so I don't want to carry it everytime I want to cast something, or going upstairs to pause and resume playback. Is either one of the following scenario achievable?
1. run some kind of server on my laptop so I can access the media using my phone, then I use my phone to cast media(local on laptop) to chromecast.
2. cast the media from laptop with chrome browser, but then use my android phone to do simple playback control, e.g. pause, resume, fast forward the video.
Any chance a combination of server + app can do that?
Check videostream extension for chrome and videostream app to ocntrol playback
Plex is great for this too
There are 999 thousand ways to do this
I prefer using BubbleUPnP. Just google it.
I am using XBMC media server on my pc and Yatse as a remote control for xbmc on my phone. This setup supports among others Chromecast.
Hi,
I've only recently found out about Chromecast, reviews were very praising so yesterday I went out and bought one. Unfortunately, my initial enthousiasm has almost disappeared because I can't successfully do the 2 most important things I was planning to do with such a device: 1) Stream my desktop for 720p/1080p video playback and 2) Stream/Cast my Nexus 6 screen (I get a green screen when I connect it, separate apps do work though).
Focusing on the pc casting, the video playback is lagging a lot even if I switch to 480p which is of course unacceptable for watching HD movies. I am not talking about the 0.5 - 1 second input delay, I don't care about that as I don't want to play games with it but rather for the constant speed dropping/pausing/catching up. I have a 50/10 mbps connection which I would think is enough for this but to its defense, I have only tried it through a 2014 Macbook Pro i7/16gb ram running Windows through bootcamp. Could that be the cause of slow performance? Bootcamp may be adequate for basic stuff but the computer does not feel at all like an i7 / 16gb ram unit should.
If the pc is not the issue, are there alternatives to cast your desktop at an acceptable level through other apps? I saw vnc2cast in another thread. Also, is it an option for Chromecast to work if i connect my pc through Ethernet instead of wi-fi for better performance?
Thanks
Why do you need PC video playback on CC? Its smth like record a video of playing movie by phone and then watch it, instead of copy the file to phone and then open it... You could find some FAQ first...
1.Google Cast extention for Chrome Browser will let play compatible formats of video to CC. Just drag&drop the file to a tab and hit the Cast button. It also has "Cast Entire Screen" option.
2.Videostream extention will transcode and play most of the unsupporded files, including .avi, besides the regular ones
3. Share the folder to local net, use ES File Explorer + ES File Explorer Chromecast plugin. Find the shared folder in LAN section then play with plugin.
4.KMP Player for android+KMP Connect on PC.
5.BubbleUPnP android app+BubbleUPnP server on PC for transcoding any file.
6.Plex Media Server + Plex android app
7.ANY Media server on PC (Twonky, Plex, Serviio, BubbleUPnP etc) + Any program that see DLNA (Avia for example). If an app has "open with" option, one can use VEGA Cast, AllCast, Avia, ES Cast Plugin etc...
For Screen Mirror try Koush's "Mirror" app. First join ClockWorkMod beta testers Google+ group, then it will be available in Google Play.
playahate said:
Why do you need PC video playback on CC? Its smth like record a video of playing movie by phone and then watch it, instead of copy the file to phone and then open it... You could find some FAQ first...
1.Google Cast extention for Chrome Browser will let play compatible formats of video to CC. Just drag&drop the file to a tab and hit the Cast button. It also has "Cast Entire Screen" option.
2.Videostream extention will transcode and play most of the unsupporded files, including .avi, besides the regular ones
3. Share the folder to local net, use ES File Explorer + ES File Explorer Chromecast plugin. Find the shared folder in LAN section then play with plugin.
4.KMP Player for android+KMP Connect on PC.
5.BubbleUPnP android app+BubbleUPnP server on PC for transcoding any file.
6.Plex Media Server + Plex android app
7.ANY Media server on PC (Twonky, Plex, Serviio, BubbleUPnP etc) + Any program that see DLNA (Avia for example). If an app has "open with" option, one can use VEGA Cast, AllCast, Avia, ES Cast Plugin etc...
For Screen Mirror try Koush's "Mirror" app. First join ClockWorkMod beta testers Google+ group, then it will be available in Google Play.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reason for pc video playback is I'd like to see movies from my local drives without having to set up a media server/NAS thing. I guess the extensions you mention in 1) and 2) can do that? I'll try them out.
Now if I understand correctly 3-7 regards sharing files from pc to phone and then streaming them to CC? I'd like to avoid that if possible as it requires the phone to act as an intermediate between pc and CC If I am not mistaken.
mclisme said:
Reason for pc video playback is I'd like to see movies from my local drives without having to set up a media server/NAS thing. I guess the extensions you mention in 1) and 2) can do that? I'll try them out.
Now if I understand correctly 3-7 regards sharing files from pc to phone and then streaming them to CC? I'd like to avoid that if possible as it requires the phone to act as an intermediate between pc and CC If I am not mistaken.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone is basically a remote to initiate and control the cast from the remote device/storage for all / most of these options (definitely for Plex and the BubbleUPnP options). It's not doing any heavy lifting.
Plex is probably the most adaptable option.
Also beware that casting local high bandwidth media from a wifi networked device/storage via router to chromecast may never produce consistent results as performance is often impacted by network conditions. Tweaking various arcane settings on your router can help but it's a pain.
For me there were huge differences in performance depending on whether the host device was is the same room as the router (very good) or in it's normal location a floor up and 20-30 yards away (pretty poor) or wired (excellent). I ended up resurrecting an old laptop heading for recycle with a fresh linux install to be permanently wired to my router to host a Plex server and media. Never looked back.
playahate said:
2.Videostream extention will transcode and play most of the unsupporded files, including .avi, besides the regular ones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I tried Videostream and I find it amazing. Even its interface is so simple and smooth and with the remote control app for the phone I think it's great. So watching my movies is solved.
Now, another reason I was looking for "cast your entire screen" alternatives is that I can't seem to get a specific video streaming service that I often use to work properly. If I cast the tab, for some reason the video does not show up in CC even though the rest of the page like pictures and video controls show up fine. I guess it has to do with the fact that this specific service is encrypted and does not allow HDMI connections, if it detects one it just stops. So maybe it similarly blocks Chromecast plugin from capturing the video off it and sending it to CC?
The only way to fool it is to cast my entire screen. Then the video works fine but at a rate below 24 fps which makes it almost unusable. I even switched to 480p but still the video is slow for live sports. I guess when screen-casting, the load is too much for CC to handle?
So If there aren't other ways to improve screen-casting to a watchable level (24fps) either by 3rd-party apps or CC hacks/mods, I can only hope something is developed in the future I guess...