How to... DLNA Media Server (Panasonic/WHS/Mezzmo) 2011

How to... Use DLNA Media Server with Panasonic Viera TV, Winodws Home Server & Mezzmo

NOTE: The IP addresses need to be entered BEFORE the library will update (obviously!) - I said it the wrong way round in the video. D'oh!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Media
• Server
• DLNA
• WHS
• Panasonic
• Viera
• Mezzmo

[RaceImmer]

Hi Chris, Thx 4 the vid. I picked up the VIERA TC-L42E30 42” LED. Before the Viera I had TVersity working w/ my Xbox. I think TVersity is fantastic, but try as I might, no luck getting it to work w/ the Viera. The only thing I can get to work w/ the Viera so far is XBMC. I'm looking for a single solution that can support both the Viera & the Xbox. Have you had any success getting your Xbox to work w/ Mezzmo yet?

[ChrisOfTheOT]

Yes, more or less. What 'cured' the problem was simply stopping the Mezzmo service on the server and restarting it; but the Xbox is VERY slow at recognising Mezzmo (even slower than the TV which takes 2-3 mins at the start).

Very large Mezzmo transcoded videos through the Xbox are so 'laggy' they're unwatchable - even over our gigabit network. Mezzmo email support is super-duper, takes a day or two though, so if you're more patient than me, perhaps you'll have better luck!

Cheers,

Chris

[SIBUK]

Hi Chris, I have been cursing my TV (also a panasonic viera) because of its uselessness in the DLNA department but this Mezzmo looks like a brilliant idea. I will give it a try but there is something that might be worth noting. You have your PC connected to your TV like I do, but I have found that when I play my videos on Windows Media Player or VLC player, they looks FAR better than when you play them on the TV's Media server, so I just use windows now :)

[ChrisOfTheOT]

Hi Sib - I don't unusally have my computer connected to the TV, just for this video (it's a laptop).

I only use WMP on the laptop but it's very limited (e.g. high def. stuff). Mezzmo (or Serviio too, actually) is good at paying AVCHD on the TV and it's pin sharp - picture and sound. Our video camera is AVCHD which is why I wanted Mezzmo or Serviio. Mezzmo is also more reliable with JPEGs, if not perect! (Playing MP3s is just an extra - we don't really use that feature.)

Cheers,

Chris

[DennisCrowney]

Thanks, Chris.

An excellently clear and concise video of how to set this up. Will be very useful for many including me.

Any problems encountered with Mezzmo?

[ChrisOfTheOT]

@DennisCrowney Hi Dennis - Only two real problems with Mezzmo: occasional JPEGs show 'File not supported': about 1 in 50, so I'm not fussing. Also, I've never got the Xbox to work with Mezzmo (Xbox sees Mezzmo but can't get 'inside' - no amount of tweeking helps).

Mezzmo is much better than Serviio & it's easier to set up (Serviio needed boat-loads of complicated tweeking). Mezzmo takes a while to load & read sometimes but it works for us okay (but I've never tried Twonky).

Cheers

Chris

[Rfurui]

Ahh i've been having trouble having my Panasonic tv to detect ANY dlna server :c

Please help me someone D;

Im not sure if it might be the tv not set up correctly or possibly my laptop? :/

Help please! D;

[ifcikan]

Hi Chris, Thanks for this video.

I was wondering if you know any solution to streaming media to a Panasonic Veira TV that does not have DNLA (Media Server) software as standard?

Mine is the Panasonic Viera TX-P42UT30 with WiFi Dongle for Viera Connect.

The Asian model of this tv has the DNLA function, but for some reason my european version does not. Perhaps there is another way?

Any ideas if this might ever be possible, or am I wasting my time?

thanks, Ian

[RaceImmer]

I gave Mezzmo & Serviio a try over the weekend. Both seem capable, but in my situation Serviio seems the better choice. Not only did it work better "fresh out of the box" with my Viera, but I was able to play all form of video on the Xbox with no adjustments. After a little tweaking of the profiles.xml file in Serviio, I was able to get just about everything to play on the Panasonic. Do you know if Mezzmo allows device-specific transcode options?

[DennisCrowney]

Thanks, Chris. Mezzmo it is, then!