Media browser on a smart TV-able to see plex server on computer.

johnsmi

Hi,

I have two TV's hitachi and jvc (identical remotes) so rebranded obviously.

I have a nowtv with plex connected to one and able to stream stuff from my desktop.

Just pressed media browser on the hitachi with nowtv box and hey presto all the stuff on plex came up, though not as nice a GUI as plex.

I thought surely it must be picking it up maybe from nowtv
box, but tried other jvc tv without the nowtv box and the media browser was able to pick up the stuff on the plex server on desktop as well.

Great that it works like this, but a little strange that in manuals for both TV's it just mentions that an usb drive has to be attached for media browser, no mention of being able to pick up the plex server on computer.

John

gjchester

johnsmi wrote: »

Hi,

I have two TV's hitachi and jvc (identical remotes) so rebranded obviously.

I have a nowtv with plex connected to one and able to stream stuff from my desktop.

Just pressed media browser on the hitachi with nowtv box and hey presto all the stuff on plex came up, though not as nice a GUI as plex.

I thought surely it must be picking it up maybe from nowtv
box, but tried other jvc tv without the nowtv box and the media browser was able to pick up the stuff on the plex server on desktop as well.

Great that it works like this, but a little strange that in manuals for both TV's it just mentions that an usb drive has to be attached for media browser, no mention of being able to pick up the plex server on computer.

John

For anything to be seen on a Plex server there has to be a network connection either wired or wireless. I can't see how the data could be transferred from the Now TV Box as that uses HDMI that does not transfer data in that way.


Have you any wired or wireless connection set up that's allowing the transfer of data?

RobTang

While Plex server does have a specific app with a nice GUI on various devices, it also exposes your media as a regular DLNA server, which is much more widely supported.
This allows lots more devices (just as your TVs) to use the Plex server without the need to actually support plex.

johnsmi

gjchester wrote: »

For anything to be seen on a Plex server there has to be a network connection either wired or wireless. I can't see how the data could be transferred from the Now TV Box as that uses HDMI that does not transfer data in that way.


Have you any wired or wireless connection set up that's allowing the transfer of data?

On talktalk fibre but haven't set up anything other than the plex on desktop and nowtv with plex. using their so called super router.


But last post seems to explain a few things, though not sure if all the media will play on Media browser, a lot of it does.


John

gjchester

johnsmi wrote: »

But last post seems to explain a few things, though not sure if all the media will play on Media browser, a lot of it does.

Sorry I should have been more specific...

The TV's still need a network connection be it wired or wireless, to see anything. Data is not passed through the now tv / HDMI lead.

Plex as a server device may also change (transcode) the video from the format is in to one a Plex receiver type device (ie the now TV box) can understand, so its possible the TV's may display what it can see as files but not be able to actually play them, or play it but fail (ie you get sound but no pictire, or a jumbled picture), or in some cases just not display files its not capable of playing.

As an aside I suspect they are made by Vestel, so if you have an inbuilt DVD in them then putting it in DVD mode with no disk in and typing 97350 on the remote may make it region free...

johnsmi

Thanks for the tip about the region DVD as one of the TV's from argos does have an inbuilt player.

Will play dvd's on it but don't have any from usa or other region dvd's. but will try that code out of curiosity.

John

gjchester

johnsmi wrote: »

Thanks for the tip about the region DVD as one of the TV's from argos does have an inbuilt player.

Will play dvd's on it but don't have any from usa or other region dvd's. but will try that code out of curiosity.

John

It says nothing on screen, only way to know is to try another disk.. You may have fiends who can loan a disk...