Streaming from a NAS to a smart TV?

jonewer

We just bought a new Sony smart TV and I want to do away with the hundreds of DVD boxes cluttering up my living room by moving them onto a NAS drive.

I'm a bit confused though about how one goes about getting the media from the NAS drive to play on the tv?

Also, if anyone can help me with choosing a NAS drive and not making an expensive dumb choice, I would be really grateful!

Thanks!

Anthorn

jonewer wrote: »

We just bought a new Sony smart TV and I want to do away with the hundreds of DVD boxes cluttering up my living room by moving them onto a NAS drive.

I'm a bit confused though about how one goes about getting the media from the NAS drive to play on the tv?

Also, if anyone can help me with choosing a NAS drive and not making an expensive dumb choice, I would be really grateful!

Thanks!

Both the smart tv and NAS are connected to the router and so are on the same network and then stream using DLNA software. Some NAS come with DLNA software built in. Much the same principle as for example connecting a mobile phone, Google Chromecast and TV on the same network. I have my NAS plugged directly into my router via the USB port. Previously I used a Raspberry Pi

Your smart tv might already have media streaming built-in. Likely on a Sony smart tv.

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/features/1305-how-to-stream-video-to-a-tv/

http://www.techradar.com/news/digital-home/home-networking/dlna-what-it-is-and-what-you-need-to-know-1079015

jonewer

Thanks Anthorn, gives me confidence!

Is there any type of NAS to specifically avoid?

BargainGalore

Some routers allow to to stream over a network. My router Tplink Archer VR500 does as it has a couple of usb ports just plug in a usb hard drive and I can stream from that on my samsung tv. Check your router. I was initially going to buy a nas this year but dont have to now

I also play from usb pen drive as well and it will play from portable usb drive will the tv

jonewer

OK, got my NAS hooked up (WD MyCloud).

It sort of works but doesn't really. I uploaded a photo and two mp4 files and the tv only finds one of the mp4 files.

I may try and connect it to the tv with a USB cable.....

anotheruser

Maybe the TV only supports certain codecs that the video files are encoded with.

This is why I have a full blown PC connected to my TV - it's just easier to manage video files - plus I don't have the (usually shoddy) TV browser.

boundy

What nas did you get? Some of the WD nas gear can run plex, this should be much better at storing and sorting your media or converting it on the fly as necessary. A lot of new smart TVs can install the player app. I run a WD nas with plex installed on a small media pc in the front room. This enables all my media to be viewed around the house and on the kids tablets