Best Method to Send Photos, Movies from Computer to TV via local lan

[mhbell]

First off I have a Amazon Fire Stick which works great to stream Movies from amazon. I also have a Roku Stick which works fine. I also have a Sony Blue Ray / DVD Player. Here is what I want to do. I want to send (stream) Movies and Photo's that are stored on my computer over the network to my computer. There is Mini Dlna, Plex and some others. What is the best and easiest method to do this? Plex seems overly complicated for what I want to do. I already have the means of streaming direct from the internet through my router, I only want something simple to stream from the computer to the TV. Since my computer is not a DLNA Device I need something like mini dlna or plex or something else. I want to hear from members who are using and have done this.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Mel

[Hedon James]

I currently use Serviio as server software on my computer. It's DLNA compliant and cross platform, with WIndows, Linux & Mac software. Simple as installation on the server, point to directories for video, music, and photo content, and streaming to a DLNA-compliant box, such as Roku, Western-Digital, Sony, KODI, etc...

 

I have recently also added KODI to the mix, installing on the same computer server, and building KODI set-top boxes from Intel NUC devices. Pretty much does the same thing, but with a lot more polish, way more extensible, and a lot more options. Since KODI is also DLNA-compliant, I'm probably gonna drop Serviio in the near future for this reason. Nothing wrong with Serviio, but KODI suits my needs better.

 

In addition to set-top boxes, I can also stream to Android tablets, phones, etc... using Media House app. Even if you don't want/need/use Media House for streaming, it's a nice tool to "look" for DLNA-compliant streams that can assist with troubleshooting, FWIW.

 

I've also heard good things about Emby (Media Browser...MB...Emby), but haven't tried it myself yet. Supposed to be an Open Source implementation of proprietary Plex. Can't comment on that much, other than to say it exists and it might be what you're looking for!

[securitybreach]

Personally I use Plex with a roku 3 (the roku 3 is the only version that allows you to stream local media). It works very well with my large library of media

[mhbell]

I currently use Serviio as server software on my computer. It's DLNA compliant and cross platform, with WIndows, Linux & Mac software. Simple as installation on the server, point to directories for video, music, and photo content, and streaming to a DLNA-compliant box, such as Roku, Western-Digital, Sony, KODI, etc...

 

I have recently also added KODI to the mix, installing on the same computer server, and building KODI set-top boxes from Intel NUC devices. Pretty much does the same thing, but with a lot more polish, way more extensible, and a lot more options. Since KODI is also DLNA-compliant, I'm probably gonna drop Serviio in the near future for this reason. Nothing wrong with Serviio, but KODI suits my needs better.

 

In addition to set-top boxes, I can also stream to Android tablets, phones, etc... using Media House app. Even if you don't want/need/use Media House for streaming, it's a nice tool to "look" for DLNA-compliant streams that can assist with troubleshooting, FWIW.

 

I've also heard good things about Emby (Media Browser...MB...Emby), but haven't tried it myself yet. Supposed to be an Open Source implementation of proprietary Plex. Can't comment on that much, other than to say it exists and it might be what you're looking for!

Thank You for the info. I downloaded and installed Kodi. I have not set it up yet. I also downloaded Plex, but it seems overly complicated. I also downloaded MiniDLNA. I like the Kodi interface. If it will act as a DNLA server or device them my HDMI Sticks should be able to pick it up off of the local network and stream from my computer to the TV via wireless lan. Now if I can get it set up. Thanks again for the info.

Mel

[Hedon James]

Kodi setup is actually very easy. See if this doesn't get you where you want to be...

 

http://kodi.wiki/view/UPnP/Server

[Hedon James]

Personally I use Plex with a roku 3 (the roku 3 is the only version that allows you to stream local media). It works very well with my large library of media

 

Thank you for the Roku3 tidbit! Is this setup "out of the box" to receive local streams? I purchased a Roku for my parents (can't remember the version), but they decided they liked my setup of local streaming (Western Digital at the time) and wanted me to duplicate that for them. Thought I was gonna have to scrap their Roku for another device until I learned I could purchase & install a channel/addon called "Channeru" that cooperated with DLNA compliant server streams. True to form, finding the solution took DAYS of research & cussing; once found, the Channeru solution only took minutes. Throwing that out there to help save others the days of cussing...

[mhbell]

Kodi setup is actually very easy. See if this doesn't get you where you want to be...

 

http://kodi.wiki/view/UPnP/Server

Thank you I will try that. I also need to side load Kodi to my Fire TV Stick.

Mel

[Hedon James]

Thank you I will try that. I also need to side load Kodi to my Fire TV Stick.

Mel

 

I've never sideloaded Kodi, as I've always installed as server on Computer or as client on barebones metal. I know it can be done, and here's a link for that, but I may not be able to offer much practical "been there done that" assistance: http://kodi.wiki/view/HOW-TO:Install_Kodi_on_Fire_TV

[mhbell]

Thank you I will try that. I also need to side load Kodi to my Fire TV Stick.

Mel

 

I've never sideloaded Kodi, as I've always installed as server on Computer or as client on barebones metal. I know it can be done, and here's a link for that, but I may not be able to offer much practical "been there done that" assistance: http://kodi.wiki/vie...Kodi_on_Fire_TV

Here are some links that are easy to follow and they work. I got Kodi installed on my fire stick and it was the easiest way to do so. all other links are old school and out dated.

Mel

 

Links: Best Method Click Here

 

Tips and Tricks Click Here

 

How to Long install Method Click Here