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Anyone streaming media from computer to TV (Roku)


mhbell

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I just bought a Roku Streaming stick (Wireless) and want to stream some Documentaries that I have stored on my Computer to my TV. I can stream movies off of the Internet but don't know how to stream documentaries from the computer using Linux Mint. I have heard that you can do it using Apache. Anyone done it in the forum?

Mel

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I have done it with Chromecast but other than that, I have no experience with it. Chromecast just requires a chrome extension and it just works

 

I did find this http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=90&t=90910

 

Plex would be your best bet: http://www.unixmen.com/setup-streaming-media-server-using-plex-media-server-ubuntu-13-10/

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I have done it with Chromecast but other than that, I have no experience with it. Chromecast just requires a chrome extension and it just works

 

I did find this http://forums.linuxm...hp?f=90&t=90910

 

Plex would be your best bet: http://www.unixmen.c...r-ubuntu-13-10/

I was hoping someone in the forum has done it with roku. I would hate to have to reinstall windows. I will take a look at the links you provided.

Thank You

Mel

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Are you looking to mirror you Linux computer content on a Roku, or stream content saved on your Linux box to a Roku? If the latter, I stream MP4 movies from my computer/NAS to various Western Digital & Sony set top devices, and Android devices, using Serviio.

 

http://serviio.org/

 

Perhaps Plex or Chromecast is a better(?) solution for you, but I can vouch for the Linux/Serviio/Roku setup. I acquired this knowledge after much experimentation, unsuccessful configuration, and occasional bouts of extreme cussing...but I'll give it to you for no charge! Serviio is free, it's cross-platform, it transcodes if you need it; and it's the best all-around solution for several variables in my world.

 

If interested, download and install Serviio using instructions on their website. I believe I'm using version 1.3.x on my Ubuntu machine, FWIW. With Serviio installed, fill in the GUI boxes with the directory path/location of videos/music/photos you want to stream. Allow Serviio to build the database (I have over 600 movies ripped to MP4 and that took several hours...perhaps 3-4 hours if I remember correctly).

 

With the Serviio software running, any DLNA UPnP compliant device will pick up the Serviio broadcast, and you're good to go. Unfortunately, Roku is not DLNA compliant, and my parents wanted to duplicate my streaming setup. I thought they were gonna have to scrap their first-generation Roku for a Western Digital TV box, until I learned about the Chaneru plugin channel for Roku. Chaneru provides a DLNA client plugin for the Roku box, so my parents ordered the Chaneru plugin (a $20 charge one-time only to "purchase" the Chaneru channel) and the Roku immediately saw the Serviio library. They've been busy watching movies ever since, with no requests for technical assistance.

 

Let me know if you need

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I've been using Plex for several years.

 

It's been quite a while since I set it up, but I believe this is the process -

 

Download the dpkg file from https://plex.tv/downloads and install it on your Linux Mint system using dpkg -i. Choose the 32 or 64 bit version that matches your system.

 

Once installed, go to http://localhost:32400/manage and make sure everything is working. You'll need to set the location where your media is saved.

 

Install the Plex-RarFlix (free) or the official Plex channel on your Roku and point it to the IP address of your Linux Mint box.

Edited by jimg
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Got it working partialy. I got plex setup and it is working with my Roku, but you have to put your home movies in a certain format and the same with Photo's and Music. What a pain and is not hardly worth the trouble, and then their is the question of permissions which I will have to set for the folders where the data, movies, music and photo's are stored. Tried to get roksbox, but it appears that it is not available and their website is down. I will keep the forum posted as I progress.

Mel

:download:

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Update

Well I abandoned the plex and roksbox as after 30 days you have to pay. I have not tried the servillo yet. I did install apache and that is promising. I finally Hooked the External USB drive to the USB port on the router and am using ready share with cifs to automount the drive at bootup. in Roku using their free channel I can access the drive DLNA ReadyShare with no problem and can Create, Read, Write, and Delete files and directories. am streaming wirelessly, my Home movies and music plus photo's that are stored on my hard drives to my Big Screen TV in the living room.

Mel

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There's an old MM200PCTV ...tv/video card here . Do you think it would be feasible to install the card and using coax to connect it to the TV.

With the aim of streaming from the net and or the DVD rom .to the TV about 30ft away in another room .

 

Really curious about this .

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There's an old MM200PCTV ...tv/video card here . Do you think it would be feasible to install the card and using coax to connect it to the TV.

With the aim of streaming from the net and or the DVD rom .to the TV about 30ft away in another room .

 

Really curious about this .

It might be feasible, but If you have a wireless router and a high speed internet connection you can buy a ROKU Streaming stick which hooks to the HDMI Port on a TV. It is wireless so no cable to run. It communicates with your wireless router. The Roku streaming stick is $35 to $49 depending on where you buy it. Lots of free movies on the internet.

Mel

Edited by mhbell
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I use Plex and you don't have to pay. Am using several video formats (mpeg, avi, flv and I think some others), didn't do any setup of the files. I just let Plex index the folders I wanted and when I need to use either the search or the built in categories. I also use twonky.

To get steams from my pc, I've done it with VLC a few times but in the end i just went with a VGA cable to my tv as a 2nd monitor.

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Could you explain how you got plex to work wirelessly. I could not get it to open my Folders and recognize music MP3, video Mov, it would find the folders but would not let me stream from folders on my computer. It also stated that after 30 days youwould have to pay. maybe that was for commercial channels and not the free ones. I clicked on the Plex channel which I installed and it would go to my folders but not read the contents. so please explain how you set it up.

Thanks

Mel

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very short on time currently, but I'm a bit confused.

I installed PlexMedia server on a pc, let it do it's searching and indexing thing.

then i dl'ed and intalled the plex channel onto my Roku3.

Opened the channel, pointed it to the PlexMedia server that was running on the pc

and that was it. No prompts about money for doing things local.

Over the internet - different story.. Have not even tried that.

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I use Plex and you don't have to pay. Am using several video formats (mpeg, avi, flv and I think some others), didn't do any setup of the files. I just let Plex index the folders I wanted and when I need to use either the search or the built in categories. I also use twonky.

To get steams from my pc, I've done it with VLC a few times but in the end i just went with a VGA cable to my tv as a 2nd monitor.

Here is what I got so in some cases you do have to pay this is the Plex channel. It says 30 days free. I take that to mean that after 30 days it will cost you.

Mel

 

Under the image it says 30 day free trial I got this today in my email from roku

welcome_email2_img16.jpg

30 day free trial

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Well they have preium features that cost money:

Access to Premium Plex Features such as Plex Sync, Chromecast and Cloud Sync.

https://plex.tv/subscription/about

 

Plex Free: https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/202197608

 

If plex is not in your distro's repos, look here for instructions on installing it: https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201181647-Plex-Media-Server-Linux-nix-

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