Help with formats for DLNA streaming & Samsung TV

[polyfiller]

Hi,

joined this forum for some help with ripping my DVD collection so I can stream from my HG533 router, which has built in DLNA server. I want to stream to multiple devices, including my Samsung Plasma TV. I have two issues;

1) When I try to create MP4's for this purpose, the DLNA server won't show them as available to any device.
2) If I try creating MKV's, the server makes them available to my tablet devices, but my Samsung complains about "Unsupported Format".

I've tried created MP4's with Freemake, Handbrake, XMedia Recode. What I am frustrated about is that I have a couple of MP4's which I downloaded from YouTube using a YouTube downloader and these ARE successfully served by the DLNA server and play on all devices, including the Samsung TV. I've tried adjusting outputs from handbrake etc. to match the settings for these YouTube clips, but with no luck.

With the MKV's, the DLNA server pushes them out to Android tablets, phones etc. but the TV complains about the unsupported format. I'll post some output from MediaInfo in a few minutes ... any / all help gratefully received.

[polyfiller]

Here's the MediaInfo for the downloaded YouTube MP4 clip which DOES work;

General
Complete name : C:\Users\Toby\Videos\Youtube Downloader Videos\Late Summer Class 19th July 2015 (2).mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID : mp42
File size : 868 MiB
Duration : 37mn 50s
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 3 206 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2015-07-22 04:52:57
Tagged date : UTC 2015-07-22 04:52:57
gsst : 0
gstd : 2270980
gssd : B3E189BC7HM1437603763880596
gshh : r4---sn-u5a3u5a3-auoe.googlevideo.com

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L3.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 1 frame
Format settings, GOP : M=1, N=60
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 37mn 50s
Bit rate : 3 012 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 7 909 Kbps
Width : 1 280 pixels
Height : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 24.098 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.136
Stream size : 815 MiB (94%)
Tagged date : UTC 2015-07-22 04:53:24

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile : LC
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 37mn 50s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 201 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 52.0 MiB (6%)
Title : IsoMedia File Produced by Google, 5-11-2011
Encoded date : UTC 2015-07-22 04:53:19
Tagged date : UTC 2015-07-22 04:53:24

[polyfiller]

This is the MediaInfo for an MP4 clip created by Handbrake;

General
Complete name : C:\Users\Toby\Videos\Corpse Bride-1 handbrake.mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID : mp42
File size : 824 MiB
Duration : 1h 14mn
Overall bit rate : 1 556 Kbps
Writing application : HandBrake 0.10.0 2014112200

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L3.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 1h 14mn
Bit rate : 1 167 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Minimum frame rate : 23.974 fps
Maximum frame rate : 23.981 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.117
Stream size : 618 MiB (75%)
Writing library : x264 core 142 r2479 dd79a61
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=3 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=6 / lookahead_threads=1 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=240 / keyint_min=24 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=20.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / vbv_maxrate=17500 / vbv_bufsize=17500 / crf_max=0.0 / nal_hrd=none / filler=0 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Color range : Limited
Color primaries : BT.601 PAL
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.601

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Codec ID : ac-3
Duration : 1h 14mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 384 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 203 MiB (25%)
Title : Surround / Surround
Language : English

Menu
ID : 3
Codec ID : text
Duration : 1h 14mn
Language : English
00:00:00.000 : Chapter 1
00:02:14.426 : Chapter 2
00:06:12.497 : Chapter 3
00:10:18.743 : Chapter 4
00:13:54.584 : Chapter 5
00:18:06.627 : Chapter 6
00:19:41.180 : Chapter 7
00:22:59.044 : Chapter 8
00:26:12.571 : Chapter 9
00:29:11.708 : Chapter 10
00:31:59.209 : Chapter 11
00:34:47.252 : Chapter 12
00:38:14.459 : Chapter 13
00:41:33.533 : Chapter 14
00:44:25.079 : Chapter 15
00:46:53.477 : Chapter 16
00:49:53.949 : Chapter 17
00:52:34.693 : Chapter 18
00:54:36.148 : Chapter 19
00:57:46.588 : Chapter 20
01:01:07.706 : Chapter 21
01:04:53.807 : Chapter 22
01:08:16.217 : Chapter 23
01:10:24.804 : Chapter 24
Bit rate mode : VBR

[polyfiller]

Here's a different MP4 I created with Handbrake which also doesn't work;

General
Complete name : C:\Users\Toby\Videos\cross of iron.mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID : mp42
File size : 734 MiB
Duration : 2h 6mn
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 808 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2011-07-14 19:10:35
Tagged date : UTC 2011-07-14 20:44:13
Writing application : HandBrake 0.9.5 2011010300

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L2.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 3 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 2h 6mn
Bit rate : 645 Kbps
Width : 496 pixels
Height : 272 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 1.85:1
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Minimum frame rate : 25.000 fps
Maximum frame rate : 90 000.000 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.191
Stream size : 586 MiB (80%)
Writing library : x264 core 112
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=3 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=3 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=20.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=3 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date : UTC 2011-07-14 19:10:35
Tagged date : UTC 2011-07-14 20:44:13
Color range : Limited
Color primaries : BT.601 NTSC
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.601

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile : LC
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 2h 6mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 160 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 246 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 145 MiB (20%)
Title : Stereo
Encoded date : UTC 2011-07-14 19:10:35
Tagged date : UTC 2011-07-14 20:44:13

[polyfiller]

This is an MKV created in Handbrake which the Samsung won't play, but the DLNA server will serve;

General
Unique ID : 91538371317215773154473475743235919459 (0x44DDA6275B290AC227464D66379F4E63)
Complete name : C:\Users\Toby\Videos\Corpse Bride-1 handbrake.mkv
Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 2
File size : 828 MiB
Duration : 1h 14mn
Overall bit rate : 1 564 Kbps
Writing application : HandBrake 0.10.0 2014112200
Writing library : Lavf55.12.0

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Bit rate : 1 149 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Variable
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Writing library : x264 core 142 r2479 dd79a61
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=3 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=6 / lookahead_threads=1 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=20.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / vbv_maxrate=62500 / vbv_bufsize=78125 / crf_max=0.0 / nal_hrd=none / filler=0 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Default : Yes
Forced : No
Color range : Limited
Color primaries : BT.601 PAL
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.601

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 1h 14mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 384 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 203 MiB (25%)
Title : Surround
Language : English
Default : Yes
Forced : No

Menu
00:00:00.000 : :Chapter 1
00:02:14.440 : :Chapter 2
00:06:12.520 : :Chapter 3
00:10:18.760 : :Chapter 4
00:13:54.600 : :Chapter 5
00:18:06.640 : :Chapter 6
00:19:41.200 : :Chapter 7
00:22:59.040 : :Chapter 8
00:26:12.600 : :Chapter 9
00:29:11.720 : :Chapter 10
00:31:59.240 : :Chapter 11
00:34:47.280 : :Chapter 12
00:38:14.480 : :Chapter 13
00:41:33.560 : :Chapter 14
00:44:25.080 : :Chapter 15
00:46:53.480 : :Chapter 16
00:49:53.960 : :Chapter 17
00:52:34.720 : :Chapter 18
00:54:36.160 : :Chapter 19
00:57:46.600 : :Chapter 20
01:01:07.720 : :Chapter 21
01:04:53.840 : :Chapter 22
01:08:16.240 : :Chapter 23
01:10:24.800 : :Chapter 24

[polyfiller]

This is an MKV recoded using Xmedia Recode using one of the pre defined setting for "Samsung TV's" ... which sadly won't play on the Samsung using the DLNA player on the Samsung. The Samsung sees it, but complains about Not Supprot format. The DLAN server serves this and it plays on Android tablets;

General
Unique ID : 75772009934678922476207835340608927251 (0x390128858F4DCF4169D30E7640F47613)
Complete name : C:\Users\Toby\Videos\title00_1 xmedia recode.mkv
Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 4 / Version 2
File size : 1.35 GiB
Duration : 1h 27mn
Overall bit rate : 2 192 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2015-09-01 00:27:01
Writing application : Lavf56.40.101
Writing library : Lavf56.40.101

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Main@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 2 frames
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Bit rate : 2 000 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Variable
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Writing library : x264 core 148 r2538
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=2 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x1:0x111 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=0 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=0 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=6 / lookahead_threads=1 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=2 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=abr / mbtree=1 / bitrate=2000 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=8 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / vbv_maxrate=10000 / vbv_bufsize=10000 / nal_hrd=none / filler=0 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Default : No
Forced : No
DURATION : 01:27:59.845000000

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 1h 27mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 32 bits
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 121 MiB (9%)
Writing library : Lavc56.58.100 ac3
Language : English
Default : Yes
Forced : No
DURATION : 01:27:59.840000000

Menu
00:00:00.000 : :Chapter 01
00:03:11.320 : :Chapter 02
00:08:04.040 : :Chapter 03
00:13:16.800 : :Chapter 04
00:16:51.480 : :Chapter 05
00:20:02.360 : :Chapter 06
00:24:31.280 : :Chapter 07
00:25:58.080 : :Chapter 08
00:33:32.760 : :Chapter 09
00:36:54.160 : :Chapter 10
00:42:02.920 : :Chapter 11
00:47:24.040 : :Chapter 12
00:49:51.200 : :Chapter 13
00:51:47.000 : :Chapter 14
00:55:05.960 : :Chapter 15
01:00:32.000 : :Chapter 16
01:06:51.120 : :Chapter 17
01:08:32.680 : :Chapter 18
01:11:19.560 : :Chapter 19
01:14:05.400 : :Chapter 20
01:18:27.720 : :Chapter 21
01:22:29.080 : :Chapter 22

[jagabo]

One thing I noticed was that the file that does play has only 1 reference frame. All the others have 2 or more. The files that don't play all have variable frame rate rather than constant frame rate.

[polyfiller]

Thanks - where are you getting the reference frames from in the Media Info - I don't see it listed as such ?

[jagabo]

ReFrames in the main MediaInfo text for the video stream, ref=N in the x264 encoding settings.

[polyfiller]

Got it, thanks ... now I need to work out where to change that in the tools I'm using to encode .....

[polyfiller]

OK, so I re-encoded with handbrake with reframes set to 1 and fixed frame rate ... this is the media info for the MKV file .... which the Samsung STILL says unsupported file format;

General
Unique ID : 170389591028404215701959725389983269139 (0x802FD7704D6F44938D28808ED1144113)
Complete name : C:\Users\Toby\Videos\Corpse Bride-1 handbrake.mkv
Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 2
File size : 789 MiB
Duration : 1h 14mn
Overall bit rate : 1 491 Kbps
Writing application : HandBrake 0.10.0 2014112200
Writing library : Lavf55.12.0

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 1 frame
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 1h 14mn
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Standard : PAL
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Writing library : x264 core 142 r2479 dd79a61
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=1 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=0 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=6 / lookahead_threads=1 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=10 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=20.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / vbv_maxrate=20000 / vbv_bufsize=25000 / crf_max=0.0 / nal_hrd=none / filler=0 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Default : Yes
Forced : No
Color range : Limited
Color primaries : BT.601 PAL
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.601

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile : LC
Codec ID : A_AAC
Duration : 1h 14mn
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Delay relative to video : -21ms
Title : Stereo
Language : English
Default : Yes
Forced : No

Menu
00:00:00.000 : :Chapter 1
00:02:14.341 : :Chapter 2
00:06:12.421 : :Chapter 3
00:10:18.661 : :Chapter 4
00:13:54.501 : :Chapter 5
00:18:06.541 : :Chapter 6
00:19:41.101 : :Chapter 7
00:22:58.941 : :Chapter 8
00:26:12.501 : :Chapter 9
00:29:11.621 : :Chapter 10
00:31:59.141 : :Chapter 11
00:34:47.181 : :Chapter 12
00:38:14.381 : :Chapter 13
00:41:33.461 : :Chapter 14
00:44:24.981 : :Chapter 15
00:46:53.381 : :Chapter 16
00:49:53.861 : :Chapter 17
00:52:34.621 : :Chapter 18
00:54:36.061 : :Chapter 19
00:57:46.501 : :Chapter 20
01:01:07.621 : :Chapter 21
01:04:53.741 : :Chapter 22
01:08:16.141 : :Chapter 23
01:10:24.701 : :Chapter 24

[jagabo]

OK, so I re-encoded with handbrake with reframes set to 1 and fixed frame rate ... this is the media info for the MKV file .... which the Samsung STILL says unsupported file format;

Yes, but has it played any MKV file? Remux the video to MP4 and see what happens. Use something like MKV2MP4.

Also, you should encode a short 1 minute video until you find out what the problem is.

[polyfiller]

Not been able to get any MKV's to stream to the TV. I can convert to MP4 and try that .. but see top of thread ... I may hit problem 1 (server won't serve MP4 file.. apart from those I download using YouTube downloader). I'll give MKV to MP4 a go and report back.

[polyfiller]

OK tried MKV2MP4 and created an M4v file. I copied that, plus a renamed file with .MP4 extension to the DLNA servers drive ... and no go .. the server won't list the MP4 or .M4V file when accessed from either the Samsung T|V or from a PC or tablet... so the MP4 format is clearly not aligning with the requirement of the DLNA server in some way.

[jagabo]

Is the MP4 file you just made constant frame rate like the MP4 file that does play? Ie, did MKV2MP4 change it to VFR?

Which preset did you use in Handbrake? The settings in your MKV look like High Profile which uses x264's medium preset. Try using Handbrake's Normal Profile which uses x264's veryfast preset. That will avoid some of the other complex options.

One warning: Handbrake always creates VFR files when you specify MP4 as the output. Even if you select the CFR option. So output to MKV and remux to MP4 while testing. If you find Normal Profile MKV files work you can then switch to MP4 output to see if VFR causes problems.

[hello_hello]

I've never used the DLNA function in my Samsung TV (PS51D550 Plasma) but I get the impression Samsung DLNA is really only fully compatible with Samsung DLNA. The manual goes out of it's way to say if the TV connects to a non-Samsung DLNA server, it may cause compatibility issues with video playback. It goes on to say connecting the TV via AllShare lets you use "Samsung's original functions" and the list of those includes, believe it or not, support for playback of DivX, Xvid, MP4, AVI, MKV......

At first I thought it means you need to use the Source button on the remote to access DLNA content from the TV (AllShare as the source), but then I realised the manual says in order to fully utilise those "original Samsung functions" it's recommended that you use the AllShare software supplied with the TV.
Not that I recall any software, but it made me wonder if the definition of connecting to another Samsung DLNA server might be a PC (or a tablet or Android phone etc) running the AllShare software. If so, I've read a few recommendations for using Serviio as a replacement for AllShare.

My TV's a 2011 model (not sure what model yours is), it's not a "smart TV" as such, and I think the AllShare software may be called something else these days, and I don't know for sure if any of that info is (or was) relevant, but I thought I'd mention it, just in case.....

Maybe you could also investigate whether your TV's running the latest firmware, and if not, try updating it, although I don't think Samsung provide specific information regarding firmware features. If you manage to sort the problem, please post back. I might need to know myself one day.

One other thought..... you might want to try opening an MP4 (one that does work) with MyMP4BoxGUI and extracting the audio and video streams. Once that's done, you could use the raw streams to create a brand new MP4. If the new MP4 won't play, maybe it's the way they're muxed and not the video/audio inside that's the problem. Just an idea.... there's a few options for muxing MP4s for compatibility with various devices. I don't understand what they do though..... I always use MKV.

[PICKY737]

A quick google suggests your HG533 router uses TwonkyServer as the DLNA server.If so then you need to go into Twonky settings (your router ip:50599/config and select Advanced setup - Media receivers. Look for you Samsung TV's ip address and if it is set to Generic Media Receiver change it in the drop down list to Samsung TV.
I had the same problem with a samsung BD player showing Unsupported Format until I changed this setting and it now works as it should.

[polyfiller]

Jagaboo - Looks to me like Handbrake created constant frame rate - here is the mediainfo for the MP4;

General
Complete name : C:\Users\Toby\Videos\Corpse Bride-1 converted mp4.mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Codec ID : M4V
File size : 790 MiB
Duration : 1h 14mn
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 1 492 Kbps
Movie name : Corpse Bride-1 handbrake
ContentType : Movie
Encoded date : UTC 2015-09-01 23:49:26
Tagged date : UTC 2015-09-01 23:49:43
Writing application : MkvToMp4 [www.mkvtomp4.ru] version: 0.224 (x64)

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 1 frame
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 1h 14mn
Bit rate : 1 327 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 5 598 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Original display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Standard : PAL
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.128
Stream size : 702 MiB (89%)
Writing library : x264 core 142 r2479 dd79a61
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=1 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=0 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=6 / lookahead_threads=1 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=10 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=20.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / vbv_maxrate=20000 / vbv_bufsize=25000 / crf_max=0.0 / nal_hrd=none / filler=0 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2015-09-01 23:49:26
Tagged date : UTC 2015-09-01 23:49:35
Color range : Limited
Color primaries : BT.601 PAL
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.601

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile : LC
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 1h 14mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 160 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 179 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 84.7 MiB (11%)
Title : Stereo / Stereo
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2015-09-01 23:49:33
Tagged date : UTC 2015-09-01 23:49:35

Menu
ID : 3
Codec ID : text
Duration : 1h 14mn
Encoded date : UTC 2015-09-01 23:49:43
Tagged date : UTC 2015-09-01 23:49:43
00:00:00.000 : Chapter 1
00:02:14.341 : Chapter 2
00:06:12.421 : Chapter 3
00:10:18.661 : Chapter 4
00:13:54.501 : Chapter 5
00:18:06.541 : Chapter 6
00:19:41.101 : Chapter 7
00:22:58.941 : Chapter 8
00:26:12.501 : Chapter 9
00:29:11.621 : Chapter 10
00:31:59.141 : Chapter 11
00:34:47.181 : Chapter 12
00:38:14.381 : Chapter 13
00:41:33.461 : Chapter 14
00:44:24.981 : Chapter 15
00:46:53.381 : Chapter 16
00:49:53.861 : Chapter 17
00:52:34.621 : Chapter 18
00:54:36.061 : Chapter 19
00:57:46.501 : Chapter 20
01:01:07.621 : Chapter 21
01:04:53.741 : Chapter 22
01:08:16.141 : Chapter 23
01:10:24.701 : Chapter 24
Bit rate mode : VBR

Any other suggestions on file format ? I still have now working MKV format ... but will give the reframes and fixed frame rate in MKV container a try later.

[polyfiller]

Picky - thanks for the suggestion - but I don't get a response from the router using 192.168.x.x:50599/config. I can hit the router just on it's 192.168.x.x address and then login .. I select advanced and then DLNA from the menu - but then I only have two options to change - enabling the DLNA server and another to enable root path as the share folder ... that's all. Any other ideas how to get deeper into the Twonky config ?

[PICKY737]

My Twonky is installed on a Iomega NAS so possibly a different setup. Have you tried asking in the support forum? http://community.talktalk.co.uk

[jagabo]

Looks to me like Handbrake created constant frame rate

Ah, I usually work with NTSC video where the frame rate (29.97 or 23.976) isn't evenly divisible by MP4's time base of 1/90000 seconds. So it uses VFR to work around that. 90000 is evenly divisible by by 25 so CFR can be used.

Be sure to try x264's veryfast preset as I suggested earlier. That disables a lot of the advanced x264 features that can be problematic for some devices.

And try remuxing your working MP4 file with MyMP4BoxGUI as hello_hello suggested. If the remuxed file doesn't play then the TV may just be very picky about the MP4 container.

[polyfiller]

Thanks - will give both those a try. As for the remixing for the MP4 that does work .... can anyone expand a little on the instructions for doing that ? Thanks for all the inputs / suggestions so far.... we may yet crack this

[jagabo]

In My MP4Box GUI:

1) Go to the Demux tab.
2) Press Open to open your MP4 file.
3) Tick both the audio and video (and any other streams you want to include).
4) Press Demux. Elementary h.264 and aac streams will be extracted.
5) Select the Mux tab.
6) Press Add to add the h.264 stream you demuxed in step 4.
7) Press Add to add the aac stream.
8) Press Save As to set a name for the new MP4 file.
9) Press Mux to create the new file.


You can also try this but I don't think it always works right:

1) Go to the Mux tab.
2) Press Add and add your MP4 file
3) Press Save As to set a name for the new MP4 file.
4) Press Mux to create the new file.

[hello_hello]

Are any of your Andriod devices made by Samsung? If so, try downloading their AllShare software (or it might be called Samsung Link now). It might already be installed on newer Samsung devices. Or install it on a laptop or PC for testing.

Everywhere I clicked to for info seems to indicate the Andriod version of the Allshare software only works with Samsung devices (nowhere did I see a mention of installing it on other devices), so I'm inclined to think Samsung DLNA devices are really only compatible with Samsung DLNA devices. Either that, or you need a third party DLNA device or software that knows how to talk to a Samsung TV. That's the sort of DLNA server polyfiller seems to be using.

Anyway, if you have a Samsung Andriod device, try putting some files on it and using it as the DLNA server. Or try a PC vwith AllShare. If that works, chances are your current DLNA server simply can't communicate with the TV correctly. There may be other third party "apps" for non-Samsung Android devices that'll talk to a Samsung TV. I'm not sure, but as you seem to be getting close to eliminating the files themselves as the problem, maybe you need to check it's not a problem with the DLNA server and the TV getting along.

Edit: jagabo, I deleted the part of my post suggesting trying MKVMergeGUI for remuxing.... if that's what you were replying to. Just in case you wonder what happened.......
Remuxing a good MP4 as an MKV might be worth a shot, but given the DLNA server has been okay sending MKVs to other devices but not the TV, I thought it probably wouldn't achieve anything.

[jagabo]

If you're not using a recent build of mkvtoolnix you should update. Or at least make sure the header removal compression feature is disabled. That caused problems for many devices.

[polyfiller]

Thanks for the tips folks .. I won't get to try these until after the weekend .. will report back next week.