Help with LED TV

[Luna72]

Hi,

I just bought a new Samsung 32F5000 Led TV, it comes with an ethernet port and I'm wondering what it is for. The manual is shockingly bad and gives no explanation; I've connected the port to my router and although TV says that I am successfully connected to my network it doesn't seem to go further than that. I have a feeling the port is only there for software updates as the Tv is not a smart model and doesn't have a player built in. But I'm wondering if there is any trick out there to make a better use of an otherwise superfluous ethernet port! Obviously it would be great if I could play content on it from my network (i.e: laptop, Nas, dropbox, etc.)

Thanks.

PS: Does anyone know if the usb port on this model is compatible with usb hdd's?? That would be my other solution for playing content on my TV!

[jagabo]

That TV appears to have a DLNA client. It can stream videos from a DLNA server on your LAN.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Living_Network_Alliance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_UPnP_AV_media_servers_and_clients
http://www.rbgrn.net/content/21-how-to-choose-dlna-media-server-windows-mac-os-x-or-linux

[jman98]

PS: Does anyone know if the usb port on this model is compatible with usb hdd's?? That would be my other solution for playing content on my TV!

I've got a friend with a Samsung TV he bought a few months ago with a USB prot and it can be used for playing files but...

For best results you should ALWAYS use a powered USB enclosure for your hard disks. People will hook up giant drives like 2 TB ones in non-powered enclosures and then get angry when they don't work. The USB device on the TV probably only provides enough power to drive flash drives and small hard drives (small could mean 500 GB or less). Whether it provides enough power for your hard disk or not depends on many factors so I just advise people to just use disk drive enclosures that have their own power supplies for the best chance of success.

[aedipuss]

if it's anything like my samsung plasma the actual video player built into the tv is poor. it only plays low complexity mp4 video files. i use an lg blu-ray player to play all types of video from my nas to the tv.

[Luna72]

DLNA sounds like a solution. Can anyone explain how to play videos from my notebook onto my TV? I've tried to set up media sharing options for media player on my notebook but the TV is not even listed in the available devices. It recognizes my Sonos devices and plays music on them, so the DLNA network seems to be working. At same time my second notebook is not listed. So, maybe I am missing something.........?

[jagabo]

Windows Media Center has a DLNA server built in. But I don't think it's one of the better ones. Try installing Tversity. It's free and a lot of people around here use it.

I think Samsung has a DLNA server you can download and install. Did your TV come with a disc?
http://www.samsung.com/us/pdf/dlna_guide.pdf

[aedipuss]

you need to use the tv to "discover" the videos. try using the source (input) button on the tv remote and scroll down to the network devices.

[Luna72]

Thanks! Unfortunately nothing seems to work! TV is succesfully connected to network but neither PC share manager nor Tversity can see it in the device list.

TV didn't come with a disc and there is no "network" option in the source list so I'm thinking that TV doesn't support DLNA!

[Cornucopia]

Are you sure your model is 32F5000? According to the (latv./lithu.)Samsung website, that model doesn't even have a Network port!

Scott

[Nelson37]

Use the Ping test from a PC to verify the TV is actually connected to the net. You may have to manually set the IP address.

[jagabo]

Thanks! Unfortunately nothing seems to work! TV is succesfully connected to network but neither PC share manager nor Tversity can see it in the device list.

The servers don't "see" the client, the client sees the servers. If your TV supported DLNA there would be some way of navigating via the TV's remote control.

TV didn't come with a disc and there is no "network" option in the source list so I'm thinking that TV doesn't support DLNA!

It won't necessarily be labeled "network". Maybe "Media" or "Movies" or something like that. Have you tried plugging a USB thumb drive with a video or two in the USB port?

[aedipuss]

the tv won't and isn't supposed to show up in the share list. it doesn't output anything. if you have a nas that shows up on your pc if you click open windows explorer then it should show up in the tv source list. to make sure the tv is online go into the tv settings/network/wired.

[Luna72]

There is a media function for usb content and it works fine with a usb stick, selecting this with no stick in it and connected to LAN doesn't do anything......!

The TV seems to be properly connected, it gives me a Mac address, Ip address, etc. all seem ok except I cannot see it as a device on my laptop!

I'll try contacting Samsung support........

[aedipuss]

the only program i have that sees my samsung tv on the network is skifta an android dnla program on my nook hd+, i can select a networked file with it and have the tv play it(if it's the proper format).

there is a pc version you could try - http://www.skifta.com/download#home

[Luna72]

Ok, I've tried everything suggested and nothing works! Well, skifta works fine on my other devices, thanks for that! I'll be using it.

Anyway, for example skifta can see my samsung tablet and play content on it stored on my notebook and viceversa! Still, it won't see my TV. I've checked all possible setups on the TV and I cannot see content from my notebook anywhere, obviously the logical place would be the "media" service where I can see available usb devices (if connected) but nothing else.......

Is there anyway to know for sure whether my TV is dlna compliant or not? I'm thinking now that just having a succesful LAN connection to my network (which I have) is obviously not enough to stream content on it! I've emailed Samsung and the geniuses just told me to use Allshare. Installed it but it won't see TV either....at least they could have confirmed if TV is Dlna ready but they ignored that part of my question......

Just as a matter of interest: could I connect my iPod to video-in on TV and use this as a media player with Skifta or other media software? I think it would be possible but haven't tried yet. Then I'm wondering: would I be getting video with resolution of source file or resolution of iPod????

[kenna]

Its a service port for engineers...I asked the same question but on a different model

[Luna72]

Yes, I think it's the only logical conclusion anyway. Madness that Samsung advertises in big letters the inclusion of a ethernet port in their new 2013 model when in fact it's useless! Well, at least the picture is better than the old model.....or is that marketing bull too?

[[_chef_]]

Its a service port for engineers...I asked the same question but on a different model

Yeah, in fact many manufacturers doing it the same way. .(

[Luna72]

Yeah....support eventually came back to me and confirmed that my model is not DLNA compatible. DLNA equals Allshare in Samsung world and I don't have Allshare......mystery solved!

I am now looking at Android TV boxes to add streaming functionality to Tv.

[Cornucopia]

I told you it couldn't have been a network port if it was actually that model, but you didn't listen.

Scott

[Luna72]

It does have a Ethernet port and it connects to the network!.....but it only works for updates!

Cheers!

[Cornucopia]

Yes, and lots of TVs and other devices have "USB ports" that only work as a service port. Confusing to newbies who see it and think, YEA! I can plug my external HDD or flash into it. If it isn't in the manual, that's a pretty strong hint.

Scott