Can't "push" movies to TV and Android tablet can't find Mezzmo server

[notbananas]

I have been using Serviio for many years and I thought I'd give Mezzmo a try based on their side-by-side comparison. I paid for and installed it on my PC and added over 800 movies to the library.

The Media Devices show all my DLNA devices on the list which matches Serviio's list , so I know it's detecting them. This includes the Asus Transformer TF101 tablet which I plan to use as a "remote" to push movies to my 80" Sharp Aquos TV (also shows in Media Devices).

I'm able to detect and select Mezzmo server on the Sharp TV and play the movies from the library, but using only Sharp's primitive interface which only shows folders and the text movies titles sorted alphabetically, so if I want to select a movie starting with the word "The" in the title, I have to scroll through hundreds of movies.

Here are the few problems I have:
1. I can't "push" a movie to play on my TV since there is no option in a individual library movie's pop-up menu when I right click it.
2. My Asus tablet cannot detect Mezzmo server. It does show Serviio server along with three other servers which I never use: Directv2pc Media Server, ReadyDLNA from the wireless router, & my laptop's Windows Media Player.

BTW, when I select Serviio as the server on my Asus tablet, I can select and play any movie in Serviio's library, so I know the DLNA connection works fine.

All this could be avoided if Mezzmo had a decent user manual for it and the Android software.

What am I missing?

[Paul]

Are you running Mezzmo (Android) app on your tablet? If not, then we recommend using it since it works really well with Mezzmo server on your PC. Search for Mezzmo in Google Play store. After installing it on your tablet, simply select your Mezzmo server from the Servers list and your Sharp TV from the Devices list. Now you can browse your Mezzmo library and play (push) your favorites files onto your Sharp TV. Let us know how you go.

[notbananas]

The reason I bought Mezzmo and also the Android App (which downloaded and installed fine) is to do exactly that. Use the tablet as a fancy remote.

If you note my question #2 that the tablet cannot detect Mezzmo, but it detected and works fine with Serviio and several other servers on my PC. Android App has an option to manually enter the server IP and port #, but I don't know what that is. I tried to guess but nothing worked.

I entered the IP and port number shown in "Media Devices" for Mezzmo as http://192.168.1.14.53168/????, but I don't know where the "desc" file is located on the PC which is what is missing from manually entering the server info.

The screen shot you have in your ad shows I can select to play movies on any of the DLNA devices when I right click a movie on the Library display on the PC. This is nothing like what I see when I right click any movies. These options are not there.

As an FYI, the Asus tablet has the original Android version 4.0.3

So the original two problems remain.

[Paul]

You should not have to manually add Mezzmo server into Mezzmo (Android) app. It should be auto-discovered.

A few things to check:


Is your tablet running Mezzmo (Android) app and your PC running Mezzmo (Windows) app on the same subnet - i.e. 192.168.1.xxx? If not, then that could explain why Mezzmo (Windows) app and Mezzmo (Android app) cannot communicate with each other.
In Mezzmo (Windows) app, go to the Media Devices dialog and make sure the 'Allow all new devices to connect to Mezzmo" checkbox is checked.
In Mezzmo (Windows) app, go to the Media Devices dialog and make sure your tablet running Mezzmo (Android) app is listed in the Device list. Also, make sure that the Connect status is set to "Allow".

Let us know how you go.

[notbananas]

I already checked all of these:

1. Is your tablet running Mezzmo (Android) app and your PC running Mezzmo (Windows) app on the same subnet - i.e. 192.168.1.xxx? If not, then that could explain why Mezzmo (Windows) app and Mezzmo (Android app) cannot communicate with each other.
YES, they are on the same subnet

2. In Mezzmo (Windows) app, go to the Media Devices dialog and make sure the 'Allow all new devices to connect to Mezzmo" checkbox is checked.
Yes, checked(see attached screen shot of Android tablet)

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3. In Mezzmo (Windows) app, go to the Media Devices dialog and make sure your tablet running Mezzmo (Android) app is listed in the Device list. Also, make sure that the Connect status is set to "Allow".
Yes, it's listed in device list (see attached screen shot)

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[Paul]

Thanks for the screenshots. Try this:


In Mezzmo (Windows) app, go to the Media Server Settings dialog and click the Configure Windows Firewall button if it is enabled.
Stop your Mezzmo server and then start it again.
On the Mezzmo Android Servers list, touch the Refresh icon. Wait a few minutes and hopefully Mezzmo server should appear.

If that does not help, then we would like to see a set of logs. Turn on logging in Mezzmo (see http://forum.conceiva.com/showthread.php/419-FAQ-How-to-turn-on-diagnostic-logging) and restart your Mezzmo server. In Mezzmo Android app, go to the Servers list and touch the Refresh icon. Wait a few minutes. If Mezzmo server does not appear, then stop your Mezzmo server and exit Mezzmo (Windows) app. Zip up all the logs and email them to us at support [at] conceiva [dot] com.

[notbananas]

Well, we're making progress.

I was able to access the server from my tablet after re-starting Mezzmo on the PC several times. Now I'm able to view the library and select any video to play. The issue remaining is that the tablet shows only 2 devices: the tablet and the Yamaha AV Receiver (see screen shot).

It does not show any of the other devices that the PC shows. Obviously it has to show my Sharp TV in order to play movies on it. Pressing the refresh button on the tablet screen does refresh it but still nothing except show the same two devices.

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[Paul]

Glad you are making progress :).

What is your Sharp TV model number? It's possible that it is not a DMR (DLNA Digital Media Renderer) - meaning that Mezzmo (Android) app cannot push content to it. Let us know and we'll be able to look it up to see it's DLNA capabilities.

[notbananas]

The model is Sharp Aquos LC-80LE632U.

I also have the following DLNA devices in my Home Theater system which I sometimes use to watch movies with Serviio:
- Sony BDP-140 Bluray player
- Sony BDP-CX7000 Bluray 400 disc changer
- Pioneer BDP-140 Bluray Region Free player

[Paul]

Unfortunately, your Sharp TV is not a DLNA DMR, but is a DMP (DLNA Digital Media Player). DMP devices cannot be controlled using Play To features - i.e. push files to them or control playback, etc. So, Mezzmo (Android) app cannot push files to it or Mezzmo (Windows) right-click Play To menu will not work also.

Your Pioneer BDP-140 is also a DMP.

I could not find DLNA information about your other Sony devices.

[notbananas]

Thanks for looking it up. Where do I find a list of devices that are DLNA DMR compatible?

No problem to buy another Bluray player to make it work.

[Paul]

Where do I find a list of devices that are DLNA DMR compatible?

The DLNA web site - http://www.dlna.org/products/

[notbananas]

Thank you for all your help, I really appreciate it.

After several hours of research and reviewing dozens of specs for Bluray players, I found one that's relatively cheap and has the DLNA DMR feature, the Panasonic DMP-BDT330 (see attached screenshot).

I ordered it and I should be receiving it next week. As soon as I have it installed, I will let you know the results.

As a note, it was difficult to find information on what devices are DLNA DMR compatible since it's rarely in the specifications. I had to actually download the manual for each device I checked and search for it.

The DLNA website just shows the date devices were certified. It does not show which device is DMR.

You must make this critical necessary DMR feature known as a requirement for your Mezzmo and Android software specs! Had I know that this was necessary to make the push feature work, you and I could have avoided the guesswork as to why it didn't work.

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[Paul]

I agree that manufacturers should state what type of DLNA device each of their models are. Most do not. The only way to find out is via the DLNA web site. On the DLNA web site, you can see the full certificate PDF for a device model and this tell you what type of device it is (DMR, DMP, DMS, DMC, etc.). You need to click the "View certificate" link when you hover over the search result.

The good news is that your Panasonic DMP-BDT330 is a DMR & DMP :).