“A better way to enjoy digital media”
Contents:
- Enable the UPnP Media Server
- Setup the TwonkyMedia Server
- Set up the Connections of Your HD Media Players
- Example 1 (Buffalo LinkTheater is used)
- Example 2 (ZyXEL’s DMA-1000W is used)
The old days
Many of us may acquire mp3 files and digital video files by downloading from the Internet, sharing among friends, capturing home videos on our cam coders, or converting files from CD. Besides playing the files by computer directly, there are better ways to enjoy these digital contents. DLNA DMP (Digital Media Player) devices are now popular in the market. With DMP, we do not need to play music or view pictures on the computer. These digital contents can be transferred from PC to a DMP device, and then to output into the stereo acoustic system or TV via the network. For instance, the mp3 files in the computer can be played by your HiFi. You can play movies or digital pictures on your LCD TV.
The application is illustrated as below:
Let’s get started!
Enable the UPnP Media Server
Go to ‘Applications‘ and ‘UPnP Media Server‘ and enable the service by ticking the checkbox says ‘Enabled UPnP Media Server‘ and click on ‘Apply‘. The UPnP Media Server function is now ready!
Setup the TwonkyMedia Server
Point your browser to ‘http://TurboNAS IP:9000/‘, you will enter TwonkyMedia configuration page. You can specify the locations of the contents you would like to share in your home network under the ‘Content Locations‘. Simply type in the path to the contents on your QNAP NAS (default folder is Qmultimedia). In the example, we added an extra share /Qdownload.
For ease of browsing if you have a large amount of media contents, you can configure the navigation tree for your photos, videos, and music. This powerful feature lets you pick your media contents on TV easily.
When you have completed the configuration, make sure you have clicked the button Save Changes to save the settings.
You can now move the mp3, pictures or video to the Qmultimedia folder or any custom folders you added via Windows mapped drives or FTP to the QNAP Turbo NAS for your HD media players.
Set up the Connections of Your HD Media Players
About physical wiring
DMP is used to receive the streamed multimedia file sent by your UPnP Media server on NAS, then transcode these files to your TV or Hi-Fi system to play. Because of the limited cable length of these interfaces, normally you have to place your DMP near your TV and Hi-Fi system. Better to have an Ethernet connector near your TV, otherwise you need to use DMP’s wireless connection to access to home network.
About TCP/IP settings
Simply connect your DMP device to the LAN at your home and set to acquire the IP address by DHCP. (Most of the DMP devices are defined as DHCP client, it will automatically be assigned an IP address when connect to your home network)
Connect video and audio output of DMP to your TV
There might be different video and audio interfaces provided by DMP devices, such as Composite video/audio output, S-Video for video output, S/PDIF digital audio, or the latest HDMI interface which can carry both video and audio signals.
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Example 1 (Buffalo LinkTheater is used)
In this example, the video out and audio out cables are connected to the TV. You can also connect audio out to your stereo acoustic system.
Turn on the TV that is connected to the DMP, you can select the options available by the remote control of the DMP. The DMP will find Turbo NAS on the network. An option “My TS-109″ will be displayed on the screen.
(Turn on the TV, My Turbo NAS will be shown on LinkTheater screen.)
You will find the photos, video and music shared by the specified folder on Turbo NAS. You can use the DMP remote control to select and play the files.
You can select the music, picture or video shared by Turbo NAS
DMP will play your photos automatically
You can also play the mp3 files while you are viewing the photos
Example 2 (ZyXEL’s DMA-1000W is used)
HDMI interface start to appear in some DMP devices. ZyXEL DMA-1000W is one of the models which are based on SigmaDesigns’ platform. (At the time of writing, ZyXEL’s DMA-1000W is in beta phase)
If there is HDMI interface provided on your TV, both audio and video signals can be carried by the single cable. Simply connect your DMP to your TV by using HDMI cable.
If you don’t have HDMI interface available on the TV, you can also connect S-Video cable to your TV for video output, and connect Composite left/right audio interface for audio output. If you demand higher quality of music, you can connect by using S/PDIF cable to your HiFi system.
Turn on and switch your TV to the selective interface (e.g. HDMI or S-Video).
Use your remote of the DMP. Select to enter the “Server” page, you will find your Turbo NAS is automatically found by your DMP. You can then select to enjoy the videos or photos on your TV, also to play your MP3 music or Internet Radio streamed from your Turbo NAS.
Conclusion
The UPnP Media Server of Turbo NAS enables you to save mp3 and other multimedia files collectively on Turbo NAS and share these files on LAN. With DLNA DMP device, the files can be played by stereo acoustic system and LCD TV independent of PC. It is small-sized, stylish, and an ideal choice for setting up digital home environment.
