Windows Media Server - Hopper

[voripteth]

I'm trying to get my Hopper connected to my Windows computer using the Windows Media Server but I can't seem to make it work. I go to the Extender screen on the Windows computer and it tells me to enter 8 digits that are supposed to show up on the TV. On the Hopper side, it shows my Computer but can't see any servers on it. Has anyone else been able to make this work with Hopper 217?

The network connection and server appear to work correctly since I was able to connect to my XBox360 and watch videos from there. I'd love to do that with my Hopper.

 

[Poke]

Hmm have you tried configuring Media Player to connect to the Hopper?? I don't think Media Server exist anymore they moved all that to "Media Services" now which is like Media Player and Media Center. They have a old version called Home Server 2011 but I think Media Server is even older so you might start with Media Player you should be able to pull in music,photos,videos you just have to set it up on Media Player and set the security to allow it to communicate with the Hopper.. This is what I have done in the past..

Sounds like your attempting to setup up Media Center..

 

[DustoMan]

I think the screen you are looking at is for adding a Windows Media Extender to your PC. That's not what you want to do. In the Network and Sharing center on your Windows Vista or 7 PC, make sure that "Media Sharing" is turned "On." You may have to look deeper into the settings to see if any device is allowed to connect to your PC or just specific ones you okay. The Media Server included in Windows Vista and 7 is a limited version of DLNA. If you find that you media isn't playing properly, you might have to install a proper DLNA media server like Plex, TVersity, or Serviio.

 

[Poke]

Make sure on whatever PC your wanting to set this up on that you check the "Windows Firewall" and you will need to set the "Allow a program to communicate" there should be a listing for "Media Center Extenders". If you don't set this the PC might not see the Hopper and you will probably not get a 8 digit key until they can communicate with one another.. Yeah it's Media Services your basically making it a Media Server but it's still a client OS Windows 7 which has Media Services like Media Player,Media Center which lets you share things like a server.. Either way Extenders are part of the Media Services which is Media Center so check your firewall settings and as long as everything on the same home network there should be no problems..

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Set-up-a-Windows-Media-Center-Extender-device

 

[voripteth]

I'm using Win7 64-bit and have all sharing setting turned on. The network center does show the Hopper but it's listed as "Other" and not a "Media Device". :/

As an alternative I installed Serviio which shows up as a server on the hopper but the device list just sits there forever and never shows a list of videos. (sigh)

 

[3HaloODST]

The Hopper doesn't share content with your PC. It can only view shared content from your PC. If you're looking to view TV and recordings from your Hopper on your PC, you're going to need a Sling Adapter for that.

 

[DFPope]

If you are wanting to play media files on your Hopper/Joey from your PC I would recommend Samsung AllShare. It works great, simple to set up, and a very good media server.
You can download it free from the Samsung website.

 

[voripteth]

My intent is to view videos/movies from my PC on the Hopper.

I'll give AllShare a try. Thanks!

 

[Poke]

My intent is to view videos/movies from my PC on the Hopper.

I'll give AllShare a try. Thanks!

Yeah well there many ways to do that it's just up to you on what you do..

 

[voripteth]

I've discovered many ways that it won't work.
Win7 network setting share media: Hopper listed as an incompatible "other" device
Win Media Center: Hopper sees the server but never connects
Serviio: Hopper sees the server but never connects

Once I find what actually works I'll post it here so others can benefit.

 

[Poke]

I've discovered many ways that it won't work.
Win7 network setting share media: Hopper listed as an incompatible "other" device
Win Media Center: Hopper sees the server but never connects
Serviio: Hopper sees the server but never connects

Once I find what actually works I'll post it here so others can benefit.

Hmm I will have to check I know it saw my wife laptop with Win7 on it fine with Media Center but never click on it to see just what it would pull up. So when I can I will check and see what it does..

 

[DustoMan]

I'm using Win7 64-bit and have all sharing setting turned on. The network center does show the Hopper but it's listed as "Other" and not a "Media Device". :/

As an alternative I installed Serviio which shows up as a server on the hopper but the device list just sits there forever and never shows a list of videos. (sigh)

It doesn't matter if it shows up as "other" on the PC so long as you can see the server in the Home Media app on the Hopper it's fine. Make sure in the Media Streaming options on Windows 7 that you have either "Allow All" or the individual media streamer is allowed.

I've discovered many ways that it won't work.
Win7 network setting share media: Hopper listed as an incompatible "other" device
Win Media Center: Hopper sees the server but never connects
Serviio: Hopper sees the server but never connects

Once I find what actually works I'll post it here so others can benefit.

Same thing with Serviio, make sure you are allowing access to your PC. I've found that when you try to switch up the media server software, it's helpful to reboot everything before attempting to connect including your router and PC you are serving from.

 

[voripteth]

I finally downloaded and installed AllShare and wonder of wonders it works! The app is a bit odd since I can't select which folders to share but at least the Hopper sees it and can play video. Sorta. Most of my videos apparently aren't in the format playable by the Hopper. DOH! My choices are to either convert the videos or keep playing them with my Xbox.

Oddly enough when I tested AllShare I noticed that the media center now from Win7 now actually can connect to the Hopper as well. I would swear that no settings have changed and that I had rebooted but I'm at a loss to explain why it works now and didn't before. Perhaps AllShare turned on some critical bit that Win7 needed.

So in the end I can now stream about 5% of my videos from my PC to my Hopper. Yay.

 

[handymantoo]

Will Windows XP work or must it be Windows 7?

 

[bwexler]

My Hoppers saw the content on Media Center as soon as I got ethernet connected.
However most of the video and movies on the computer are not compatible (viewable) on the Hoppers.
Anyone know how to convert video formats so the Hoppers can view the content.
Photos and music seem to work a bit better.

 

[Dudleydog73]

Will Windows XP work or must it be Windows 7?

XP will work but you need a DLNA server program running on it to make it work. Windows 7 has some built in DLNA server abilities, but as long as you have a DLNA server installed and running it doesnt matter what operating system you are running.

 

[DFPope]

I finally downloaded and installed AllShare and wonder of wonders it works! The app is a bit odd since I can't select which folders to share but at least the Hopper sees it and can play video. Sorta. Most of my videos apparently aren't in the format playable by the Hopper. DOH! My choices are to either convert the videos or keep playing them with my Xbox.

Oddly enough when I tested AllShare I noticed that the media center now from Win7 now actually can connect to the Hopper as well. I would swear that no settings have changed and that I had rebooted but I'm at a loss to explain why it works now and didn't before. Perhaps AllShare turned on some critical bit that Win7 needed.

So in the end I can now stream about 5% of my videos from my PC to my Hopper. Yay.

Using AllShare I am able to play just about any common video format. mpeg2, mpeg4, wmf, swf, avi, etc. The only format I have trouble with are VOB files. Which formats are you having trouble with ?
AllShare will automatically share your pictures, video, and music libraries in Win 7. If you have other folders you want to make available to AllShare you can add them manually within the program or share them manually in windows, however, the folders must contain at least one media file. AllShare will not see any file that does not have a valid media extension.

 

[DFPope]

Will Windows XP work or must it be Windows 7?

According to the manual it will work with XP but I think you have to manually share the folders you want to stream.

 

[DFPope]

Using AllShare I am able to play just about any common video format. mpeg2, mpeg4, wmf, swf, avi, etc. The only format I have trouble with are VOB files. Which formats are you having trouble with ?
AllShare will automatically share your pictures, video, and music libraries in Win 7. If you have other folders you want to make available to AllShare you can add them manually within the program or share them manually in windows, however, the folders must contain at least one media file. AllShare will not see any file that does not have a valid media extension.

I stand corrected !! It appears that the H/J only likes mpeg 2 or mpeg 4. I was unaware that my daughter had converted all the other video files (avi and such) to mpeg 4.

 

[DustoMan]

I use HandBreak to convert my videos.