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Home Networking Information and DiscussionNovember 28 Moving to new blog hostHi all!
I am moving this blog to a new location at http://homenetworking01.wordpress.com/ . This is to allow for increased flexibility in how I integrate the blog into the rest of cyberspace and to permit improved category listing. If you are monitoring it using your RSS-based feed reader (including Internet Explorer 7), the URL for the feed is http://homenetworking01.wordpress.com/feed/ .
I will be re-posting the feature articles that were on this blog at the new WordPress location.
See you all there at http://homenetworking01.wordpress.com/
With regards,
Simon Mackay
November 26 DLNA-compliant software for the iPod Touch and iPhonehttp://cgimediasuite.sourceforge.net/ - Link to web site for the iPhone / iPod Touch UPnP AV / DLNA software CyberGarage have released two programs that bring the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch into the UPnP AV / DLNA home media network environment. This is certainly in response to many Google searches for software that can pull off this function on these popular and trendy devices. The first one, iNetFrame, is a network picture viewer that allows the user to view pictures in an online collection hosted on the Picasa or Flickr photo-sharing sites. But this one allows one to view pictures on any UPnP AV / DLNA server on the local network. This program makes use of these resources to turn the iPod Touch or iPhone into a network electronic picture frame with an optional clock display. The other program, iMediaSuite, works as one of three functions: · a media server for media files held within the iPod Touch or iPhone; · a media viewer which allows one to view or listen to media files held on other DLNA media servers; or · a control point for playing media collections held on any DLNA media server (including itself) through another UPnP / DLNA media client that supports external control. There are some obvious limitations with this software, such as being able only to play the file types that the iPhone or iPod Touch support, and not being able to play Apple FairPlay DRM-protected files on any of the DLNA media devices out there. This doesn’t affect the program’s use as a control point if you are playing files on another DLNA device from another DLNA collection. At least this is the first step in bringing the Apple iPhone world towards the DLNA media network. One application that I certainly would admire is the control-point function because it avoids the need to have the TV on if you are playing music on one of those many network media adaptors which don’t have any display on them. You can just “point to it to play it” on the iPod Touch or iPhone. Apple iTunes App Store locations: iMediaSuite : http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=293809842&mt=8 iNetFrame : http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=294937127&mt=8 November 22 Mainstream-priced Internet radio from SanyoMy comments:This Internet radio, which will be appearing in the US market in 2009, is the first Internet radio / UPnP-AV (DLNA) compatible media player to be available from a mass-market brand at a price that appeals to the mass market. Most such sets are typically priced at a level that causes most consumers to think twice about buyint one and may not be available at retailers visited by most people.
I have also noticed that, especially in the Australian market, mauufacturers tend to place a steep premium on network or Internet functionality as far as consumer electronics is concerned. For example, I had noticed the Kodak EasyShare EX1011 WiFi-enabled digital picture frame (which can work with UPnP-AV media libraries) being sold for nearly AUD$400 where others that work from memory cards or thumbdrives only come in for under AUD$200. Then there isn't much public awareness in the mass-market consumer-electronics retail channel about the idea of "pulling-up" media like audio files or digital images that are held on a home computer using devices that are connected to the same network used for gaining access to the Internet.
What needs to happen is that more of the manufacturers that are well known to the mass-market need to sell network-enabled equipment at prices that appeal to most customers, especially by placing such equipment in the value-priced segment for the equipment type. They should also stick to having the equipment use UPnP AV / DLNA as the preferred network media-provisioning protocol so that customers don't need to clutter their computers with many poorly-written network-media-provisioning programs that are awkward to run. This also takes the responsibility of writing a media-server program away from the equipment vendor thus allowing for cost-effective network-capable hardware. November 17 Getting started with DLNA network media sharingFeature Article - DLNA Network Media Series: Getting Started with DLNA (UPnP AV) Media SharingMost of us will end up with a large collection of picture, music or video files on our computers, especially if we use our computers as a large media library. It would be nice to have access to this content without having to copy it out to thumbdrives, SD cards or iPods before we can enjoy it.
Why share your music the DLNA way?An increasing number of dedicated network media client devices are on the market and nearly all of these devices work according to the UPnP AV / DLNA media-client standards. The ubiquitous Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3 games consoles that every teenage boy dreams of having both work according to these standards. Most manufacturers who are selling premium table radios are supplying at least one which can pick up Internet radio broadcasts through a home network and these sets are also capable of picking up media made available to them from a UPnP AV media server. This same function is increasing becoming a product differentiation feature for most consumer electronics equipment like home-theatre receivers and plasma televisions.
Denon S-52 Wireless Network CD Music Systm (DLNA enabled)
Tivoli NetWorks Internet Radio (DLNA enabled)
By using a DLNA-based setup, you don’t need to install different media-server programs for each network-media client that you happen to buy. In some situations, you may only need to run whatever is supplied with the computer’s operating system.
Setting up your network for DLNA mediaMost home, small-business and some branch-office networks don’t require any revision because they typically are one logical network that spans the premises with the router that exists at the network-Internet “edge” being the device that handles basic network housekeeping. This doesn’t matter whether the network has one or more media segments like WiFi wireless, Cat5 Ethernet or HomePlug powerline cabling.
You will need to know the ESSID and the WEP or WPA security key for your wireless network. This may be obtained through the router’s Web administration page or through your client PC’s wireless-network-setup parameters such as in Windows Connect Now. If you are connecting your DLNA media client to the network via wireless, you will need to make sure that the wireless access point or router is broadcasting the ESSID so you can pick it from a list using the device’s user interface and be sure you are “in reach” of the network. This practice would be important when you run a multi-access-point wireless network or simply to help with making sure that neighbouring wireless networks are set up properly. As well, you will need to be ready to enter the WEP or WPA security passphrase by “picking out” characters from a list using buttons on the device or its remote control.
Network layoutSetting up your PC jukebox software for DLNAIf you are running Windows XP or Vista, you can use Windows Media Player 11 as your media server. Before you start “ripping” CDs to the hard disk, make sure the program is set to rip without DRM (Copy Protect Music checkbox in the Rip Music options tab is cleared) and that it is set to rip CDs at 192kbps WMA or 320kbps MP3. The reason I would rip at these settings is to be assured of sound reproduction that is as close to the CD album as possible. You may use the MP3 codec for maximum compatibility or WMA for efficient storage if your DLNA media clients can handle WMA.
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As well, you will have to set Windows Media Player 11 to automatically permit devices to benefit from its media library. This is done by going to “Library”, then selecting “Media Sharing” and clicking on “Settings”. The “Media Sharing – Default Settings” dialog box will open whereupon you make sure that the “Allow new devices and computers automatically” checkbox is selected.
If you don't use any sort of ratings in your media as far as sharing is concerned, you may have to select "All ratings" in both the "Star Ratings" and "Parental Ratings" options. This will make sure all media is available for all of the devices.
Linux users have access to a large plethora of media-server software such as TwonkyVision and TVersity as well as a large collection of open-source media-server software. You will still have to use a CD jukebox program set up to rip CDs at 320kbps MP3.
Apple and Windows users who use iTunes as their CD jukebox but will need to use either TwonkyVision, Elgato EyeConnect or Allegro Media Server. They will need to make sure that the iTunes directory is the one to be provided by the media server. Again, iTunes will need to be set up to rip at 320kbps MP3 for best compatibility and quality. The program may support transcoding to lower bandwidth settings for use whenever music is being transferred out to an iPod.
The media server would need to be set up to work with the folders that are being used as the primary folders for music, photo and video storage. They typically index music files according to artist, album, track, genre, and some may support separate identification of composers, contributing artists (important for soundtracks and compilation albums) and other metadata for pictures and videos. Some, like TwonkyVision, allow for alphabetical clustering and other efficient sorting arrangements. This is typically because UPnP AV / DLNA allows for the server to determine how it presents the library to the client devices.
As far as playlists are concerned, they will typically be listed in a “Playlists” collection with each playlist being its own collection in that tree. By having a playlist as a collection of tracks rather than a reference to a playlist file, it means that the media clients don’t have to be compatible with the playlist file format that the jukebox program works with.
Some of the media servers like Windows Media Player 11 or TwonkyVision support transcoding to common file formats for situations where a DLNA media client cannot handle a particular media type. This can come in handy for file types like WMA which aren't handled by all UPnP AV media players.
Setting up the DLNA clientsEnrolling the DLNA clients in to your networkYou will need to make your DLNA media client become part of the network. This can be a simple task of plugging it in to your Ethernet network segment or into your HomePlug powerline network segment using a HomePlug-Ethernet bridge.
Integrating wireless-enabled DLNA clients to the wireless networkIf you are connecting your wireless-enabled DLNA media client to the WiFi network, you will need to configure it for this network. This will require you to enter the device’s setup menu and select the option pertaining to wireless network setup. Then you get the device to search for your network’s ESSID which is commonly referred to as the SSID, Network Name or something similar. Once your device has detected your wireless network, you will be prompted to enter the WEP or WPA security passphrase. At this point, enter the passphrase in to the device. These procedures will have to be done as mentioned in the “Setting up your network for DLNA media” section.
Some DLNA network media clients may use a “quick set-up” method like Windows Connect Now or WPS. This will typically involve either transferring a USB memory key between a Windows XP or Vista wireless-equipped notebook computer and the device; or registering the device with the wireless router. This procedure may be as simple as pressing a “register” button on the router and the device or copying the device’s PIN number (which would be on the device itself or in a WPS setup option in the device’s setup menu) in to the wireless router’s setup menu.
If you use MAC-address filtering on your wireless router, you will need to register the DLNA media device as an “accepted” network device. This will require you to copy the device’s wireless MAC address, which will be on a sticker attached to the device itself, in to the router’s trusted MAC-address list.
Making sure the DLNA clients detect the media serverYou will need to make sure that the media server program is running on the PC that has the media that you are sharing. Most such programs may run a media server component as a background task while the computer is fully on but some may require the jukebox program to be running all the time.
You may have to select “Network Music”, “PC Music” or something similar on most network-enabled music devices like Internet radios in order to gain access to the music library that you have made available. Then you select the “hostname” of the PC, which may be commensurate to its standard computer name or its primary owner’s name. The DLNA client will then show the media type that it can work with. You then select that type and use the controls to select the media you are interested in.
SummaryOnce you have your network and media-server computer set up properly, you can work with providing music and other media to network media receiver devices without much hassle. October 31 Using HomePlug powerline networking to network-enable appliance designsWhy use HomePlug powerline networking for network-enabling appliances?This would avoid the need for extra “holes” to exist on the appliance’s housing to provide the network connectivity. There would be no need to worry about aerial placement for wireless-network functionality, since that most wireless-network integration is primarily about the appliance being a client to an existing wireless network segment. The manufacture can then house the appliance in a metal cabinet because there is no need to be concerned about wireless networks. As far as the end-user is concerned, they only need one cable running to the appliance thus avoiding "spaghetti-junction" situations and they don't have to worry about where to place the appliance for network connectivity. The concept is much more logical for mains-powered appliances that have an integrated power-supply circuit because the same cord that powers the appliance will be used for data transfer. What does the appliance owner need to have for this to work?They need to have a HomePlug “on-ramp” that suits the variant of the technology being used to connect the device to their existing home network. This can typically be in the form of a HomePlug-Ethernet bridge and may already be in use if the user was using the technology to extend wireless coverage or operate a network-enabled set-top box or games console in another room for example. If the device works with HomePlug AV and the customer has HomePlug 1.0 in place or vice versa, they just need to deploy a HomePlug-Ethernet bridge corresponding to the standard that they need to run and connect it to a vacant port on the existing router. Some enterprising designers could build a dual-standard HomePlug device which can work as a bridge between both standards and, perhaps be a bridge to other network segments like Ethernet or WiFi wireless. What ideas can this lead to?As I had mentioned in my blog earlier, the short-term application would be cost-effective network printers or MFDs that don’t have to be connected by Ethernet to or located in WiFi range of a home router so they can benefit from their network-printing abilities. This can allow for increased location flexibility for the printer, especially in “new computing environments” which are based around laptops that are connected to the network using WiFi wireless. Another class of device that may benefit from HomePlug being the primary network interface are network-enabled home-AV equipment that is designed to exclusively run on AC current. Most manufacturers use Ethernet or WiFi wireless as the primary network interface for these devices and this typically requires another socket or an antenna on the back of the equipment. For the customer, it will be one cable less in the “spaghetti junction” behind such equipment and they can place the equipment wherever they can best enjoy it. This idea may remind people of the “dot-com” bubble that burst, but the “Internet fridge” could resurface. In this application, there is no need to pull Ethernet wire to the fridge alcove in the kitchen or deal with substandard WiFi performance to enable its Internet-access functionality. This idea could be implemented more cost-effectively through the use of cheaper materials and can be made more realistic by the Internet-access terminal being sold as an extra-cost kit that is retrofitted by the user to selected fridge-freezer models. This caters for the fact that a typical fridge is expected to complete at least 10 years of service as the primary household unit Similarly other “flash-in-the-pan” ideas that emerged in that same period like the Salton “Beyond Connected” microwave oven, drip-filter coffee maker and bread machine which connected to the Internet via a “gateway” appliance could resurface. The reduced cost of the materials used for these ideas could allow for them to be implemented in a more reasonable manner. As for the microwave oven, there is no need to factor in the radio interference issues that would surface if it were to connect to a 2.4GHz WiFi network. There can also be the concept of HVAC and similar devices being equipped with Web-based front-ends and UPnP-HVAC functionality. They would benefit from this idea because of obviating the need to run Ethernet to the device’s location and allowing portable devices like room heaters to benefit from the same ability. Such devices can then benefit from “anywhere control” and “Web-based programming”. These increasingly-sophisticated devices can also benefit from detailed fault-reporting that can be done online via the Internet or onsite using a computer connected to the network. Hobby and craft equipment like those sophisticated embroidery-grade sewing machines can benefit from HomePlug because of the ease of setup that this technology offers. This can expose the idea of using IP-based network file-transfer protocols to upload designs, stitch sequences and similar data created by accompanying software. To sum upIf you are network-enabling an appliance design for home or small-business use, you don’t have to think of Ethernet or WiFi wireless as the only physical network interface for the design. You can consider HomePlug powerline networking, the “third network interface option” as a primary network interface for the appliance. |
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