DLNA

DLNA Setup on a LG TV

1) Overview
2) Terminology
3) Supported Models
4) TV Setup
5) Supported Formats

    
Overview
 

DLNA stands for Digital Living Network Appliance. It provides an easy way to share media on a network. DLNA requires a server and a player. In this case the player is the TV. The server is typically a PC running DLNA server software, but can be other devices. Almost any operating system can run DLNA server software.

The picture below shows an LG Network Attached Storage acting as the DLNA server.

Terminology
DLNA

Digital Living Network Appliance. A media sharing device that uses standard computer networking protocols.

DMSDigital Media Server. Software or a device that can serve media files to other devices on a network.
DMPDigital Media Player. Software or a device that can play media files from a DLNA server (DLNA-DMS).
DMCDigital Media Controller. This is a Digital Media Server that can also "push" files to compatible devices. The server software can instruct a compatible device which media files to play.
DMRDigital Media Renderer. This is a device that can receive commands from a Digital Media Controller. DMC compatible server software can instruct a DMR which media files to play. A DMR also features the functionality of a Digital Media Player. Current LG devices do not support this.
 
Supported Models
Below are the LG models that support DLNA as-of march 2010.
 

LG TVs model lines that are certified DLNA players (DLNA-DMP)

2010LEX9LE5500 LD650PK750
 LE9500LE5400LD550PK950
 LE8500LE7500  
    
2011

LW9800

LW5700

LV3700

PZ950
 LK550LW5600

LV5400

PZ750 
  LV5500 
    
2012LS4600LM6700LM8600LM9600
 LM6200LM7600LM9500 

LG Blu-ray Disc Players that are certified DLNA players (DLNA-DMP)

 BX580BD550BD650BP320
 BD590BD390BD690BP520
 BD570BD670BP220BP620
 And any other models with the Smart TV logo.

LG Networked Attached Storage (NAS) that are certified DLNA Servers (DLNA-DMS)

 N2B1N2R1N4B2N1T1
 N1A1N2A2  
TV Setup

The instructions below use an LG TV that supports DLNA. Not all LG TVs support DLNA. Some LG TV menus will be slightly different than those pictured.
 

 

Once you have connected the TV to your home network, you can access any DLNA servers on the network. The TV requires no additional setup. Below is how to access the files on a DLNA server.

1) Press menu on the remote and choose My Media.

2) For this example, choose Movie.

3) The TV will automatically search and list media servers.

4) Choose the DLNA server you wish to connect to.

NOTE: In rare cases, you may have to allow the TV to access to the DLNA server. This can be done in the DLNA server's menus.

5) Choose Album or All Video. Note that in this case "album" means "collection"...It doesn't refer to a music album.

7) This will show a list of video files in the shared folder.

NOTE: If you press the up button and choose a photo or music folder you will notice none of your music or pictures show. This is because the TV is in Movie mode and will only show video files. Press the green button on the remote to change to Photo mode and the photos in the folder will be displayed (like the picture below).

 
Supported Formats
 
 

Below are the typical supported formats on LG TVs. All LG TVs that support DLNA are DivX PlusT HD certified.
 

 CodecFile extensions (Container)
 MPEG2 DAT, MPG, MPEG, TS, TRP, VOB, MKV, DivX, AVI
 MPEG4MP4, MKV, DivX, AVI
 H.264TS, TRP, MP4, MKV, DivX, AVI

NOTES:

  • The most common video format to use with DLNA is H.264 at 30 or 24 frames/sec.
  • LG TVs do support 1080p at 30 frames/sec, but some other devices do not.
  • Remember, even when using a supported codec, the file container and file extension must also be supported by the player.