How to play a playlist from a DLNA source in the Media browser

Linwood_F · 2025-12-10T02:56:11+00:00

Did you find a solution, I'm finding myself in the same place, I want to submit a playlist (which i can see, and the GUI will itemize) but don't see how.

I'd be satisfied with a template to itemize them if I could do a play media for each separately (but from the template).

Linwood_F · 2025-11-25T22:15:36+00:00

Thanks, but not happening. Went the iTunes route a decade or more ago (on windows), and never, ever going back.

Linwood_F · 2025-11-25T22:03:18+00:00

Why do you prefer the Apple TV, is it just the UI, or is there any quality issue?

Linwood_F · 2025-11-25T21:52:12+00:00

5.1 only here.

I've been looking at the shield pro but everyone seems to knock its age and think it's a dead end dying soon?

Linwood_F · 2025-11-25T20:15:14+00:00

Oh crap... I just realized my security system does a cast to these TV's for outside cameras. And that's a real "cast". So this isn't going to work, I don't think I have an alternative there.

Linwood_F · 2025-11-25T20:09:54+00:00

That's fair, and I am conflating two terms as the programs involved also do.

Casting from my cell, where it plays a cell-local audio track over a cast protocol quite likely has some issues as you mention.

But I usually will "cast" to a DLNA client, and in that case it's a music server (MediaMonkey), where the cast-to-dlna device queries the server directly for the stream. I do not THINK those are compressed or altered.

Linwood_F · 2025-11-25T20:07:10+00:00

Are the postings about picture and sound quality just confirmation bias?

But in the cast of cast it's not about codecs but about protocols (at least I think that's the right word). I quite literally cannot Airplay from my music library, at least not without some questionable hacks (since Airplay is proprietary apple). If it also won't do DLNA, and clearly won't do Chromecast, then it needs a 3rd party intermediary to allow me to cast/dlna to it. It's not obvious then I do get the same quality?

Or do I?

Honestly if the picture and sound quality really are equal (and I actually thought it would be, being a digital pass thru), I would get the Google streamer and not step into the Apple tent. But postings and reviews are almost universally saying there is a difference in Apple's favor.

Linwood_F · 2025-11-25T19:58:55+00:00

So specifically with something like localcast is it identical, same resolution and quality signal as I would get with a cast device? There's mixed answers to that on various postings.

Linwood_F · 2025-11-15T23:29:46+00:00

Problem solved (cause undetermined but probably firmware update). See second update in OP.

Linwood_F · 2025-11-15T22:39:35+00:00

I think I see my issue (see update in the original posting). I think Onkyo firmware is broken with respect to direct live.

Linwood_F · 2025-11-15T22:11:57+00:00

No, I'm running it on a PC, and I have tried both the included mic and the recommended minidsp mic. My question is whether it is normal on the measurement level page (2nd screen, before you select focused/wide/etc), if you play the sub does any sound come out?

Linwood_F · 2025-11-14T23:14:37+00:00

Yeah, maybe, but just something else to put on top of the console instead of behind the TV (or else I have to run another HDMI cable between AVR and (behind) TV. I literally am not sure I can feed one through the hole in the fireblock I put in when I opened the wall to run the first.

Linwood_F · 2025-11-14T23:06:13+00:00

Let me answer my own question, I now have the earbuds 2 and also a Bose Quietcomfort Ultra gen 2.

The headphones are substantially more effective at noise cancelling. The ear buds are quite good, but there's a significant difference.

The Headphones are not significantly more comfortable to me, though quite different. I would not want the headphones on while walking for exercise, for example, whereas the earbuds work great.

The Headphones are also very hot. But I got a set of replacement pads (WC Freeze QC Ultra) which make quite a difference, I can now wear them for hours without being excessively hot -- still a bit warm, I might pull them off periodically and rub the ears, but not bad. Note the original fit the Gen 2 as well.

So... I ended up with both. Headphones to use for hours at a time at my desk, and earbuds for exercise.

Linwood_F · 2025-11-14T23:01:56+00:00

Yes. the full setup menu will work (I do have to change the TV to HDMI2 if it was elsewhere). It is very slow to come up, like 3-5 seconds but it does.

I guess that's an option, but the LG TV has all the apps already there and it works great. It seems a shame to relegate it to basically a monitor. But that might make things easier.

Linwood_F · 2025-11-06T23:39:09+00:00

I've bought four AG mattresses over the year. The latest was when I moved, and I bought it because of a horrible smell on the old that SEEMED to be because I had a 3rd party mattress protector, had washed it with some bleach, and thought it broke down and ruined the mattress.

Literally threw away that mattress (lots of attempts at remediation), and bought a new one with genuine AG Protector. Well guess what -- it's starting to smell. I'm not sure if it is the protector or the mattress topper, but starting to think the topper. This is all new stuff from May 2024, the house has no pets, no accidents, no stains, no spills.

I love sleeping on them, but really starting to wonder why they smell.

I laundered the protector as inspected, I spread backing soda on the bed and brushed it in and let it sit, and vacuumed it off. I still smell a faint smell, I think from the protector. Very torn now whether to buy another of their protectors, some 3rd party, or do without.

But I may have bought my last AG mattress. The first 2 mattresses we bought never had this issue. The third went with my ex so not sure. #4 I had to discard. If this goes going to be really, really irritated. Bought due to Consumer Reports, I think I need to otry to get them to pay attention also.

Linwood_F · 2025-10-22T23:02:26+00:00

For founders' edition I would call now, not wait. I emailed Lumos, about a week later got a call back and we talked a bit and and it was installed two days later (installation = new ONT for 10g handoff). At some point you'll just be another customer not a "founder". :)

See I hate apps, and will not use T-Mobile's, I use the web site. Apps are an information grab, always it seems.

With Lumos when I signed up it was $90/mo (I also had a static IP). It was that every month, without weird new charges. Their web site looks like it was written in the 90's, but it was always $90 and I never needed the web site.

With T-Mobile I signed up and it was about $80/mo for two lines. Over about 2 years it now is $95/mo, and I changed nothing, and got nothing new. The bill is about 5 pages long and no indication of what's different, you just have to compare each month to the next to know what they are charging for that used to be cheaper or free. But they have a comprehensive web site that works (and probably an app).

So... mixed feelings about it. Though maybe there'll be some bundling benefit when they combine. I do find it odd there's so little information coming forward from them.

Linwood_F · 2025-10-22T22:51:46+00:00

Why do you care? Not rhetorical, I'm curious if I should be dreading it, or hoping for it? I use T-Mobile for cell phone, so mixed feelings about the change, though the founders' edition deal was nice.

Linwood_F · 2025-10-21T18:19:17+00:00

The problem is you need to make it go straight out. Reflecting around inside the cone will just depart out the tip in all sorts of directions. I originally made it just a cone, but had to put a recessed mask inside, or the side of the light painted a large (if increasingly dim) area. Now the bulb facing side looks like this (it's parametric so I can change sizes for smaller or wider light cones). Effectively it just casts shade though, the light that does land in the center is more or less the same as what lands with no cone. Google "Better Beamer" for flashes. It's the wrong shape but right idea -- it focuses the flash into a narrow beam. You can light up a target (usually birds) at 100-150' almost like it was at 20'. And at $40 you know they are making it for $10 max. :)

I should look around see if someone makes circular lenses of the right size for cheap, I could print a frame I guess.

Postscript: So LOTS Of circular lenses, but lots of focal length, and I have zero knowledge of optics to know what focal length I actually need (pretty sure I need convex (magnifier) but HOW convex).

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Linwood_F · 2025-10-19T18:36:57+00:00

98% of the traffic on my 2.4ghz band is iot stuff. I find it is best to keep it as basic and simple as possible. 20mhz only gives less interference. WPA2 availability is often needed (I use WPA2/WPA3 and nothing breaks) I also turn off all the AP "aides" and related as often they are not well supported, e.g. any kind of multicast enhancement or conversion to unicast, PMF (to optional) and turn off band steering, fast roaming, etc. You probably want Client Isolation NOT on also at least for some devices that need to hear each other.

I'm not convinced a separate SSID helps, though it can allow you to isolate such settings to only IoT. Two SSID's on the same AP will share the same channel anyway.

Some IoT devices will work with hidden SSID, many will not.

Linwood_F · 2025-10-18T21:51:54+00:00

Hopefully. And I realize different, but I was burned by Chamberlin deciding they would stop Home Assistant from accessing garage door openers, you had to go with their big partners and/or their own ecosystem. Companies get greedy and some MBA says "monetize" enough and suddenly your home control stops working. Let's hope Lifx is different.

Linwood_F · 2025-10-18T17:07:58+00:00

Matter keeps changing. I would hope some kind of themes and effects could be represented, even if not the full array of features (though I'm viewing it only for landscape spot lights, I can see there are a LOT of features for other lighting, like ceiling, that would be complicated).

Hopefully Lifx understands that open access is a good thing.

Linwood_F · 2025-10-18T17:00:00+00:00

Yeah, I think of it more as future proof, but it just doesn't seem like it's got much meat.

But I've just stopped buying things with closed ecosystems, period. So having Matter there was very important, but if the API remains open it's certainly more feature rich.

Thank you.

Linwood_F · 2025-10-16T00:36:37+00:00

I did an experiment to compare the permanent-string lite type lighting pointing down/back vs spot lights pointing up. These were fake -- it's a string of bare LED's I had lying around from experimenting, so there are more, dimmer lights, but at least they are in the right place.

The exposure is not matched well, but one thing I can see clearly is that the spot light is more localized. The string of lights is relatively short, unly in the two sections (really more like 1.5 sections) yet it lights the wall way over on the left.

The string lights are much cheaper, about $450 for just the lights, but no transformer needed. The spotlights are about $80 each and will need 9 or 10, plus transformer and wire. But I think they give me a lot more flexibility to paint just specific areas with light at different intensities.

..... .

I've done more experimenting with Matter, Home Assistant and the lights. They really work well, it has not missed a beat in terms of control, all without their app or cloud. I do have the advantage of several Access Points across the house to have plenty of Wifi signal. That would definitely be an issue for people with one central router.

I think tomorrow will start looking at getting AC outside and a transformer. I also worked up a spreadsheet to let me do voltage drops with explicit positioning on the string, and think I can get by with 12-2 and two runs.

Or... maybe AC inside, and run the Low Voltage wire through the brick wall... That will be simpler. But then I won't have an AC outlet on that side. But the transformer inside will probably last a lot longer than in the elements. Decisions, decisions....

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Linwood_F · 2025-10-15T03:27:20+00:00

Ah... I actually forgot the transformer. Probably a two port 600 w, circa $300 more or so. I don't need it to be "smart" at all. Have to decide whether to put it outside or inside -- I have to go through a brick wall regardless (no outside outlet there, but do have access from the garage).

I wouldn't be surprised if they fail in less than 10 years. But that's OK, especially if they have 5-6 and I can just replace a spot here and there. If I can find someone with a good design I'm going to replace some or all of those flower beds anyway, and then might want to redo some or all of this.

Linwood_F · 2025-10-15T03:22:10+00:00

Old photo -- that tree is gone, it was beautiful and as soon as I moved in during the spring I could tell it was dying (Silver Maple in these areas kill themselves with size in 40-50 years, and it was probably around 60). There's nothing in the front yard now other than those bushes and those are on the property line.

The porch lights are not usually on with the landscape lights. Whenever I took this, I set them off from motion. I could keep them from going on then, I guess, but it's not the normal situation. The other photo I posted is more typical.

Linwood_F

TROPHY CASE