Local network streaming from computer to TV stopped working. I'm Baffle

[nemo]

So I have a desktop PC (connected wirelessly) that I use to stream videos to my TV (Samsung UN46D6000, ethernet) via Windows Media Player. My PS3 (ethernet) would also see the computer and could stream from it. Everything worked perfectly up until 3ish days ago. I went to stream to the TV, but the TV wouldn't recognize the computer. I've spent the last 2 hours trying to troubleshoot this issue and I've identified the following issues:

Essentially, the internet works - but no devices can see each other. I note the following (note I am mentioning all this because everything worked flawlessly the other day):

1. TV and PS3 do not see the computer.
   
2. Computer does not see the TV.
   
3. Android phones/tablets do not see the TV (I have the "Samsung Remote" app installed).
   
4. PS3 Media Server doesn't work to either the TV or PS3.
   
5. I've tried using AirTwist to stream video from my phone to the TV & PS3, but it doesn't work.
   
6. I've factory reset the router (Actiontec provided by FiOS).
   
7. Everything (phones, tablets, TV, PS3, Computer) access the internet individually and fine - with no issues.
   
8. I made NO changes to any settings on anything before this happened.
   

I just can't figure it out. The only thing that I can think of is that there is something wrong with the router, but it just doesn't make sense -- I didn't change anything - and a factory reset didn't fix the issue.

Does ANYONE have any ideas?

[SkyyPunk Veteran]

My guess: TV (or other devices) connected to someone elses WiFi. When I setup my new TV it automatically connected to a random open wireless network without prompting me...could be a similar issue

[nemo]

Nope, all on same network.

[+BudMan MVC]

So all these devices are wireless? And when you say they can not see each other - do you mean that they can not ping each others IPs? This would be the only real valid test of connectivity.

Or you do you mean the other devices don't show up in some browse listing?

If wireless can not talk to wireless - check that your router has not enabled AP isolation or also called Client Isolation. This is somewhat common security feature that prevents wireless from talking to wireless. Great for if you have bunch of wireless devices that are strangers machines - like a hotspot sort of thing.

http://tomatousb.org/settings:wireless#toc1

AP Isolation

This isolates all wireless clients and wireless devices on your network from each other. Wireless devices will be able to communicate with the Gateway but not with each other in the network.

[nemo]

The TV and PS3 are wired directly to the router. The computer and phones/tablets are wireless. I can ping the tv from my computer. I can ping the PS3 from my computer.

I mean they do not show up as far as sharing is concerned. The TV doesn't see my computer's media shares. The computer doesn't see that the TV is a media shared device, etc.

I'll take a look at the isolation thing and see if it affects anything. Thanks for the tip.

[+BudMan MVC]

don't show up where? On your computer as browser, on the tv as browser, the ps3 as browsing?

Then just access directly - smb://ipaddress or \\ipaddress

Who is the master browser of your network? Or are you talking DLNA or SMB/CIFS?

If what your talking about is network browser neighborhood - there is good info and tool for finding your networks master browser

http://scottiestech.info/2009/02/14/how-to-determine-the-master-browser-in-a-windows-workgroup/

LANscanner v1.3 - ScottiesTech.Info

Scanning LAN...

2K8R2			 192.168.1.4
I5-W7			 192.168.1.100  18-03-73-B1-0D-D3  LOCAL
KIM-PC		    192.168.1.201
STORAGE		   192.168.1.8  00-0C-29-57-41-D5  LOCAL	  MASTER

Press any key to exit...

So you can see my box called storage is master of the local workgroup.

[nemo]

I'm talking strictly DLNA streaming. I used to use my computer to stream videos (via DLNA) to my TV (I followed something similar to these steps). My PS3 would also see the DLNA server. Now, neither the TV nor the PS3 can see the DLNA server.

The same goes for PS3MediaServer. I could use that for DLNA streaming to the TV and PS3 but now this doesn't work either. I was also able to stream to my TV from my phone. Now, nothing.

Additionally, as I mentioned in the OP - I used to use Samsung's TV Remote Control App - and now the phone can't connect to the TV anymore.

Essentially I've tried to figure out the common cause and it seems to be narrowed to the router. However, I don't know what the problem is, and a factor reset hasn't fixed it.

[Doli]

What does your "Media Streaming Options" in WMP (Stream->Media Streaming Options) look like under "All Networks"?

[McCordRm]

What does "Baffled" mean?

What does "incompetent" mean?

- Highlander

I would reset everything and force your devices to refresh their network settings.

Go into each device's network setup and change the settings manually, then go

back to Auto mode.

[The Evil Overlord]

Have you tried going into the control panel-network and sharing center- change advanced sharing settings to make sure that media streaming is on?

Also you might need to delete your media player cache, C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player, in order to delete this you'll need to go to the folder options and show hidden files AND THEN go into task manager to end the wmpnetwk.exe, this will make it possible to delete the folder, once that is done, go back to control panel-network and sharing center- change advanced sharing settings, you might need to manually turn on media streaming, check for your devices there under all networks, then you can rebuild the media player cache, by opening WMP, after 5 or 10 minutes depending on how many files you have, it should be working again.

[nemo]

What does your "Media Streaming Options" in WMP (Stream->Media Streaming Options) look like under "All Networks"?

It shows the TV, but says it's offline:

What does "Baffled" mean?

What does "incompetent" mean?

- Highlander

I would reset everything and force your devices to refresh their network settings.

Go into each device's network setup and change the settings manually, then go

back to Auto mode.

I've done it. Nothing.

[The Evil Overlord]

at the risk of asking a silly question... have you tried removing it, restarting the devices, and researching?

[nemo]

I have. I've tried everything except replacing the router.

[The Evil Overlord]

That was about all I knew on the streaming subject, sorry I couldn't help bud, but if you do replace the router, you could do far worse than my set up, Cisco E4200, and 2 Netgear WNHDE111 Bridges (or you could just get the Cisco ones) , most of my devices run wired through the bridges, which are in turn, connected to the 5Ghz freq on the router

[nemo]

Update: Made progress.

I noticed that WMP on my computer was detecting my phone. It could read the media off the phone and play it flawlessly.

What's the difference? Computer and Phone are connected wirelessly. TV and PS3 are connected via ethernet directly to the router.

So I unplugged the PS3 and turned on wireless, and VOILA, it detects the DLNA servers (both WMP and PMS).

So there's some issue with the router letting DLNA streams through ethernet connections. Very strange because internet works perfectly elsewise on the two. If I can't figure it out, hopefully Verizon will just replace the router.

Got any ideas why streaming will only work via wireless completely out of the blue?

also, I've swapped around the ethernet ports and on all of them it doesn't work.

[The Evil Overlord]

Unless it's impossible to run your pc wired, then I think it's your router prioritising the wired conns over the wireless ones and thinks the pc is not the master device maybe.

If you can, buy yourself a CAT6 Ethernet cable and run your pc wired, then everything else wireless, I bought a 10 Metre (30 feet) CAT6 from ebay. Might help.

[+BudMan MVC]

So wireless can talk to wired? Ping? You sure you didn't turn on guest mode on your wireless?

You sure your router is not blocking multicast? DLNA and UPnP would use multicast to announce itself If you have enabled say igmp snooping that could block that.

So for example here is my popcorn hour announcing itself - which to to be honest I wish I could turn off - just a bunch of noise on the network I don't use ;)

Here is one of my DVRs searching for other UPnP/DLNA

Fireup your sniff on your PC do you see this traffic - if not then prob your router is blocking it.

[nemo]

I will check this all when I get home from work tonight. Thanks BudMan.

Just for clarification - the current state is:

1. All devices can access the internet.
   
2. My computer (wireless) can ping all other devices (both wireless and wired) and successfully get a response.
   
3. DLNA works between wireless devices (eg: computer and phone). It does not work between a wireless and wired device (eg: computer and TV).
   

[xendrome]

Did you recently do a firmware upgrade on your router?

I know I got a Netgear WNDR3700 V1 with stock firmware, and had major problems with DLNA always disappearing, then I finally upgraded it to DD-WRT, and viola! All of the DLNA problems stopped..

[nemo]

No firmware upgrade. If I can't figure it out with the stock ROM I will probably flash DD-WRT to see if that will fix the issue.

[+BudMan MVC]

What about wired devices? So your computer (wired) and TV wired?

I would fire up say wireshark while in this setup. Do you see the SSDP stuff from TV? then check while wireless and do you see this traffic from wireless devices, but not wired?

I don't use dlna, just don't see the point to be honest ;) My media player just pulls my media via smb on my nas, plays on my TV.

And my mediaplayer (popcorn hour) and both dvrs are on dumb switch in the living room.. So it just dawned on me that now that router is vm on esxi host I can run this connection into my smart switch... And then moved my envi current bridge that has a freaking multicast mac -- stupid company!! And can not locally fix it. And since my router is now VM I don't need the span ports of my smart switch any longer so could put the envi and the n40l lan connected to dumb switch and enable igmp snooping (blocking multicast) on my smart switch. Now way less multicast noise when sniffing on my workstation ;)

[nemo]

back from the dead! (vacation)..... BudMan, I don't see an "IGMP Snooping" -- but this is what I see that is similar... didn't change any settings:

For the last image -- I changed everything to enable "IGMP Allowed" and it didn't fix it.

I just don't understand how it can be working fine one day and then all of a sudden it stops. And why does it work fine over wireless, but not through ethernet?

UGHHHHHHHHH

[+BudMan MVC]

What switch is that? So I can lookup the manual, that is part of your routers interface?

Why would you be filtering multicast, see image 2? If you want to use it? Looks to me next to all your host IPs you have igmp disabled, not allowed.

I would suggest you just disable all the igmp filtering stuff all together. As to why it could of changed, like said a firmware upgrade or reset - or maybe you ran through some wizard that turned it on that you were not aware of?

Did you add that switch to your network? And before you just connected to your router?

[nemo]

It's this router: http://www.actiontec...uct.php?pid=189

There are no additional switches. Just the router, which was provided by Verizon.

I changed everything in pic 3 to "IGMP Allowed" and didn't affect anything.

The reason I'm confused is because I literally changed nothing - hardware, software, or firmware wise when this all started. I think I will just call Verizon and see if I can get a new router.

[+BudMan MVC]

well if you set everything to allowed - do a sniff do you see multicast traffic?