How to Play Movies from my NAS to my TV?

[Pulsar]

I have an older 65" non-HD TV that has component inputs (Video + L and R Audio). I don't feel like spending money to buy a 'smart' TV, since mine works just fine.

I have a network in the house that is laid out like this

Raid NAS => USB => NightHawk R7000 router running custom firmware (can't remember if it's Tomato or DD-WRT).

On that NAS I have movies of just about every format imaginable, from mkv to avi etc. My PC's can all see the NAS and play movies from it using SMB. Is there a streaming box that will do the same that I can plug into my TV and into the network? The TV does NOT have an HDMI input.

 

[XavierMace]

That may be a hard bill to fill, Standard Definition/No HDMI. You could try a Roku with an HDMI to component converter, but I'm not sure if it could cope with a standard definition output. It might not be the cheapest solution but replacing the TV with a newer one with HDMI would be the easiest solution.

 

[Pulsar]

I'm already running an HDMI converter on my bluray and it works flawlessly. Can a Roku do SMB shares and render different file formats? For some reason I didn't think it could.

 

[Pulsar]

The WDTV has an AV out - but I'm not familiar with single-plug AV like this. I'm used to 3 coax plugs. Is there some trick / special cable that makes this work?

https://www.amazon.com/Media-Player-Wi-fi-1080p-Version/dp/B005KOZNBW

-Ok, answered my own question on this one. WD has a WD-only jack, but you get get them off ebay. So then I go back to my previous question, is the WDTV capable of playing over SMB shares? This really shouldn't be this difficult. It's almost like tech companies don't want us to be able to stream content easily........

 

[sdifox]

Wdtv live can access smb.

Component is a pretty old standard. But it sounds like you are talking about composite if it is only three cables including two for audio. Component with audio is five cables.

How much are you spending for the wdtv? Unless you already own one.

Which tv is it?

 

[Pulsar]

It's an old Sony rear projection. I went ahead and got the wdtv for 90 off eBay. Thanks for the tip on component versus composite. You're right, it's composite that my tv has.

 

[sdifox]

It's an old Sony rear projection. I went ahead and got the wdtv for 90 off eBay. Thanks for the tip on component versus composite. You're right, it's composite that my tv has.

That is a high price for an ancient piece of hardware. If you already have a hdmi to composite converter, maybe just a hdmi swich before it? Then you can get a modern media player.

 

[Pulsar]

The new / modern versions of the WDTV are in the $399 and up range. The old version plays all my formats, and the few it doesn't I'll convert over. $90 seemed cheap since it has what I need.

 

[sdifox]

The new / modern versions of the WDTV are in the $399 and up range. The old version plays all my formats, and the few it doesn't I'll convert over. $90 seemed cheap since it has what I need.

I got an amlogic s912 based 4k media player that is android 6.0 with 2gb ram for less than that.

Beelink GT1 from gearbest

I dont think the wdtv live even has wifi. I have one collecting dust.

 

[Pulsar]

I got an amlogic s912 based 4k media player that is android 6.0 with 2gb ram for less than that.

Beelink GT1 from gearbest

I dont think the wdtv live even has wifi. I have one collecting dust.

I looked at some of those - but I'm always scared getting a brand I haven't heard of before. Too much chinese-made backdoor crap flooding the market.

I don't need the wireless though - I've hardwired my house for gigabit. The movies aren't hi-def (and my TV isn't either) so that shouldn't hurt me too badly. Down the road when I've paid off all my other stuff I'll look at upgrading my entire AV system all at once. Thanks for the tip on the amlogic though.

I've never shopped gearbest before. Are they legit?

 

[sdifox]

I looked at some of those - but I'm always scared getting a brand I haven't heard of before. Too much chinese-made backdoor crap flooding the market.

I don't need the wireless though - I've hardwired my house for gigabit. The movies aren't hi-def (and my TV isn't either) so that shouldn't hurt me too badly. Down the road when I've paid off all my other stuff I'll look at upgrading my entire AV system all at once. Thanks for the tip on the amlogic though.

I've never shopped gearbest before. Are they legit?

Worked ok for me for about six orders. They are not the only ones that sell that box of course.

Worried about backdoor? Get a proper firewall and block the heck out of it.

 

[Yakk]

I run a Synology NAS, Synology DS Video app, and Chromecast it to my TV. Easiest way I ever ran a media server, no PC needed.

 

[Pulsar]

I run a Synology NAS, Synology DS Video app, and Chromecast it to my TV. Easiest way I ever ran a media server, no PC needed.

Right, but since I have no HDMI on my TV that option isn't really viable. The old version of the WDTV has a composite out that will plug into my TV.

 

[Alpha One Seven]

Try this maybe? Click the image to see the Amazon page.

 

[Pulsar]

Try this maybe? Click the image to see the Amazon page.

I'm running something similar on my blue-ray player right now and it works quite well.

My synology NAS just showed up today so I should be able to get everything up and going in the next day or two.

 

[sdifox]

I'm running something similar on my blue-ray player right now and it works quite well.

My synology NAS just showed up today so I should be able to get everything up and going in the next day or two.

just slap a hdmi switch before this?

 

[smitbret]

I know I am late to the party but a Raspberry Pi 3 running LibreELEC with that HDMI--->Composite adapter will do what you need and do it better than a WDTV Live.

 

[Pulsar]

Ok - so as a follow up this turned into a fun little project. Not surprisingly, my TV does not have enough composite inputs (2) for me to plug in my blue ray, vcr, wii, tuner box, and wd media player.

So for giggles I started by plugging in my (used) WD Live to YPK or whatever it's called officially. Verified cable type and verified plugs ins - and it didn't work. I got some screen output, but it was garbled. So I played the cable switching game thinking maybe the cable (new WD cable that came with the box) itself wasn't wired correctly. No dice. So I swapped over to composite. I got a picture - but the colors weren't right. Again, with the correct WD cable.

Frustration over my apparent $90 brick ensued. But I figured what the hell, and tried the HDMI output through the HDMI to component converter. Success! But now that left me with a headache - not enough inputs to the TV.

After staring at it for 20 minutes, I ran my tuner box through the vcr using the standard antennae jack, praying that the VCR had a pass-through while it was powered down. Success again! Then wired the wii through the input on the VCR. But the VCR is used as well, and the wrong remote was supplied with it and you can't change the inputs! Shit.

So I went online and found that by setting the channel to 00, it will select the secondary composite input. And it worked. So that was wii, vcr, and WD all hooked up, and I had one available component left for the blue ray. Now I'm waiting on another hdmi to component converter, and I'll be all set. And if you've managed to get to the end of this - congratulations. It was therapy for me to type it after tearing my hair out this weekend getting it all hooked up.

 

[Alpha One Seven]

WOW, old tech is certainly anything but plug and play.
Congrats on your success, condolences on your need to solve this.

 

[Pulsar]

WOW, old tech is certainly anything but plug and play.
Congrats on your success, condolences on your need to solve this.

Yeah. My wife asked me if it wouldn't have been easier to buy a new TV with all the required hookups. I pointed out the 85 incher I've had my eye on for a while, and she choked a bit.

Our current TV is a 65 inch sony rear projection that we got for free on craigslist. All the components I've bought have HDMI, so if we ever do have to get a new TV I'm future proofed. The one thing I don't have that I would like is a good surround sound system, but that is going to have to wait until I can shove my 3 kids out of the house.

 

[sdifox]

Ok - so as a follow up this turned into a fun little project. Not surprisingly, my TV does not have enough composite inputs (2) for me to plug in my blue ray, vcr, wii, tuner box, and wd media player.

So for giggles I started by plugging in my (used) WD Live to YPK or whatever it's called officially. Verified cable type and verified plugs ins - and it didn't work. I got some screen output, but it was garbled. So I played the cable switching game thinking maybe the cable (new WD cable that came with the box) itself wasn't wired correctly. No dice. So I swapped over to composite. I got a picture - but the colors weren't right. Again, with the correct WD cable.

Frustration over my apparent $90 brick ensued. But I figured what the hell, and tried the HDMI output through the HDMI to component converter. Success! But now that left me with a headache - not enough inputs to the TV.

After staring at it for 20 minutes, I ran my tuner box through the vcr using the standard antennae jack, praying that the VCR had a pass-through while it was powered down. Success again! Then wired the wii through the input on the VCR. But the VCR is used as well, and the wrong remote was supplied with it and you can't change the inputs! Shit.

So I went online and found that by setting the channel to 00, it will select the secondary composite input. And it worked. So that was wii, vcr, and WD all hooked up, and I had one available component left for the blue ray. Now I'm waiting on another hdmi to component converter, and I'll be all set. And if you've managed to get to the end of this - congratulations. It was therapy for me to type it after tearing my hair out this weekend getting it all hooked up.

... Hdmi switch --> hdmi to composite box

 

[Pulsar]

... Hdmi switch --> hdmi to composite box

Neat. Didn't even know those existed.

 

[sdifox]

Neat. Didn't even know those existed.

You have a hdmi to composite box no?

 

[Rifter]

Ok - so as a follow up this turned into a fun little project. Not surprisingly, my TV does not have enough composite inputs (2) for me to plug in my blue ray, vcr, wii, tuner box, and wd media player.

So for giggles I started by plugging in my (used) WD Live to YPK or whatever it's called officially. Verified cable type and verified plugs ins - and it didn't work. I got some screen output, but it was garbled. So I played the cable switching game thinking maybe the cable (new WD cable that came with the box) itself wasn't wired correctly. No dice. So I swapped over to composite. I got a picture - but the colors weren't right. Again, with the correct WD cable.

Frustration over my apparent $90 brick ensued. But I figured what the hell, and tried the HDMI output through the HDMI to component converter. Success! But now that left me with a headache - not enough inputs to the TV.

After staring at it for 20 minutes, I ran my tuner box through the vcr using the standard antennae jack, praying that the VCR had a pass-through while it was powered down. Success again! Then wired the wii through the input on the VCR. But the VCR is used as well, and the wrong remote was supplied with it and you can't change the inputs! Shit.

So I went online and found that by setting the channel to 00, it will select the secondary composite input. And it worked. So that was wii, vcr, and WD all hooked up, and I had one available component left for the blue ray. Now I'm waiting on another hdmi to component converter, and I'll be all set. And if you've managed to get to the end of this - congratulations. It was therapy for me to type it after tearing my hair out this weekend getting it all hooked up.

Why on earth did you not just get a HDMI switch connect everything to it and then use a HDMI to composite converter to get from switch to TV? The monoprice 5 port even comes with a remote so you dont need to get up to switch inputs..

 

[Pulsar]

You have a hdmi to composite box no?

Yep. I just read the first HDMI box actually auto-switches to whichever input is active. That's pretty damn slick.