This post continue the discussion of RELEASE Generic Media Renderer (DLNA Speakers). Cheap Sonos Alternative (Update V2)
To version 2.5 I have added a WatchDog inside the MediaRenderer Connect app, in this way, the timers will be repaired if broken. You need to select some devices to trigger the monitor, temp sensor will be triggered in an hour, if you need more precision you can use a power energy monitor.
A new feature its a Party Mode for Sony speakers, sorry, only for some Sony speakers with Party capability
Some Sony speakers are: CMT-MX700Ni,SA-NS300, ā¦
The Party Mode allows to make a Parent source to be replicated for Linked Speakers synchronized.
I use this feature to play ambient music when I arrive to home, its better with long music sources or radio streaming, the Party takes some seconds to start, a short message could be chopped, but once the Party is started to send a message to parent speaker will be played in all linked speakers.
I have added a Party State Tile to see the modes
Idle : Ready to Party
Signing : Parent Speaker
Listening : Linked Speaker
Not Supported : Speaker does not support Party mode
If you want to use this capability , you must to uninstall the speaker and added again, this because some additional data must to be pulled during installation, sorry, if you donāt have a Sony Party Speaker, you no need to uninstall.
Sony itĀ“s a Member of DLNA alliance, then other speaker could support Party, share if you speaker support Party Mode.
The command : command āpartyā, [āstringā] allows to send a list of udn ids to join to Party, if you send an empty list , the Party will be removed, if you send a different udn list, the new devices will be added and the missed devices will be removed.
A way to send the command is
Get the udn value from speakers to join the party
speakersToParty.each{
partyList += (partyList?",":"")+ it.currentUdn
}
Send the list to parent speaker
speakerParent.party(partyList)
The app mediarenderer events has been updated to select party speakers, check it.
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This Smart App and device type allows you to use any DLNA Media Renderer to receive Sonos-like sound and voice notifications from SmartThings.
You must to install the MediaRenderer_Connect to find any Generic Media Renderer (Network Speaker)
The MediaRender Player is the device type needed to control each Media Renderer.
If you dont have a Media Renderer like Smart TV or Network Speaker with DLNA you can test it with Foobar2000 program installing de upnp commponent. The commponent allows you to convert the player in a Media Renderer (Verify your firewall do not block the foobar2000 port )
I have tried some Media Renderers, but is better if you give me a feedback of the models that works for you.
The device can be selected like any sonos player from smarthings apps, I will improved the device to get more capabilities
Not all DLNA Players are Media Renderer, If you have an Iphone, download and use the app āBrowse UPnP for iosā to verify the type of the device, the ādevice typeā must to be urn:schemas-upnp-org:device:MediaRenderer:1
Important ! : Verify your router settings to allow UPnP, if not enabled you cant find any Media Renderer or UPnP device, example: http://www.belkin.com/us/support-article?articleNum=8260345
SETTINGS :
Delay Before Messages : Some media renderers take more time to load http files , you can increase this time if your messages cuts off or not play.
Delay Between Actions : Some media renderers crash if many actions are launched (play and resume) you can increase time between actions to avoid crashes
CONTROL POINT:
Control Point : Is the manager who send information to MediaRenderer to play songs, there are 2 ways to manage music list,
-
Containers: The control point send the container information , the container is created by media server commonly a Folder, Genre, Artist , Album , the media render can play all the list even the control point is closed or turned off, SmartThings Generic media renderer works fine with this kind of control points, you can use all the actions, next, back , play, volume, and so on, Its possible to play messages and continue the list, (Not all M.Renderers support containers.)
-
Control point list: The control point creates a list and send 1 song a time, the M.Render can play just the current song, the MRenderer will not play the next song if the control point is closed or turned off, SmartThings Generic MRenderer do not works fine with this kind of control points, this kind of control points detects any external action like it is next song action, then when SmartThings try to play a message the control point send immediately the next song in list, the message cuts off or even never plays because the next song start to play, you can not use smartThings controls app, like stop , next back, play because all this actions will trigger the next song in the control point list, Some control point list do not listen the external commands and do not send the next song until the end song is reached, this kind of Control Point List works fine with SmartThings Its possible to play messages and restore the song, the Control point will continue with the list until finish, but you can not use next song or previous song actions because the list is manage by control point and not in MRenderer, you can try Denon Remote App for ios who do not detect external actions and works fine in ST Media Renderer.
The SmartThings MediaRenderer do not try to replace an advance Control Point, you must use a external control point to manage and load songs to your speakers, The SmartThings MediaRenderer Goal is to play massages, tracks or containers when some events occur and continue with the original list or song managed by the control point or media server,
How do I known what kind of control point do I use ?
Control Point List = The Media Renderer not play the next song if you close the control point
Control point Containers = The Media Renderer play the next song even if you close the control point
Working Control Point
Containers:
If your speakers or device support containers, you can use
Network Audio Remote IOS325
Network Audio Remote Android427
COMPATIBILITY:
Buttons: Next, Previous , Stop, Play, Mute, Volume in ST device controls
Source: Media Server
Resume: Resume song from Media Server and continue List
Select song to event: It can be selected to play song or container in event
Control Point List
Denon Remote App IOS96
Denon Remote App Android123
COMPATIBILITY:
Buttons: Stop, Play, Mute, Volume in ST device controls, Do not work Next and Prevoius track in ST device controls
Source: Media Server
Resume: Resume from Media Server and continue List
Select song to event: It can be selected to play song in event
Technics Music App IOS39
Technics Music App Android57
COMPATIBILITY:
Buttons: Stop, Play, Mute, Volume in ST device controls, Do not work Next and Prevoius track in ST device controls
Source: Media Server
Source: Device Songs
Resume: Resume from Device Songs and continue List
Resume: Resume from Media Server but does not continue List
Select song to event: When source from Device Songs can not be selected to play song in event because the song is destroyed each time the song finish or the control point closes.
Select song to event: When source from Media Server It can be selected to play song in event
Help us to make a working Control point list
I have tried several free control points and found this listed above, they works with all dlna speakers and devices.
There are other control points but is need to pay for them, I cant buy them to try, I need your help to try others Control Points.
Please share your experience with exclusive control points to some speaker brand or some payed control points.
Latest Version 2.5
If you like this app, please consider supporting its development by making a
donation via PayPal.
Source files
Help us to make a working MR list
Send the exact model device is working to update the list.
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