Finally, DLNA at Home !

DLNA stands for Digital Living Network Alliance. In a nutshell, it is like running a small network and sharing data (video, audio, pictures etc) between different devices (TV, Computer, Game console, video player etc) at your home through this network. Minimum you need a TV (display unit) and a media server (e.g. a computer running some DLNA software). No problem if the TV is not DLNA compatible. You can add a DLNA compatibe player like DVD/Blueray player connect same to the TV.

DLNA is almost 7-8 years old but the technology has become popular (and affordable) now. At my home, I've been adding up components for a DLNA home for over a year now. I have following things now:

1) Linksys E3000 wifi router (N+ with MIMO)
2) 42" LG Infinia LED HD TV (non DLNA)
3) Sony PS3 game console and Sony BDP S-370 Blueray player (both are DLNA players)
4) Acer laptop running Windows 7 Home premum (DLNA server)
5) 320 GB Buffalo USB 2.0 for storage (upgrading soon to 1TB Western Digital USB3.0)

Setup and execution


1) Start Linksys router (ensure UPnP is enabled)
2) Start computer and enable media streaming
3) Switch on TV
4) Switch on PS3 (or player) and configure to use DLNA
5) Choose DLNA Media Server option in PS3 XMB
6) The name of the computer (DLNA server) is shown select it and use further online options to view media. See the picture below.

That's all for a basic DLNA at home. I was able to play some MP3 and view pictures (average size 3MB) without much problem. However, video display was breaking frames. Probably because PS3 uses only b/g and was not able to exploit higher WiFi capacity of N+ network. Also, the concrete walls and other radio in my house is probably interfering with WiFi waves.

Windows 7 Media Server in PS3 XMB.

Sweet child of mine

Reviving this old genset was daunting without proper tools and spares. However, Dhruv was cheering with gusto... waiting for him to grow up and share the wrench :)

Added JBLs on WagonR

This is my eight year old Suzuki WagonR.
















A pair of new JBLs made her sound peppier :)

















Also, eliminated some rattles in the dash.

Work away from work

Did not want the accumulated leaves to lapse at the year end. Hence took few days off from work. Staying at home whole day on a week day means- I will have to spend time in the garage :). Just finished servicing the bike today. Overhauled the gear box and primary drive and also the front forks. It rides like new now. Pleased with the effort and saved about 600/- rupees that is about 12 beers :P

Bullet-eering

Fitted a retro style glass bowl fuel filter.


My mechanic inspecting the tappets.

Door rattle fixed

The rear left door on my seven year old Wagon-R had been rattling for a very long time now. Had reported this to the mechanics at every service ever since it surfaced, but, somehow they never got it right. Probably their ears are not as sensitive as mine or they just don't care.

Even during last servicing which was done in early December I had reported this- but it was not fixed. Hence, I had planned a DIY session for this. However, never got enough idle hours to execute it. Finally the long weekend due to republic day on Monday presented a good opportunity on last Sunday. I did not have any important domestic commitments hence, decided to do this DIY project.

Removed door handle, circlip and window knob and opened up the door panel. Issue was simple. The sponge cushion around the lock release wire had eroded. This allowed the wire to hit the tin when door was slammed back. A bandage made out of soft tissue paper glued to the door with a dab of "Fevikwik" seemed to do the trick. It has muted the rattle. Good enough for the time being, however, will probably need to source the original sponge or something more durable as tissue paper will melt away in rains,if water seeps in.