[ # ] Turn PS3 into a Media Server with TVersity
/* Posted June 22nd, 2008 at 4:35pm *//* Filed under How-To, Movies & Shows, PS3 */
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An oft forgotten and little known feature of your Sony PS3 is its media server capabilities which allows it to stream videos off your computer and display it on your TV. Too bad, because those who’ve overlooked this feature are missing out on, in my opinion, one of the best features about the PS3 besides its Blu-Ray playing and awesome DVD upscaling capabilities. What prevents people from using their PS3s as media servers is not anything to do with the PS3 itself, but rather they don’t know that they need their PCs involvement to act as the media server and they don’t know how to turn it into one to begin with.
Let’s rewire your preconceptions a bit before proceeding. You need two things to enable media server playback on your PS3: your PS3 and your PC. What your PC acts as is the actual media server; the PS3 is not the media server. With the appropriate software, TVersity – we’ll get to that, your computer acts as the host server for any client media streamer to connect to and stream video from, and that is your PS3. In other words, your computer must act as the media server, your PS3 is just a media streamer that connects to your media server (PC) to stream video, audio, and even pictures onto your television. As long as you wish to stream movies, both the PC and PS3 need to be on.
Now that you’re finally seeing the light, it’s time to turn your PC into a media server:
- Download TVersity. TVersity is a freeware program that can turn any PC into a media server and supports a wide range of media streamer clients including the PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, and heck even the Nintendo Wii and iPhone among others.
- Run the executable and install TVersity.
- At some point, you will be prompted to install codecs that maximize playback compatibility between TVersity and your media files. I’ve done installations with and without this option selected without seeing any real difference in playback compatibility so the choice is up to you. If you’ve already got a comprehensive number of codecs already installed and you don’t want to affect your current playback, then you may want to uncheck this option. Otherwise it’s recommended you leave it checked to maximize compatibility.
- After installation completes, start up TVersity. Then click Advanced -> Start Sharing.
- All that’s left now is to add something to the library. Click the green “+” plus sign and click Add File…
- Browse to a movie file and double click it to add it. Note that it’s possible to add entire folders and other media like mp3s and pictures as well as tag files and create playlists. I’ll let you play with this on your own.
- Open up Windows Firewall (or your firewall software) to add TVersity to the exception list. To get to Windows Firewall, go to Start -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Security Center. Then click on Windows Firewall.
- Add the program MediaServer.exe in the directory where you installed TVersity to the list of exceptions.
- Determine your computer’s IP address by typing “ipconfig” in the DOS prompt.
- Enter your router setup and enable port forwarding of 41952 to your computer
- Test that everything’s set up by visiting http://localhost:41952/. If it’s working you should see a web page with the TVersity icon.
Everything’s done on the PC side. Now turn on your PS3. I’ll assume you’ve already got it set up to work on your network either wired or wirelessly.
- In the Sony XMB, look for Video -> Search for Media Servers
- The PS3 will start looking for a media server and it will find your PC.
- You will now get a new icon under Video with the TVersity icon. Click on it (it should have your PC name).
- Browse to your video file.
- Simply load the video and sit back and enjoy your new PS3 media server!
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How does it work if I try to play a video file that has dolby digital audio in it? Will the 5.1 come through my receiver?
As long as you are not letting TVersity transcode the file then it should work. This is assuming you’ve hooked up your PS3 correctly to get 5.1 sound from your receiver.
Hi, although it does not cover TVersity it does cover a few alternatives: ps3mediaserver.net
worth checking out
Great! Only you are describing how to set up the PS3 as a media CLIENT, and NOT a SERVER!
Cool post… I have one doubt. Where do the files actually get played? My desktop has a P4-2.4GHz, 512M of memory. So it can’t play HD trailers and stuff. So can i stream HD content from my pc to play on the ps3?
wow thanks the whole TVersity works really well i didnt have to do that ip stuff it just worked thankyou it is quit useful i dont have to waste cd’s or use USB ny more thankyou.
HI,
I can see the Tversity home page from http://localhost:41952/
But when I use my PS3 (80Gb) to look for media servers, it comes back with “No media servers found”. I have tried restarting the laptop and the PS3, but no change.
Please advise.
THanks
AT
AT:
There’s probably something wrong with your network setup. You need to be able to see the laptop from your PS3 so they need to be on the same subnet and you might need to configure your router so that other machines in the same subnet can see each other. The problem is compounded when one is on wired and another is on wireless as well. Also make sure that TVersity has been started (not the GUI, the actual server) on your laptop.
Bc:
Depending on the media format, if it is natively supported by the PS3, it will play back in HD resolution regardless of whether your computer can display it or not. Any media that does not have to be transcoded by TVersity will display at its original resolution.
hey my ps3 still doesn’t recognize my computer as a media server, ne suggestions?
I am a bit of a novice, but I had no problem setting up tversity and having my ps3 find it. However, I am still trying to figure out how to watch streaming Real audio and video files from some media sites.
Do I need to somehow save the files into the server before I can watch them on my ps3, and if so, how. I was hoping to watch and listen to some live streams too – is that possible?
why are all the file saying unsuported
F-ing sweet. THANK-U
I have not tried TVersity yet, but have my network to where my PS3 sees my computer’s media server. My question is that if I use TVersity will I be able to view MP4 files? As of now my PS3 won’t read MP4 files from my Windows Media Server (”Unsupported Media Format”). Any input?
I have the PS3 in my boat, connected to an HDTV. I have a laptop with both wired and wireless (802.11G) networking. I do not have a router in the boat and I do not have Internet connectivity for the PS3. Is there any easy way to connect the PS3 to the laptop for streaming?
I have installed Tversity on my XP PC. The PS3 recognized it perfectly. Videos look great. However, some jpg’s can be viewed and some cannot. It seems that jpg’s greater than 2MB cannot be opened. Does anyone have a clue as to the problem?
Somehow I fail to understand how PS3 is a server in your setup. Your PC is the media server, PS3 is merely a client – not such a big deal….
ljwalker:
It might be your firewall. Make sure to open the port in steps 8 through 11.
KK:
With TVersity it’s definitely possible to subscribe to RSS live feeds like a YouTube user or Flickr account. Simply add the URL to your library.
tcapeles:
If you get unsupported media or have problems with playback, I recommend installing the prepackaged codec pack with TVersity or also give CCCP a try if that doesn’t work out for you.
Rich:
You have to somehow network the two computers together. This requires a router, even if you don’t hook it up to any Internet. Then hook up the PS3 and your laptop the the same router so they can be on the same network.
Your title is “Turn PS3 into a Media Server”, but that’s misleadin: you’re turning PS3 into a Media Streamer!!! Could you please correct this?
This works great except My ps3 currently will freeze up and the i have to start the movie over again 3 -4 times. My wireless connection is between 95-100% so I don’t believe I’m losing connection. It’s just a bit annoying, does any one have a fix for this?
Is your computer under a heavy load? Close any programs that may be running so your PC can properly transcode video files when it needs to. It may also be the codecs in the movie you are watching are not fully supported by the PS3/TVersity combination.
Hello,
This works great (almost) – I can view TVersity from my PS3, and I can navigate through the folder structure – but the files are not displayed. Instead it says “There are not titles.”
Any ideas?
Try to refresh your library from TVersity on your computer.
[...] coderetard.com, [...]
I am a novice and not very computer literate but i would like to know how i can watch P2P through my PS3.
hei!
can anyone just example me how to set port forwarding on linksys WRT54GC router, cause i don’t know:)?
tnx
I have tried everything like adding tversity to my windows firewall, doing the port forwarding thing on the router, and even if a I do http://localhost:41952 from the browser on my laptop I can see the tversity media server. But when I search for media servers on my PS3 it is not able to find out my laptop as media server. PS3 and my laptop are on the same network and even I am able to ping PS3’s IP address from my laptop but when I try to access tversity media server from PS3 its just not willing to show up on PS3. Can some one please help me out in sorting out this issue?
I have tried everything like adding tversity to my windows firewall, doing the port forwarding thing on the router, and even if a I do http://localhost:41952 from the browser on my laptop I can see the tversity media server. But when I search for media servers on my PS3 it is not able to find out my laptop as media server. PS3 and my laptop is on the same network and even I am able to ping PS3 IP address from my laptop but when I try to access tversity media server from PS3 its just not willing to show up on PS3. Can some one please help me out in sorting out this issue?
i have tried everything on sites all day. tveristy use to work like a charm for me on ps3 now with a new netgear modem/router cant get it to work. the ps3 can still access the router/modem as it can connect to the net. have opend ports etc no luck – allllll day
Somebody help!!!
I installed Tversity and everything works great, I can see video and pictures, hear music, but then when I went to play a game the audio on every game cuts off, you can hear the original sound for about half a second then it cuts then you can hear it again the it cuts, it does this repeatedly so it sounds like static (but it isn’t)…..
Does anyone know how to fix that?
Thanks
playing a game may have slowed down the streaming from your pc to the ps3. what your hearing is the small bits being transferred at a time. so guess you either use TVersity, or play a game. Hope i helped :)
this problem only happens with the games…..
TVersity isn’t necessary, just put your network setting as a “private network”, enable sharing on your network and sharing centre (you may have to pick what gets shared or not which is in a properties tab) and then search for media servers on your ps3. You don’t need this software (I thought I did but then I deleted it once I realised that I can do it anyway and the built in sharing is better (not as jerky))
Does this work if i use VPN to connect to the internet? On an uni campus using VPN to connect to the internet.
Hey thanks so much for this post – it was MUCH needed! I hooked up my PS3 to my PC perfectly good… withing 10 minutes!
Now I’m trying to set up my friend on his PS3 but a big problem – we have no idea what his router password is neither do I want to mess with that. Right now everything is set up on his PC and when we visit the localhost url (http://localhost:41952/) it works just fine HOWEVER the PS3 is NOT detecting it! The tversity server is on as well and the firewall is off. He has Windows XP.
Is there any where I can work around this or do I have to go meddle with the router.
Pls help!
if its a linksys the default will be
192.168.1.1
user is blank,
password is “admin”