Samsung produces TVs that are very popular for Sports Bars and Restaurants. They offer great picture at a reasonable price and are very available.
myServer does support Samsung Tizen TVs but is not recommended due to less than adaquete control strategy(s) that Samsung employs that leads to a poor usage experience.
There are two drivers to covers most of the Samsung IP controlled TVs (install the correct driver for the TV):
- Tizen (does not support Video Source discrete selection but "guesses" at the right HDMI input).
- TVs that have ports 1515 / 1516 open (non Tizen and most of the commercial TVs - supports discrete Video Source selection)
- Tizen does not support discrete power on / off commands (what can be a big issue). It does support "Toggle". This can lead to myServer not knowing or displaying the correct TV power state. In practice, once the system is configured properly, this becomes less of an issue but it still can exist.
Overview
1) Prep the TV for External Control (see details below)
2) Install Tizen Samsung Driver (typically Allonis does this for commercial projects)
3) Discover TVs or manually add them including proper IP address (used for TV turn Off) AND MAC address (used for TV turn On)
4) Authenticate TVs using the "Yellow Exclamation point in the Circle" icon on the Power Page for the individual TVs - do one at a time. Accept the authentication request using the TVs handheld remote control. The Yellow icon should disapeer when succesful. The local installer does this on site.
5) Test that you can control the TV to turn OFF (that shows that the IP address is correct and authentication has been successful)
6) WAIT about 10 minutes and turn the TV ON (that shows that the TV has fallen off the network and the MAC address is correct)
7) If any TVs don't pass test 5 or 6, specify to Allonis which particular TV isn't working and if On or Off.
Details
Prep the TV(s):
On newer Tizen OS TVs (about 2018 and newer), you need to enable "External Device Manager"
Settings -> General -> External Device Manager
-> Device Connection Manager
-> Device List
You have to click on iPhone/iPad item to choose Allow
You should confirm that the authentication notification is set for "First Time Only".
For myServer to turn On the TV, you have to enable Wake On Lan support. Go to Settings / General / Network / Expert Settings and turn on "Power on with Mobile". Restart the TV to ensure all settings are active. (NOTE: WOL will not work via WiFi if myServer is on ethernet so no Power On will work)
On some Samsung TVs:
Go to Control Panel > System > Power > Wake-on-LAN (WOL). Select Enable or Disable.
If you see "External IP Control" (or some words like that), then the TV might support the non Tizen driver - use that and uninstall the Tizen driver. Enable IP control.
Determine if you can use the Samsung Commercial TV driver (that supports discrete power on / off and status)
From myServer's terminal window, explicitly check to see if ports 1515 or 1516 are open using sudo nmap -p 1515,1516 192.168.....
If you see ports 1515 or 1516 open, then install the Samsung TV driver (not Tizen) from myServer's Software Updater.
Port 1515 open means it's a "prosumer TV". 1516 open means it's a commercial duty TV.
Re-Authenticating TVs
Once a TV(s) have been authenticated, you may need to redo the "handshake". This can be caused by a myServer controller hardware change, or a major operating system change, or a prior attempt that was done "too quickly".
Delete the old authentication ID from the myServer Tizen driver for each TV to be redone. Allonis will typically do this step for you for commercial system installations.
On the TV, use the TVs handheld remote control and navigate to the "Device List" (see above) and remove the old device. Ensure that "ask one time" is still enabled. Turn off the power to the TV. Wait about 10 minutes. Turn the TV back on. Ok, that completes cleaning up the old authentication.
Re-authenticate the TV to the myServer controller (see above). Start from Step 4 above.
Driver Installation (Only applies if you are doing the myServer 6 configuration. Typically Allonis does this for commercial installations):
Download the Samsung Tizen TV driver or the standard Samsung driver from the myServer 6 Software Updater. The driver will self install.
Go to the Drivers section and select Configure for the Samsung Tizen driver.
The supported commands are listed in the Commands drop down list.
The easiest way to add a TV to control is to enable External Control on the TV, turn the TV ON, and then click the Discovery button in the driver. You will see in the driver myServer scanning all IP addresses on all active NIC (ethernet and Wifi ports) for any TVs that the driver should support. This will then auto add discovered TVs to the driver's list of configured TVs. Once added, you can edit the TV device's Alias Name for easy identification. For installations that have many TVs, use a logical naming convention like "TV1, TV2, TV3....". You should also name the TVs in the order they are to be displayed, which should also be the order the TVs are installed into the video matrix switch (if used).
You can also use the manual AddTV command to add an Samsung TV to the network. Enter the TV's IP address, MAC address including colons between value pairs (for Wake On Lan), and the friendly name of the TV (your choice).
Device type should be "TV".
Once the TV is properly added, next run the PAIR command for each TV. This will request an authentication token from the TV.
Soon, you should see a Device management popup on the TV. Accept the connection from "Allonis" using the TV remote control device.
You should now be able to send commands to the TV from myServer. Note that some commands only work when the TV is on certain screens or activities.
To control power to individual Samsung TVs in the Sportsbar template:
Add to the api call on the scroller object in myDesigner 6:
/api/getpowercontrols?driver=samsungtizen,lgwebos (omit lgwebos if only samsung TVs are uses)
Commercial Samsung TVs:
Conflicting information from Samsung advises to use the BET-HU driver.
Experience has show that the Tizen Driver works fine for the BET-HU series.
You may not be able to select discrete HDMI ports. You may have to use the HDMI command to rotate through the available Inputs (TV Tuner / HDMI1, HDMI2 etc.)
Older Samsung TVs:
For 2016+ Samsung IP TVs, they support the "SamsungTVDriver" on port 55000.
Launching Apps
The Tizen driver has the ability to launch apps. When the driver connects to a TV it will execute a GetApps query. This should generate a host of server variables with a prefix of {{av_NN_app_MM_id}} and {{av_NN_app_MM_name}}.
To launch one of the apps you would use the command AV|{{active_tv_{{clientname}}}}~Launch~<<APP ID FROM ABOVE>>
If Netflix is app id 666 then AV|<id>~Launch~666 should make it happen.
From Samsung (as of 2023):
Most years the control protocol has no changes, with the only difference being added commands for new model year feature(s) and/or deprecating commands that are no longer used/supported. Because of this, nearly all drivers should work across model years. One notable exception; In 2020 there was a one time “port address” change.
Thus, there are two basic compatible groups (2019 and previous, and 2020 forward).
1. Menu Settings=> All Settings=> *Connection=> Network=> Expert Settings=> IP Remote=> Enable
2. Menu Settings=> All Settings=> Connection=> Network=> Expert Settings=> Power On With Mobile=> ON
Connecting an IP control device to the TV with 2 Settings.
*2021 and older models the Network menu settings under: Settings=>General=>Network=>Expert Settings
Step 2: Download the Driver and Pair the TV Best Practice / Tips Each control company will do things a little differently. Some will have one driver for all models, others may have a couple based on category and others yet may have a driver for every model and every size. The first thing you’ll need to do is decide which is the correct driver for you.
Make sure the TV is On! You will also need the TV’s remote available to “allow” the connection.
- From myServer Samsung Tizen Driver send the pairing command.
- After the pairing command is sent a notification will appear on the TV screen. Choose “Allow”
Below you will find some common items that could help with the functionality and reliability of IP control with Samsung Consumer TVs.
- Static IP: The preferred connection to the TV would be done via UPnP. If unavailable be sure to set a static IP through your router or in the TVs network settings.
- Other TV Settings: Some of the Control Partners suggest additional setting adjustments in the TV for consistent expected behavior.
- - Anynet+/CEC set to OFF is requested by some of the Control Partners. This setting can disrupt communication and prevent reliable control.
- - Eco Settings may also affect timing and reliable expected behaviors from the TV. Control Companies may request specific Eco Settings be turned off for best results.
- - HDMI Auto Detect. Disabling the HDMI Auto Detect may help in some cases. With the TV On + Source set “TV”…
- - Smart Remote: Mute – Vol down – Ch down – Mute -
- IR Remote: Mute – 729 – Exit ***No notifications showing a settings change will appear. HDMI Auto Detect is a toggle, entering twice will turn back on. *
- Power On / WoL: Samsung TVs use WoL for Power On. Because of this, Power On should be looked at in two different stages. -
- The TV has been powered off for LESS than 1 minute. Inside of 1 minute the TV has the potential to still have an active IP server, thus bypassing the need for WoL to power up. -
- The TV has been powered off for MORE than 1 minute. After approximately 1 minute the TV will go offline and will no longer accept IP commands. During this state a WoL command must be sent to turn the TV On.
Since its difficult to know which state the TV’s IP server is in after entering standby, it’s suggested to send BOTH the IP Power ON and WoL command to the TV to turn it on. If the TV is not powering on after being powered off for longer than 1 minute the WoL has not been sent/accepted by the TV. Things to consider…
Check the MAC address. This is the most common reason for a failed Power On command via IP. The TVs MAC address must be entered into the controller. Find where it is entered and verify it matches what is the in TVs settings menu. -
- Settings=>Support=>About This TV=> Wired MAC Address (or Wireless MAC Address if you are using Wifi)
- Other TV Settings. Verify any additional settings the Control Partner may require for reliable behavior (ex. Anynet+ Off)
- Network or Other In-Line Equipment. If the network or other equipment (switches, etc) block the WoL, the TV will not power on.
TIP: With Samsung TVs that have Far–Field voice control you may be able to keep the IP server open, increasing reliability for the Power On function. In the Settings Menu:
- - Settings=>General=>Voice=>Voice Assistant (Bixby)=>Bixby Wakeup Options (Keep Bixby in Standby).
Troubleshooting
If a TV keeps popping up authentication messages, ensure that the TV has been set for "Accept first time only". If that IS set, then delete all prior tokens from the TV, and edit the TV device in myServer's Tizen driver and delete the authentication token. Restart myServer. POWER Cycle the TV. Send a new authentication request and accept that request on the Samsung Tizen TV. Should be fixed.
Draft content
Older Samsung TVs (~2015 back) can be controlled via RS232. There will be either a DB-9 or a minijack depending on TV model. Both should use the same protocol so other than wiring differences, the myServer 6 Samsung driver should support both.
When a serial controlled Samsung TV is used with a matrix, the TV can be addressed using 1-99. The Samsung Driver can then address the command that the appropriate TV will respond to. The TVs are wired with their "serial Out" jack wired to the next TV's "serial In" jack in a daisy chain. Only one serial com port is then needed for up to 99 TVs. If each TV is wired to the central equipment rack (and not daisy chained), then you will need a serial com port for each TV which adds additional hardware.