Why Doesn't BD-Live work on my Panasonic BD35/BD55/BD60/BD80??

[MrBoylan]

I originally posted this over on avsforum but thought some visitors might also get some value out of this.

If you own a Panasonic Blu-ray Disc player (DMP-BD50, BD35, BD55, BD60. BD80, BD70V) and you have trouble getting your BD-Live content to work, here are a few things to check out and try.

First of all if your player already passes the network connection test, but BD-Live doesn't work, the usual reason for this is that the player is unable to connect to a DNS (domain name server) so that it can translate a domain name (e.g., UniversalBDLive.com) to an IP address (e.g., 123.123.123.123). The firmware download and "connection test" point to a fixed IP address so they don't *NEED* DNS to work in order to connect.

But if you want to start accessing BD-Live content, then you do need your player to be able to access a domain name server so it can translate domains into addresses and find the appropriate BD-Live servers in order to deliver the content.

This is what you can do to get BD-Live working if you're having any trouble:

1. Plug your Blu-ray player into your router or network switch via an Ethernet cable
2. Make sure you have enabled BD-Live to "Allow (all)" in the "Setup... Disc" menu.
3. Make sure you have an SD or SDHC card inserted in the player's SD card slot
4. Get into the "Network... DNS/IP address settings" menu (this is what it's called on the BD80, I think it's the same on the 35/55) and make sure the player passes the connection test by clicking on the "Connection Test" button. If it passes, it means the player can connect to the Panasonic server via IP address
5. Now take a look at the DNS setting. If you already have "DNS Auto Configuration (DHCP)" set to "On" and BD-Live does not work (or you see no values for Primary and Secondary DNS), then try setting it to "Off" and provide values manually for Primary DNS and Secondary DNS. You can obtain values for your ISP's domain name servers either in the admin panel of your network router, or, from a working internet-connected Windows PC, you can hit the "Start" button then "run" then type "cmd" to get to the DOS/command prompt. Then type "ipconfig/all" and you should see 2 or 3 IP address listed for DNS. Copy these down and type them into the player's network set-up menu.
6. Hit save or OK or return (I forget which and it's no longer up on screen as my wife just got impatient and switched the TV over to DISH to watch "Wife Swap" or some other lofty reality-based entertainment).
7. Re-boot the player and try BD-Live again
8. When it works, send a check to Big Picture big Sound, PO Box xxxx, etc. etc.

BTW, I used the above technique to get my BD55 working when connected through a particular network switch then into my router, but I later found out there was a firmware upgrade available for my Linksys WRT54G router which allowed the dynamic DNS stuff to work properly through my network switch.

BTW, sometimes it doesn't work because it's just broken. If BD-Live works on some discs, but not others then it's usually either a problem with the studio's BD-Live servers or a player problem. "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" was one particular Blu-ray Disc that had problems on the BD35 and BD55 when connecting to BD-Live but Panasonic fixed this in a later firmware update for the players.

Good luck and I hope this helps!

-Chris

[Daylightdon]

When my "80" comes", (due Thursday according to UPS Tracking), I'll set mine up per your instructions; otherwise I'll expect you to pick me up at LaGuardia, and give me first hand instruction.
You are only 20 minutes away!

[MrBoylan]

When my "80" comes", (due Thursday according to UPS Tracking), I'll set mine up per your instructions; otherwise I'll expect you to pick me up at LaGuardia, and give me first hand instruction.
You are only 20 minutes away!

Actually anywhere between 11 and 25 minutes depending on traffic. But who's counting?

-CB

[greyedragonlynx]

I am unable to connect to BD Live because my DMP-BD60 player says I have no enough internal memory to run BD Live even though I am using a 4gb USB Drive and have memory selected for USB.

[MrBoylan]

I am unable to connect to BD Live because my DMP-BD60 player says I have no enough internal memory to run BD Live even though I am using a 4gb USB Drive and have memory selected for USB.

For BD-Live on the BD60 you need an SD card of at least 1 GB, not a USB drive. This is not user-selectable. If you put in an SD card, you should be fine.

-CB