Network Media players advice

16th March 2010, 20:22

Hello all,
I built a WHS rig and was trying to stream to my HD Tivos content from my WHS to 4 different rooms on a wired network. I have been unhappy with the video quality and features. I am looking for advice on a device that will allow me to watch HD quality video, regular quality videos, view pictures, listen to music and stream from Internet Sites like Netflix, Amazon movies, you tube and Hulu. two of the televisions are 1080 and the other 2 are 720. I have spent hours researching WD live TV, Asus Oplay, Seagates version and Linksys meadia center extender. I have experience with computers but honestly not much with media and streaming. Any type of advice would be great.

Thank you all in advance
Chris

16th March 2010, 23:22

I think I am going to buy WD HD LIVE TV and use Play On installed on my server for Hulu and such.
Thanks

Achilleus · 17th March 2010, 01:24

Be advised Netflix will be low definition using WHS with Playon to WD TV Live.

I have WD and Asus and prefer the Asus because it has allows use of DVD and BD menu and chapters, as well as MKV chapters from remote and WD does not.

SeeMoreDigital · 30th March 2010, 18:23

I've been very happy with my Xtreamer... In-fact, there are a couple of new models coming out soon: -

The XtreamerPro, will allow you to install 2No internal 3.5" SATA HDD's, along with eSATA, USB2 and ethernet connectivity.

The upgraded Xtreamer 2.5", will allow you to install 1No internal 2.5" SATA HDD, along with USB2 and ethernet connectivity.

Both players offer DVD.ISO file playback with full menu navigation. And BD.ISO file playback with simple navigation.

osgZach · 4th April 2010, 18:36

I can access MKV chapters from my WDTV Live just fine?

Been very happy with it overall.. some of their firmware updates have been sketchy, but my unit still works and it also supports Play to Device in Windows 7 now, according to the recent firmware changelog. Haven't tried that out yet though.

They still haven't added DVD menu playback, but otherwise I think it will do ISO's.. haven't really tested it as I bought it to play efficiently encoded backups vs dumping whole DVD's.

Two USB ports, Network jack, plus the option of HDMI, Component, or Composite .. So plenty of connectivity imho.. Although I have had weird issues with random dropouts during playback that require a device reset (unplug from power). Not very often though. Playing back from USB port would avoid that anyway. I usually stream mine off my WD Mybook 1.5tb from the network. It's connected via eSATA on the PC, but the network has no trouble playing back 1080p that I can tell. I think its a 10/100 port (not gigabit).

I got mine on sale for $130 but I think the price has gone up depending on where you get it from these days.. But overall I think it was a great deal, even at full price. It's hooked up to a Projection Screen HDTV in 1080i and even SD content looks great. Not sure what the change would be, if you were using it on an LCD HDTV though. I do know my SD encodes look crappier on my 1080p 23" LED LCD vs watching them downstairs on the TV, but I don't know how much of that accounts for the screen type differences vs any upscaling the WDTV Live may be doing..

Wolfman · 7th April 2010, 04:12

Have to say I have been happy with a WDTV orig, thinking of getting a LIve as its the cheapest way of getting network playing and Youtube etc on the Big screen, I personally am not interested in DVD ISO menus tho. *and use modded firmwares.
Trying to stream 4 HD datastreams is quite a job and it could be either your internal network (100Mb vs Gigabit), your DSL speed (4mb? vs 100Mb) or your disk setup and system specs that are causing low quality video.

osgZach: A 1080p 23 lCd sounds like it may be a little restricted ..some up-scaling along with re-scaling done by the Telly.

hydra3333 · 1st May 2010, 02:39

I have 2 WDTV Live's. Was so happy with the 1st that I bought a second.

My practise is to push files over the network to their USB attached disks so that I can independently playback later and other people can playback whilst I'm belting my PC/network. A lot of posters on the net don't seem to consider or worry about that stuff, so I guess the posting ratio of families to singles is low or they don't flatten their network/PCs too often.

Pity the WDTV Live's are only 100Mbs ethernet/wireless but you get used to it.

calinb · 9th May 2010, 11:43

I just got a WDTV. Previously, I'd not found a device that plays the majority of my media files (other than a HTPC full of codecs and demuxers). It would be nice if WDTV supported DVD menus and navigation. It would also be nice if it played with my Mythbackend server right out of the box but it does play Myth transport streams and VOB and .VOB in .iso. I have a few Mac-produced .mp4 files (AVC + AAC) files that it would not play. I can't remember how they were encoded and muxed, but WDTV plays my Nero .mp4 files.

I've twice encountered a nasty bug when fast forwarding through .VOB files. The video froze and both times it required me to reset to factory defaults from the system before any video files could be played. All custom settings were lost, of course. I've not seen this bug when ffwd through a .iso file.

I'm pleased with the simple user interface that others in my family can use. Money well-spent!

16th March 2010, 20:22	#1 \| Link
nugent73 Guest Posts: n/a	Network Media players advice Hello all, I built a WHS rig and was trying to stream to my HD Tivos content from my WHS to 4 different rooms on a wired network. I have been unhappy with the video quality and features. I am looking for advice on a device that will allow me to watch HD quality video, regular quality videos, view pictures, listen to music and stream from Internet Sites like Netflix, Amazon movies, you tube and Hulu. two of the televisions are 1080 and the other 2 are 720. I have spent hours researching WD live TV, Asus Oplay, Seagates version and Linksys meadia center extender. I have experience with computers but honestly not much with media and streaming. Any type of advice would be great. Thank you all in advance Chris

30th March 2010, 18:23	#4 \| Link
SeeMoreDigital Life's clearer in 4K UHD Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Notts, UK Posts: 12,417	I've been very happy with my Xtreamer... In-fact, there are a couple of new models coming out soon: - The XtreamerPro, will allow you to install 2No internal 3.5" SATA HDD's, along with eSATA, USB2 and ethernet connectivity. The upgraded Xtreamer 2.5", will allow you to install 1No internal 2.5" SATA HDD, along with USB2 and ethernet connectivity. Both players offer DVD.ISO file playback with full menu navigation. And BD.ISO file playback with simple navigation. __________________ \| I've been testing hardware media playback devices and software A/V encoders and decoders since 2001 \| My Network Layout & A/V Gear \|

4th April 2010, 18:36	#5 \| Link
osgZach Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: USA Posts: 676	I can access MKV chapters from my WDTV Live just fine? Been very happy with it overall.. some of their firmware updates have been sketchy, but my unit still works and it also supports Play to Device in Windows 7 now, according to the recent firmware changelog. Haven't tried that out yet though. They still haven't added DVD menu playback, but otherwise I think it will do ISO's.. haven't really tested it as I bought it to play efficiently encoded backups vs dumping whole DVD's. Two USB ports, Network jack, plus the option of HDMI, Component, or Composite .. So plenty of connectivity imho.. Although I have had weird issues with random dropouts during playback that require a device reset (unplug from power). Not very often though. Playing back from USB port would avoid that anyway. I usually stream mine off my WD Mybook 1.5tb from the network. It's connected via eSATA on the PC, but the network has no trouble playing back 1080p that I can tell. I think its a 10/100 port (not gigabit). I got mine on sale for $130 but I think the price has gone up depending on where you get it from these days.. But overall I think it was a great deal, even at full price. It's hooked up to a Projection Screen HDTV in 1080i and even SD content looks great. Not sure what the change would be, if you were using it on an LCD HDTV though. I do know my SD encodes look crappier on my 1080p 23" LED LCD vs watching them downstairs on the TV, but I don't know how much of that accounts for the screen type differences vs any upscaling the WDTV Live may be doing.. Last edited by osgZach; 4th April 2010 at 18:47.

7th April 2010, 04:12	#6 \| Link
Wolfman spice captain Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Heart of Darkness Posts: 325	Have to say I have been happy with a WDTV orig, thinking of getting a LIve as its the cheapest way of getting network playing and Youtube etc on the Big screen, I personally am not interested in DVD ISO menus tho. and use modded firmwares. Trying to stream 4 HD datastreams is quite a job and it could be either your internal network (100Mb vs Gigabit), your DSL speed (4mb? vs 100Mb) or your disk setup and system specs that are causing low quality video. osgZach: A 1080p 23 lCd sounds like it may be a little restricted ..some up-scaling along with re-scaling done by the Telly. __________________ A melange of ecstacy. Last edited by Wolfman; 7th April 2010 at 04:18.*

1st May 2010, 02:39	#7 \| Link
hydra3333 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: crow-land Posts: 555	I have 2 WDTV Live's. Was so happy with the 1st that I bought a second. My practise is to push files over the network to their USB attached disks so that I can independently playback later and other people can playback whilst I'm belting my PC/network. A lot of posters on the net don't seem to consider or worry about that stuff, so I guess the posting ratio of families to singles is low or they don't flatten their network/PCs too often. Pity the WDTV Live's are only 100Mbs ethernet/wireless but you get used to it. Last edited by hydra3333; 1st May 2010 at 02:46.

16th March 2010, 23:22	#2 \| Link
nugent73 Guest Posts: n/a	I think I am going to buy WD HD LIVE TV and use Play On installed on my server for Hulu and such. Thanks

17th March 2010, 01:24	#3 \| Link
Achilleus Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 6	Be advised Netflix will be low definition using WHS with Playon to WD TV Live. I have WD and Asus and prefer the Asus because it has allows use of DVD and BD menu and chapters, as well as MKV chapters from remote and WD does not.

9th May 2010, 11:43	#8 \| Link
calinb Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 306	I just got a WDTV. Previously, I'd not found a device that plays the majority of my media files (other than a HTPC full of codecs and demuxers). It would be nice if WDTV supported DVD menus and navigation. It would also be nice if it played with my Mythbackend server right out of the box but it does play Myth transport streams and VOB and .VOB in .iso. I have a few Mac-produced .mp4 files (AVC + AAC) files that it would not play. I can't remember how they were encoded and muxed, but WDTV plays my Nero .mp4 files. I've twice encountered a nasty bug when fast forwarding through .VOB files. The video froze and both times it required me to reset to factory defaults from the system before any video files could be played. All custom settings were lost, of course. I've not seen this bug when ffwd through a .iso file. I'm pleased with the simple user interface that others in my family can use. Money well-spent! Last edited by calinb; 9th May 2010 at 11:47.