Experience more of the TV, movies, photos, and music that you want with Media Center Extender, which delivers the Media Center PC entertainment experience to any TV in your house.
Windows Media Center Extender devices connect a Media Center PC with TVs and monitors in the home, extending Media Center experiences to any room in the house. Using the included remote control, listen to your digital music collection, watch live and recorded TV, and view family photos and home movies—all from within the familiar Media Center experience.
To use a Media Center Extender, you'll need three things:
1. A PC that runs Microsoft XP Media Center Edition 2005
2. A Media Center Extender
3. A high-speed home network
So what's it all about? - FAQ
Q. How does the Media Center Extender work with Media Center PCs? What does it do?
A. With the Media Center PC as the entertainment hub in your home, the Media Center Extender extends the powerful features and storage capabilities of the Media Center PC easily and efficiently to any room in the house.
Q. What features does the Media Center Extender provide?
A. You can access and use all of the core Media Center experiences, including:
• TV: Watch and record Live TV—including support for dual tuners1
• Music: Access and play all of the digital music stored on your Media Center PC
• Videos: Access and play all of video files stored on your Media Center PC
• Pictures: Access and share all of the stored pictures on your Media Center PC
• Online Spotlight: Access and use all of the third-party services and applications developed for the Media Center PC, such as music and video on-demand services like Napster, MovieLink, and Cinemanow.2
• Stay in touch with friends and family through Windows Messenger and, for the Media Center Extender for Xbox, Xbox Live communications features2
Q. How do I connect the Media Center Extender to my TV or Home Theater System?
A. You simply connect one of the TV or audio and video output connectors on your Media Center Extender to the appropriate inputs on your TV.
Q. Can I use Media Center Extender with any Windows XP-based PC?
A. No. You must have a Media Center PC running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 to operate the Media Center Extender.
Q. How can I learn about upgrading my Media Center PC to Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005?
A. Due to support requirements and hardware configurations, Media Center Upgrades are made at the discretion of the PC manufacturer. Please contact your Media Center PC manufacturer regarding upgrade availability or visit Upgrading to Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 for more information on upgrading a Media Center PC to the 2005 version.
Q. Is an upgrade of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 available in retail stores? Can my local PC shop build me a Media Center PC?
A. Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is made available only with the purchase of a new media center PC. New this year, System Builders and smaller manufacturers may offer Media Center Edition 2005 pre-installed on new PCs. So your local PC shop might be able to build one for you. Always be sure the Media Center PC you purchase comes with a Genuine Windows Certificate of Authenticity (COA) complete with hologram.
Q. How do I get Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005?
A. Computers equipped with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 are now available for sale at retail stores or direct through Media Center PC manufacturers. Check with your favorite computer and electronic store for exact arrival dates.
Q. What kinds of audio and video connections are available on Media Center Extenders?
A. Consumers will have a choice of audio out connections with Media Center Extender set-top boxes, including Toslink digital audio and standard composite RCA.
In terms of video out connection, consumers will have the following choices, in a number of quality formats:
• Good: Standard composite RCA out
• Better: S-video out
• Best: Component out
The Microsoft Xbox game console used with the Media Center Extender for Xbox product supports composite RCA out audio and video connections. With an optional peripheral, the console also supports S-video and component video out.
Q. Do I need a TV feed (cable/satellite/antenna) to the TV I have connected to a Media Center Extender?
A. No, the TV feed will come through your Media Center PC, and then be carried over the home network to the Extender.
Q. How do I connect my Media Center Extender to my Media Center PC?
A. There are two main ways—via an Ethernet wired or a wireless connection. The Media Center Extender comes with everything you'll need for both options. The Xbox game console has an integrated Ethernet port, but requires an add-on wireless bridge to get the wireless capability. The wireless connection works best on 802.11a home networks.
Q. Can I use the Media Center Extender at the same time as someone is using the Media Center PC?
A. Yes. The Media Center Extender allows multiple users to access media content from the Media Center PC simultaneously. For example, Mom can be using the Media Center PC for Internet surfing in the den, while Dad is watching and recording a Live TV show through the Extender in the family room.1
Q. Will the Media Center Extender devices support HDTV?
A. No, the Media Center Extender devices (set-top box version or the Xbox title) do not currently support over the air ATSC HDTV broadcasts. These broadcasts will not be accessible for playback from the My TV section of the Media Center Extender device. One can still schedule an HDTV recording through the Electronic Program Guide.
Q. What audio and video file formats are supported by Media Center Extender devices?
A. Media Center Extender devices support a number of audio and video file formats for play back through TV displays and home entertainment systems.
Audio file formats supported:
• Windows Media Audio Standard 7 through 9
• WMA standard audio may be Windows Media DRM-protected
• Windows Media Audio Pro and WMA Lossless
• MP3
• Playback of other audio formats may be enabled by installing a compatible DirectShow decoder on the Media Center PC
Video file formats supported:
• Windows Media Video 9 main profile
• WMA Standard audio
• Max resolution 720x480
• Max bit-rate 4Mbps
• WMV content may be Windows Media DRM-protected
• MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 standard definition
• MPEG-1 layers I and II audio
• Standard Definition DVR_MS (Recorded TV) at all quality settings (Fair through Best)
