Linksys DMA2100/2200 Installation Tips and Tricks

[Spoons]

I have a number of files that work on the PC but do not play on the DMA2200. Does anyone know when we will see some software updates to allow other codecs to run on the DMA2200?

[philzgr8]

Originally Posted by Spoons

I have a number of files that work on the PC but do not play on the DMA2200. Does anyone know when we will see some software updates to allow other codecs to run on the DMA2200?

So far as I'm aware there are no particular plans to provide extended codec functionality but given the similarity to Xvid which is supported, it is possible that Linksys may see fit to provide support for DivX.

[saxnix]

Question about codec support.........Sorry if this is a dumb question, but will the 2100 and 2200 play all avi's that will play on a an xbox360?

[amclaugh]

Great thread. Do VOBs work with the 2100/2200? I have a bunch of DVDs ripped to VOBs for MyMovies and really don't want to transcode. Thx.

[philzgr8]

Originally Posted by saxnix

Question about codec support.........Sorry if this is a dumb question, but will the 2100 and 2200 play all avi's that will play on a an xbox360?

I can't say definitively because I have no idea what can be played on the Xbox but if it plays Divx then the answer is no unless you change the FourCC code to Xvid.

Originally Posted by amclaugh

Great thread. Do VOBs work with the 2100/2200? I have a bunch of DVDs ripped to VOBs for MyMovies and really don't want to transcode. Thx.

I don't think so. I am in the process of changing all of my ripped DVD's over to DVR-MS using VideoRedo. That way I don't lose the functionality of MyMovies and the files are playable on the Linksys.

[amclaugh]

Any loss in audio/video quality going VOB -> DVR-MS?

[philzgr8]

Originally Posted by amclaugh

Any loss in audio/video quality going VOB -> DVR-MS?

Not from what I've seen provided you leave all encoding settings as "do not change". In effect it's really only the container that changes because of the underlying MPEG2 codec.

[alec]

Folks, I have tried as best as I could to get up to speed on this stuff [Media Center etc]and there is a lot of ground to cover just in this thread alone.

This thread leads me to believe my expectations were too high. Basically, when you introduce the new media extenders mentioned in here you don't get a solution that from the usability perspective acts as if you were using media center without an extender!

Surely that must be the minimum functionality it should achieve yes the other stuff is nice but if it causes other issues that you don't have when infront of your media centre PC then what's the point?

Apart from the lack of support for certain formats (which I suppose I can understand) there have been issues with quality of playback, WOL (that's a biggie!) etc

As a newbie this is quite discouraging, you'd think MS would have it right by now, I am sure things have improved since V1 of this devices but even though they provide a single box solution to all your AV requirements for the average user this is just not a simple (pickup and go) option.

If you think about it most consumers just want to push the power button and play their recorded TV, DVD's. Now they also play their slide shows on most DVD recorders and can even play their home movies through them when the connect their camcorder.

So I assume from a "like for like" functionality standpoint the XBox 360 is the nearest thing available to actually using the PC Media center direct ?
Would be good if someone did a side by side review of the new linksys 2200 and the XBox. As I understand it, apart from the fan noise which I believe has been reduced in the newer XBoxes, there are no functional gaps introduced and it acts just like the media center PC!?????

I suppose I will stick with this but will just improve the experience on my home PC and won't entertain connecting this to my plasma until there is a easy to use and reliable solution.

Happy to be proved wrong as I think the potential for this stuff is big but not just now :-(

[mattylees__]

There is a review here for both ... "Comparison of Xbox 360 Extender with a Linksys Extender"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=poyubhQl9zw


Anyway, I got mine last night and didn't have any luck even connecting the damn thing to my PC. Sometimes the extender would say network found sometimes it didn't, then when that part was done, I'd enter in the key on my HTPC and it would say "Extender not found".

Any Ideas?

Firewall is off, I have tried using a wired connection between the two just using a netgear switch plus tried with a dlink wireless router

[alec]

Thanks I have seen that video.
What I was looking for was a side by side feature comparison as against a live quality review (it was useful to see though).

For example
XBOX 360 - plays MP3, WAV etc...
Linksys - plays all of the above plus DIVX
XBOX network search - good with all Media PC's in a network
Linksys network search - only locally stored and shared content on one PC

Etc (the above are just examples).

In terms of the problems you mention, simplify as much as possible the setup (to help with the troubleshooting) e.g. put all the devices on the same network segment, exclude IP naming and allocation systems from the equation i.e. no DNS & DHCP from the equation, turn off any firewalls both at the client PC and any on the network routers, remove IPv6 etc

I would then suggest a network sniffer.

Also if possible try a standard ping and traceroute test from the PC to the extender to eliminate network layer problems
ping -t -l 1024
Increase packet size (- 1024) to 2048 and upwards

Ping /? from the command prompt will help

Sorry if some of this sounds obvious and I notice you are an MCE expert but just wanted to ensure I covered all the bases.
I am not an MCE expert but know networking and IT systems.

Hope I can help.