Linksys DMA2100/2200 Installation Tips and Tricks

[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.

[mattylees__]

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.

Oh right sorry mate I see what you mean, yes there needs to be a more in depth review..
I work in IT myself but my network knowledge is still getting there Ill try those things when I go back to my town tonite! I just havn't had all that much experience with vista networking, it always seem to be such a bitch to get things going!!

[mattylees__]

Ok sorted the network issue, it was just the default gateway i had wrong, so she's up and running now.

The live tv in SD & HD plus recorded content streams perfectly over the 10/100 network. I have to run wireless soon though so Ill let you all know how that goes when i get the N Router.

Only thing I am not happy with is the quality of the image from the HDMI output into my 22" Acer LCD (which ill be upgrading). I am just using a HDMI > DVI cable. Very Slightly stretched vertically too since you can't set any res' or anything with the extender on HDMI. Also the menu moves around like crap, just back on the HTPC and feels like cadbury caramel chocolate.

Anyway, there you go my feedback for now.

[Mikanomi]

I'm new to this forum, but a useful tip I found regarding the .vob issue I found was to just rename it as a .mpeg. The Linksys extender finds it right away and plays no problems.

However, I would like to know if anyone has found an easy way to allow the extender to loop a playlist of mpegs? (It's a specific request from a client)

Thanks in advance,





ミカノミ

[dgaust]

Check this website out.

[saxnix]

Good find - Looks very interesting. Have you tried it yet, or are you going to?

[philzgr8]

Just in case you're having trouble adding external resources for your media, I just found this little tool which apparently takes out some of the hard work of editing login scripts. I haven't tried it myself but it could be worth a try.

[patgaz]

If your aim is to rip your DVD's to HDD and then add them to your media centre then the answer is very simple...go here http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/post/99705.aspx

I tried it last night and it worked a treat. My first attempt I used ANY DVD to rip to HDD then added the folder to Movies and pointed Media Centre to it. The result was the same as watching the DVD from the disc. Have also accessed the copy from my extender no problems. Second attempt I ran it through DVD Shrink with the same outcome (rip to HDD Folder). I can't believe it was so easy as all I have read on the forum seems to be rather complex.

Hope this helps someone