Cisco-Linksys Media Center Extender with DVD Review

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(More customer reviews)My initial impression are (1) if all you want is a media center extender to do what it is intended to do, then this is definitely the purchase you should make; (2) do not expect anything other than just the media center function and dvd function, that's all your going to get; (3) if the video, music, or picture is not supported by windows media connect *** AND HAS THE CORRECT BITRATE*** it is not going to play; (4) even if your media center pc can playback a file doesn't necessarily mean the extender will play it back, all the processing of the file is done on the extender and the only codecs that get supported are those listed in windows media connect.
I was expecting better codec support from Linksys, but it looks as if Linksys only has their name on the product. It really should have Microsoft on it. You don't need a Vista PC for playback of the dvd function. For you people that like to encode video on your computer and are thinking about using an extender to view it, be careful which format you choose. If it not listed as a supported file by windows media connect you can best believe it is not going to play.
The wireless worked pretty well. I have wireless-n and video playback was great, but navigating through the menus with wireless was sluggish. A wired connection was more responsive but still a little sluggish. Startup time until you get to the main menu is between 30-40 seconds. The unit is absolute noiseless. Even the dvd drive is quiet during playback, fastforwarding and rewinding.
This purchase was not for me. Like i've said many times before, you'll only be satisfied if your files are supported in windows media connect formats. I could not get WMV files to playback, but I could get WMV9 files to playback. I tried a DivX file in a AVI extension and it played fine.

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Sharing your photos, music and movies on your computer with friends and family has been made easy by the DMA 2200 Media Center Extender from Linksys. The device allows you to view digital photos, movies and high definition programs on your TV, and listen to downloaded music on your home theater sound system. It even enables accessing digital content and Internet services from your Microsoft Windows Vista Premium or Ultimate Media Center PC and wirelessly stream it to your home entertainment system. Its single learning remote helps you to easily navigate menus. The media extender uses existing high-speed Wireless-N home network and includes built-in upscaling DVD player.

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Actiontec Ethernet Over Coax MoCA Adapter - Twin Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)My Environment:
I want to use my PS3 to access Netflix , HULU (via PlayOn) and the shows that are recorded in my PC (a combination of HD and SD). My PC is upstairs (where the cable modem is) and my TV is downstairs where i do not have any Ethernet port and rewiring is not an option in my home.
Various Methods Used for connectivity:
Tried Wireless G and N but was never able to stream anything from my PC. Then tried various power line products from Sling, Belkin (rated as 1000 MBPS) but was not satisfied. Belkin one worked quite well but was not consistent, something was interfering and impacting the performance as the output would vary wildly at different times. Then heard about MOCA technology and was initially skeptical but wanted to try it out.
Set up using Actiontec MOCA device:
Ordered these Actiontec ones as they are cheaper than Netgear ones. Received them and all the package had was the two units, two Ethernet cables, power cards and a sheet of paper with instructions. Just plugged them in with the following set up and within few min the set up was done and configured my PS3 to use wired connection.
Coax from wall --> Input of first unit ,Output of first unit --> Cable modem.(Office) and then plugged in the ethernet cable from my router to the ethernet port of first unit
Coax from wall --> Input of second unit,Output of second unit--> STB(Living Room)and then plugged in the ethernet cable from the second unit to the PS3.
Input is labeled as Coax and output is labeled as STB/TV on the two Actiontec units
So far did not see any degradation in the TV signal or the internet connection.One thing to note is, if you want to use this set up i,e use this as a pass trough for your Coax signal, you need a couple of Coax cables(F-pin) which are not included and might be better to order along with these units, if you want to do the set up right away.
Conclusion:
I did not measure the throughput and do not know if my home has any splitters or amplifiers but could see reliable connectivity and could stream HD video (only have 1080i) flawlessly,Netflix and HULU worked quite well and would recommend it to anyone who has Coax wires all around the house. I hope that the same performance continues in the future and do not have to update this review.


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The MoCA Network Adapter bridges the divide between coaxial cable and Ethernet networks, allowing users to experience the future of home multimedia experience home today. Designed specifically for homes with cable television, this MoCA adapter is strong enough to handle any transfer load and is optimized to provide high-speed delivery of all multimedia applications. Leverages the existing coax wiring in any home for fast network connections. Eliminates the need for rewiring or settling for lesser-performing wireless solutions. Perfect for home theater/home entertainment, gaming or simply adding an Ethernet connection where coax exists.

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Yamaha RX-N600 Digital Network-Ready Home Theater Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have had this unit for about 2 weeks now. Sound is as good as anything in this price range. I was coming from a Sony 900 series receiver which was failing. This is my first Yamaha. No other manufacturers had networking capability that didn't cost 3 times as much. Plan on spending most of a day setting this up unless you do that kind of thing often.
Most of my comments center around the networking and USB functions because that's why I bought it, to perhaps eliminate my PC as a music source and go direct from this receiver. We'll, it kinda works... The remote is a bit of a sore spot too as with just a bit more functionality it could have been really good, I could have gotten down to one remote but unfortunately it does not control my cable set top box.
Strengths
*Works great with my Sony VCR, remote controls everything nicely.
*Ipod dock (an extra item purchased separately) seems to work very well. Does not play Ipod video though. Remote controls this too
*Nice remote, after you figure it out it is pretty logical. Controls 3 of my 4 components nicely.
*Internet radio is a real winner, seems to have jillions of stations arranged fairly logically by locale. It would be very difficult to duplicate this on your PC unless you enrolled in a pay service. Its like having a short wave radio.
Near misses
*Remote works great with my Sony DVD player, but make sure you have the side switch on "source" to control play, fast forward, etc. Otherwise you won't be able to move the cursor through DVD menus that appear in the movie menu and make choices on how the movie plays.
*If the Remote could just have a little learning it would be great. You won't know if it will control your unit until you try it out. The list of remote codes that Yamaha supplies is vague, does not list models just a bunch of codes for each manufacturer. You just have to try each one for your manufacturer and see if any work. Hit or miss.
*Net/USB did not work with my Creative Zen Nomad jukebox MP3 player, but did work with a Corsair Memory 2gb flash voyager stick. Go figure. I did notice recently that I can set my Zen to act as a mass storgae unit, and to be fair I have not tried that yet.
Weaknesses
*Network music does not work with Microsoft Media Player 11, only 10. I called Yamaha and they said Media Player 11 was not supported. The N600 does not connect reliably to the media library store, sometimes it works fine, sometimes it errors out or just shows an empty list. Very finicky. Media player 11 is in beta so beware, it will become mainsteam shortly and is not supported. I'm not sure if/how Yamaha will remedy this for me.
*Plays wave, WMA and MP3 but not Itunes
*Crude character interface display for the Net/USB functions, like looking at a pong game on an old IBM CGA PC. About as much functionality as a typical MP3 player, you have to scroll through a page at a time in everything. A pain in the neck if you have a large music collection
*Will not control my Motorola DCT700 Comcast cable box, I tried all the Motorola codes and Yamaha says that's all there is, if they don't work you are outta luck. I am.
*Remote has no learning capability.
*Limited inputs for other components, but enough for what I need
*Documentation is OK but the manual is all there is. There is no FAQ or deeper level of detail on their website or anywhere else that I could find. You have to call Yamaha and you will get a live person, but from what I found from 2 calls is they didn't know any more than the manual.
Conclusion: Would I buy this again? Probably not because the networking is so limited, and that was the main reason I selected this model. If you buy a good receiver and go with an attached high quality PC/soundcard you'd be better off.The Yamaha interface does not come anywhere close to the ease of use and nice presentation you get on any PC media player program. That's like comparing a typewriter to using a PC with Word. The USB feature is nice but could be a lot better if it supported more devices.

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The RX-N600 is the first Yamaha receiver to offer network receiver functions. Using network connection and Windows Media Connect ver.2 technology, it lets you play MP3, WMA and WAV music from a remote PC. You can also listen to any of the thousands of stations available on Internet radio.

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Monster PowerNet 200 Powerline Network Adapter Starter Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)With my new Samsung Blueray, not only can I pop in a Blueray disk but my model has Netflix, Pandora, You Tube, and Blockbuster download and play capability via wireless connection. Problem was my router is upstairs on one end of the house and the Blueray is downstairs on the other end of the house, some 60+ feet distance; and not even a linksys WRT610N would send enough signal to get better than a 10% success rate on the download. Most of the time, it just chugged and chugged and then timed out. Solution: Monster Powernet 200 which sends the signal through your electrical wiring. It takes 2 units of equipment to get started - thus it's called a starter kit. You just plug one into a wall outlet at your PC and connect an ethernet cable from the Powernet to the router. Plug the other Powernet unit into a wall outlet at your Blueray and connect an ethernet cable from it to your Blueray player. Then go into setting on your Blueray and change the connection type from wireless to cable. Now the movies download in about 10 seconds. Another plus is now that the first 2 units are installed, I can add additional units in another room of the house where I have an ethernet ready TV. My only word of caution is that the Powernet unit plugs into both sockets of a typical wall outlet, then compensates by having an outlet on both sides of the unit; but not all plugs may fit into it because of angled plug shapes.

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Monster Cable PowerNet DX-PLN-200-2-B Powerline Network Adapter DX-PLN-200-2-B Powerline Network Adapters

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Cisco-Linksys WET610N Dual-Band Wireless-N Gaming and Video Adapter Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought the WET610N for my Samsung BD-P1600 Blu-Ray Player. My options were either wired, which I didn't want to do, or buy a proprietary dongle from Samsung. I chose the option that Samsung did not mention - I bought the WET610N! The unit was easy to setup, and the instructions were clear. I've never been fond of using Linksys CD's to setup this kind of equipment, but I have to say it was painless and quick compared to some others I've seen. The value of this unit is simply that it will work with ANYTHING that wants a "wired" network connection. So, it doesn't matter if it's a video game system, a DVR type device, or as in this case a blu-ray DVD Player. For this reason, the unit is a great value and will be in use for a long time, even when the current equipment I am using it with now is long gone.

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Amazon.com Product DescriptionThe Linksys by Cisco WET610N Wireless-N Ethernet Bridge with Dual-Band can turn any of your wired Ethernet-enabled devices to wireless in a snap. Optimized for streaming video, the WET610N enables you to have ultra-fast Wireless-N transfer capability with less glitches and frame loss for superior video transfers. It's also ideal for wirelessly sharing music, photos, movies, and other files around your home via any Ethernet-enabled device, such as a printer, scanner, digital camera, notebook, or desktop computer.Dual-Band Wireless-N Gaming and Video Adapter FeaturesConnect your digital entertainment devices like Ethernet-equipped HDTVs, Blu-ray players, DVRs, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 or 3, and GameCube.
Ultra-Fast Wireless-N Transfer Speeds The WET610N Bridge takes advantage of the latest in wireless technology – Wireless-N – which is the fastest and most reliable wireless standard available. Wireless-N offers the fastest transfer speeds possible, and since the WET610N is a dual-band device, it's compatible with any device that supports Wi-Fi standards. The versatility of the Bridge means that you can use it with any Wireless-G, -A, -B, and -N device.

Optimized for Smooth Streaming Video While most Wi-Fi devices produce sluggish video with many dropped frames, the WET610N is optimized for video transfers, so you get smooth video with almost zero dropped frames. So sharing video from your desktop computer to your laptop wirelessly with the WET610N Bridge, for example, will be faster and produce more accurate results than ever before!

Simple Setup and Works on any Operating System The WET610N Bridge requires no advanced technical knowledge or drivers to install – it's as easy as plugging it in to any Ethernet-enabled device, and the easy setup wizard walks you through the setup process and has you ready to go within minutes! And it doesn't matter what type of platform and operating system you're running, the WET610N will work on Windows, Macintosh, or Linux operating systems. Simply configure your network settings through your PC's web browser, plug in your Ethernet-enabled device to your Bridge, and you have instant wireless connectivity.

Advanced Security Keeps the Wireless Network Safe The WET610N protects data and privacy by encrypting all wireless transmissions with industrial-strength Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). Linksys equipped the WET610N Bridge with the latest in WPA security called WPA2, which provides rock-solid protection from hackers, malware, and other Internet attacks. It also features Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 and up to 128-Bit encryption for even more protection from wireless threats.

Minimum System Requirements Device with Ethernet port; wireless access point or router (802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, or draft 802.11n compliant); Internet Explorer 6, or Firefox 2 or higher for browser-based configuration; PC with CD-ROM drive (for Setup Wizard only); Setup Wizard requires Windows XP, Vista, or Vista 64-bit edition with latest updates

Compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux, the Linksys WET610N Bridge with Dual-Band measures 5.71 x 4.17 x 2.05 inches and weighs 5.61 ounces. It is backed by a 1-year limited warranty.

What's in the Box Wireless-N Ethernet Bridge with Dual-Band, Setup Software and User Guide on CD-ROM, Quick Installation Guide, network cable, and power adapter.



Dual-Band Wireless-N Gaming and Video Adapter FeaturesConnect your digital entertainment devices like Ethernet-equipped HDTVs, Blu-ray players, DVRs, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 or 3, and GameCube.

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NETGEAR 5-port Home Theater and Network Gaming Hub GS605AV Review

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(More customer reviews)Take it out of the box, connect it to the AVR, Blu-Ray, Wii and then connect it to the 75ft Cat5e cable to the Router, apply power and was up and running. How much easier could it be?

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NETGEAR 5-port Home Theater and Network Gaming Hub GS605AV

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