WD TV HD Media Player

IMpoor · 11-11-2008, 09:54 AM

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/produ...72&language=en

I bought this a little over a week ago and I thought I would post my review. This device is simple to use and works. I got it for $100 at best buy. The best thing is it plays just about every format I through at it. Divx, xvid, mpg, m2ts (from Bluray), 1080p mkv, etc. No audio lags, no codec resinstalls, it just works. If your like me and don't want all the fuss of hooking up a media center PC then this is a great solution. I travel alot for business and last week I took this device and my portable external HD with me. I used the RCA (composite) connection to the hotel tv. It also works great with flash drives.
So far there is only one thing I am unhappy with but tis not a deal breaker. That is the fact that I am not sure how to get it to fast forward in bigger chunks if there are no chapters. It has up to 16X fast forward but if you have a full length movie and want to go an hour into it that takes a while at 16X. I never read the manual so maybe you can and I just don't know how. Pictures and audio work great as well. Some of the larger pictures seem to take a extra second or two to load.
For $100 this device is worth the money. Even if you just use it for travel or just take it to a friends house. This device, the power adapter, the remote, and a flash drive could almost fit in your pockets. And no I don't work for any electronics company. I am just very happy with my purchase.

Maxi3D · 12-03-2008, 06:39 PM

Can it really play m2ts file?

Where is it documented? Could you tell me what kind of storage device you are using with the media player. Thanks.

Maxi3D · 12-05-2008, 05:08 PM

It does play m2ts file, but video only with no sound.

hzee · 12-09-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxi3D

It does play m2ts file, but video only with no sound.

No, it really does play a decrypted m2ts file complete with sound.

I moved a single file containing the complete film "Stargate" that had been decrypted to the external hard drive I connect to the WD unit.

When I chose that file, it played it flawlessly in terms of both picture and sound quality.

Maxi3D · 12-12-2008, 04:31 PM

Do you use Tsmuxer to transcode the file? If so, what setting are you usingto transcode the video stream. Thanks.

**rbinck** · 12-12-2008, 07:37 PM

I bought one of these today. It does play the .m2ts files that my Haupauge HD DVR unit recorded just fine. Some of the earlier files that had the .ts extention had to be renamed to m2ts.

I use h264ts_cutter to edit (cut commercials) and it won't reconize the .m2ts extention so the .m2ts files need to be renamed to .ts files, edited then renamed back to .m2ts.

Then I found the mpeg2 .tp files that my MyHD OTA tuner makes have to be renamed to .mpg files for them to be reconized by the unit.

I think this will be a great addition to my equipment once I get a system figured out for prepairing the HD and files.

tipstir · 12-16-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbinck

I bought one of these today. It does play the .m2ts files that my Haupauge HD DVR unit recorded just fine. Some of the earlier files that had the .ts extention had to be renamed to m2ts.

I use h264ts_cutter to edit (cut commercials) and it won't reconize the .m2ts extention so the .m2ts files need to be renamed to .ts files, edited then renamed back to .m2ts.

Then I found the mpeg2 .tp files that my MyHD OTA tuner makes have to be renamed to .mpg files for them to be reconized by the unit.

I think this will be a great addition to my equipment once I get a system figured out for prepairing the HD and files.

You did buy one.. Are these are sell or something?

**rbinck** · 12-16-2008, 05:54 PM

Best Buy had them for $99.

tipstir · 12-16-2008, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbinck

Best Buy had them for $99.

Does it work well?

**rbinck** · 12-16-2008, 07:16 PM

Yes it works great! Picture quality is as good as the original and outputs 1080p out of the HDMI port automatically when hooked to a monitor that supports 1080p input!

I'm going to use it for my wife's HDTV. What I will do is load a 20 or 30 GB USB drive (I'm putting in those empty boxes) with what she would like to view out of my library on the HTPC's. I have over a TB of HD movies stored that I recorded OTA or through the Hauppauge HD Capture Box for her to choose from. Then I can take the drive and swap it out to reload the other one. Photos can be put on there as well for slide shows. mp3s can be put on there and played while the slide show is going on.

One of my sons has bought one as well and will get some of my movies for his house as well. It allows him to view media content on his HDTV without having to have a computer connected. I do wish there was a way to load the drive via the LAN or stream video via the LAN, but it is the next best thing.

It is a great device. Especially at $99.

Now if I could get my son to get a Hauppauge HD Capture box to capture from his DVR, we could swap out recordings. He has Comcast and gets movies that I can't get on U-verse.

tipstir · 12-16-2008, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbinck

Yes it works great! Picture quality is as good as the original and outputs 1080p out of the HDMI port automatically when hooked to a monitor that supports 1080p input!

I'm going to use it for my wife's HDTV. What I will do is load a 20 or 30 GB USB drive (I'm putting in those empty boxes) with what she would like to view out of my library on the HTPC's. I have over a TB of HD movies stored that I recorded OTA or through the Hauppauge HD Capture Box for her to choose from. Then I can take the drive and swap it out to reload the other one. Photos can be put on there as well for slide shows. mp3s can be put on there and played while the slide show is going on.

One of my sons has bought one as well and will get some of my movies for his house as well. It allows him to view media content on his HDTV without having to have a computer connected. I do wish there was a way to load the drive via the LAN or stream video via the LAN, but it is the next best thing.

It is a great device. Especially at $99.

Now if I could get my son to get a Hauppauge HD Capture box to capture from his DVR, we could swap out recordings. He has Comcast and gets movies that I can't get on U-verse.

There is a USB LAN Hub where you could connect your USB HDD to it and then run USB back to the WD HD.

This above is 10/100 though.. Still most media would go 60mbps per second. I'll see if I can find better for you. I already use USB to LAN for print server that works quick set to 100mbps.

Then there is this...

tipstir · 12-16-2008, 11:37 PM

Here's one that is USB to Gig LAN

**rbinck** · 12-17-2008, 03:50 PM

Hookup isn't the problem so much as not being able to initiate a file transfer or video stream from the WD TV player. Even with those devices I still have to disconnect the USB drive from the WD box and connect it to the LAN then go to another room to initiate the file transfer. It is easier to load a 2nd disk and then swap them out.

tipstir · 12-17-2008, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbinck

Hookup isn't the problem so much as not being able to initiate a file transfer or video stream from the WD TV player. Even with those devices I still have to disconnect the USB drive from the WD box and connect it to the LAN then go to another room to initiate the file transfer. It is easier to load a 2nd disk and then swap them out.

The USB hub LAN you won't need drivers for that. If it had a Web GUI you could control device connected to it. But in all manual add on and swap should be easy. I just came back from Costco and the portable HDDs are cheap for WD USB.

tipstir · 12-17-2008, 04:02 PM

Belkin F5L009 is a wireless USB Network HUB

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...ci_sku=6339402

Wal-mart has a neat video on this the price is only $79 but you might give it a shot. If you do let know how it works out..

Connection to a wireless router is required to use local area network USB device sharing

Share Printers, Hard Drives, NAS, Music Players, Scanners, Digital Cameras, and Media Card Readers --wirelessly 802.11(b/g/n)

Amazon has more info on this product...

11-11-2008, 09:54 AM	#1
IMpoor High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 312	WD TV HD Media Player http://www.wdc.com/en/products/produ...72&language=en I bought this a little over a week ago and I thought I would post my review. This device is simple to use and works. I got it for $100 at best buy. The best thing is it plays just about every format I through at it. Divx, xvid, mpg, m2ts (from Bluray), 1080p mkv, etc. No audio lags, no codec resinstalls, it just works. If your like me and don't want all the fuss of hooking up a media center PC then this is a great solution. I travel alot for business and last week I took this device and my portable external HD with me. I used the RCA (composite) connection to the hotel tv. It also works great with flash drives. So far there is only one thing I am unhappy with but tis not a deal breaker. That is the fact that I am not sure how to get it to fast forward in bigger chunks if there are no chapters. It has up to 16X fast forward but if you have a full length movie and want to go an hour into it that takes a while at 16X. I never read the manual so maybe you can and I just don't know how. Pictures and audio work great as well. Some of the larger pictures seem to take a extra second or two to load. For $100 this device is worth the money. Even if you just use it for travel or just take it to a friends house. This device, the power adapter, the remote, and a flash drive could almost fit in your pockets. And no I don't work for any electronics company. I am just very happy with my purchase. Last edited by IMpoor; 11-11-2008 at 09:58 AM.

12-12-2008, 07:37 PM	#6
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,337	I bought one of these today. It does play the .m2ts files that my Haupauge HD DVR unit recorded just fine. Some of the earlier files that had the .ts extention had to be renamed to m2ts. I use h264ts_cutter to edit (cut commercials) and it won't reconize the .m2ts extention so the .m2ts files need to be renamed to .ts files, edited then renamed back to .m2ts. Then I found the mpeg2 .tp files that my MyHD OTA tuner makes have to be renamed to .mpg files for them to be reconized by the unit. I think this will be a great addition to my equipment once I get a system figured out for prepairing the HD and files. __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com

12-16-2008, 05:54 PM	#8
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,337	Best Buy had them for $99. __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com

12-16-2008, 07:16 PM	#10
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,337	Yes it works great! Picture quality is as good as the original and outputs 1080p out of the HDMI port automatically when hooked to a monitor that supports 1080p input! I'm going to use it for my wife's HDTV. What I will do is load a 20 or 30 GB USB drive (I'm putting in those empty boxes) with what she would like to view out of my library on the HTPC's. I have over a TB of HD movies stored that I recorded OTA or through the Hauppauge HD Capture Box for her to choose from. Then I can take the drive and swap it out to reload the other one. Photos can be put on there as well for slide shows. mp3s can be put on there and played while the slide show is going on. One of my sons has bought one as well and will get some of my movies for his house as well. It allows him to view media content on his HDTV without having to have a computer connected. I do wish there was a way to load the drive via the LAN or stream video via the LAN, but it is the next best thing. It is a great device. Especially at $99. Now if I could get my son to get a Hauppauge HD Capture box to capture from his DVR, we could swap out recordings. He has Comcast and gets movies that I can't get on U-verse. __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com

12-17-2008, 03:50 PM	#13
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,337	Hookup isn't the problem so much as not being able to initiate a file transfer or video stream from the WD TV player. Even with those devices I still have to disconnect the USB drive from the WD box and connect it to the LAN then go to another room to initiate the file transfer. It is easier to load a 2nd disk and then swap them out. __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com

12-03-2008, 06:39 PM	#2
Maxi3D How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 27	Can it really play m2ts file? Where is it documented? Could you tell me what kind of storage device you are using with the media player. Thanks.

12-05-2008, 05:08 PM	#3
Maxi3D How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 27	It does play m2ts file, but video only with no sound.

12-12-2008, 04:31 PM	#5
Maxi3D How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 27	Do you use Tsmuxer to transcode the file? If so, what setting are you usingto transcode the video stream. Thanks.

12-16-2008, 11:37 PM	#12
tipstir Banned User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 4,665	Here's one that is USB to Gig LAN

12-17-2008, 04:02 PM	#15
tipstir Banned User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 4,665	Belkin F5L009 is a wireless USB Network HUB http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...ci_sku=6339402 Wal-mart has a neat video on this the price is only $79 but you might give it a shot. If you do let know how it works out.. Connection to a wireless router is required to use local area network USB device sharing Share Printers, Hard Drives, NAS, Music Players, Scanners, Digital Cameras, and Media Card Readers --wirelessly 802.11(b/g/n) Amazon has more info on this product... Last edited by tipstir; 12-17-2008 at 04:05 PM.

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