My preliminary impression of I-O DATA AVEL LINKPLAYER2 [Text View] - Page 14

Paul_PDX

06-08-05, 03:08 PM

SeeMoreDigital

06-08-05, 03:40 PM

Unfortunately, no. :(

Region is not that important for me, but 720p or 1080i in RGB would be perfect for the CRT projector i'm currently using. It doesn't accept YUV signals, so i have to use a external converter for that. In that case I don't think the scart RGB output adaptor idea would be suitable for you anyway, since it's unable to output video progressively!

The video from an RGB(Y) scart connection, uses full "red, green and blue" video signals plus a composite video signal to provide sync...

Cheers

mabrym

06-09-05, 04:28 PM

Well, it looks like the Linkplayer is a step closer to a Windows Media Plays for Sure device. :) I loaded the windows media connect server along with the Avellink server software and was able to play my downloaded DRMed wmas from Yahoo Unlimited from my server. I could navigate to a song and play it from a folder, but could not skip to the next one or back. It looks like navigation does not work. I did not try creating a playlist in Windows Media Player to see if that is a work around for now. The other strange thing is rather than showing the name of the song playing on the screen, it only shows what looks like the license number of the song. At least it is a step in the right direction. :rolleyes:

How were you able to get it to work with WMC? I downloaded it yesterday, started the LP, but Devices was greyed out. No folders showed up in LP.

edit - reading your post again, why would I want to use WMC at the moment

MikeE

06-09-05, 08:49 PM

mabrym

06-10-05, 01:11 PM

Be sure to check the enable UPNP server box in the Avellink server software preferences. You should now be able to see a new device in WMC and give it permission to access to the WMC shared directories. You will need to use WMC if you wish to stream music from your server that you have downloaded from services such as Napster, Yahoo Unlimited or other music rental services that use Microsofts DRM copy protection scheme. You may also have to use it for video that has DRM protection. :cool:

I did get it going, thanks. Hate the interface, no better than LP. Worse really. Nice to be able to play DRM, but I thought the latest firmware allowed you to do that. Haven't tried it yet.

Now I have to have 3 servers running at the same time. WMC for DRM, LP for WMV 9, and Advanced Server for WMV 8 or lower. I could play WMV 9 with Advanced but then you can't FF or REW. I could use WMC but hate the file organization. I really don't understand why the LP can't play WMV 8, I've never heard of a program that couldn't deal with lower versions. Is there a technical reason I don't know about? I have a lot of WMV 8 or 7 but I can't remember which is which and I have some files groupled by content and some is 9 and some is 8 or 7. I'm sick of seeing the "WMV 7 not supported." Continually switching between servers is annoying and ridiculous.

And I'm still very disapointed that you can't create an mp3 playlist from the couch. I can't believe no one out there has thought this would be a good idea.

highgrovemanor

06-10-05, 04:38 PM

mabrym

06-10-05, 05:33 PM

mabrym

06-10-05, 10:08 PM

Now that we've got firmware that is functional IMO....I'm interested in finding out how to server up my 4k APE audio files to the linkplayer.

I was using jriver's media jukebox to run APE files ages ago, and it looks like their current media-center may support upnp....so I was wondering if anyone is using this or something else? I'm not that interested in WMC, and I haven't look'd at the streamium stuff in awhile either.....

tia

http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?PHPSESSID=fca2c5068490acd9a5fa53bb48bc1a68&topic=28054.50

Well it's not quite ready yet but it's close and it's promising. I downloaded the new Media Center 10 (as opposed to Media Jukebox) and I can get the LP to sort of recognize it, as the guy in the link above could. Primitive interface, and when you do select a song there is no audio. But, in the same thread, Jim, the admin of the J River forum, , said to download version 11, which is a beta. I did that, but with the same result. The Media Center has a list of 7-8 supported devices, LP not being one of them. Yet, I use the word yet. J River is obviously aware of the LP. It's going to work soon, hell it may work now and I'm doing something wrong.

When it does work it will be great. Download the trial version of Media Center to see how the interface will work. Set it for Theatre View in the View menu. You can easily navigate through albums and you CAN create playlists. You can display album covers, or you can browse photos while listening to music, I don't even know all the things you can do as I have been too busy tonight watching the Mets lose to play around with it.

My only concern is that using Media Center through LP will be slow, but there is the option of using the Media Center remote, I assume with some sort of IR repeater, to control it directly through the computer, the LP basically just serving as a display device so you can see what you are doing on the computer.

Anyway, I am very excited about the possibilities.

Brian Conrad

06-11-05, 02:57 PM

mabrym

06-11-05, 03:07 PM

Well I updated the firmware and setup up WMC on my server machine. I am very unimpressed with what I've seen so far of Microsoft and their draconian DRM support. I have already rented DivX movies and viewed using the LP2 on my 53" HD set. If the setup is as bad for me a techie the public isn't going to buy this at all. Besides I'm tired of MS ruling the roost and would rather see a smaller company like DivX or even an open source system win.

Unimpressed is a kind word. Jesus, I couldn't believe what I had once I got it.

Piece of Crap

Saw it on the tube
Bought it on the phone
Now you're home alone
It's a piece of crap

I tried to plug in it
I tried to turn it on
When I got it home
It was a piece of crap

Update on Media Center. Played around with the interface, on the computer, that you will use on the TV screen, and there is a serious weakness, unless I'm doing something wrong. There seems to be no way to go directly to a given location. For example, to go to the M artists, you can only scroll down page by page until you get there.

Well, I'm sure something like that will be corrected, J River seems to be a good company.

xedgex

06-13-05, 08:49 AM

Paul_PDX

06-13-05, 01:58 PM

Warning to owners of Sigma Design based players about the Showcenter!!

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=5750610&&#post5750610

If it could do this to a Buffalo it probably would do it to our Iodatas.

Don't run the showcenter server software on any network with another one of these players without risking your non-Pinnacle players.

mikemav

06-13-05, 10:08 PM

Unfortunately, no. :(

Region is not that important for me, but 720p or 1080i in RGB would be perfect for the CRT projector i'm currently using. It doesn't accept YUV signals, so i have to use a external converter for that.

Deciding if the picture quality improves is difficult, as the converter is still there.
But bypassing two switches and a lot of traces zig-zaging across the mainboard should result in a better picture quality imho.
A dedicated RGB output (on the DVI-I connector), which the Japanese version has, would be a lot better.

Therefore i'm still interested in someone who can make some board pictures of a japanese unit. There could be jumper settings, different resistor values etc , which might tell the firmware what hardware is on the board.
On the other hand, it could also be all in the firmware of the Japanese player.

@ affs:

The june 3rd firmware has the filter setting to off, but the previous versions also had this switched off, so it doesn't make any difference what version you are running.

The JVC Pro version, out in a few months in the US, has DVI-I. I just saw it and took pics at Infocomm. Check out the thread posted above.

(Edit- sorry, I see SMD beat me to it posting this. I did miss the part about a few more resolutions not supported on the LinkPlayer. Where did you see this info SMD? I would like 1024x768 or 576 for my NEC HT1100 projector.)

irgaac

06-13-05, 10:13 PM

im sure this has been covered but i couldnt find the answer skimming through these pages, does this player support the playback of 100mb .ts files or do they have to be converted to 1 file?

It does but you won't like it, there will be a pause and a black screen with file x of x on it in between each file. Just combine them into one big file.

what's the main site for firmware updates? and how are they applied? I ordered the unit last week, eaglery awaiting it @ this point.

The player has the firmware update procedure built into it. In the setup menu is a firmware icon, select the icon then select check for updates. It will connect over your network to the firmware update site on the internet and download the next firmware update and flash the player. Repeat until it says you have the latest version.

xedgex

06-14-05, 08:47 AM

thanks for the info, much appreciated. what software is used to combine .ts files?

irgaac

06-14-05, 09:28 AM

you can use the windows copy command copy /b file.*.ts file.ts or you can use HDTVtoMPEG2.

SeeMoreDigital

06-14-05, 12:45 PM

Edit- sorry, I see SMD beat me to it posting this. I did miss the part about a few more resolutions not supported on the LinkPlayer. Where did you see this info SMD? I would like 1024x768 or 576 for my NEC HT1100 projector.) Hi Mike,

Can you remind me where I mentioned the resolution info please?

Cheers

irgaac

06-14-05, 05:00 PM

(Edit- sorry, I see SMD beat me to it posting this. I did miss the part about a few more resolutions not supported on the LinkPlayer. Where did you see this info SMD? I would like 1024x768 or 576 for my NEC HT1100 projector.)

From the specs page here:
http://pro.jvc.com/prof/Attributes/specs.jsp?tree=&model_id=MDL101546&itempath=&feature_id=03

Video Out (HD) RCA Component 3 Connectors x1 (1080i/720p/480p/480i)
DVI-I Out x 1 (640x480 VGA / 800x600S VGA / 1024x768 XGA / 852x480 / DVI 480p / DVI 720p / DVI 1080i)

mikemav

06-15-05, 09:02 PM

From the specs page here:
http://pro.jvc.com/prof/Attributes/specs.jsp?tree=&model_id=MDL101546&itempath=&feature_id=03

Video Out (HD) RCA Component 3 Connectors x1 (1080i/720p/480p/480i)
DVI-I Out x 1 (640x480 VGA / 800x600S VGA / 1024x768 XGA / 852x480 / DVI 480p / DVI 720p / DVI 1080i)

Thanks. I wonder if the I-O LinkPlayer can be updated to support 1024x768 over the D4 connector? Maybe we should ask I-O for it. I'd like to see if native to my XGA DLP projector looks better than 1080i or 720p.

mabrym

06-16-05, 04:05 PM

irgaac

06-16-05, 07:47 PM

You must not be running the latest version of the server software, there is a checkbox underneath the IP and port info that says support for UPNP media server.

mabrym

06-16-05, 08:32 PM

This company could drive you crazy with their website. I went there to download the latest and could only find one place. Once I got it installed it was the same thing I already had.

Back to the site to look around some more.

Edit - found it, not on the downloads page, but on the Culture and News page!?

Still doesn't work with Media Center, though.

epsilon

06-16-05, 08:44 PM

http://www.iodata.com/usa/products/AVLP2_SW.php#SW

1.9b is the latest Win version.

Edit: I see you found it. Actually, it's the update/upgrade page.

mabrym

06-17-05, 04:22 PM

Got the upnp box checked.

Normally when I turn on the LP I see Mikefpxxxxx, that's the computer name. I select that and I go to the LP main menu. I downloaded some Intel control point software, which looks up media servers and renderers and allows you to connect them together. When I run it the only device I see is Mikefpxxxx(Media Center). This is confusing to me. Shouldn't they show up as seperate devices? Isn't the Media Center the control point and LP the media renderer? Or maybe I have that backwards but why are they showing up as one device?

When I run Media Center server I get a couple of error messages - "received request for service description" and "received request for device description." Is that the LP doing the asking?

mabrym

06-17-05, 09:59 PM

uofmtiger

06-18-05, 04:37 PM

Gotta ask a question - does anyone except me and highgrovemanor even care about this? How many of you even care about mp3 playback with LP, and if you do, are you happy with the options you've got? Ya like Twonkyvision? Ya like Swiss Center Right now I prefer to use the Wizd software or Momitsu software for mp3 playback. The Wizd is cool because it allows the user to attach a photo folder as the background for music. It is a way to get a slideshow on the fly since it allows this feature to be set from the couch.

When I am in the mood to playback several folders at once, I like the Momitsu software. From what I can tell, it is the only program that supports this.

I would like an interface similar to the slimserver interface...Album art, alphabetical instead of numeric layout, playlist on the fly, and most importantly transcoding of Flac files.

uofmtiger

06-18-05, 04:39 PM

Does anyone know if the USB2 port in the front of the player will support more than one hard drive hooked to a USB hub?

KeithAdv

06-18-05, 08:55 PM

How many of you even care about mp3 playback with LP..

I care a great deal, since sometimes I actually like to talk to people or read a magazine with music on instead of watching a video. :) I've been completely spoiled by Xbox Media Center and can't wait until I have a similar solution on the Linkplayer.

I decided early on that one of the early adopter prices I would have to pay would be in the user interface department. The iodata one is primitive and slow and the other ones I've tested are not ready for prime time. The jriver one shows promise but (based on your posts I've seen elsewhere), it doesn't seem to connect well with the linkplayer. I don't want to work with anything too fiddly and I don't feel like being an alpha or beta tester, so I'm just patiently waiting until someone knocks one out of the park and that's the one I'll use!

Paul_PDX

06-20-05, 12:18 PM

Does anyone know if the USB2 port in the front of the player will support more than one hard drive hooked to a USB hub?

It doesn't work with hubs but if you have a 8/9/12 in one memory card reader it will show multiple drives that way (my 9 in one reader shows 4 separate drives).
So the may be multi drive usb enclosures that would show each drive if they dont use a hub internally.

lmengel

06-23-05, 03:17 PM

A/Vspec

06-23-05, 03:33 PM

and most importantly transcoding of Flac files.

I wonder why none of these players support FLAC? You have to invest in a ESCIENT FireBall in order to playback FLAC from a standalone player.

cyburn

06-24-05, 10:01 AM

Just to let you know that there is a new firmware available for download. And the rollback function is now available to the June 3rd release.

Not much mentioned for this upgrade outside of some SPDIF output fixes.

cyburn

06-24-05, 10:28 AM

I discovered something interesting while looking at open port on the player with the latest firmware (and also the same with the June 3rd release):

Running nmap against the new firmware TCP/IP connection turn up a bunch of filtered port (and one open port at TCP 2020) but also kill the player flat out. You need to do a hardware power off/on to recover.

It look like the TCP/IP stack does not respond well to an IP scan. Actually just connecting to TCP 2020 will freeze the playback of video and will put the unit in an unstable state.

Anyone know what TCP 2020 is used for on the player? I was hoping for a web based remote management of the unit but this is not it. Does not look like SSH/telnet either. My next guess would be VNC but I don't know.

spyfy

06-24-05, 12:24 PM

Has anyone managed to get streaming video from the internet to play thru the Linkplayer? I've searched but haven't found much info.

Chhuong

06-24-05, 01:33 PM

I would like to thank iodata, and i applaud them for keeping up the good work, all the problem dvds of random ff and skipping/freezing has been solved, and even the artifacts i was complaining about in sharktale. all of my problem dvd's have been fixed with this june 24th firmware. now if only they could fix their zoom mode to compensate for non anamorphic dvd's. or just add one more zoom to the dvd function for non anamorphic dvd.

Just noticed one drawback to dvd's, audio options menu doesn't have a cursor, you can still select what version but you don't see what you are selecting.

andersa

06-25-05, 11:45 AM

Cyburn,

did you try ethereal to capture the traffic between the the player and the computer? Perhaps it could give some clues to what port 2020 is used for.
/Anders

DouglasCleary

06-25-05, 02:27 PM

I applied the new firmware and I am getting a "Wake on Lan", please wait a while and then reconnect to Avellink. What? No my computer is not sleeping.

Brian Conrad

06-25-05, 03:10 PM

I've always had the Linkplayer turning on my computer with the server even with Wake On Lan turned off in the network settings.

Does the 24th firmware fix the "No Disc" problem with DVDs? In some cases if I stopped the DVD it would not show up in the menu and I would have to restart the player eject the DVD and start it over again, wade through the rude interruptions the studio lawyers and marketing departments think is important to get to the chapter selections to resume.

irgaac

06-28-05, 05:53 PM

Remember all that work that people were doing to post all the different firmware and being able to pick any and install it on the player.

Was that depended on the rollback command? or are you still able switch firmware with it?

It doesn't depend on the rollback command but with the first June firmware upgrade we lost the ability to roll back to any previous firmware versions before that. Here is a quote from the IO-Data forums:
The biggest thing (much potentiality to break LinkPlayer) is Sigma Deisgns major code named DCC1 and DCC2. DCC1 is LinkPlayer's original one (1st production firmware). In order to support WMA Pro, we need to update it to DCC2. It can go back between DCC2 firmware codes, but cannot go back to DCC1. This is the microcode archtecture, so nobody cannot change it. We have already reached this DCC2 phase. So we should go ahead in order to release safe updating.

P.S.
Technically DCC2 can go back to DCC1. But it's not so easy. We are very afraid of somebody's system trouble. Please understand that.

In the original post they confused DCC1 and DCC2, my corrections are in red italics.

Now that there is a new firmware update since then, rollback is allowed and the same trick we used will work again but only for firmware versions since June.

zmatzkin

06-28-05, 09:43 PM

redfuel

06-29-05, 04:15 PM

Hello all,

I've had the LP2 for around 1 month now. Everything was great until a few days ago, when I got a new set of Ascend fronts & center.

There is some terrible background noise when the LP2 plays back MP3s. I've done what I can do isolate the problem as well as I can; I've tried several different server softwares (and have settled on a Momitsu/Wizd combo) with the same results. Has anyone else noticed this? I have to be standing with my ear to the speaker listening to some quiet material, like a relatively quiet passage on a classical piece. It shows up in any kind of music however.

Here's what I've found:
1. Noise is present using any server software
2. Noise is only present with LP2's decoding of MP3s
- no noise playing back a pressed CD
- definite noise when playing the MP3 burned to CD as data file
- no noise playing back file burned as an audio track
3. Playing the MP3 on my Panny XP50 DVD player (as a data file) is totally clean

My LP2 is connected to my receiver via coax digital. I'm going to try connecting it via optical, but I don't expect any difference. Does anyone else notice this noise, or perhaps I could ask you guys to try and listen for it? It sounds like a "fuzz" with a light background high pitched whine, and can only be heard with ear close to the speaker. It resembles noise like a poorly encoded MP3 or someone pumping up a dirty equalizer several decibels. I'm wondering if I should be putting in for an exchange.

The noise considerably affects fidelity - sound (especailly male voices) sound "boxed in" and muddy. Playing the Nero decoded, burned on CD audio track sounds excellent again, through the LP2.

Thanks !!

-Steve

SeeMoreDigital

06-29-05, 06:46 PM

I'm going to try connecting it via optical, but I don't expect any difference. You might get a pleasant surprise!

You might be suffering from a mains grounding incompatibility :(

Or if your MP3 files have been encoded at a low constant bit-rate, you could be hearing digital noise artifacts!

Cheers

redfuel

06-29-05, 07:53 PM

I'm going to try optical later today.

All the MP3s are encoded at 192 VBR using the Lame standard preset. Even under intense listening using Grados from any other source (DVD player, portable MP3, two different computers) except the LP2 sounds excellent. I hope it is the just the ground incompatability!

Brian Conrad

07-01-05, 12:53 PM

After the June 24th firmware update Windows Media Connect gives me a message that there are no media files in the folders. However the folders I point it to definitely have files in it. Now I don't know who is at fault here but if it requires me doing major research to fix the problem I can tell you right now WMV is going nowhere with the general public as a VOD source. In trying to "kiss ass" to the major film companies their stuff is just tied up into one big draconian knot. Give me Divx or some less draconian codec any day. In fact someone I know who is setting up a VOD compay is considering no DRM at all! He figures it will get broken anyway. I suggested he uses something just to slow the hackers.

IODATA

07-01-05, 07:48 PM

I don't know why. But Windows Media Connect is getting improved...
I believe WMC doesn't allow to show the version info. But you may better to download it again. Perhaps your problem may be resolved.

To be honest with you, I met such a problem on testing between WMC and LinkPlayer. Then I tried to download it again, then the problem was resolved...

The June 24th firmware is designed under Windows Media Connect certification of Microsoft. So basically any connection problem might not happen. Thank you.

After the June 24th firmware update Windows Media Connect gives me a message that there are no media files in the folders. However the folders I point it to definitely have files in it. Now I don't know who is at fault here but if it requires me doing major research to fix the problem I can tell you right now WMV is going nowhere with the general public as a VOD source. In trying to "kiss ass" to the major film companies their stuff is just tied up into one big draconian knot. Give me Divx or some less draconian codec any day. In fact someone I know who is setting up a VOD compay is considering no DRM at all! He figures it will get broken anyway. I suggested he uses something just to slow the hackers.

Brian Conrad

07-02-05, 12:56 PM

I tried downloading and reinstalling WMC but it is the same version (August 2004) that was on the machine originally. A Windows Update showed nothing needed for the computer. I'll have to dig through their troubleshooting and newsgroup to try to find why the software is activing overly paranoid.

miyoshi

07-04-05, 10:48 PM

Cheers everyone !
Finally we could get IOData support srt subtitles on Japanese models. So I went to the shop and I bought the new model which is the AVLP2/DVDG-2 or DVDLJ-2, both are the same as the previous models but with the latest firmware on it.

I would like to replace de disk reader, can someone tell me if I have to use just Lite-On 167T or I can use any other generic one ?

MacHound

07-06-05, 10:25 AM

If anyone is interested, the new firmware seems to make the AVLP2 truely UPnP compliant(the player itself). I was never able to get the Elgato Eyeconnect (Macintosh) server SW working until this update. Now it works perfectly, and I can say godbye to the other servers... I highly recommend this sw combined with the EyeTV 500. Just record and edit, and all your edited HD (or not) shows are right there on the AVLP2. No aliases, copying files, transcoding, etc...
This is great news, Zach!

You sound more pleased with EyeConnect than the only other person I've seen writing about it over at I-O Data Forums. (http://www.iodata.com/usa/forum/showthread.php?t=458) This user wrote, "Unfortunately the eyeconnect software lacks severely in usability, simply providing a list of folders with no custom gui at all, or play all, shuffle etc... options. It also has much more trouble than the latest Avel LinkServer (1.40) finding music and photos."

I am curious to hear your take on those points. Please feel free to post your thoughts back at the Mac AVLP2 thread. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=547351) More people are likely to care about EyeConnect issues there than in this thread.

IODATA

07-07-05, 06:00 PM

Dear Brian,

I believe this is not your fault. You updated all new versions of Windows XP and Windows Media Connect, right? But we checked some computers with Microsoft, but we have not found your problem yet...

Shall we talk about this issue at IODATA forum? Other LP2 owners may have another idea for you.

I-O DATA USA FORUM > AVeL LinkPlayer "AVLP2/DVDLA" (USA/Canada) > Server Software > Microsoft Windows Media Connect

Try to post it there. Thank you.

I tried downloading and reinstalling WMC but it is the same version (August 2004) that was on the machine originally. A Windows Update showed nothing needed for the computer. I'll have to dig through their troubleshooting and newsgroup to try to find why the software is activing overly paranoid.

IODATA

07-07-05, 06:05 PM

Brian Conrad

07-07-05, 10:11 PM

IODATA,
Actually I already have posted the issue there under HDVidguy. :)

Due to work I haven't had time to investigate any solutions on Microsoft's site.

MacHound

07-08-05, 01:00 AM

Dear MacHound

We need more learning about all Macintosh applications.
I'm a Mac owner, but personally I don't have any stress for LinkPlayer usage. Could you sort out higher priority functions? We'll do our best. Our software team has one Mac lover, I'd like to keep following up all Mac users with him. Thank you.
Hi, Jack. Glad to see you in these forums. You've been putting in some long hours lately.

There's lots of interesting discussion about Linkplayer2 going on over at the Mac HTPC Forums. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=115) Linkplayer fills a definite need for quality video options that work well with Macs. I think you'll find a receptive audience for Linkplayer in the Mac community. We may be small in numbers compared to our Windows friends but we're quite active.

Many of us find ElGato's EyeTV products, especially the ATSC receiver EyeTV 500, to be a perfect complement for the Linkplayer. Like I-O Data, ElGato is a company that strives for excellence in everything they do. Any AVeL integration with EyeTV archives would certainly be a positive development.

Best Wishes,
David

Brian Conrad

07-08-05, 02:33 PM

IODATA,
I did complete uninstall reinstall of WMC and it brought back the folders. It also over a period of time went from "Cannot play protected Windows Media files" to "Can play protected Windows Media files" but as reported before DRM files like "Ray" and "Batman" trailers play for about 10 seconds and quit.

IODATA

07-08-05, 03:34 PM

OK, Brian. Let's keep talking about this problem :)
Actually I got something confidential from MS. Now I can just say WMC and LP2 will be improved much better near soon. Please give us a couple of weeks. Thank you.
IODATA,
Actually I already have posted the issue there under HDVidguy. :)

Due to work I haven't had time to investigate any solutions on Microsoft's site.

IODATA

07-08-05, 03:36 PM

Dear David,

Hi, Jack. Glad to see you in these forums. You've been putting in some long hours lately.

So do I :D

There's lots of interesting discussion about Linkplayer2 going on over at the Mac HTPC Forums. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=115) Linkplayer fills a definite need for quality video options that work well with Macs. I think you'll find a receptive audience for Linkplayer in the Mac community. We may be small in numbers compared to our Windows friends but we're quite active.

Many of us find ElGato's EyeTV products, especially the ATSC receiver EyeTV 500, to be a perfect complement for the Linkplayer. Like I-O Data, ElGato is a company that strives for excellence in everything they do. Any AVeL integration with EyeTV archives would certainly be a positive development.

Best Wishes,
David

Ok, let us keep checking this issue. We'll do our best for Mac users.

IODATA

07-08-05, 03:39 PM

Yep, so I'm confused because we checked "Ray" before. But that playback was very smooth. We wasn't able to find any problem. But I trust all LinkPlayer owners' report. I believe there might be some problem here. We need to find them and then get back some feedback to all customers. Let us keep checking. Thank you.

IODATA,
I did complete uninstall reinstall of WMC and it brought back the folders. It also over a period of time went from "Cannot play protected Windows Media files" to "Can play protected Windows Media files" but as reported before DRM files like "Ray" and "Batman" trailers play for about 10 seconds and quit.

MacHound

07-09-05, 03:55 PM

We'll do our best for Mac users.

It's music to my ears! We don't hear this sentiment too often. Mac users deeply appreciate the companies that feel the same way we do about our favorite OS. I'll do my part to spread the word about I-O Data in the Mac community.

Ladd

07-09-05, 10:19 PM

Ok, let us keep checking this issue. We'll do our best for Mac users.

Let me note my desire also. I'm a Mac-user with an Elgato EyeTV 500 and I love to find a good way to get the HD programming out of the computer and into the TV on the other side of the house.

Bonus points for a box that will accept the HD signal and additionally spit out something my older SD Sony XBR will display -- I'm happy to to watch a great "down-rezed from HD" SD picture until the HD set shows up sometime in the next year.

redfuel

07-10-05, 04:13 PM

Well after trying to clear up my issues, I've given up and decided to build out an HTPC from my file server. Thanks for the help and advice, but the LP2 is going on eBay shortly (unless someone wants it, you can PM me). Thanks.

MacHound

07-10-05, 11:42 PM

Let me note my desire also. I'm a Mac-user with an Elgato EyeTV 500 and I love to find a good way to get the HD programming out of the computer and into the TV on the other side of the house.
AVLP2 already does a pretty good job of playing MPEG2 transport streams on the opposite side of my house from my PowerBook. It does still have a black screen problem (http://www.iodata.com/usa/forum/showthread.php?p=2857#post2857) with about half of my 480i content. EyeTV 1080i recordings play back perfectly.

The main issue for EyeTV users is the tedious job of making aliases for each recording. Otherwise, what you see on the AVLP2 is a bunch of EyeTV filenames such as "00000000083ff4c8.mpg" or "00000000085a9951.mpg," which is pretty hard to decipher. None of the work-arounds I've tried so far is totally satisfactory. EyeConnect (http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyeconnect&PHPSESSID=afdfe08169514251b55c653ae31f6c90) is ElGato's own commercial server program; I'm still trying to understand how well it works with AVLP2.

Paul_PDX

07-12-05, 05:32 PM

If you love your LinkPlayer2 go vote --

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=558671

Some one has started a poll.

jnardone

07-14-05, 02:31 PM

Hi:
I downloaded a bunch of mpg2 HD transport streams that are from the new Sony HD camcorder HDR-HC1. The only way that I can get them to play smoothly with sound on the linkplayer is to serve them by wired connection through a router from my computer using LinkServer. If I burn the file to a CD and put it in the Linkplayer the video stutters and the audio doesn't even play. Is there a speed limitation on the CD drive that is causing this problem? Would it help if I burned the file to a DVD instead of a CD?

I usually use the Linkplayer wirelessly which works for HD files in WMV format. I guess the higher data rate of the transport streams is too much for my wireless G router and adapter.
Thanks,
Joseph

Paul_PDX

07-14-05, 02:38 PM

Hi:
If I burn the file to a CD and put it in the Linkplayer the video stutters and the audio doesn't even play. Is there a speed limitation on the CD drive that is causing this problem? Would it help if I burned the file to a DVD instead of a CD?

I haven't had problems with DVD-R TP burns.

You might check your setup for the dvd speed setting -- I think I use default -- maybe yours is set to slow?

Dolfo

07-14-05, 04:29 PM

dogbolter

07-15-05, 11:05 PM

My two month old LP2 stopped recognizing any discs, retail dvd, data dvd, cd etc.
All I get is a 'no disc' message.

I was able to get an RMA from I-O Data but I am wondering if it is worth the hassle, just to get another loader that is going to break in a few months.

Have there been any improvements to the loader? My unit is from onlybestrated in Toronto and the replacement unit will be coming from California. (I think)

Should I get a new unit or just do the Lite-On replacement now?

irgaac

07-17-05, 12:59 PM

If you were planning on replacing the drive anyway go ahead and do it now.

SeeMoreDigital

07-17-05, 01:28 PM

A broken DVD loader after only a couple of months use, doesn't say much about the players build quality does it?

EDIT: By the way, has anybody tried this player with an DVD-RAM capable loader?

Cheers

Tom Roper

07-17-05, 02:39 PM

My replacement Lite-On SOHD-167T wouldn't work with the upgrade to the 1st of the two WMV - DRM enabled firmwares. Then I found a kludge, if I restored the factory defaults it would work until I turned it off. On the next start, I would again have to restore the factory defaults or the Lite-On loader would not even be recognized with an icon on the menu.

When I upgraded to the 2nd of major DRM firmwares (the very latest), no spoofs work. My Lite-On loader simply won't work with it. I was able to roll back firmwares once, and it again works after the restore-factory-defaults spoof, but that's the only way I can get any joy out of the loader now is to do it each time I turn on the AVLP2. Really sucks, but it's better than nothing. I'm finished with upgrades. The last two have made the player next to useless for me.

SeeMoreDigital

07-17-05, 04:09 PM

Hi Tom,

Would it not be just as easy to temporarily re-connect your original loader prior to carrying out a firmware upgrade... whether it works properly or not?

Cheers

Tom Roper

07-17-05, 05:10 PM

Hi Tom,

Would it not be just as easy to temporarily re-connect your original loader prior to carrying out a firmware upgrade... whether it works properly or not?

Cheers

It's an idea worth trying I suppose...

Others seem not to be having trouble after the upgrades with Lite-On, or...(?)

Wondered also if anyone using the Lite-On has any jumpers installed for (master/slave) etc.?

Chhuong

07-18-05, 01:36 AM

yeah, i have a jumper set to master, nothing else worked out for me, also make sure that the region is set to 1. otherwise you get alot of problems.

irgaac

07-18-05, 01:32 PM

tom,

I wonder if you had yours set for cable select and that may no longer work after the latest firmware upgrade.

dogbolter

07-18-05, 08:57 PM

I-O Data is sending me a new unit first and I am sending my broken unit back postage paid so it seems like a no-brainer...I will try the new unit.

dogbolter

07-24-05, 01:14 PM

Well the RMA unit came from California (to Canada) in a few days with a "Refurbished in Mexico" sticker on the back.

Seemed to work OK for about a day but it has developed the same problem, it will not recognize a DVD in the drive. I have tried retail DVDs, mpg files on DVDr and movies burned to DVDr. I just get the "no disc" message.

I have tried adjusting the drive speed in the set up menu but this does not seem to work.

Looks like it is the Lite-on solution for me. Just have to decide which unit to return for the RMA.

SeeMoreDigital

07-24-05, 02:42 PM

I would not put up with that kind of service... Try requesting a replacement player?

Cheers

IODATA

07-29-05, 06:19 PM

Dear dogbolter,

We may have to apologize for your frustration. But your replaced unit might be defective again. I have no idea what happened at your system. But it's very strange not to recognize any discs. If possible, we'd like to discuss more on e-mail basis. Could you send your info at info@iodata.com? Our support team is glad to talk to you. Thank you.

Well the RMA unit came from California (to Canada) in a few days with a "Refurbished in Mexico" sticker on the back.

Seemed to work OK for about a day but it has developed the same problem, it will not recognize a DVD in the drive. I have tried retail DVDs, mpg files on DVDr and movies burned to DVDr. I just get the "no disc" message.

I have tried adjusting the drive speed in the set up menu but this does not seem to work.

Looks like it is the Lite-on solution for me. Just have to decide which unit to return for the RMA.

IODATA

07-29-05, 06:22 PM

Dear Joseph,

According to our engineer, CD reading speed is not enough to playback high bitrage MPEG2TS files. Therefore, we are suggesting "burning to DVD" for such a case. Thank you.

Hi:
I downloaded a bunch of mpg2 HD transport streams that are from the new Sony HD camcorder HDR-HC1. The only way that I can get them to play smoothly with sound on the linkplayer is to serve them by wired connection through a router from my computer using LinkServer. If I burn the file to a CD and put it in the Linkplayer the video stutters and the audio doesn't even play. Is there a speed limitation on the CD drive that is causing this problem? Would it help if I burned the file to a DVD instead of a CD?

I usually use the Linkplayer wirelessly which works for HD files in WMV format. I guess the higher data rate of the transport streams is too much for my wireless G router and adapter.
Thanks,
Joseph

dogbolter

07-29-05, 08:38 PM

But your replaced unit might be defective again.

Already on it, your RMA department has replaced with a new unit which appears to be working fine.

I really have to complement your RMA service. They have done everything to make things right.

SeeMoreDigital

07-30-05, 06:22 AM

"Now that's what I call service"

... Nice one I-O DATA :)

xuyee2000

07-30-05, 12:28 PM

hi,TUFU & IODATA

Can I ask help from you?

I get my LINKPLAYER2 today....
the inside firmware is 050110.
the question is when i try to update the firmware to 050622,i found it is very hard to connect to the update server(i am from china).everytime when the download processing goes on 5%~15%,this machine gave a system error,such like "0xdead15"..

Anyway,i have downloaded the newest firmware 050622's file into my own PC.
So can you tell me is there another way to update the firmware via the firmware file saved in my pc?

thank you....

mcavs

07-30-05, 12:56 PM

I have heard that to many files will cause the link player to stop working. How many is to many? I am currently filling a 450gb server with 100+ files.

Also, has anyone been able to get the link player to "wake" a computer or server on LAN? I have not had any luck on 3 different computers.

irgaac

07-30-05, 12:59 PM

irgaac

07-30-05, 01:06 PM

I have heard that to many files will cause the link player to stop working. How many is to many? I am currently filling a 450gb server with 100+ files.

I have hundreds of video files and thousands of MP3 files and I have no lockup problems. You should be fine.

Also, has anyone been able to get the link player to "wake" a computer or server on LAN? I have not had any luck on 3 different computers.

Other folks have had success using wake on lan. Click "Search this Thread" at the top of the page and type in wake on lan.

mcavs

07-30-05, 01:58 PM

irgaac, thanks for the response. I had searched (wake on lan) but had forgot to put in in "quotes" and had gotten way to many responses. I had to go into device manager and enable wake on lan on the ethernet adapter. I thought I only had to do that in the BIOS.

xuyee2000

07-31-05, 03:51 AM

Try this post

hi,irgaac
with your help,I have updated the firmware...
This way is so fast and safe.....
thank you very much...

xuyee2000

07-31-05, 04:59 AM

Hi,all you

I want to talk about USB mess storage device used with AVlink player.

I have three Usb External Hard Drive……

One with usb chip PL-3507,it can be used with my new AVlink player.
But another two with usb chip in-system ISD300A1 can’t be used with my new AVlink player.

BTW,my usb flash disk(HP DANIEL F211,256M)does works well with my new player.

So,I think the problem is the AVlink player’s compatibility with usb chip in-system ISD300A1 is bad.
As i know,the usb chipset in avlink player is VIA VT6212L.

And someone else had this problem?

irgaac

07-31-05, 01:00 PM

Are all of your USB HDDs formatted FAT32?

xuyee2000

07-31-05, 09:03 PM

Are all of your USB HDDs formatted FAT32?
yeah,every partition is FAT32,when i connect my Usb External Hard Drive to the player,it can recognize the Usb External Hard Drive,but no label no content can be displayed..it is so strange.
today,I want to buy another Usb External Hard Drive(use another usb chipset,such like GL811E,ALI),and i will try again...
thank you

IODATA

08-01-05, 08:00 PM

Dear xuyee2000,

For your safe, please keep updating FW on our official way (internet connection). Thank you.

hi,irgaac
with your help,I have updated the firmware...
This way is so fast and safe.....
thank you very much...

IODATA

08-01-05, 08:04 PM

xuyee2000

08-01-05, 10:52 PM

Dear xuyee2000,

I guarantee 300A1 is the perfect chip for AVLP2. We have released a lot of USB storage products with Cypress 300A1 to Japanese market.
I am wondering if you have two or more partitions on it. It's not working. You may need to use it by one partition. Also we are offering "free formatter software" on our web site named as "LinkFormatter". It's for LP2 owners' usage only. But very useful for you. Thank you.
IO-DATA,thanks a lot.

Let me explain in detail.

I have three Usb External Hard Drive……

One with usb chip PL-3507,it can be used with my new AVlink player.
Inside it is a seagate 7000.2 160G hard disk.It has five partitions.
The first partition is FAT32.Another partitions are all NTFS.
So i think more partitions has no problem.hehe

Another two with usb chip in-system ISD300A1 can’t be used with my new AVlink player.

One is single chipset in-system ISD300A1 Usb External Hard Drive.
It has only one partitions,20G,FAT32.
When i insert it into usb port,the screen gives me a message"usb mess storage,SCSI"
(i don't know at this time SCSI means what???)and next it appears in the screen in line2,
no label,when i select it,press enter,no content.

The other is a Combo External Hard Drive with two chipsets,one is in-system ISD300A1,one is
Oxford 1394 chipset.Inside it is a seagate 4000.2 2.5" 80G disk.It has three partitions.
ALL partitions are FAT32.When i insert it into usb port,the screen gives me a message"usb mess storage"
and next it appears in the screen in line2,with label,when i select it,press enter,it seems that the
player hangs.I have to restart it.

BTW,i update the player's firmware with irgaac's way,but still with the official file downloaded from
the site myibox net(is it your official firmware file's server?).i have to do so cause i can't update the firmware
on our official way (internet connection). everytime when the download processing goes on 5%~15%,this
machine gave a system error,such like "0xdead15"..

waitting for you reply.

Paul_PDX

08-05-05, 01:02 PM

New Firmware Aug 02 2005

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: August 02, 2005
The latest Version: 08-83-050802-02-IOD-234-000
[ Update Info ]
- Improve network buffering performance
- Support 24bit wave audio file playback
- Fix the small size photo problem
- Display the elapse of playback time in VFD
- Display the playback file info (after hitting INFO button)

Spizz

08-05-05, 06:33 PM

Have they fixed the overscan issue when playing back .ts files?

PeterS

08-06-05, 12:33 AM

Ron Tobin

08-06-05, 08:12 AM

BTW: Can anyone confirm that this will read files greater than 4gb off of the net without a problem?

No problems reading large files from a network.

uofmtiger

08-06-05, 12:06 PM

BTW: Can anyone confirm that this will read files greater than 4gb off of the net without a problem? I have the UHDL and it only reads files directly off of it that are under 2GBs. However, it will allow the user to access huge files off of the UHDL if they are passed through the computer.

The 4GB limit is the USB limitation because it can only read up to FAT32.

PeterS

08-06-05, 03:05 PM

I have the ReadyNAS 600 which it now supports.

Will I be able to stream my TS files from this to the unit? There is no computer involved.

Thanks

TUFU

08-06-05, 09:15 PM

I had tested the overscan test clips provided by SMD on page 104 in my Japanese model of AVLP2 in 720P via DVI with overscan set to 0 (the default is +10) in PJ SANYO Z3 and I could see the same pictures as showed in the first picture by Paul_PDX(with computer DVI).

It doesn't matter which full or fit to screen mode choosed.
No overscan with DVI is what we should expect. So J just wanted to confirm this.

Dolfo

08-08-05, 10:31 AM

Does anyone have any news on the LP3? Sounds like they will be using the newer chipset with H.264 support - read it from them in a post on their web-site.

A time-frame would be nice - before I decide to replace the GoVideo 2730 with the LP2.

BTW: Can anyone confirm that this will read files greater than 4gb off of the net without a problem?

Thanks

This was also mentioned here a while back. At that time, it was mentioned that it would be out by the end of the year, but who knows if that still stands since they just got JVC to release the DVI version of the LP2. We'll see...

jm_etue

08-08-05, 08:51 PM

I've read a little and tried to search for a definitive answer to this question:

Does/will the JVC version of the IOData Linkplayer2 (SRDVD-100U) support the Sony camcorder derived 1080i HDV MPEG-TS file format?

On the JVC webpage http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/features.jsp?model_id=MDL101546

* Convenient and economical playback of HD from inexpensive DVD disks
* File playback of HDV™ MPEG-2 TS/PS (HD 720P, 1080i), WMV9, DivX® HD
* DVI and component analog outputs for 720p/1080i

But other documentation talks of only 720p HDV MPEG files from the JVC camcorders.

TUFU

08-09-05, 03:04 AM

The films shot by Sony HDV camcorders such as HDR-HC1 or FX1 are recorded in
M2T files which are supported by LP2.
I had played many 1080I HDV clips flawlessly in my Japanese model of LP2( with DVI).
LP2 can easily recognize the M2t files and play them either in DVD disc or from networked PC.
I think LP2 can play 1080I HDV M2T files whatever with(JVC SRDVD-100U) or without DVI.

jm_etue

08-09-05, 09:08 AM

Thanks for the verification!

madpoet

08-10-05, 11:12 AM

mabrym

08-10-05, 12:47 PM

http://www.oxyl.de/homepage/index.php

Finally there is a program that will allow you to create playlists from the couch. It has other functions for playing video, Shoutcast, web favorites, etc but I have not played around with any of that yet.

It's easy to install but there are a couple of quirks so I'll go over the process. Go to the web page above for the download (it's German, button for English at top of page), you will need Apace which is part of one complete download, or you can download the program by itself if you have Apache. Then follow the instructions on their web page for setting up Showcenter - basically you just create a new IP address on the LP and go to localhost xxxx. When you start Oxylbox you'll see a DOS window, ignore any error messages.

Then go to the localhost address and you'll see all the Oxyl icons. They will be in German and this is where I got stuck for a while. But you can go to "oxylbox setup" and click on "Sprachauswahl" and choose English. Then you set up the MP3 Browser. Go into Setup and click on Filebrowser and browse for media locations. Click confirm. Then you type in the name of the location (I think it has to be the exact same name as on the computer). Click on confirm again. Do this for as many locations as you want.

Now go to your LP and start the Oxylbox and browse for files. The MP3 Browser has to be in Playlist mode, you'll see "B-Mode" at the bottom of the screen and can scroll through the modes - one is Player, one is Playlist, I think there is a 3rd one as well. You can set a default in Setup. Highligh a song (s) and press Select. A green light will appear to the left. When done, click on "A-Play."

Unfortuately you will not be able to listen to songs while programming others, but I think this is an LP limitation.

kbellve

08-10-05, 12:49 PM

DouglasCleary

08-10-05, 01:26 PM

Has anyone applied the new firm ware? I got an email yesterday saying that there's a new one available.

Ron Tobin

08-10-05, 01:44 PM

Has anyone applied the new firm ware? I got an email yesterday saying that there's a new one available.

There was a new firmware drop last week dated August 5th. It works great.

buckeye1010

08-10-05, 06:18 PM

Has anyone applied the new firm ware? I got an email yesterday saying that there's a new one available.
Yes - one of the best! I have not read of anyone with any problems.

MikeE

08-10-05, 07:56 PM

I would like to push video and music myself to the IOData player. Instead, you must pull the video and music using the IOData player.

I use a projector/screen setup. I don't want to turn it on just to listen to MP3s from my computer.

Since the Linkplayer is now a standalone UPNP player this is getting a little closer. The big problem is the lack of a display on the player for navigation. Take a look at this thread
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=568427

At this time this is more a "proof of concept" and is not yet fully functional for the Linkplayer. You use the Pocket PC as a display to select and push music to the UPNP player. The Philips remote mentioned in the thread could also possibly work. There may even be other control programs for UPNP players floating around.

irgaac

08-11-05, 09:18 AM

Question on the loader upgrades... one of the older instruction posts said:

"1st-Installed the Liteon in my PC and set the region. Then downloaded a region free hack for this loader and applied it. Verified w/ DVDInfo that it was region free."

But I've since read that you can't do this anymore, or the player stops working sometimes. So can you still region-free hack this player or do I need to just rip the few non Region 1 disks I have and live with it?

The player is locked to region 1 in the player firmware, using region free DVD drive firmware doesn't gain you anything and will cause problems with discs that check to make sure the drive is set to region 1. I would just rip them.

Secondly, when dealing with .ts files. Do I need to have them all in one large .ts, or can it play without skipping a sequence of files?

It can play a sequence of files but you won't be happy with it if they are pieces of a single presentation. There is a slight delay between files and a playing file 1 of X message in between.

irgaac

08-11-05, 09:25 AM

Yes - one of the best! I have not read of anyone with any problems.

There are a couple of reports on the IO-Data forums of some DivX/XviD playback problems, mostly FF/REW related.

madpoet

08-11-05, 09:33 AM

The player is locked to region 1 in the player firmware, using region free DVD drive firmware doesn't gain you anything and will cause problems with discs that check to make sure the drive is set to region 1. I would just rip them.

It can play a sequence of files but you won't be happy with it if they are pieces of a single presentation. There is a slight delay between files and a playing file 1 of X message in between.

Thank you for the answers, I've got my LP2 on order and will arrange my media server appropriately :). Annoying about the file sequence thing, but oh well. Not the end of the world. Now to see if I have enough guts to do the filter mod ;)

mabrym

08-11-05, 10:16 AM

Since the Linkplayer is now a standalone UPNP player this is getting a little closer. The big problem is the lack of a display on the player for navigation. Take a look at this thread
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=568427

At this time this is more a "proof of concept" and is not yet fully functional for the Linkplayer. You use the Pocket PC as a display to select and push music to the UPNP player. The Philips remote mentioned in the thread could also possibly work. There may even be other control programs for UPNP players floating around.

Did LP become *fully* UPNP on the Aug 5 firmware? Because before that I could not get it to work with JRiver Media Center server. I could do some things but not all.

MikeE

08-11-05, 11:21 AM

Did LP become *fully* UPNP on the Aug 5 firmware? Because before that I could not get it to work with JRiver Media Center server. I could do some things but not all.

I think that may still be the case. I suspect that is why that some of the Rudeo functions would not work.

JimmytheSaint

08-12-05, 02:10 AM

SeeMoreDigital

08-12-05, 04:55 AM

Are there any plans to launch the Linkplayer in Europe (UK)?
If not, I'm coming over to the States next month and will pick one up then or have it delivered before I leave, but I need to clarify a couple of things first, so would greatly appreciate any input... Speaking as a fellow European, I would not recommend buying this player!

Wait for the proposed October launch of the Australian (PAL) Zensonic Z500.

Cheers

irgaac

08-12-05, 09:05 AM

Are there any plans to launch the Linkplayer in Europe (UK)?
If not, I'm coming over to the States next month and will pick one up then or have it delivered before I leave, but I need to clarify a couple of things first, so would greatly appreciate any input:-

Is there anyway at all (that works) to make the unit multiregion?
I will be streaming .ts 1080i and 720P files over my network and into a scaler to output 1080P. Will it also stream WMV9 and DiVX HD?
Is the D4 output that goes to a component lead the only output, or is there a D4 to DVI lead (or VGA) available?
Is the new JVC version worth buying instead?
And finally guys, where is the best/cheapest place to get one of these in the US?

Regards

:)

Yes they plan to launch a Euro product, no one knows when though

No, there is no region hack available. If you want to play R2 stuff you need to rip it and remove the region code.

Yes it will play WMV9 and DivX HD

D4 to component is the only HD connection available with the AVLP2

No one knows yet, we haven't heard from anyone who has the JVC player.

It's the same price whether you get it from I-O Data direct or from Digital Connections.

rhubarbe

08-12-05, 12:26 PM

Wait for the proposed October launch of the Australian (PAL) Zensonic Z500.

CheersHave you heard anything that makes you think that October will actually see the release of the Zensonic Z500.

Imagine what the back order queue will be like.... :(

SeeMoreDigital

08-12-05, 12:49 PM

Have you heard anything that makes you think that October will actually see the release of the Zensonic Z500.

Imagine what the back order queue will be like.... :(I've been in direct contact with Raaj Menon, the head man at Zensonic for some months.

The main reason why this player has been delayed this long is due to obtaining HDCP approval for the HDMI digital video output connector.... It's been much more work than anybody anticipated and took months rather than weeks to sort out :eek:

Cheers

Tom Roper

08-13-05, 01:51 AM

Speaking as a fellow European, I would not recommend buying this player!

Wait for the proposed October launch of the Australian (PAL) Zensonic Z500.

Cheers

I'm pretty happy to have owned mine for the last year. Another year with the flaky HTPC would have been frustrating. I don't think there is anything better, and everything that will be isn't here yet.

mcavs

08-13-05, 11:27 AM

I'd have to say that I am very happy with mine also. The wife and kids never could figure out the HTPC, this thing is a piece of cake to use. I have ripped all of my DVD,s to MPEG2 files on a server. I am able to watch them with subtitles (I am hard of hearing) just point and click, couldn't be easier. I am also able to play .TS files recorded from my MyHD and Fusion HD TV tuner cards. Also, what other set top box can you update the firmware every month and get new features and improvements on others?

SeeMoreDigital

08-13-05, 12:59 PM

Blimey!

Everyone, please don't get the notion that I'm saying the AVLP2 is bad... It's clearly not ;)

All I'm trying is, the Z500 player will offer better connectivity for us PAL users - when it's (eventually) launched. Including: -

Scart video socket
Component video output via 3No RCA/phono (not D4)
HDMI video output
6Ch analogue audio outputs. Offering: DVD-Audio, WMA Pro, 6Ch AAC-LC, FLAC, Vorbis etc
NeroDigital Certification. Offering much better support for MPEG-4/AAC within the .MP4 container
Better quality DVD-ROM drive/loader
16MB flash memory
Nero Media Home, Windows Media Connect, TwonkyVision (Full Version), supporting: Windows, MacOS X and Linux

You guy's have made me sound like a salesman :eek:

EDIT: I forgot to mention, the really cool looking "back-lit" remote control

Cheers

Dolfo

08-13-05, 03:54 PM

SeeMoreDigital

08-13-05, 04:55 PM

There is also the Snazio player that seems to be available in Europe now and has the same features that the Zensonic is supposed to have.You mean the SnaZio SZ1350 ;)

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/7500/snaziosz13508sd.png

Have you managed to find a European distributer?

Cheers

JimmytheSaint

08-14-05, 05:57 AM

Well, I've managed to find a European distributor here (http://www.livingcinema.nl/)
Can someone fill me in a little on this player, other than the 'snazzy' name.
Will I be able to play .ts high def files over my network and does it ouput the HD on the DVI output (is it DVI-I or DVI-D) or just component?

Cheers

SeeMoreDigital

08-14-05, 07:55 AM

Hi Jimmy,

You might find some more information over in this thread: -

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=501115

Cheers

rumpole

08-15-05, 11:16 AM

h2ofun

08-15-05, 03:08 PM

I am seeing the same thing. Is this the new f/w update causing?

Dave

Steely

08-15-05, 03:18 PM

istreamdvds

08-16-05, 01:12 AM

Twice I have rolled back the august five firmware. when I power up the player the color is off. the red looks bad. there is no background in the select area of the cd/dvd brose and the dvd play dark. at first i thought there was a loose cable. roll back fixed it. reapplied everything ok then next bad. roll back ok. any thoughts.
thanks

Yes, I had this problem too. Also TVersity server stopped working with "no content
found" messages. I rolled back and all was well again. Have not investigated any
further though.

Ron Tobin

08-16-05, 08:00 AM

Anyone ever figure out the discrete on and off remote codes? I have a MX-500 and need to program these. The WAF factor is very low because of this. I have everything else automated, but the power toggle just doesn't cut it.

Steely,
I don't believe discrete codes exist. The power switch is a simple toggle. I could be wrong, but that may be why no one has responded to you yet.

Steely

08-16-05, 08:45 AM

I thought that might be the answer. I also posted over at the I-O DATA forum to second that request.

madpoet

08-16-05, 09:04 AM

Is there a consensus "best" media server software to use? I just want to serve up my HD content (usually in .ts format), nothing else.

rumpole

08-16-05, 09:27 AM

Yes, I had this problem too. Also TVersity server stopped working with "no content
found" messages. I rolled back and all was well again. Have not investigated any
further though.

Glad to see that it isnt just my player. thanks

MikeE

08-16-05, 03:05 PM

Just got through testing out SwissCenter (http://www.swisscenter.co.uk/)

The software now supports the Linkplayer and is the best media center/server program for the linkplayer that I have used (and i have tried most of them). Here is a few of the features I liked:

1. Very nice looking and easy to use user interface.
2. Automatic updates to the software.
3. Very nice Weather information screen. Current and extended.
4. Internet Radio support.
5. Decent slide show support for photographs with some simple wipes.
6. The music features were extremely nice. The software creates a searchable database from the ID Tags and can group music by several categories such as Artist, Title, etc. The database is searchable from the remote if you needed to find a certain song. You can create "on the fly" playlists. Supports album art that can be displayed as music plays. You just need a .jpg album art file in the music folder.
7. It appears that the Video section has the ability to have cover art also. The software also says that it can search for extended information about a movie if it is labeled properly. I did not have time to mess with the video features yet.
8. Skinable

Overall a very nice effort and the author looks like he is open to suggestions.

Paul_PDX

08-16-05, 03:07 PM

SInce I see several comments on the Snazio and Zensonic the last few pages I'll point up a couple plusses for the LP2 --

Snazio won't upscale commercial DVDs with copy protection since it doesn't have HDCP.

I expect Zensonic will not upscale on component (if that is the output you need) since HDCP certification will prohibit it). Probably will be locked region do to HDCP as well (same as IODATA).

Howeverm If zensonic does deliver on time (and does an R1 version for us here in the states) I do expect them to be a very good option for DVI/HDMI users whose sets support HDCP.

Paul_PDX

08-16-05, 03:13 PM

Just got through testing out SwissCenter (http://www.swisscenter.co.uk/)

The software now supports the Linkplayer and is the best media center/server program for the linkplayer that I have used (and i have tried most of them). Here is a few of the features I liked:

17. It appears that the Video section has the ability to have cover art also. The software also says that it can search for extended information about a movie if it is labeled properly. I did not have time to mess with the video features yet.

I've been playing with it as well and definitely will use it for my music database -- I am still undecided on video as the video art and information lookup is sporadic as the name of your file has to exactly match the name in a European movie database (which often is behind on having info as titles are often released in the US first). The music art can use the files from windows media player -- I haven't figured out where to add file extensions that should be treated as video like I can in Wizd (still my favorite for DVDs).

StickyC

08-16-05, 11:22 PM

irgaac

08-17-05, 09:25 AM

So I've seen several posts stating that the JVC D4 cable is technically better than the LinkPlayer's included cable, has anyone actually picked one up and is it in practice better? I don't need the extra length, but would be willing to put down the extra $50 for a better picture.

Tom Roper owns one since it came with his camera, he said it makes the picture cleaner, not a dramatic difference but noticeable. Also the D4 connector on the JVC has a much better fit to the player which may be the reason it looks slightly better.

irgaac

08-17-05, 09:33 AM

Paul and Mike,

How is memory usage with swisscenter compared to the stock software? The stock software is a memory hog.

StickyC

08-17-05, 01:55 PM

Tom Roper owns one since it came with his camera, he said it makes the picture cleaner, not a dramatic difference but noticeable. Also the D4 connector on the JVC has a much better fit to the player which may be the reason it looks slightly better.

I went ahead and ordered one, I'll post my test results when I get it all plugged in next week.

MF70

08-17-05, 03:23 PM

I am seeing the same thing. Is this the new f/w update causing?

Dave

Hi Dave!
Glad to read you once more since the good old days of the JVC 30000D-VHS forum! I remember that you had several of those machines. I have 3 at the present time and use them from time to time to play tapes. I also have an Avel Link Player and am very happy with it. The FW dated August 5th has nNOT caused any problems at all with the color rendition here in Walnut Creek, CA. I am stil using my 39-inch direct-view RCA that I bought back in April of 2001. Anyway, I just wanted to say hi to a forum fellow member.

yanksno1

08-17-05, 04:56 PM

I've been playing with it as well and definitely will use it for my music database -- I am still undecided on video as the video art and information lookup is sporadic as the name of your file has to exactly match the name in a European movie database (which often is behind on having info as titles are often released in the US first). The music art can use the files from windows media player -- I haven't figured out where to add file extensions that should be treated as video like I can in Wizd (still my favorite for DVDs).
One suggestion you might want to make to him (since it appears he's open to suggestions) is to add an option to download the cover-art from a US place like Amazon or something. That way you don't have to rely on the UK based site and can choose from US or UK.

Also, does is the video files playability affected at all by the swisscenter? The big things I want my linkplayer to do is to upscale dvds and play divx files on my HDTV. Have you guys noticed any changes with the linkplayer functionality with this software?

This is a very cool app and looks like would be great for my needs (it'd make the linkplayer like a mini HTPC). Do you guys modify the windows install at all to make it work with the linkplayer, or does it work automatically?

MikeE

08-18-05, 04:13 PM

One suggestion you might want to make to him (since it appears he's open to suggestions) is to add an option to download the cover-art from a US place like Amazon or something. That way you don't have to rely on the UK based site and can choose from US or UK.

Also, does is the video files playability affected at all by the swisscenter? The big things I want my linkplayer to do is to upscale dvds and play divx files on my HDTV. Have you guys noticed any changes with the linkplayer functionality with this software?

This is a very cool app and looks like would be great for my needs (it'd make the linkplayer like a mini HTPC). Do you guys modify the windows install at all to make it work with the linkplayer, or does it work automatically?

I don't think at this time it does any processing of video in anyway. It simply just passes the requested file along to the player. If the player is compatible with the file, it should play.

MikeE

08-18-05, 04:17 PM

Paul and Mike,

How is memory usage with swisscenter compared to the stock software? The stock software is a memory hog.

I haven't checked it yet, but the server program looks pretty small like WIZD. When it is installed you can also set it up as a Windows service that runs in the background. This may also affect the memory.

madpoet

08-18-05, 08:42 PM

Got mine, made the DVD swap (which didn't go well... things just not lining up right!) and tried setting up wizd. I put in the path to my folders as:

alias DVD Z:\dvd\ifos
alias HD y:\HD

Underneath that I have folders with the movie name, and under that the VIDEO_TS folders with the movies for DVD. HD plays fine, but when I browse to the DVD folder I get a 404 file not found error page. Any pointers what I did wrong?

loquatsoft

08-19-05, 08:54 PM

I haven't checked it yet, but the server program looks pretty small like WIZD. When it is installed you can also set it up as a Windows service that runs in the background. This may also affect the memory.

Yeah. Mine run just fine on Win2K and XP MCE as services.

One thing I like about the Simple Media Server is the security feature. I can create each user with different access level, and rating each directory (like TV-Rating). Don't have to worry about kids accessing the "Wrong" movies anymore. Switching user using remote is pretty easy.

Thank you MikeE!

StickyC

08-20-05, 02:14 AM

I went ahead and ordered one, I'll post my test results when I get it all plugged in next week.

I got the JVC cable today (wow, that was mighty quick - 2 day turnaround! UPS Ground from San Diego to San Jose)

In my case, I'd say the difference was pretty dramatic. Most noticeable right out the gate were the menus - much sharper - the text was much easier to read.

I watched some of the WMV-HD demos from Microsoft's site, they were also much sharper and the colors brighter.

The final test was to throw in Finding Nemo. My parents had picked up a Panasonic plasma set last week we'd watched Nemo on that and I was blown away by the colors. I'd checked out the colors on my setup at home back with the old cables and they were much more muted, which made me a sad panda. With the new JVC cables, they're still not as good as the plasma, but much much brighter (this is on a 4 old Mits 65809 RP HDTV).

It also does provide a much tighter connection to the back of the player. The included cables were pretty loose (to the point where I had to wiggle the connector a few times to get all the terminals to make contact). It's still not as tight as most other multi-pin connections (DVI, USB, DB-9, etc), but it does the job just fine.

At a grand total of $58.16 w/tax & shipping, that's a pretty big percentage of the cost of the player, but I think it was well worth it. YMMV.

madpoet

08-22-05, 01:44 PM

potus

08-22-05, 03:40 PM

Weird wizd issue... I corrected the DVD pointer so that it now sees my folders. For reference, apparently you can only have them two layers down? Anyway, when I go to playback ripped DVDs I am getting a tiny little window inside the screen, almost like it's showing a 720x480 window inside my 1920x1080 window. I also am having problems figuring out what I should select to play! If I browse the the Video_TS folder and choose Play All it eventually gets to the movie but goes through a lot of other stuff first. Shouldn't I be able to select the IFO file?

You probably have your zoom mode set to "Actual Size". Hit the "Zoom" button on the remote. There should be a mode there that will work better.

When you enter the folder of a particular DVD, I think wizd puts up a separate item for each title it finds, listing the chapter count. I select the one with the most chapters, and hit play. This is usually the one you want.

Also, when you rip your dvds, you probably want to remove all but the desired soundtrack. Some dvds switch track assignment between VOB files, and the linkplayer does not seem to handle this. If you don't do this, it may switch to French in the middle of the movie...

IODATA

08-22-05, 03:51 PM

Dear StickyC,

You might know I-O DATA would provide the Component (female) D4 adapter for free. You just send an e-mail to I-O DATA. Thank you.
http://www.iodata.com/usa/products/products.php?cat=HNP&sc=AVEL&ts=2&tsc=&sc=AVEL&pId=MA-D4%2FCPF

I got the JVC cable today (wow, that was mighty quick - 2 day turnaround! UPS Ground from San Diego to San Jose)

In my case, I'd say the difference was pretty dramatic. Most noticeable right out the gate were the menus - much sharper - the text was much easier to read.

I watched some of the WMV-HD demos from Microsoft's site, they were also much sharper and the colors brighter.

The final test was to throw in Finding Nemo. My parents had picked up a Panasonic plasma set last week we'd watched Nemo on that and I was blown away by the colors. I'd checked out the colors on my setup at home back with the old cables and they were much more muted, which made me a sad panda. With the new JVC cables, they're still not as good as the plasma, but much much brighter (this is on a 4 old Mits 65809 RP HDTV).

It also does provide a much tighter connection to the back of the player. The included cables were pretty loose (to the point where I had to wiggle the connector a few times to get all the terminals to make contact). It's still not as tight as most other multi-pin connections (DVI, USB, DB-9, etc), but it does the job just fine.

At a grand total of $58.16 w/tax & shipping, that's a pretty big percentage of the cost of the player, but I think it was well worth it. YMMV.

IODATA

08-22-05, 04:10 PM

We don't have much knowledge for WIZD, also I-O DATA doesn't recommend DVD disc data playback from PC. Basically please use DVD on LP2 DVD tray. Perhaps some LP2 owners help you at this forum:
http://www.iodata.com/usa/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=110

But LinkServer might be able to pick up some data from PC's DVD drive. But if PC doesn't recognize the inserted DVD, LP2 cannot pick up anything. WIZD has the same operation, I think. Try to access to that folder just after inserted a disc into your PC DVD drive. Thank you.

Got mine, made the DVD swap (which didn't go well... things just not lining up right!) and tried setting up wizd. I put in the path to my folders as:

alias DVD Z:\dvd\ifos
alias HD y:\HD

Underneath that I have folders with the movie name, and under that the VIDEO_TS folders with the movies for DVD. HD plays fine, but when I browse to the DVD folder I get a 404 file not found error page. Any pointers what I did wrong?

SeeMoreDigital

08-22-05, 05:49 PM

Hi IODATA,

Like many people here I share there disappointment in not being able to navigate to their DVD back-ups via a network!

Speaking as someone who converts media for a living my DVD needs are probably a little different to others here.

I receive "Show Reels" from various clients on DVD's which I rip and store as ISO files on (external) hard-drives. Most of these DVD's have pretty sort run-times with simple menu's pointing to several clips, most of which are only a few seconds long (TV commercials, trailers, sponsored by clips and the odd pop promo).

At the present time I have around hundred "Show Reels", so for someone like me, I really need a reliable method of navigation to the individual clips stored on the individual ISO's!

Cheers

StickyC

08-22-05, 06:32 PM

Dear StickyC,

You might know I-O DATA would provide the Component (female) D4 adapter for free. You just send an e-mail to I-O DATA. Thank you.
http://www.iodata.com/usa/products/products.php?cat=HNP&sc=AVEL&ts=2&tsc=&sc=AVEL&pId=MA-D4%2FCPF

Thanks - actually, a D4->Component cable did come with my LinkPlayer2, but I had heard that the JVC cable offered a higher-quality signal path and decided to upgrade.

madpoet

08-22-05, 08:15 PM

Thanks IODATA (you really need a name!) :). But like most here, the fact is that I've got an extensive collection of DVDs backed up on my file server. I really don't get the hesitation on your part to support this. This is a networked player, right? I mean, you want us to be able to play stuff from the network :). I can't believe it would be that difficult for the Linkplayer2 to read and understand the IFO of a ripped DVD considering it can of course do this for a DVD in the tray. Really enjoying my Linkplayer so far, but this is a pretty bad shortcoming.

potus, thanks for the tip. Had no idea on the zoom!

mcavs

08-22-05, 08:41 PM

Madpoet I have arrived at my own solution to the ripped DVD issue. I have converted over 150 DVD,s to Mpeg2 files and put them on my server. 90+% of my rips are movie only with no extra,s that is the way I like it. If there are extra,s that I want to keep I put them in a folder with the movie. When converted, I sill have access to the closed caption which is important to me because of my hearing loss. the only real loss is the chapters. The WAF on this thing is incredible compared to the 2 years I spent on my HTPC that now sits idle in the corner.

I am now trying to figure out how to stream live or time shifted OTA HDTV from my MyHD or Fusion cards through my network to the link player. Any Idea's?

catware

08-22-05, 11:42 PM

Thanks IODATA (you really need a name!) :). His name is Jack.

(it is still you that's posting, right Jack?) ;)

~michelle

JRad

08-23-05, 02:12 AM

mcavs,
I don't know if this pertains to you or if it will work for you but I have a Happaugge PVR-250 card (SD) that I can watch the file while it is recording through the LinkPlayer. I start the recording on my PC and it automatically puts the file into a watched folder. When I turn on the LinkPlayer it is there. I would be interested myself if it works on your HD card, I am thinking about upgrading to HD. :)

JRad

madpoet

08-23-05, 08:32 AM

It works as long as the card you use supports open reads on the file it is recording to. I tried it with my MyHD 130.

mcavs

08-23-05, 07:22 PM

I tried it on my MyHD 130 also with no luck. The Fusion cards use some funky kind of temp file while recording or timeshifting. I also tried streaming using VLC - Video Lan also without success.

madpoet

08-23-05, 08:53 PM

Sorry, to be clear I meant I had used the LP2 to play a currently open file from MyHD.

Paul_PDX

08-24-05, 01:41 PM

I tried it on my MyHD 130 also with no luck. The Fusion cards use some funky kind of temp file while recording or timeshifting. I also tried streaming using VLC - Video Lan also without success.

MyHD works fine -- just don't try and use your timeshift files -- use real recordings.

My steps -- while recording I use wizd as my player and play a recording TP stream as it is being recorded -- I don't try to use the MYHD timeshift buffer itself -- I have my captures set to create 1 large file not lots of small chunks. I usually wait at least 10 minutes in on a half hour program and 15 minutes in on an hour long showbefore starting so I can ff thru the commercials as I encounter them. If you catch up/pass real time the LP2 will think it is end of file and stop playing.

If you are watching a recording with no commercials or you don't plan to ff you can start playing almost as soon as the recording has begun.

I have 2 LP2s and I have successfully done this with both players watching the same show in 2 rooms playing slightly out of synch with each other.

(BTW one other plus with WIZD is you can delete the recording after playing if it is a show you don't care to keep.)

gman76

08-24-05, 03:06 PM

It works as long as the card you use supports open reads on the file it is recording to. I tried it with my MyHD 130.

It sure would be nice to create a list of tuner cards that are capable of "open reads". For example, maybe all Hauppauge cards support this, Avermedia do/don't, ATI do/don't, MyHD cards don't, etc.

So related to this, is it true that a true realtime live TV stream cannot be piped to the LP2? Only a time-shifted (recorded to hard disk)?

Paul_PDX

08-24-05, 03:37 PM

It sure would be nice to create a list of tuner cards that are capable of "open reads". For example, maybe all Hauppauge cards support this, Avermedia do/don't, ATI do/don't, MyHD cards don't, etc.

MYHD is capable of this -- they did that many driver versions back so people could watch over the network from another pc or play with a software player while recording. See my post above it works fine (MYHD MDP-120).

DouglasCleary

08-24-05, 05:00 PM

Paul_PDX

08-24-05, 06:06 PM

I ran this benchmark dvd on the IODATA and all I can say is YIKES. It failed nearly every test. A good progressive scan - upscaling dvd player this is not.

If it weren't for its capability to play HD content I wouldn't recommend this thing.

What was its score?? Especially the breakdown. And what resolution did you test at 720p or 1080i (what display brand as well).

Chhuong

08-24-05, 11:07 PM

I ran this benchmark dvd on the IODATA and all I can say is YIKES. It failed nearly every test. A good progressive scan - upscaling dvd player this is not.

If it weren't for its capability to play HD content I wouldn't recommend this thing.

well it should atleast score as high as the momitsu if not higher!!

SeeMoreDigital

08-25-05, 04:31 AM

well it should atleast score as high as the momitsu if not higher!!I would assume the LP2's stock DVD loader would be its main "Achilles heel"....

Cheers

irgaac

08-25-05, 10:14 AM

I ran this benchmark dvd on the IODATA and all I can say is YIKES. It failed nearly every test. A good progressive scan - upscaling dvd player this is not.

If it weren't for its capability to play HD content I wouldn't recommend this thing.

What did you think of it as a DVD player before the benchmark?

Dolfo

08-25-05, 10:26 AM

IMO, some of those benchmark tests only sound good on paper anyways. A lot of them test things that 90% of consumers will never notice one way or the other. I have owned a lot of DVD players that performed badly on Benchmark tests, but seemed to work just fine to me. As badly as this player supposedly did, everyone that owns one seems happy enough.

Also, they don't necessarily cater to a specialty player's primary function. For example, I am willing to bet that this benchmark didn't use any HD material and didn't exercise any of the networking capabilities.

DouglasCleary

08-25-05, 10:59 AM

What was its score?? Especially the breakdown. And what resolution did you test at 720p or 1080i (what display brand as well).

I did not score it but it I recall that it pretty much failed each test. I'll try running it again and do the scoring. I tested at 480P so that only the deinterlacing was being used. I was comparing my TV (Vizio P50HDM - 1366x768, Faroudja DCDi deinterlacing, Optplus Rembrant scaler) which has a good deinterlacing chip. I ran 480i out of the dvd player into the TV to test the TV (passed with flying colors). I then ran the DVD player at 480P and got bad results. I will try running the tests at other resolutions and provide the scores.

I use the player to watch HD content and much of that is 1080i and so I don't have the player do anything to video. Divx, Xvid and WMV are already progressive so it has not really been an issue. I don't play many standard dvd's so I really haven't run into many issues.

It is true that most people won't notice but once you see what you are missing it does bother you. If you like the player then don't look into this stuff. Ignorance is bliss.

Tom Roper

08-26-05, 01:03 AM

Ignorance is bliss.

...or intelligence is misery, because I was enlightened to own (still do) a top performing Panny RP-82 when people were stampeding to them on ebay.

The LP2 has many flaws, but it's inescapable that its true HD reproduction knocks the socks off of any masquerading 480i/p.

DouglasCleary

08-26-05, 08:57 AM

Tom - you're right. I am finding that my liteon is locking up alot more lately, are you still experiencing the lock-ups?

Back to the benchmark

Ok, so I re-ran the tests using the Silicon Optix HQV Benchmark DVD against the IOData in both 480P and 720P. For those who don't know Silicon Optix is making what is probably the best deinterlacer on the market (used Algolith Dragonfly and Denon's top player) and this benchmark is probably meant to show where it beats other competitors (Faroudja in particular). Some of the tests on the disk are no doubt meant to seperate the men from the boys. There is a guide that accompanies the disk which I believe shoudl be available at Silicon Optix's site. With that in mind here are the numbers

Test - (range) 480P 720P
---------------------- ------ ------
Color Bars (0,10) 0 0
Jaggies1 (0,3,5) 3 3
Jaggies2 (0,1,3,5) 0 0
Flag (0,5,10) 0 0
Detail (0,5,10) 0 0
Noise Reduction (0,5,10) 0 0
NR w/Motion (0,5,10) 0 0
Film Detail (0,5,10) 0 0
Film Cadence - 2:2 (0,5) 0 0
Film Cadence - 2:2:2:4 (0,5) 0 0
Film Cadence - 2:3:3:2 (0,5) 0 0
Film Cadence - 3:2:3:2:2 (0,5) 0 0
Film Cadence - 5:5 (0,5) 0 0
Film Cadence - 6:4 (0,5) 0 0
Film Cadence - 8:7 (0,5) 0 0
Film Cadence - 3:2 (0,5) 0 0
Scrolling Text (0,5,10) 5 5
Credits (0,5,10) 10 10
-------------------------- ----- ------
Total (possible max 130) 18 18

Not very impressive.

Dolfo

08-26-05, 09:41 AM

Not very impressive.

... yet nothing but praises from LP2 owners. :rolleyes:

JRad

08-26-05, 11:38 AM

I, for one, did not buy the LinkPlayer for its's DVD player. I bought it for it's networking capabilities. I would venture that most others are the same. I'm with Tom, it does have some flaws but IMO, it is the best networked player available.

JRad

DouglasCleary

08-26-05, 01:20 PM

Like I said I don't use it to play standard DVD's (mpeg2 - 480i) movies so I am happy with it. Networked or DVD based movies which are mpeg2 and interlaced will exhibit these problems. How many movies will have these problems? Probably not many. My intention was not to say that this isn't a good player, simply that it is not very good for upconverting standard dvd's. I would agree that it is the best HD capable player.

MacHound

09-04-05, 06:33 PM

Reading the Snazzio thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=573406&page=4&pp=30) it sounds like theSZ-1350 has LinkPlayer2's DVD playback beat. I-O Data had better address these scaling & overscan issues soon. I've had no overscan problems with my Fujitsu P42VHA40US plasma EDTV but it sounds like I'm in the minority in this regard.

h2ofun

09-05-05, 11:49 AM

Looks like my player may have broken since it will not longer play DVD+r DL discs which it used to. So, how does IO data handle failures? I could not seem to find what their warranty is. Do they exchange units with an RMA?

Thanks

Dave

irgaac

09-05-05, 09:35 PM

I would call them.

Toll Free 1-866-6-IODATA (1-866-646-3282)
6:30 AM to 6:30 PM Pacific Standard Time (Monday to Saturday)

arioch

09-06-05, 05:32 AM

Is there still no way of out-put:ing upscaled DVD-video from the internal DVD-ROM via DVI?
Someone must have made a hack for this..?

TUFU

09-09-05, 10:15 AM

madpoet

09-09-05, 10:51 AM

Did it make the player region free?

TUFU

09-09-05, 12:00 PM

Did it make the player region free?
Yes,it makes the player region free.

DouglasCleary

09-09-05, 12:03 PM

I am curious, if you were to encode a 1920x1080i source using WMV, Divx or Xvid to 1080P and played this on the LinkPlayer2 what would it be sending out?

mherman2

09-09-05, 12:46 PM

Does the region free trick work on the US version as well?

SeeMoreDigital

09-09-05, 01:54 PM

I am curious, if you were to encode a 1920x1080i source using WMV, Divx or Xvid to 1080P and played this on the LinkPlayer2 what would it be sending out?According to Sigma's specification for EM8620L chip-set. It supports WMV9 at upto 1440x1080 (anamorphic). And MPEG-4 (such as DivX, XviD, NeroDigital, 3ivx etc) at upto 1280x720.

Cheers

DouglasCleary

09-09-05, 03:33 PM

According to Sigma's specification for EM8620L chip-set. It supports WMV9 at upto 1440x1080 (anamorphic). And MPEG-4 (such as DivX, XviD, NeroDigital, 3ivx etc) at upto 1280x720.
Cheers

OK, but what is it sending out signal wise? I don't think component can send 1080P, can it? So if the source is 1440x1080P then what does the player do with that progressive content? Can it be converted to an interlaced signal? Or does it get scaled down to 720P?

SeeMoreDigital

09-09-05, 03:57 PM

I've just generated some MPEG-4 and WMV9 1920x1080/25p test files and played them on another Sigma EM8620L chip-set based capable device via component...

I can confirm that playback of WMV9 at a resolution of 1920x1080/88p content was not possible at all. But playback of MPEG-4 at 1920x1080/88p with a bitrate of 10Mbps worked perfectly ;)

Cheers

madpoet

09-09-05, 04:47 PM

Sweet! I can finally use my Region 3 disks in it!

jriihi

09-09-05, 06:34 PM

Just happened to see this trick to make AVLP2 region free.
Press " SLOW BACKWARD" button in the setup screen
then press"4 6 4 6"
a "region code" appeared
press "0"
"open ,saving" appeared, done.

It worked in my Japanese model of AVLP2.
But I still can't get DVI output via DVD-ROM.

Hm i notice that is it almost same code as posted for snazio. they posted also dvi upscaling enabling code for snazio. Btw 1212 was code dvi css on snazio (after that 1 to disable 0 to enable). Difference in region code was slow forward instead of slow backward.

mherman2

09-10-05, 02:04 AM

Sweet! I can finally use my Region 3 disks in it!

Madpoet, do you have the Japanese or US Version? Does it work for both?

mherman2

09-10-05, 02:21 AM

TUFU, was the Region free trick in the MAIN setup screen or the DVD setup screen?

TUFU

09-10-05, 08:44 PM

It should be in the MAIN setup screen.

One of my friend had a networked HDTV player made and just sold in China which was region free with 1080i,720p upconverstion from component and DVI output from DVD-ROM. I may have a chance to test it recently. \
Also from the expreience of Snazio,I think that LP2 with DVI may have a secret cheat to open the function of DVD-VIDEO output via DVI.

irgaac

09-11-05, 02:42 AM

I finally got around to trying the region free hack on my player tonight. It would accept the code but when I tried to input region 0 it flashed invalid on the screen. I don't have any non region 1 discs to test it with so don't know if anything changed.

TUFU

09-11-05, 08:13 PM

The trick seemed very sensitive to the timing of button pressed.
I got "invalid" response several times when I tried to use this cheat.
Maybe you can tried number 1 with "north america" or 3 with "asia" to see whether it worked.Sometimes, after the 4-digit code,I pressed the "SLOW BACKWARE" button and I'll get the "open saving"message which meaned succesfully.
Otherwise,maybe this trick is not worked in US model.

Rob79

09-12-05, 11:05 AM

Try Slow, 12121, and see if this gets you playing DVD over DVI, it works for the snazio just like the slow 4646 code, so give it a try. >;)

CCamfield

09-16-05, 11:21 AM

Hey all,

I'm wondering if you could give me your impression on whether the Linkplayer2 is the player I should pick up or not.

I'm looking for something which

- has at least DivX/XVid and preferably some other computer formats supported
- has some capability of playing files other than off a DVD
- is region-free or region-unlockable

Otherwise I'd be playing commercial DVDs.

Things I've been investigating are the I-O Data Avel Linkplayer 2, and the Movix hard drive "media player" case. (But since that requires a separate HD purchase, I'm not so sure about that, although I have a small spare HD I could use.)

However, right now high definition is a long way away for me. I don't even have 5.1 although now that I have moved into a bigger apartment, plan on that.

The Linkplayer sounds pretty good, but due to my apartment setup I would expect to use it by connecting a USB device or via wireless rather than a wired network. (I have an external 250GB I-O Data hard drive that I bought in Japan; I don't remember if it's FAT-formatted or not, but would not object much to having to move it to the Linkplayer when I want to watch a movie file.)

So I wonder if it's the right player for me or not. I ran across some review information, but from what I have read of this thread, there have been quite a few firmware upgrades, so it's hard to know exactly where it's at. Maybe there's something else that would suit me better?

madpoet

09-16-05, 11:35 AM

" is region-free or region-unlockable"

Nope.

CCamfield

09-16-05, 11:41 AM

So the stuff about the region-unlock above is unconfirmed? Only works with the Japanese version? Doesn't work?

TUFU

09-16-05, 12:04 PM

http://www.iodata.com/usa/forum/showthread.php?t=178&page=3&pp=10

MacHound

09-16-05, 01:52 PM

I'm wondering if you could give me your impression on whether the Linkplayer2 is the player I should pick up or not.

Yes, as TUFU pointed out the region unlock fix is confirmed. (I haven't personally tried it as all my DVDs are region 1.)

The question of whether it's the right player for you is harder to answer. That depends on your future expansion plans, on your budget and what you're trying to accomplish. As a network media player it's pretty good, especially when playing content up to 1080i. On a SD display the picture is crystal clear. (The inductor/capacitor LP2 mod is for HDTV owners if blurriness is a problem.) The player runs cool and quiet. The price is right for a player with these capacities. Support is excellent.

I-O Data is making definite progress with bug fixes but they still have a way to go. My own peeve is that 50% or my 480i ATSC recordings fail to play at all on the LP2. Jack Akita reports they're preparing for another firmware push soon, so hopefully that will fix my "black screen playback" issue. The player works perfectly for 1080i content. Overall it's a joy to use with only a few small exceptions. Those exceptions are growing fewer each month.

madpoet

09-16-05, 08:53 PM

I could not get it to work on the U.S. model.

CCamfield

09-17-05, 10:32 AM

Thanks for the info, guys!

Region-free would really only be icing on the cake, actually. I do have some region-workaround software I got for my laptop while I was in Japan, so I could always rip other-region DVDs on the computer, then play them over the network.

But... it's hard to decide. The stories about the standard loader scratching the heck out of discs is kind of scary. And other people have had problems with machines breaking down. It's hard to know what % of customers actually have had problems, based on reading a forum. I take it that not everyone is having this problem?

My budget is certainly not large (I was reading in another thread about someone with $5k to spend on a TV :eek:)

In some ways, like I said, the machine has capabilities I don't have a budget for yet, but other solutions, like a hard-drive based media player, seem to cost just as much - and can't play DVDs, and have no network capability!

flamaest

09-17-05, 12:13 PM

HELP..

Does anyone know if the IODATA Avel Linkplayer 2 will detect this NAS made by ADS?

http://www.adstech.com/products/NAS-806-EF/intro/NAS_806_intro.asp?pid=NAS-806-EF

I know the link player 2 works with the buffalo NAS out of the box..

Thanks,
Fabian.

Paul_PDX

09-19-05, 02:24 PM

I could not get it to work on the U.S. model.

Working fine for me -- watched several R2 Pal disks Saturday.

benwaggoner

09-22-05, 12:59 PM

A client has seeded me with one of these players for doing 1080i60 playout of HD test patterns, test content, and demos. I've got it hooked up to a Sharp Aquos LC-32G4U

My goal is to figure out the most aggressive setting/file format that will play back reliably (no dropped frames). So far, 12 Mbps CBR MPEG-2 encoded with Rhozet Carbon is as far as I've gotten. I know 18 Mbps doesn't play back reliably, so I'm testing increasingly higher bitrates until I figure out which one breaks it. Including AC-3 audio also seems to add to the CPU load, at least when using stereo out.

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to support interlaced modes for Divx and WMV, so I'm stuck with MPEG-2 at this point.

One thing I'm noticing is that the deinterlacing is a little "jerky" - like it's just eliminating a field. This could be the player or the display processor, however.

All that said, anyone had much experience in creating content for the player, or have any recommendations as to any good forums on the topic?

Paul_PDX

09-22-05, 01:27 PM

All that said, anyone had much experience in creating content for the player, or have any recommendations as to any good forums on the topic?

This thread
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=515917
originally was created to discuss creating content for these players. Some of the people in that thread are still active here and might have some ideas (BTW that thread is a bit out of date on lots of things as many bugs/quirks in the firmware are gone since then).

Is there some reason your encodings have to be interlaced? I believe WMV at 1080p30 or p24 can be played.

One more thought is a the Sharp your target monitor or just your testing one -- since it is 1366 x768 maybe 720p encodes would be a better target.

zmatzkin

09-22-05, 01:34 PM

I know 18 Mbps doesn't play back reliably, so I'm testing increasingly higher bitrates until I figure out which one breaks it.

It plays all my OTA captured 1080i transport streams just fine, and I'm pretty sure some of them are at or near 18Mbps...my NBC is not multicasting...

Z

benwaggoner

09-22-05, 01:51 PM

Thanks for the quick responses!

It has to be interlaced since the client wants to test how their equipment handles interlaced video processing.

The Sharp is just the testing monitor - unfortunately, I don't have anything better in my office.

As for the OTA transport streams, I'm trying to replicate that, but they aren't showing up over the network - all my .mp2 and .mpeg files show up in the list. But no .ts or .m2t files show up in the list.

And yes, I'm running the latest firmware.

Oh, and Paul, since you're in Portland, I might mention that we're having an informal "compression nerds" meeting at the Alameda Brewpub Monday night at 7pm. Might be something you'd be interested in checking out.

zmatzkin

09-22-05, 02:06 PM

As for the OTA transport streams, I'm trying to replicate that, but they aren't showing up over the network - all my .mp2 and .mpeg files show up in the list. But no .ts or .m2t files show up in the list.

Try just changing the extension to ".mpg" - it usually works... but I think .ts files are supposed to show up now...

Z

benwaggoner

09-22-05, 02:16 PM

Try just changing the extension to ".mpg" - it usually works... but I think .ts files are supposed to show up now...

Turns out that the version of the server software up on their web site isn't current. I downloaded the current, and it works fine.

That said, for whatever reason 25 MBps won't play over the network! Lots of dropped frames. If I put the files on a portable USB 2 drive, they play back fine. Go figure.

25 Mbps CBR looks pretty darn good :).

Next step, I'm going to figure out how to tackle the audio muxing (AC-3 or Layer II).

PeterS

09-22-05, 02:54 PM

I have the LP2 and have had no problems with the loader or playing of R2 discs. The region-free needs to be applied each time you start the player though.

Picture is good, however I haven't tried the sharpness "hack" yet. If anyone in the Chicago area can do it for me however...

MacHound

09-24-05, 11:35 PM

I didn't have any luck with the region unlock last evening despite many attempts. Can you explain where in DVD play it needs to be applied. Also the timing of the button presses is apparently tricky. Please give more exact details about how you got it to work. Thanks.

jackshakes

09-29-05, 11:49 PM

SeeMoreDigital

09-30-05, 06:21 AM

finally getting around to replacing my loader ... but I'm noticing the Lite-On SOHD-167T loader is no longer available through newegg ... does anyone have any input on the other lite-on units?

i'm still on some older firmware (spring 05 sometime) so i should be ok I think ... after reading some posts here I don't think I'll do any more firmware upgrades :)According to this information (http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Reviews/Specific.aspx?ArticleId=10033) posted on CDRInfo's web site, the Lite-On SOHD-167T, can't cope with DVD+R Dual Layered media either.... So it might be worth hunting around for a more upto date loader... or even a DVD burner!

Cheers

Ron Tobin

09-30-05, 11:03 AM

finally getting around to replacing my loader ... but I'm noticing the Lite-On SOHD-167T loader is no longer available through newegg ... does anyone have any input on the other lite-on units?

Try Circuit City for the Lite-On Loader. They may not have it in the stores, but I've read a post recently that said it was available at their web site.

brianvann

09-30-05, 10:00 PM

Hi all, don't plan to replace the DVD Drive in my Linkplayer2, so I haven't really been following the thread posts regarding that, but I have seen the following:

Dual Layer discs play off and on (after repeated attempts), but at the point where the switch is made from the first to second layer, the video freezes. I tested this with two discs, two different TS files. I just burned my first double layer disc, and It plays from start to finish flawlessly. Not even the gittering at the start of the TS file that I usually see with TS files burned to DVD5 discs. I'll burn more over the next few days, and if I run into any problems playing them back I'll report them, but so far for me these less expensive Double Layer discs are working better than the dual layer discs that cost me over twice as much.

Paul_PDX

10-02-05, 08:45 PM

brianvann

10-05-05, 06:56 AM

I just wanted to make sure the one disc wasn't a fluke first. Memorex Dual Layer (+R DL) are working for me. I burned a total of 4 so far, using Roxio Easy ... 7.5 UDF with Joliet bridge. All 4 discs play from start to finish without any problems (no stopping at the point where the second layer read starts) Burned at 2.4x

guruuno

10-06-05, 10:38 PM

Good or bad?
Hows about using a DVD burner instead, and then hacking the software to burn the content (while watching???) to media?
Could it be done?

puter

10-08-05, 01:33 AM

efranzen

10-08-05, 11:02 PM

I just placed my order for an LP2. I'm thinking about ordering one of the WMVHD videos that Amazon.com sells.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=dvd&field-keywords=wmvhd&search-type=ss&bq=1&store-name=dvd/ref=xs_ap_sai1_xgl74/103-0238914-9892640

Are there any particular ones that will or will not play directly in the LP2's drive?

Vat_else_dya_hav

10-10-05, 06:48 PM

http://www.iodata.com/news/culture.php?ts=20&tsc=23&newsID=84

thedvdguy

10-10-05, 07:49 PM

http://www.iodata.com/news/culture.php?ts=20&tsc=23&newsID=84

Anyone know if there are any plans for I/O Data to sell the UHDL enclosures w/o any hard drive?

I can usually find good deals on HDs, so I'd rather be able to pick up just the empty case for $50-$100 and just insert my own HD.

vurbano

10-10-05, 11:48 PM

IM confused which model is better? the Linkplayer2 or the proHD model? http://www.iodata.com/usa/products/products.php?cat=HNP&sc=AVELK&pId=SRDVD-100U

Vat_else_dya_hav

10-11-05, 02:01 AM

I have an xvid file with a dimension of 960x528 (pixels).

1) Will the Avel LinkPlayer2 be able to play this dimension?
2) Will I be able to watch these dimensions on a regular 4:3 TV set using standard yellow, red, white cables (no actual HD equipment)?

Most of the cheap dvd divx players (ie, Philips DVP642, JVC) don't support a width dimension beyond 720 pixels so I'm looking for something that can handle it, such as this Avel or maybe even the Buffalo or Oppo.
I have a panasonic 30x54w tube type that I got at the local electronics store for only $600.00. The story was the lady got a bigger set and traded it in. The set has 4 settings, 4:3,Just,Full and Zoom.I encode at 480x352 with Dr Divx.This gives the best variety of viewing settings,ranging from a 19'' tv but wider with a nice black border all the way around to 4:3 to various trims/swiches on full screen settings.Dr Divx seems a little faster encoding than the others and I had a lot to encode.Avelink toggles between fullscreen and actual size its encoded at so the size you mention would probably result in a mi-nute shift in fullscreen size,since its encoded to basically fullscreen. Avel upscales over component to 1080 setting. You can watch in s-video and its not bad but when you switch to 1080 it won't go.I use Remote Keys macro (free) for the remember file tree in Dr.Divx Batch Mode and clip and paste from notepad for the destination folder.For windows media I use stoik video converter to uncompressed then re-encode with Dr.Divx at the 480x 352 so I can shink the video to the nice 19" extra wide with the black border if need be to look better. I noticed the other day that if I have a file with lots of segments,say 50 or so I can push play then the up in the middle of the remote to go to the end of the files and up thru that way to say segment no.40.So theres ways to access the file segments from both ends of the file.Some one mention FFW it works but not real good I'd like to see that operate faster.I suggest ya look into a 30" tube widescreen at least plan on getting one cause thats what this things best at. Keep in mind these computer movies are blocky and if ya go too big then you could get into the blurry blocky problems that you were trying to get away from in the first place. You will also want the uhdl, that puts this product way above the others. Keep in mind a little over a thousand will buy a 3500xp 64 amd with TV/out and 250 gig hard drive, so yer in for some thinkin which way to go. I like the avelink but without the new tv thats no good.If ya hit up your local tv shops like I did for a panasonic is probably cheapest way to do it.
Heres some links I hope this helps
http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/forum/printthread.php?t=17711
http://www.tvradiobits.co.uk/bitsandpieces/widescreen.htm

SeeMoreDigital

10-11-05, 05:20 AM

I have an xvid file with a dimension of 960x528 (pixels).

1) Will the Avel LinkPlayer2 be able to play this dimension?
2) Will I be able to watch these dimensions on a regular 4:3 TV set using standard yellow, red, white cables (no actual HD equipment)? I can't speak specifically for the I-O DATA player but I can confirm the Zensonic 500 can play 960x528 MPEG-4 in AVI encodes and display them on a std-def TV

Given that all these players share the same chip-set, I suspect they can all do the same!
Most of the cheap dvd divx players (ie, Philips DVP642, JVC) don't support a width dimension beyond 720 pixels so I'm looking for something that can handle it, such as this Avel or maybe even the Buffalo or Oppo.No standard-def capable player will play an 960x528 encode. This is because such an encode exceeds the capabilities of any std-def chip-set.... all of which top-out at around 414,720 pixels!

The Philips DVP6xx range of players are particularly poor at playing cropped and resized encodes.... and is not a good example of a flexible player anyway.....

By-the-way, my Sigma Xcard can play encodes at just about any shape/ resolution, including 848x480 and 864x480 (neither of which exceed 414,720 pixels).... so the 720 width barrier can be broken!

Cheers

vurbano

10-11-05, 06:11 PM

The iodata website says that the linkplayer2 does not upconvert DVD's. Is that true? How could they leave out that feature? " *AVLP2/DVDLA doesn't have an upscaling function. The standard DVD (480p SD) is out by 480p." http://www.iodata.com/products/products.php?cat=HNP&sc=AVEL&ts=2&tsc=15&sc=AVEL&pId=AVLP2%2FDVDLA

epsilon

10-11-05, 07:39 PM

That it incorrect. DVDs can be output 720p/1080i.

vurbano

10-12-05, 10:36 AM

That it incorrect. DVDs can be output 720p/1080i.

If thats true then they are driving away customers by not updating their website. That would be the first thing I would want in upgrading my dvd player. It would be a huge selling point making the purchase almost a no brainer.

SeeMoreDigital

10-12-05, 01:16 PM

If thats true then they are driving away customers by not updating their website. That would be the first thing I would want in upgrading my dvd player. It would be a huge selling point making the purchase almost a no brainer.Errrm no!

Due to certain copyright protection legal issues, no manufacturer can openly advertise that their devices are capable of upscaling copy-protected content, such as store bought DVD's!

If found doing so, they could have their manufacturing licences revoked...

Cheers

Vat_else_dya_hav

10-17-05, 06:57 PM

has anyone used Encore Network Storage Device ?
"ENNHD-NT is a very affordable network storage device. With addition of an IDE harddrive (up to 250GB), ENNHD-NT instantly becomes a local document storage center for home or office. It uses EXT3 file systems, therefore, no one should ever worry about security and privacy. In addition, ENNHD-NT can be used as FTP server, just configure you router to direct ftp request to this device and you are good to go! "
Looks like a cheaper way to do uhdl,plus use a 7200 rpm drive of your choice.
http://www.nt-micro.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=10503

Vat_else_dya_hav

10-17-05, 07:31 PM

http://www.iodata.com/products/products.php?cat=HNP&sc=HDL&pId=&ts=2&tsc=15
Network Hard Disk 400GB (USB2.0 x 4, 1000Base-T)
UHDL-G400U is a 400GB model of the network HDD products. FTP 719.0Mbps max speed is achieved by Intel XScale® technology, Intel® 82541PI giga ethernet bridge, 7,200rpm high speed HDD, and DDR SDRAM 128MB. 4 of the optional USB2.0 ports on front / rear.
- AVeL LinkPlayer Server Ready

vurbano

10-17-05, 07:39 PM

Errrm no!

Due to certain copyright protection legal issues, no manufacturer can openly advertise that their devices are capable of upscaling copy-protected content, such as store bought DVD's!

If found doing so, they could have their manufacturing licences revoked...

Cheers

:confused:

Leave out references to copy protected content like all of the other manufacturers. Oppo and others clearly state that they upscale DVD over DVI or HDMI and NEUneo advertises upscaling DVD over component. http://www.neuneo.com/products/DVD/hddvd_feature.asp
Not advertising this, but rather, writing statement in red that they do not do it is advertising suicide. :rolleyes: Id really like to buy one of these but without seeing upscaling DVD in writing Im not so sure about making the purchase.

vurbano

10-19-05, 12:05 PM

potus

10-19-05, 12:43 PM

I found this enclosure by ione, the EN-35N that has USB2.0 and 10/100 ethernet just like the IOdata product.

http://www.want-ione.com/
http://www.maxgroup.com/products/details.asp?item=ME26EN35NSK

It can be had for 82 bucks, about 99 bucks with shipping

This is really not comparable to the IOData product(s). The IOData servers can be expanded by attaching USB drives to their 2-4 USB ports. In addition, their top-of-the-line model has gigabit ethernet. Also, these run the AvelLinkserver software, which is presumable tuned for media streaming.

The device you mention is simply a network accessible storage device. The USB port can only be used as an alternative means of accessing the single drive inside the enclosure. It cannot be used to expand server capacity. Also, when connected as a simple network device, I don't think there is any way to access the media directly from the Linkplayer (i.e PC-less operation...)

Vat_else_dya_hav

10-19-05, 07:06 PM

This is really not comparable to the IOData product(s). The IOData servers can be expanded by attaching USB drives to their 2-4 USB ports. In addition, their top-of-the-line model has gigabit ethernet. Also, these run the AvelLinkserver software, which is presumable tuned for media streaming.

The device you mention is simply a network accessible storage device. The USB port can only be used as an alternative means of accessing the single drive inside the enclosure. It cannot be used to expand server capacity. Also, when connected as a simple network device, I don't think there is any way to access the media directly from the Linkplayer (i.e PC-less operation...)

But first the Avel player has to have gigabit ethernet to take advantage of the new feature which I don't think it does right now.It looks like thats something new to come out later.

The other model shown by vurbano looks nicer and allows for a bigger 400 meg hd.
I ran into the encore only because I had one of thier network cards and liked them,easy to install and rock solid operation, I was looking to order a few more when I saw that. Hows come no ones got server software or a hack to make these things work? There are a lot of network players snazzio ect that don't offer a uhdl.You'd think someone would come up with somethin that would let us run server software just like uhdl.

potus

10-19-05, 07:31 PM

But first the Avel player has to have gigabit ethernet to take advantage of the new feature which I don't think it does right now.It looks like thats something new to come out later.

The other model shown by vurbano looks nicer and allows for a bigger 400 meg hd.
I ran into the encore only because I had one of thier network cards and liked them,easy to install and rock solid operation, I was looking to order a few more when I saw that. Hows come no ones got server software or a hack to make these things work? There are a lot of network players snazzio ect that don't offer a uhdl.You'd think someone would come up with somethin that would let us run server software just like uhdl.

Gigabit connection is STILL useful even if LP2 doesn't support gigabit. Let's say you want to stream to multiple LP2s. 100Mbps bandwidth at the server will run out pretty quick. Also, what if you want to push video to the server (from a PC capturing live HD streams, for example) while simultaneously streaming to LinkPlayer(s). Gigabit will definitely help here as well.

Also, the IOData devices can be expanded well BEYOND 400GB quite easily with addition of external USB drives.

If that box is running some varient of Linux (probably), then you _might_ be able to port wizd over to it. Then it might actually be useful with LP2. Otherwise, I personally wouldn't consider it.

As to your question about generic servers, the wizd software HAS been ported to Linksys NLSU2. You might want to look into that as an alternative server. But I am not too sure about its performance. It might not be able to handle multiple simultaneous HD streams. (NLSU2 is a <$100 storage server that has NO built-in storage. You have to add USB drives to it...)

Also, if you happen to have an old PC lying around, you could easily load it up with cheap IDE drives and run wizd (or Avel server software, for that matter) on it. This is probably the cheapest "server" solution of all.

vurbano

10-20-05, 07:45 AM

My idea for the item I found was to put a FAT32 hard drive in it connect it to the LP2 via USB2.0 and to the ethernet network and place files on it from local computers. Im wondering if the LP2 would then recognize it as a USB 2.0 hard drive and play files from it. This pipe would then be 480mb/s. It would be a lot cheaper than upgrading my router, switch, pc cards etc to gigabit. If that didnt work I could just use it as an NAS server for all of the other computers I have.

potus

10-20-05, 11:55 AM

I think that idea would probably work, but you will probably run into the 2GB filesize limit of FAT32. HDTV streams run around 8GB per hour. It is pretty easy to run past 2GB. In fact, virtually ALL of my own captures are > 2GB..

And you really don't need to upgrade your network to gigabit, even with the IOData box. It will run fine at 100MB. At a later date, if you found that you needed more bandwidth in/out of the server, you could just place one gigabit switch (actually, you just need a 100MB switch with ONE gigabit port), and multiplex a bunch of regular 100MB connections to it. You would probably NOT need to upgrade all your PCs to gigabit.

vurbano

10-20-05, 12:57 PM

Vat_else_dya_hav

10-20-05, 10:36 PM

Is the Fat32 requirement a function of the LP2's USB port? I guess the 300 Gb uhdl server they sell uses an NTFS file system over ethernet. I looked over its manual on the net and it didnt mention hooking it up to the LP2 via USB.
Another reason for having an extra udhl type device it would be nice for getting around the 2 gig limitation. They changed the wording abit at the IODATA website.
"For ver.1.10 users, please update this ver.1.11 again. Unfortunately ver.1.10 has a big bug for updating. We have already expunged ver.1.10 from the official update list. If you cannot update to ver.1.11 by some reasons, please contact to us (e-mail). "
http://www.iodata.com/news/culture.php?newsID=84&tot=62&ts=4&tsc=23
If you are unable to go back to the first version then wouldn't it be nice ta have a second unit with different features than the first? Besides I know lots of people more than interested in the player but when they look at the price of the whole package with uhdl they think that the new pc is the better option. If someone could get the enclosures to work with avel it would be a big plus. Has any hardware sites took apart a uhdl to see whats inside?

uofmtiger

10-23-05, 06:16 PM

I think that idea would probably work, but you will probably run into the 2GB filesize limit of FAT32 From my experience, I have seen the FAT32 being capped at 4GB, not 2GB. The UHDL's limit was 2GB, but the USB on the front of the Linkplayer will accept files up to 4GB.The IOData servers can be expanded by attaching USB drives to their 2-4 USB ports. The UHDL can provide access to the USB drives from a computer. However, the Linkplayer can only access either the USB or the UHDL drive, not both at the same time. To change access, you need to go to a computer. I am not sure if that was the case with the old UHDL software, but it is with the new software.

TUFU

10-24-05, 04:28 AM

I can't read Japanese and I know nothing about Linux.But we know the English "WIZD" program was modified from the Japanese "WIZD" program.
wizd for linkplayer2 (http://www.geocities.com/flipflop7146/wizd.html)
So, if someone could read Japanese, you could find a lot of sites disscussing hacking the LANDISK( UHDL were called LANDISK in Japanese). Then probably you can also hack the UHDL. Belowed are some links.
wizd on landisk (http://landisk.sealandair.info/)
let's hack landisk (http://iwa.ath.cx/landisk/)
Unofficial Debian Packages for LANDISK (http://iohack.sourceforge.jp/debian/)

Also,if you can get a simple NAS like device called USL-5P (http://www.iodata.jp/prod/storage/hdd/2004/usl-5p/) which was only sold in Japan with an embedded linkplayer software,then you can get up to 1TB storages connecting to your LP2 without running your PC.
I had a brief report summarized in HERE (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=578669&highlight=USL5P)
And I think the major problem of USL-5P is it uses old version of linkplayer software,so there are more bugs than the present version of linkplayer software.
If you can't upgrade or modify the software in the device,then you must tolerate its bugs.

vurbano

10-24-05, 07:12 AM

From my experience, I have seen the FAT32 being capped at 4GB, not 2GB. The UHDL's limit was 2GB, but the USB on the front of the Linkplayer will accept files up to 4GB. The UHDL can provide access to the USB drives from a computer. However, the Linkplayer can only access either the USB or the UHDL drive, not both at the same time. To change access, you need to go to a computer. I am not sure if that was the case with the old UHDL software, but it is with the new software.

And the 4GB limit is still too small for mpeg2 HD files. Heck even most commercial DVDS are around 6-7 GB. Maybe once things go Mpeg4 it will be usefull, but as it stands the USB is kinda useless with that limitation IMO. And then there is the 32 GB partition problem for Fat32. I thought the whole point of this device was NOT to have to have a home theater computer? IF this thing cannot access a NTFS drive in an NAS server box like the one in my previous post then its just not that great of a deal. Youd have to tie up a computer to run this thing? :rolleyes:

uofmtiger

10-24-05, 11:02 AM

And then there is the 32 GB partition problem for Fat32.I don't have this problem.And the 4GB limit is still too small for mpeg2 HD files. Heck even most commercial DVDS are around 6-7 GB. Maybe once things go Mpeg4 it will be usefull, but as it stands the USB is kinda useless with that limitation IMO.With the new UHDL software, the 4GB limit has been lifted. The issue is that the 300GB drive will fill up soon if you are using HD mpeg recording. The inability to see a USB attached to the UHDL without a computer will eventually be a problem. I thought the whole point of this device was NOT to have to have a home theater computer? IF this thing cannot access a NTFS drive in an NAS server box like the one in my previous post then its just not that great of a deal. Youd have to tie up a computer to run this thing? I am not sure that is the "whole point". I would use the Linkplayer even if it was only for music. I do not want to have my computer on all the time, but IO Data and most of the other networkable players have more functionality with software that is running on a computer. The Linkplayer combined with the UHDL is very close to what I want. However, their new RAID box would be the best overall solution, but not worth the money to me right now.

mattsoft

10-25-05, 12:40 PM

Thanks. I wonder if the I-O LinkPlayer can be updated to support 1024x768 over the D4 connector? Maybe we should ask I-O for it. I'd like to see if native to my XGA DLP projector looks better than 1080i or 720p.

mikemav -- i second that request! 1024x768 would be great, as would 852x480 for ED plasma. :D

potus

10-26-05, 02:38 AM

From my experience, I have seen the FAT32 being capped at 4GB, not 2GB. The UHDL's limit was 2GB, but the USB on the front of the Linkplayer will accept files up to 4GB.
Oops. My mistake. Make that "you will probably run into the 4GB filesize limit of FAT32". In any case, it is still far too small for HD files.
The UHDL can provide access to the USB drives from a computer. However, the Linkplayer can only access either the USB or the UHDL drive, not both at the same time. To change access, you need to go to a computer. I am not sure if that was the case with the old UHDL software, but it is with the new software.
Wow. That sucks. What a stupid design. I guess using a spare PC as a server is looking better all the time. I can easily add all the drives I want to the PC (cheap internal IDE drives, or external USB/Firewire drives), and have wizd serve ALL of them to my LP2...