I need recommendation for a Wireless Media Player to connect my computer with windows XP to my HDTV

Must have:
-Component video output 1080i
-Audio Optical Digital Output
-Wireless wifi 802.11g
-HD compatible
-MPG4/DivX and WMA compatible
-MP3 audio compatible

Nice to have:
-Be able to listen audio stream from internet (today I listen from winamp on my PC)
-Low price

Optional:
-DVD player in the front


I saw some name like Buffalo (LinkTheater, LinkPlayer2), Xbox,
Pinnacle Show Center 1000g, Rapsody N35, Modix HD-3520 Linksys DSM320/DSM520, Netgear's DAVE700, TviX HD M-5000U, Pixel Magic Systems HD Mediabox MB100/MB200, Mvix MV-5000U, Modix HD-3520, Zensonic Z500,
Eureka LX350, MediaGate MG-350HD, MediaGate MG-35, etc...)

Obviously, there are models that are more compatible with different
formats (especially divx) and I don't know which one is better.

Please propose a devise that can fulfill my requirements.

You're not going to get HD wirelessly, at least not reliably.

I had the Dlink DSM-520 for a brief two days. After much experimentation, even after hooking the unit up through wired ethernet, I still couldn't get it to stream HD smoothly and without audio chop. Wirelessly, forget about it - HD was completely unwatchable.

I'd just like to know of a unit that can stream HD reliably through wired ethernet.

Anyone?

If you need video streaming then you better get a wired (gigabit preferably) network setup and forget about wireless.

So what about the Media Player MediaGate MG-350HD?

Some people would warn against a mediagate product.

Try streaming a HD transport stream over a wireless connection.
You cannot have enough bandwidth, nor disk space.
Plus with wireless the MPAA may be sitting outside your residence snooping the signal and they will use this to sue you. Wait, no I'm thinking of the RIAA. It's only time until we see the movie studio shill's resorting to this?

You might want to look at the DSM-520 in spite of the previous comment. There was a known limitation to the DSM-520 on bandwidth that was eliminated with the latest version of the firmware. I don't know what the current bandwidth limit is but I've been able to stream all of the HD stuff on the Windows web site.

Alan

Try streaming a HD transport stream over a wireless connection.
You cannot have enough bandwidth, nor disk space.
Plus with wireless the MPAA may be sitting outside your residence snooping the signal and they will use this to sue you. Wait, no I'm thinking of the RIAA. It's only time until we see the movie studio shill's resorting to this?
Hey, what's that knocking sound on your door?

You might want to look at the DSM-520 in spite of the previous comment. There was a known limitation to the DSM-520 on bandwidth that was eliminated with the latest version of the firmware. I don't know what the current bandwidth limit is but I've been able to stream all of the HD stuff on the Windows web site.

Alan

The DSM-520 I had from Best Buy had the latest firmware on it. I also used the latest Dlink media server software from their website, as well as several other 3rd party media server solutions such as Tversity and Windows Media Connect. No worky worky, at least not reliably. Choppy audio and video sporadically.

Trust me, i really DID want the 520 to work for me, especially for 170 bucks out the door.

Some people would also warn against buffalo/iodata/linksys/dlink product(s).
Look around the forum and you shall find one or maybe two prominent products that will just jump out at you (especially if you are needing hd ts support).

Methinks I'm gonna watch Kong or Res. Evil in HD tonight using my streamer.

I am also very interested in this as well. I have the DSM-520 and it is junk. I like to stream video (DIVX/XVID) from my NAS to my TV. I have no way to run a RJ45 downstairs, I MUST have wireless.

I have looked over all the forum and can not find an answer.

Any help would be appreciated.

Maybe that is because wireless protocols in general have proven they dont have the bandwidth to reliably handle HD video? You MAY be able to stream lower bitrate videos but it appear to depend on wireless specification, distance, obstructions, etc....

Sorry I cannot help anymore but the answer you seek may not exist at this point. Wired may be the only way without sacrificing the user experience? Time to get the drill out?

Good luck.

I am also very interested in this as well. I have the DSM-520 and it is junk. I like to stream video (DIVX/XVID) from my NAS to my TV. I have no way to run a RJ45 downstairs, I MUST have wireless.

I have looked over all the forum and can not find an answer.

Any help would be appreciated.

It's not necessary to have wireless, check Netgear's HDXB101 or XE104G. The former is very expensive yet, but the latter should be enough in terms of bandwidth for HD.

I put wired connection to DSM-520, after waiting for reliable wireless 1.5 years, and have no problems.

It's not necessary to have wireless, check Netgear's HDXB101 or XE104G. The former is very expensive yet, but the latter should be enough in terms of bandwidth for HD.

I put wired connection to DSM-520, after waiting for reliable wireless 1.5 years, and have no problems.

I can second the endorsement for the Netgear device. Wireless is not a realistic option for HD and I was frankly to lazy to run cables through my walls. For about a hundred bucks per each end of the connection, I now have perfect HD video transmitted through my house wiring. I have a TVIX 5000A which was good when I got it and gets better with every firmware release.

Good luck in your research....

Hay thanks for the thought of powerline. I have been doing wireless for so long I forget about powerline and it has QoS. This is a great idea. I remember reading some comments about this and immunity to noise. Hopefully all those plugs by the TV do not affect it. I will go and buy it this weekend and give an update.

Anyone else ever tried this. BTW if I can use a "wired" network do you think it is worth it to upgrade to the Tivx, I maily watch Divx files because I knew my .11g stuff would not stream HD.

There are a few products, it seems, that stream HD wirelessly. Try Helios X5000, or PixelMagic MB-200. Both claim 1080p.

There are a few products, it seems, that stream HD wirelessly. Try Helios X5000, or PixelMagic MB-200. Both claim 1080p.

Nix the MB-200, it is not wireless.

Any of the players with an ethernet rj45 jack can be made wireless by attaching an inexpensive wireless ethernet bridge device. So base your decision on features and quality, then if you really need wireless (non-HD use) then add the wireless bridge.

I need help with a decision as well...
I have heard very good things about the Modix-3520 BUT I am very interested in the new Mvix-760hd...
the reason I am leaning toward the mx760 is the wireless capability. I know that HD streaming is very choppy but I just wanted the wireless so that i could easily transfer files from my pc w/o having to disconnect all the cables and take it upstairs...

SO is the Mx760 a good buy?
it seems to support every vid format i would need (DivX (3/4/5), AVI, Xvid, MPEG, MPG, VCD(DAT), DVD(VOB, IFO), WMV(WMV-9), ASF(WMV-9), TP, TS, TRP)
Also does anyone here own this player??

Thanks!

Just jump to the Media Server main page and do a search on MX760.
Those who search themselves, help themselves.

After my initial research it seems like none of the current media servers are close to perfect. Sounds like the Sigma chip they all have is not up to the task. Many folks are waiting to see what CES 2007 (Jan) has in store - although whatever is revealed there may not hit the streets until late 2007.

Perhaps the new Apple "iTV" will be the answer?

After my initial research it seems like none of the current media servers are close to perfect. Sounds like the Sigma chip they all have is not up to the task. Many folks are waiting to see what CES 2007 (Jan) has in store - although whatever is revealed there may not hit the streets until late 2007.

Perhaps the new Apple "iTV" will be the answer?

dsm 520 will work fine if you convert to divx or make the bit stream 7000 or lower. i dont see much difference at all i have streamed the microsoft site tuff wirelessly along with other hd movie trailers.

dsm 520 is about 20 ft away. I have the dlink extreme n router but tdid it witht eh old 54g turbo belkin as well. If the bit rate is to high it will get choppy just convert it till April and then buy the DSM 750 when its out it will do pre N speeds about 5 to 7 times faster than what 54 g will do.
my 2 cents

It's pretty straightforward to compare video bandwidth requirements (both uncompressed as well as the standard and typical MPEG compression) against typical bandwidth capabilities achieved by the likes of 802.11g and the new 802.11n.

802.11g theoretically gets up to 54 Mbs (Mega-Bits per Second), but industry standards say that 10-25 is what you should plan for.
802.11n theoretically gets up to 135 Mbs, but you should plan for achieving about 45Mbs in practice.

Most movie DVDs use MPEG-2, encoded at about 6.5 Mbs (video+audio), although you can go up to 8.0 Mbs for video and 9 Mbs total (some DVD players have problems at or above this level anyway). Hi-Def TV is broadcast at 19.4 Mbs (SMPTE 310M) whether it's 720P or 1080i.

At those rates, you're pushing the 802.11g achievable limits - not to mention what else might be going on in your house at the time. But, the new 802.11n should easily handle it. And, I know that Directv is moving towards MPEG-4 compression, which is supposed to gain another 15%-25% compression improvement over MPEG-2 with similar quality, so things might be getting better at the source end as well.

The DSM-520 I had from Best Buy had the latest firmware on it. I also used the latest Dlink media server software from their website, as well as several other 3rd party media server solutions such as Tversity and Windows Media Connect. No worky worky, at least not reliably. Choppy audio and video sporadically.

Trust me, i really DID want the 520 to work for me, especially for 170 bucks out the door.

if you done some research into these units, the DSM-330 and the DSM-520 need a really highspec pc to be able to stream HD content, after reading reviews that they couldn't steam in HD i bought a DSM-330 anyway because i wasn't really bothered about the HD anyway. i took it to a friends house and ran the software on a windows xp based single core pc with 2gb ram and a half decent graphics card. DSM-330 would stream the SD video but was verry choppy on HD i took it home rigged it up in front room and ran the software on my machine quadcore with 16gb ram and a GTX295 and it streamed 720p HD video with ease. i jumped on the Divxlabs forum and people were having the same problem and divx advised a high spec machine to run the video as the convertion process is ran on the machine not the DSM-330 since then i purchased a DSM-520 and can stream both wireless media centers in 720p at the same time with no problems. if your gonna wanna stream in HD on the DSM series buy a good graphics card as this is what does the converting.