Okay-- I got my 360 Elite.

I have a laptop with Media Center.

I have an external HD with all my media.


Now what?

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/digitalmedia/windowsmediacenter.htm

Download transcode 360 or TVersity (use transcode360 if you're using MCE as an extender to the xbox, TVersity runs it's own extender server)

Most of your videos, likely DIVX XVID or some other format won't natively play on the XBOX. They will appear on Media Center when displayed on the XBOX, but will refuse to play.

Transcode360 runs on the PC with the media, it transcodes whatever video format you have to WMV and sends that to the xbox.

To transcode, on the xbox, in media center, go to more options on the video you want to play and select transcode

I would recommend AGAINST using Tversity. It's complicated and and unreliable in my experience.

You need to do the following.

1. On your computer, go into Network Settings and enable Media Sharing.
2. On your Xbox 360, click on the Media Center button and go through the setup procedure to pair the 360 to the PC. It involves the 360 generating a number that you imput on the PC.
3. Go into you Media Center program and set it up to access the media on the hard drive.

If you buy an HD Homerun, you can record your TV shows. That's what I did.

http://www.hdtvtunerinfo.com/hdhomerunreview.html

If you gots an LCD, Plasma or something that has VGA or HDMI us a PC.. The Xbox360 is a joke as a media center hub..

If you gots an LCD, Plasma or something that has VGA or HDMI us a PC.. The Xbox360 is a joke as a media center hub..

hmmm, my PC is in my office, and my 360 just happens to be connected to my TV, where i want to watch my content.

no thanks.

transcode360 and MCE work just fine for nearly ANY file i want to play.

Light bulb illuminating overhead here.
So I've got an office, where my PC resides, and an equipment rack ~80 feet away where my 360 resides (and is connected to my projector). I've been researching options for implementing an ATSC 8VSB/QAM tuner so I can watch HDTV on my projector, but I'm loath to spend the $$ for a Samsung DTB-H260F.
Now, I should mention that my PC and my 360 are connected through horizontal cabling to a common Ethernet switch. So, noobie question: If I were to buy an HDTV tuner for my PC, and set up my 360 as a media extender, would I be able to watch/record HDTV to my PC, AND watch on my projector/record to my 360? Note: My PC has WinXP Pro.

Light bulb illuminating overhead here.
So I've got an office, where my PC resides, and an equipment rack ~80 feet away where my 360 resides (and is connected to my projector). I've been researching options for implementing an ATSC 8VSB/QAM tuner so I can watch HDTV on my projector, but I'm loath to spend the $$ for a Samsung DTB-H260F.
Now, I should mention that my PC and my 360 are connected through horizontal cabling to a common Ethernet switch. So, noobie question: If I were to buy an HDTV tuner for my PC, and set up my 360 as a media extender, would I be able to watch/record HDTV to my PC, AND watch on my projector/record to my 360? Note: My PC has WinXP Pro.

Yes, the 360 is a superb streaming client. Just see my post above. You would have to upgrade to Windows MCE or Vista Home Premium, which comes with Media Center.

Vista Media Center is easy to set up with the 360.

If you want to stream live tv:

Unencrypted QAM -- Need HD Home Run
ATSC -- Many tuner cards available, including HD HomeRun
Analog Cable -- Many tuner cards available


If you only watch recorded shows, you could use almost any tuner card with its application and transcode the show with Transcode 360 under media center.

You could also use TVersity with out media center

I use the HD Home run under vista ultimate with no problems. Has 2 tuners.
I only record network on my media center and get everything else on D*.

This is my first post and I am a total noob. Anyway, I have a pc w/Vista and a 360 Elite. The elite is set-up in my living room ( I live in a 1 br apt), along w/directv hd receiver, and a Philips upscaling DVD/DIVX player all connected through HDMI to an LG 42" 1080p LCD. My pc is setup in my br, so my ? Is, should I connect my xbox wirelessly or should i run an ethernet cable to the xbox from my pc? Will there be a significant picture difference if I choose one over the other? Most of my videos are DIVX files. I have dvr, is there anyway to record tv content to my pc? Sorry if I sound like a ****** with my questions but Iam a quick learner and will appreciate your help.

This is my first post and I am a total noob. Anyway, I have a pc w/Vista and a 360 Elite. The elite is set-up in my living room ( I live in a 1 br apt), along w/directv hd receiver, and a Philips upscaling DVD/DIVX player all connected through HDMI to an LG 42" 1080p LCD. My pc is setup in my br, so my ? Is, should I connect my xbox wirelessly or should i run an ethernet cable to the xbox from my pc? Will there be a significant picture difference if I choose one over the other? Most of my videos are DIVX files. I have dvr, is there anyway to record tv content to my pc? Sorry if I sound like a ****** with my questions but Iam a quick learner and will appreciate your help.

You need to run a cable from your xbox to your router not your PC. Then your xbox can see your pc.

Ok, but i can also buy a wireless adapter for the xbox, but will the picture be better with a direct connection to the router? Or will a wireless connection give me the same picture onto my LCD? Thank you for your help.

hmmm, my PC is in my office, and my 360 just happens to be connected to my TV, where i want to watch my content.

no thanks.

transcode360 and MCE work just fine for nearly ANY file i want to play.

Didn't know I was talking to you. So just incase you thought I was, I wasn't..

Didn't know I was talking to you. So just incase you thought I was, I wasn't..

i dont care who you were talking to, not everyone wants a pc in their livingroom and the 360 is more than capable.

the OP asked about 360 media center, if you dont have anything constructive to say about that, go elsewhere.


edited for content

I would read these facts and see if the 360 works for you as a streamer.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/digitalmedia/videoplaybackfaq.htm

I would read these facts and see if the 360 works for you as a streamer.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/digitalmedia/videoplaybackfaq.htm

good place to start, but they're not going to tell you about transcode360, and thats where all the functionality is.

good place to start, but they're not going to tell you about transcode360, and thats where all the functionality is.


Very true, but I'm pointing out native support without 3rd party software.

BillyVegas hasn't told us if he wants to use transcode360 or not.

I would recommend AGAINST using Tversity. It's complicated and and unreliable in my experience.

You need to do the following.

1. On your computer, go into Network Settings and enable Media Sharing.
...


Chris-
Where on my computer do I find the 'Network Settings' so I can enable Media Sharing. I looked in the Control Panel and everywhere else I could think. I looked in Media Player 11 on the off chance that was where to look, but I didn't see it there.
Thanks...

Chris-
Where on my computer do I find the 'Network Settings' so I can enable Media Sharing. I looked in the Control Panel and everywhere else I could think. I looked in Media Player 11 on the off chance that was where to look, but I didn't see it there.
Thanks...

On your Vista computer you need to open up Control Panel. Underneath Network and Internet there is a link for Set Up FIle Sharing. Click on that.

Chris-
Where on my computer do I find the 'Network Settings' so I can enable Media Sharing. I looked in the Control Panel and everywhere else I could think. I looked in Media Player 11 on the off chance that was where to look, but I didn't see it there.
Thanks...

or if you have media player 11, click on 'Library' - "Media Sharing" and click "Allow" for you xbox.

how do you take advantage of the TV TUNERS?

plus my desktop has hdmi inputs

I have a PC with XP SP2. I have both my computer and my 360 connected to the same router, which is connected to my cable modem.

What would I have to do in order to get my 360 to stream from my PC? Will I still need Transcode360 if I use Media Player 11?

Thanks in advance.

Ok, but i can also buy a wireless adapter for the xbox, but will the picture be better with a direct connection to the router? Or will a wireless connection give me the same picture onto my LCD? Thank you for your help.

I would like to know the answer to this as well, i am in the same situation and i am thinking of running a cable (i know its the best connection but least practical) or buying a wireless N router, that way i can have wifi all over my house. I am just wondering how the streaming will go (if any lagging then its not worth it), or is there an option to donwload the content from my pc to the xbox and then play it.

anyone was or in this situation, any comment would be appreciated.

I have a PC with XP SP2. I have both my computer and my 360 connected to the same router, which is connected to my cable modem. What would I have to do in order to get my 360 to stream from my PC? Will I still need Transcode360 if I use Media Player 11? Thanks in advance.

I have XP as well.

You need to enable file sharing on Windows Player 11 or download Zune Software. Once you enable file sharing go to the 360 and connect to the PC. If the 360 does not recognize the PC go to Xbox.com for help.

If I understand your question correctly, it depends. What do you want to stream? Currently, only certain file extensions can be streamed. You would use transcode to convert, for example, .avi to .wmv.

Whoa, you're saying if I get WMP11 on my XP box, I'll be able to stream media to my 360? No need to change my OS to Media Center or Vista?

Whoa, you're saying if I get WMP11 on my XP box, I'll be able to stream media to my 360? No need to change my OS to Media Center or Vista?

Check out Tversity.

Whoa, you're saying if I get WMP11 on my XP box, I'll be able to stream media to my 360? No need to change my OS to Media Center or Vista?

That's correct. I have XP SP2 with WMP11, and it works fine. The only thing is i will only play WMV video formats. You'll need a converter like transcode360 to watch DIVX and other formats if you have them.

I do find that sometimes my Xbox won't see my PC or vice versa. Not sure if this problem is fixed with Vista.

I tried Tversity and it was a dog. Easiest and simplest is still WMP 11.

That's correct. I have XP SP2 with WMP11, and it works fine. The only thing is i will only play WMV video formats. You'll need a converter like transcode360 to watch DIVX and other formats if you have them.

Hopefully that will change come Tuesday.

Hopefully that will change come Tuesday.

What's happening Tuesday?

What's happening Tuesday?

System update! There's a bunch of new features, mostly relating to blade layout a few other visual things. No confirmation of any media playback features though.

To those of you who are wanting to use your XP PC for streaming, use Zune and not WMP11. The Zune program has additional streaming functionality that WMP11 does not and it also works better in my experience. Also, if you intend to watch HD video from the Internet (something I do myself), you can't use wireless as it doesn't have the sustained rates to keep a video feed going. What I do is put all my video files onto an external HDD (1TB to be exact) formatted in FAT32 and then stream the audio from my PC. You can also use HFS+ (the file system that Apple products like the iPod use) which is more robust than FAT32 if you download MacDrive but you have to pay for that. If you do use wireless, you can squeeze more speed out of it by not encrypting the signals. All you have to do is put your MAC address of your 360 adapter into the router, enable MAC address filtering, and disable the SSID broadcast. Then you'll have a network that others can't see or join but you can join automatically.

System update! There's a bunch of new features, mostly relating to blade layout a few other visual things. No confirmation of any media playback features though.

You just got your confirmation:
http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/xbox-360-fall-dashboard-update-detailed-divx-xbla-hits-and-mo/

:)

You just got your confirmation:
http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/xbox-360-fall-dashboard-update-detailed-divx-xbla-hits-and-mo/

:)

Actually I just got it from the Xbox 360 website. They have put up ALL of the details regarding the new update. I just hope there are no video compatibility issues. I've got a bunch of HD video files I want to watch that aren't encoded with WMV.

I tried Tversity and it was a dog. Easiest and simplest is still WMP 11.

Hmm... Haven't tried it yet. I plan on messing around with it this weekend. Hopefully I will have better results.

Thanks for the WMP11 tips, all. I've now got my PC streaming pics/music/video to my 360, which is hooked up to my PJ. Works great! And since I know there's a dashboard update coming, I won't mess around with transcoding anything (at least, not just yet :) ).

Works great! And since I know there's a dashboard update coming, I won't mess around with transcoding anything (at least, not just yet :) ).

the new update doesnt alter any codecs in the media center extender interface, dashboard only. so if you want to use MCE you'll still have to transcode.

Ohhhhh... I'm still getting over how cool it is to be able to stream media via the dashboard. Maybe next weekend, I'll dig into MCE... :)

the new update doesnt alter any codecs in the media center extender interface, dashboard only. so if you want to use MCE you'll still have to transcode.

Damn...I was afraid of that...would it really be that hard to add the codecs to MCE, M$? Tversity works fine already for playing my xvid files on the dash...I wanted these files to work in MCE as transcode360 does not work well for me and is not being updated anymore...so to me as long as you don't mind having a prog like tversity on your pc the divx update doesn't help much...

The new update is amazing.

Is their anyway I can play mp4 music?

Picked up a Falcon Elite for xmas. Works great as a media center extender in my family room... I primarily stream HD (using the 360's Media Center interface) from my Vista Home Premium HTPC that is located in my gameroom/theater.

I have Transcode 1.6.x installed as a service. I can transcode some DVDs (like Cars and 1408 for example), but others will not stream (e.g. Avia SD- DVD). In this case, all 3 are DD 5.1 (no DTS).

Any ideas?

-T