I think it was Jon that said that the manual doesn't list SVCD as a format that the 5900m supports.

That could be why. Well, since VCD does not cut it and SVCD ain't workin', guess it's DVD then.

Originally posted by slocko
Nick,

I have to say that after my kenwood was repaired and the new unit i bought, i haven't had a single unreadable disc error.

Quite the opposite, I have seen one disc that was badly scratched (netflix) get further on the kenwood than on the old trusty pioneer.

So I think Kenwood ironed out that problem. I don't even clean the netflix dvds anymore. Hopefully i haven't jinxed myself.

Could be. I've only had one problem since the upgrade, and it was a smudge--but, admittedly, this was a pretty bad smudge.

Actually, even before the upgrade, it wasn't like it happened all the time. But it happened enough to notice a problem. Hopefully, as you say, that's been addressed, but I'm betting that Kenwood never even perceived that to be a problem. There are still some bugs with the unit that just don't go away, but, otherwise, the positives still far outweigh the negatives.

But . . . I will soon have a standard to which I can compare ;)

Nick :cool:

Sorry I wasn't being clear. I don't think the upgrade had anything to do with it. I think Kenwood fixed the issue in newer units. Probably by having better quality control. Something the Japanese are supposed to excel at.

If you examine a newer player, you will see a plastic sheath on top of the carousel on the inside. Something the older players didn't have. Something must have prompted that. Probably dust.

My repaired player probably got it's part from the same new stock.

Just theories. But I have to say I am very pleased with the performance both of my 5900m have given me. I can't believe I put up with that issue for so long.

Anyone on here have any tidbits of advice about dvd burners and which format the Kenwood likes the most? Is there a burning software that it likes more than others?

Originally posted by Nick Satullo
Bob:

I have noticed, of every DVD player I've seen, none is as finicky as the Kenwood changers, in that they do not forgive discs which have even a slight trace of streaks or smudge on them. Every unreadable disc problem I've had has been cured by cleaning off the play surface of the disc. However, these are discs that will play fine, without being cleaned off, in a different player.

You will appreciate the upgrade in disc change speed, as well as layer change. Other than that, it's the same changer (unless you're daisy chaining, which means it's a much different player).

Nick :cool:

Nick,

I am very meticulous about my CD's/DVD's cleanliness. They are either in the player, or their jewel case....nowhere else. I run each and every disc through a cleaning kit I have had for years before it goes into my player. I don't loan them out, and I don't borrow from others. My first 5900 never had a problem with any disc I used, even some pretty scratched up rentals. I had that player for exactly one year before sending it in for the upgrade. I did get a chance to try out my upgraded changer for a few days. The layer change on Armageddon was gone, where before the upgrade it was a good 2+ seconds. I was just starting to reload all of my discs when I noticed how dirty the inside of the changer was. Then I found the yellowish, sticky glue in more than a dozen slots that just would not come out no matter what I tried. That really got me upset. I was calm when I called Kenwood, but I strongly suggested that it should be replaced instead of repaired since it was their mistake to return it to me in such an unacceptable condition. They weren't happy about it, but neither was I. Now I can add a second changer after the holidays are over and enjoy the benefits of a daisy chained setup with my Entre.

Bob

Scott, found your old thread about DVD+R's in the 5900, thanks. Seems that DVD+R works the best.

Derek,

When you buy your dvd burner, there is a very good chance it will come with dvd authoring software. I would give that a try first.

The multi-format sony's can now be had under $250. The early model ones.

Thanks Slocko. I was looking at the Sony DRX500UL. Good suggestion.

Originally posted by apnar
slocko, I highly doubt it has to do with the MAC address but if you did want to try it you'd likely want to set your computer to duplicate a Axcess not and Entre. You could ask someone with an Axcess nicely for their MAC address and give that a try. -apnar I was going to give Slocko my MAC address but I don't know how to get it from the Axcess. My NexLand switch/hub doe show MACs but I see two that have the first 8 digits the same. Both begin with 00-30-60-80. I can account for all the other MACs but those two seem to belong to my PE106 NetGear and the Axcess. Is it likely that they both are from the same manufacturer? STARMATIX per this URL:

http://www.coffer.com/mac_find/?string=003060

Guys,

I checked several retailers in my area (Good Guys, Best Buy, Discount Sales, Howards) and none seem to carry any Kenwood equipment, except for car stereos. Is there a retailer that is known to still be an Kenwood A/V dealer [ with Axcess in stock? :) ] in the East LA / West San Bernardino county area of California?

-NiteOwl

Originally posted by NiteOwl
Guys, I checked several retailers in my area (Good Guys, Best Buy, Discount Sales, Howards) and none seem to carry any Kenwood equipment, except for car stereos. Is there a retailer that is known to still be an Kenwood A/V dealer [ with Axcess in stock? :) ] in the East LA / West San Bernardino county area of California? -NiteOwl From this page: http://www.kenwoodusa.com/product/product.jsp?productId=2358 you can click on "Find a Store" right below the absurd $400-$500 MSRP. Potentially you can find a place...gasp on-line to buy one...although KW would not like it (see MSRP) :rolleyes:

Scott, Slocko, Nick, Apnar, et al...

I spoke with Tech support AGAIN today at length regarding MM. They too are crossing their fingers that you guys will find the way. YOU are our only hope so keep on FTPing and all that other stuff.

Originally posted by DerekFSU
Scott, Slocko, Nick, Apnar, et al...
I spoke with Tech support AGAIN today at length regarding MM. They too are crossing their fingers that you guys will find the way. YOU are our only hope so keep on FTPing and all that other stuff. Are you talking to KW support or OG support? What specific problems are you questioning or trying to solve? FTPing is very easy for fixing cover art issues. Potentially descriptions and other info. i.e. very basic stuff. Transferring MP3s or creating groups...not likely. MP3s for example are stored on another hidden hard disk partition.

Either way if they said that they should be reprimanded. They should stand behind "their" product and software to interface with it. You should get an "open problem (aka ticket, aka issue) number" and not let up on them until it is solved.

According to the softwares own help system you should be contacting OG but I'd open and "issue" with KW as well. KW purchased/paid for support of the Entre.

Media Manager users can obtain Customer Service and Technical Support assistance by telephone and email. Please use the following contact information to obtain assistance with your Media Manager application questions:

Customer Service and Technical Support

Toll-Free -- 888-821-8787
Email -- mmsupport@openglobe.net
I really hope all this (FTPing and people complaining about MM and lack of DVD support) really pushes them to "see" what needs to be improved. The new DVD supporting product by Escient/OG is more than likely to have a "pipeline" (OG's original MM) equivalent.

P.S. Your point earlier about not understanding this FTP business and comparison to high school latin was a good one. You absolutely should not have to. The Entre should handle all (99.5%) DVDs and CDS and the MM software should provide you a simple interface to clean up things you don't like. A keyboard for the Entre would be nice.

Regards,

My $.02: (1) FTP is cool and is a useful way to import cover art as well as, potentially, fixing other data, to the extent that that doesn't break anything. (2) A "MM for DVD" would be a welcome touch, because it would be a supported tool for doing the same things that one would attempt to do with FTP. The end user shouldn't have to hack the system to make it work right. OTOH, MM is pretty much useless, so I don't hold out much hope for this as a real solution excepf for very basic stuff. (3) The real point of failure is the search engine (whether in the unit or on OG). There is just too much stuff that is in their database but that can't be found unless one knows the secret handshake. If there was development time and money directed anywhere, I think that that is the area most in need of a fix.

As an aside, I wonder if anyone here, other than Mike Cobb, owns or uses a ReplayTV unit. If you go over to the ReplayTV forum, you'll see that there is an amazing amount of end-user application development for that platform, which do things like archive shows, stream programs to a PC, manage photos and schedule shows, all involving creative ways to use computers to exploit the elements already built-in to the ReplayTV platform. With this FTP stuff, things like that are starting to happen here, but it is, I suspect, happening much more slowly because I'm sure that RTV has sold vastly more units than Kenwood has and, perhaps, RTV is more appealing to the experienced developers that wrote these programs than the Entre is. Hopefully, however, more options may emerge as we continue to explore the innards of the Entre.

Originally posted by ScottF200
From this page: http://www.kenwoodusa.com/product/product.jsp?productId=2358 you can click on "Find a Store" right below the absurd $400-$500 MSRP. Potentially you can find a place...gasp on-line to buy one...although KW would not like it (see MSRP) :rolleyes:

www.vanns.com is where I got mine. It is on-line, and it is also an authorized etailer. They don't deal, however, and it was $399.

Nick :cool:

I guess it's possible. Look at the google link I found:

PowerFile FireWire DVD/CD Jukeboxes
www.starmatix.com/ - 1k - Cached - Similar pages

Of course the url is bad.

Originally posted by ScottF200
I was going to give Slocko my MAC address but I don't know how to get it from the Axcess. My NexLand switch/hub doe show MACs but I see two that have the first 8 digits the same. Both begin with 00-30-60-80. I can account for all the other MACs but those two seem to belong to my PE106 NetGear and the Axcess. Is it likely that they both are from the same manufacturer? STARMATIX per this URL:

http://www.coffer.com/mac_find/?string=003060

if anyone is interested in sniffing the traffic between the entre and the changers, here is the hardware and software. kind of pricey but it's the only thing to be found.

http://www.fifo.se/#AVSNFLL221

I've been silently following this topic for a very long time. I own a 5050 and would really like to have a more user friendly way of browsing its contents, both for WAF and my kids.

Here's an honest question for you: After all the problems people here have had, with software, support, DVDs that can't be found by OG, etc., why would I want to spend the money on an Entre? Isn't it more trouble than it's worth?

/jab

Originally posted by JAB
Here's an honest question for you: After all the problems people here have had, with software, support, DVDs that can't be found by OG, etc., why would I want to spend the money on an Entre? Isn't it more trouble than it's worth? It is definitely not more trouble than it is worth, and even with all the hassles, it is a terrific product. Sure we are griping about the 5-10% of disks not found, but that still means that 90-95% go through without a hitch.

I bought my 5900 like 8 months ago and a few days later shelled out he $$ for the entre. Let me tell you. It is the best $$ i have spent! Bar none. Sure there are a few flaws, but the pros outweigh them. I like the convenience of how easily my kids (3,4 & 8 yrs old) can find what they want to see (DVD) because they just look for the cover art. Let me tell you my 3 yr old can use this system, and shows it off to his friends. The convenience of not having to touch the dvds that the changer offer and the ease of use of the entre make this great for me and my family.

While there are some flaws, its not enough for me to have ever considering returning it. Hope this helps.

Actually now I am in the process of buying 2 axcess units for the entre. This is much I believe in this system.

you can't find anything remotely like it at the price point.

the frustration is that we want it do some of things it does better, and then do even more.

the things we are asking for are trivial for a company with the resources Kenwood/Escient has.

thanks for tell me about vanns

my axcess units are on their way WOO hooo

FYI EBAY Item number: 3049434721 Slightly Used Entre with compatible USB's (2) FREE SHIPPING WITH BUY IT NOW.... THIS IS NOT MY ITEM JUST SAW IT WHILE SEARCHING EBAY..... PRETTY GOOD DEAL

Originally posted by rbienstock
It is definitely not more trouble than it is worth, and even with all the hassles, it is a terrific product. Sure we are griping about the 5-10% of disks not found, but that still means that 90-95% go through without a hitch.

Agreed. The people who own Entre units do so because they were interested in a changer. If you're interested in a changer, it's because you want to organize and manage a library of software that has become otherwise unwieldy.

Once you set foot on the road toward an "organized" system that a changer begins to offer, the Entre then leaps you into the next dimension of control and organization. Possibilities approach that you really didn't realize until you had the unit. The result is that the owners set a pretty high bar for what it takes to satisfy themselves--to a large extent, we've been spoiled by our Entres. They work very, very well--they just don't work perfectly.

For its price-point, the Entre is, actually, a pretty amazing and forward-looking product. While it's sort of old hat to the lurkers on this thread, it's also a testament to its versatility (as well as the angst prompted by Kenwood's molasses approach to fixing the multi-changer support issue) that this thread is now nearly two years old. One thread, two years old.

Nick :cool:

Well I took my open box Entre back to Good Guys in Woodland Hills and got a refund. It couldn't do DHCP at all although it claimed it was trying. Also my 5050M died, it won't recognize any disk, CD or DVD, so I can't sell it now. I tried reinitializing without luck.

I loved the concept, to bad it either doesn't work or is not reliable in my case. I guess I'll just have to wait for the next generation of media servers or go with the DVDLobby set of tools.

Why not send them back to Kenwood under the warranty?

Here is an interesting web page.

they sell kenwood parts. the eject spring costs 25 cents.

http://www.partsolver.com/SearchResults.asp?ModelID=63342&Keywords=&ManufacturerID=85&ModelNumber=DV5900M&SearchType=ModelNumber&x=63&y=14

Originally posted by slocko
Here is an interesting web page.

they sell kenwood parts. the eject spring costs 25 cents.

http://www.partsolver.com/SearchResults.asp?ModelID=63342&Keywords=&ManufacturerID=85&ModelNumber=DV5900M&SearchType=ModelNumber&x=63&y=14 I'll see that and raise it. Here is the Entre's (aka MR-H1): http://www.partsolver.com/SearchResults.asp?SearchType=ModelNumber&ManufacturerID=85&ModelNumber=MR-H1&ModelID=264324&Keywords=

Notice the 3rd entry ... Service Manual

Originally posted by rbienstock
<snip> (3) The real point of failure is the search engine (whether in the unit or on OG). There is just too much stuff that is in their database but that can't be found unless one knows the secret handshake. If there was development time and money directed anywhere, I think that that is the area most in need of a fix.<snip> Hopefully, however, more options may emerge as we continue to explore the innards of the Entre. [/B] I think most would whole heartedly agree with your point about the search engine. They need that for the average user. I'm familiar with limited development resources so if they are short then that would be the place to prioritize. I still think MM should work solidly for for it's limited and documented functionality. Sometimes those types of programs are "test" or stepping stones.

BTW, I did edit my Harry Potter description from the Entre and then compare the MD5key with a before copy of the XML file. The MD5key stayed the same. I'll try the description and if it still stays the same then we are probably safe editing that XML. One odd thing, however, was that date and time of the XML file on the Entre was 9/23/2003 10:53:00 and I actually edit it 9/26/2003 08:24:xx (my watch time). I wonder how the system date/time get set on the Entre.

BTW2, I found a friend with a hub so I can 'sniff'.

My biggest grip with the Entre besides the lack of multi-changer support, was no way to backup the unit. Since Heroildo figured out how to do that, for me personally I can't complain about that anymore.

Sure it would be nice if you didn't have to be technical to do it, but it's within my skill set.

That has given me more options if the drive ever crashes again. Provided I have backed up by then!

Originally posted by DerekFSU
Why not send them back to Kenwood under the warranty?

I decided to not send good money after bad with the Entre.

I think the DV5050M is out of warranty but I'm checking. The hassle of dealing with the RMA and shipping, etc. is not appealing.

Do it quickly, I just had 2x 120GB drives fail on me within 24 hours of one another (who would have thought).

hm

Originally posted by slocko
My biggest grip with the Entre besides the lack of multi-changer support, was no way to backup the unit. Since Heroildo figured out how to do that, for me personally I can't complain about that anymore.

Sure it would be nice if you didn't have to be technical to do it, but it's within my skill set.

That has given me more options if the drive ever crashes again. Provided I have backed up by then!

I Received my 5900M back from kenwood West in Cerritos. Here are the details:

- I sent the unit out for repair from NJ on September 2, 2003. (UPS Ground)

- Unit arrived in Cerritos CA on September 9, 2003.

- Unit repaired under warranty On September 17, 2003.

- Received unit in NJ on September 26, 2003. (UPS Ground)

I did receive the unit packed in the original carton. The eject mech has been repaired. Overall my expereience with Kenwood Service has been a good one. Two weeks is an extremely reasonable amount of time. (Thanks Jessica @ KW West)

Slocko,
How should I go about re-loading my changer. Can it be done without disturbing the contents already stored in my Entre????

Danny,

Robert posted a very good technique on the best way to reconnect the changers. I think the entre always looks to it's drive first before it goes to open globe. So I really don't think it matters the order. I think you can just do a lookup all and it will find everything.

Unfortunately I can't think of a good search term to bring up his post.

By the way, next time you need your changer repaired, especially something as simple as the eject mechanism, you can take it to a service center here in NJ that is really good. They stock all the kenwood parts and performed a major repair on my changer with a 2 day turn around. They also fixed my eject mechanism and glued it in place.

Originally posted by DannyFresh
Slocko,
How should I go about re-loading my changer. Can it be done without disturbing the contents already stored in my Entre????

ouch. i just don't have the time right now.

Originally posted by hmatos
Do it quickly, I just had 2x 120GB drives fail on me within 24 hours of one another (who would have thought).

hm

Originally posted by NiteOwl
thanks for tell me about vanns

my axcess units are on their way WOO hooo

Remember, you also need an ethernet/hpna bridge. I bought the Linksys, which appears to work fine, but is very spare on documentation. I suspect Scott or David could make a more competent explanation--but you need it if the Axcess is going to work.

You also need the CUTE FTP software, but that can be downloaded a day at a time. I just bought the disc.

Nick :cool:

Thanks Slock,
If It wasn't for them covering the cost of the upgrade and return shipping. I probably wouldn't have gotten the upgrade. I would have had the eject fixed somewhere else...

Robert any help on finding that post would be appreciated......

Found it:
**********************************
I would not do a "lookup all" given the current state of the online database because that would make everything get looked up again. Also that won't clear out your old slot assignments, so you'll get duplicates.

Here's what I did: first I sent my changer out to be repaired. Then I bought a new changer and I attached it with no discs inside and turned it on. Then I turned it off and got the disconnected changer message and picked the non-ignore option (I can't remember what it was called, maybe "rebuild "?). I then had it do a scan of an empty changer, which resulted in a blank guide in the Entre. I then put some of my disks back in, and the unit automatically did a Quick Lookup when I closed the changer door. This restored all my previous listings for these disks including most, but not all of my customizations. (The one I know got altered was disk 1 of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, where I had previously modified the listings so that disk 2 was listed as Who Framed Roger Rabbit and disk 1 was listed as Roger Rabbit Shorts. After, they were listed as Who Framed Roger Rabbit Disk 1 and Disk 2.) When my second changer came back, I put the rest of my disks in it, and they were looked up with no problems and all my customizations were saved.

So basically, what you need is a non-destructive method of clearing out the guide on the Entre, and the only way that I've found to do that is the changer-turn-off trick.

BTW, if you're feeling really adventurous, you might consider doing everything I said above but do it with your internet connection turned off. I have no idea what would happen here -- it would be one of two things: either you'll end up with a mass of Unknown Disks, or else everything would work normally as described above. So why would you do it? Because it is possible that the OpenGlobe database is currently unstable, so to the extent that you can avoid it, the better off you'll be. The adventurous part is that we don't know whether contact with the OpenGlobe DB is in any way necessary to restore one's previous disk entries (I don't think it is, but what do I know?).


__________________
Regards,

Robert

Can I run HPNA and ethernet at the same time? That is have my axcess unit connect via hpna to entre and have the entre running with a usb ethernet adapter?

With this configuration will I be able to get internet radio on the axcess?

Originally posted by NiteOwl
Can I run HPNA and ethernet at the same time? That is have my axcess unit connect via hpna to entre and have the entre running with a usb ethernet adapter?

With this configuration will I be able to get internet radio on the axcess?

My axcess gets i-radio.

Entre : pri and secondary set to ethernet in setup

Entre connected to USB adapter to ethernet
Axcess connected to phone line connected to PE102 HPNA<-bridge->ethernet

I think this matches it: http://upload.kenwoodusa.com/pub/tech_articles/EntreNetworkAxcess.pdf

There are other methods. ie. Entre HPNA connection only I think.

Originally posted by ScottF200
<SNIP>There are other methods. ie. Entre HPNA connection only I think. The Tips and Install page (click here) (http://www.kenwoodusa.com/group_info.jsp?categoryTypeId=130&productId=2357&productTypeId=147) has all the connection types. The method I'm using (prev post) and described as "Connecting Kenwood Axcess Portals to an Existing Entré Network (with Internet Radio on the Axcess Portal)" on the Tips and Install page seems to be the most flexible. Meaning axcess works with i-radio (MP3 stream available with all connections) and Media Manager is able to be used to access the Entre (not true if you only have HPNA connection).

They really need a table / matrix on that page to show what options are available (left/vertical column of table) for what connection types (top horizontal row of table).

Their doc on that page does not easily show all combinations of Entre network connections and Axcess and Media Manager.

>#4 see #3
>
>I may have a way to expand the drive, by performing a "dd" of the 20GB >drive to a 120GB drive. I would then rewrite the partition information files >and initialize the new music partitions. This is basically the wait I >upgraded my fireball. Unfortunately, the Fireball, Entre, and Compaq MC-1 >do not use the same boot code, so I'm sort of stuck.
>
>Hope this all makes sense,
>
>Heroildo

Heroildo,

How are you accessing the partition to modify the partition information files?

NiteOwl,

I believe this approach didn't work out. It yielded an unstable entre.

Anyone want to tell me the name of a good site to get MP3s that are correctly tagged and can be transferred to the Entre. I want to try out Media Managers ability to transfer MP3s. Most seem to have problems when trying to do more than 5 or 6.

Yes, I was thinking of "legal" mp3 sites...ie where new artist are getting exposure, etc. You can e-mail me if you'd like. avsforum at sign fauque dot com .

I've tried a couple sites but hard to get past popups and get quick whole album downloads.

Last night at about 1:30 am I decided to try and get the cover art for eleven DVDs that I never had any luck with before. The openglobe gods must have been with me because every one of the covers came through even Batman & Robin. Now if I could only figure out why every time I want to connect to openglobe I have to reset the entre. Anybody have this trouble and if so what did you do to correct it?

I re-installed my 5900M last night. I placed all the disc's in the same slots I removed them from and had no problems. I don't think the Entre even knew the changer was ever removed from the system.

I have also noticed that after the changer goes through the detection process, it no longer plays a disc at startup. The play icon (>) flashes for a second than the display reads "STOP". Anyone else notice this???

i think if you have the entre connected, it will stop the disc from playing at startup as soon as the changer is detected by the entre.

Originally posted by ScottF200
<snip>I want to try out Media Managers ability to transfer MP3s. Most seem to have problems when trying to do more than 5 or 6.<snip> Well I have had pretty darn good success with Media Manager. Here's what I did:

a) PC: 11 Maverick songs in WMA format
b) PC: convert them to 128 bit MP3s (40ish MB)
c) PC: use Media Manager to import all 11 at once (highlight all 11)
d) PC: close MM and let it sync with Entre
-- this worked without a hitch...all 11

e) Entre: play them immediately
f) Axcess: play them immediately (only 2-3 seconds to start song streaming)

g) PC: start up Media Manager again and fix cover art and change group
h) PC: close MM and let it sync with Entre
i) Entre: cover art was immediately available and it showed new group
j) Axcess: it showed new group (i.e. it sync'ed with Entre)

k) Entre: deleted all 11 songs and album

l) PC: convert 11 MP3s from 128 bit to 96 bit (30 ish MB now)
m) PC: start MM and see that it shows song/album gone (see k)
n) PC: use Media Manager to import all 11 at once (highlight all 11)
o) PC: fix cover art and move to group
p) PC: close MM and let it sync with Entre (this took ~5 minutes)

q) Entre: album/songs show up in group specified in MM
r) Axcess: songs show up in correct group and play as expected


From my experimenting I'm not really having any trouble with the PC/Entre/Axcess. All 3 are staying in sync with my adding/deleting/moving at will.

My PC is 3GHZ and my local lan is CAT5e with 100Mb hub and Entre is ethernet connected. My firewall (Outpost) showed ~90MB transferred in my 1st MM (a-d) sesssion (initial sync and closing sync). It shows ~60MB in my 2nd MM (l-p) session.

Well MM was not 100% flawless. I tried the import playlist and that didn't work as expected. I'm new to this so perhaps I'm not doing/setting it up correctly. My playlist looks like this and is recognized by MSMediaPlayer ok:

>>> "The Mavericks.m3u" >>>
D:\ENTRE\MP3\The Mavericks\The Mavericks - Air That I Breathe.mp3
D:\ENTRE\MP3\The Mavericks\The Mavericks - Because Of You.mp3
...
<<<

I thought that if I did an import of a playlist that MM would get all those MP3s. All it did was create an entry the playlist section called "The Mavericks". Instead I just used the import file MM option and highlighted all 11 files at once. Apparently the format of the MP3 names is some standard (album - song.mp3) as it created an album called "The Mavericks".

Scott I think the problem with MM is when you have a ghost entry.

You can get a ghost entry by deleting mp3s on the entre itself, without using MM.

It seems once you get a ghost, MM has trouble syncing successfully.

Guess I hadn't noticed this before.... Thanks Slock!!!

Originally posted by slocko
Scott I think the problem with MM is when you have a ghost entry.
You can get a ghost entry by deleting mp3s on the entre itself, without using MM.
It seems once you get a ghost, MM has trouble syncing successfully. Slocko, it must be a combination of things because (per my previous post) I did do the deletes from the Entre. Also (forever) others were having trouble uploading more then 5 or 6 songs before the MM would lock up. I didn't experience either problem.

That tells me that either our hardware/software situation is different or that I'm doing the order/flow/networking differently.

Don't get me wrong I have NO DOUBT at all that once a problem starts (ghosting or something else) that all sort of wierd events will occur. i.e. the developers didn't account for "self-healing" of strange scenerios.

My post was to see if MM was consistently causing problems or "it just depends". I should knock on wood because I have had my share of problems and may still have them with MM.


Slocko, by chance did you start having problems when you had MP3s deleted that you had in multiple groups (i.e. playlist and the original)?

I really can't remember anything special about the steps I took when I deleted the mp3s. The only thing I remember diffrently about the ghost mp3 I have, is that I was trying to find cover art for it and I couldn't.

If I remember correctly, I then deleted in an attempt to burn it again and then is when I ran into the ghost issue.

I don't know if that somehow contributed to the issue. Also, I might have changed the name of the album before I deleted it. Maybe that is what screws it up. Something doesn't get updated somewhere when you change the name of the xml info.

Scott,

I was wondering if, in your efforts at examining the Entre's IP traffic if you managed to discover the IP address that the Entre uses to access the OG database. If so, I'm wondering what would happen if one tried to browse or telnet to that address. It would be wonderful if we could discover the back door into the DB if only because searching would be so much easier using the cut and past capabilities of a PC instead of the limited data entry capabilities of the Entre.

I just became aware of a Kenwood car product, the Music Keg that can store music in the FLAC lossless compression format. More info here: http://www.phatnoise.com/products/digitalmediaplayers/kenwood_music_keg.php I think we should start lobbying Kenwood for FLAC support on the Entre. Even though FLAC takes up much more space than MP3, it sounds much better.

Originally posted by rbienstock
Scott, I was wondering if, in your efforts at examining the Entre's IP traffic if you managed to discover the IP address that the Entre uses to access the OG database. If so, I'm wondering what would happen if one tried to browse or telnet to that address. It would be wonderful if we could discover the back door into the DB if only because searching would be so much easier using the cut and past capabilities of a PC instead of the limited data entry capabilities of the Entre. I know exactly what you are saying and I had the same thoughts 3ish weeks ago when I spent a bit of time trying sniffers. I could not see the traffic at that time. With apnar's suggestion I'll will check this out again. My friend at work has an old hub but forgot it twice last week. I'll send him another reminder e-mail in a minute. Thanks.


I just realized you mentioned IP. I was thinking it is really a complete URL (ie. a level or two down http:\\xyz\one_level\two_level). I think that because I did turn back on ExtraDNS on one of my PCs (we discussed in the past) and pointed my Entre to that PCs as it's DNS server. That allowed me to see the lookups (ie. highlevel URL and it's IP). I didn't see anything that we didn't find before early on in the thread. Hope that explanation makes sense.

What I was thinking about in my last [11am edit] was that we may see parms passed to a "url" and we could then see the results come back. By parms I mean data following a "?" in many URL examples that you see. This could be to a "php" and "asp" etc type of "program" in the url.

For those of you using universal programmable remotes to control your Entre, I may have a tip. If this is old news sorry about the repetition.

I used to have a very complicated remote setup (using a Pronto pro, which I have now changed for a Harmony.) The main problem was the Entre remote direction arrows do noty navigate the DVD menus (really dumb Kenwood.) I used to have two sets of arrows on a screen, or had to map two sets of hard buttons (for those remotes w/ hard direction keys.) One up/down/L/R/enter set for the entre menus; another one for the DVD menus. This was very confusing, and took up a lot of space on touchscreen remotes, especially since I had to label each (DVD directional, Entre directional.)

What I discovered is simplicity itself. If your remote can have one button (or touchscreen button) send two commands, make the direction arrows send BOTH the Entre and the DVD commands. For select/enter, you only need to use the Entre select, since it will work on the DVD menus. Finally, have whatever button you use to bring up the Entre guide (I used one called Guide) also issue a DVD stop command. That prevents you from navigating a DVD menu when you are using the Entre GUI. Simple enough, and works well for me.

Originally posted by mikemav

What I discovered is simplicity itself. If your remote can have one button (or touchscreen button) send two commands, make the direction arrows send BOTH the Entre and the DVD commands. For select/enter, you only need to use the Entre select, since it will work on the DVD menus. Finally, have whatever button you use to bring up the Entre guide (I used one called Guide) also issue a DVD stop command. That prevents you from navigating a DVD menu when you are using the Entre GUI. Simple enough, and works well for me.

I've got the Marantz RC9200, which is essentially a souped up ProntoPro. The only way I can envision what you're saying is creating a macro for those buttons. Using your example of Guide/Entre+Stop/DVD as a variant, I would create a command that goes like this: Entre Guide/delay/DVD-Stop.

I guess it sounds okay, but if you have a Pronto or a Marantz, you can just enter a "jump" button from one panel to the next, and it is almost like one remote. I guess the difficulty I have with the system you're proposing would require a little (maybe a lot) individual thought on which commands to "marry."

What type of remote are you using?

Nick :cool:

Re: Problems with Media Manager

Anyone having problems with Media Manager talking with the Entre try (test) a direct connect to rule out their local lan connectivity (hub, wireless ports, etc).

By direct connect I mean a cross over cable. A newsletter I get mentioned this recently and I thought it could make for a good test with MM to Entre issues. Likely need a laptop, your PC close to your Entre or a long CAT5 cross over. This google search finds good info about cross overs...easy to build or cheap to buy. http://www.google.com/search?q=crossover+cable+network

I haven't done this myself but I used to do this with serial cables in Windows 3.1.

Note this would just be for testing as it is a direct connection with the Entre to your PC which means the Entre doesn't talk to the internet (yes, I realize I'm ignoring Windows ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) and other 3rd party products which I've used).

Why would you need to hit stop? If you hit guide it will automatically stop the dvd and bring up the entre guide. I don't think you need the step.

This trick wouldn't work for me because on my remote macros are global. So I would have to also send arrow commands to navigate my Ultimate TV box.

I just use a shifted select macro that hits select and then puts the remote in dvd mode. I then use a shifted guide macro that puts the remote in entre mode and hits guide. I don't like it because the shift key is very far from the other two buttons, but I only have hard buttons and I wanted to use the select and guide buttons. Unfortunately like I mentioned, macros are global so I had to shift the buttons.

The harmony is an intriguing remote.

Originally posted by mikemav

What I discovered is simplicity itself. If your remote can have one button (or touchscreen button) send two commands, make the direction arrows send BOTH the Entre and the DVD commands. For select/enter, you only need to use the Entre select, since it will work on the DVD menus. Finally, have whatever button you use to bring up the Entre guide (I used one called Guide) also issue a DVD stop command. That prevents you from navigating a DVD menu when you are using the Entre GUI. Simple enough, and works well for me.

I really like the Harmony. I have gone full circle with remotes. I work for a Crestron dealer, so I have a Crestron wireless 2-way color touchpanel with all the goodies, but since I only dabble in programming myself, it is very hard to update and grow. I also have a preference for hard buttons for direction keys and channel surfing. This led me to the Harmony. I have a 768, but I also just ordered a 659, which has less customization options but more hard buttons. Anyway, I do not want to make this a remote discussion, but my wife found shifting from DVD direction keys to Entre direction keys troublesome. Having both represented took up too much space or necessitated a page flip on the touchscreen. I think all remotes should have the ability to have one button (or virtual button, in the case of a touch screen) send more than one command. It is super easy with the harmony. You just select a button, then choose IR command(s) from a pull down menu on their HTML interface. This is how my direction arrows send both DVD and Entre commands.

Good tip about the Entre guide button sending the DVD stop command....I was not sure it did that on its own.

By the way...if anyone wants a used Crestron system, PM me! It really is amazing...I just have not had the time to program it properly or hire a programmer. I have been thinking about listing it on the marketplace but have not gotten around to it.

NiteOwl,

The Escient/Kenwood/Compaq devices define their partition structures on boot up. There's a file called, "part.prp". I believe it stands for partition properties. The file tells the OG software how to access the drive. I believe it's something like a unix device driver file.

I booted up my Entre with a CD that contained a softare update (all performed after a BACKUP). On that disk are three files. One of the files is "update.prp", which tells the OS how to perform an update. The other two files are a bootable kernel image (ram.lck, ram.img). I modified the part.prp using information from an Escient 120GB Fireball. I then modified the update.prp file to copy the part.prp to the boot directory and instructed it to perform an initialize on the new partitions.

This did work and it did give me an Entre with a bigger drive. But I started to experience some odd issues,

(a) at one point MM would not transfer cover art from the Entre to the PC (this may have been caused by one of my failing hard drives).

(b) the "Options/Delete Music" screen no longer showed me how much space was used/available (it was just an empty white rectangle).

Also, I'm not sure, but I really don't think the Entre has enough memory to handle the larger database. I'm just guessing here.

I pretty much followed the same procedures to expand the drive on my Fireball H-40 and it worked perfectly! I still have issue "(b)" from above and it does seem to be a little slugglish when I record new CD's. Other than that it works great.

The Entre is pretty good at handling control of the changers and presenting the guide. That said, it is VERY tempermental when it comes to dealing with MP3 files on the disk. You will only start to see this as you start to fill up that 20GB drive with MP3 files. I don't believe that upgrading it's hard drive will give you a stable enough platform to play back music.

I own an ARQ, Fireball, and the Entre -- so I finally just gave up trying to upgrade the Entre. It just won't work at doing it all. Which is a shame -- I really need the space in my rack. For now, I think I'm going to stick with the Fireball. It's a nightmare getting all your music onto it initially -- but once it's on there, it's pretty smooth.

Heroildo

Originally posted by NiteOwl
>#4 see #3
>
>I may have a way to expand the drive, by performing a "dd" of the 20GB >drive to a 120GB drive. I would then rewrite the partition information files >and initialize the new music partitions. This is basically the wait I >upgraded my fireball. Unfortunately, the Fireball, Entre, and Compaq MC-1 >do not use the same boot code, so I'm sort of stuck.
>
>Hope this all makes sense,
>
>Heroildo

Heroildo,

How are you accessing the partition to modify the partition information files?

PE102

Anyone know where I can find a PE102? All I can find are Linksys for like $175 EHHKK!!!

Originally posted by NiteOwl
PE102

Anyone know where I can find a PE102? All I can find are Linksys for like $175 EHHKK!!!

I got mine at Chumbo.com (for $124 doh) but it doesn't look like they carry them now. They may be discontinued. Try this froogle link as there is another brand out: Compex TH102-A -- I don't know if it is compatable. Check return policies. Call KW to ask if compatible perhaps?

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?price1=30&price2=120&btnP=Go&q=hpna+bridge&price=between

Scoot, thanks for the tip on hardwiring straight to the Entre. I have only gone so far as hardwiring to my router since I am wireless but there was no luck. I too had no problems with 11 MP3 files. It was when I did 50, 100, and more that things went awry. When I did 1600 straight to the entre via its interal burner, things went to hell in a handbasket.

I paid attention yesterday when I was using the system. It does not stop the dvd when the guide comes up, but if you select another movie it will stop it as expected.

I didn't try selecting mp3 or internet radio. So I don't know if it will stop the dvd in that case.

Originally posted by mikemav

Good tip about the Entre guide button sending the DVD stop command....I was not sure it did that on its own.

The new musicmatch service looks very promising. They are giving you 160 kbps quality which I can live with. The only problem is that it uses WMA which is not supported by the entre. You can transcode it to MP3 format, but I am sure the quality will suffer even further.

It's a shame that finally a service comes online that I like, and they have to use WMA.

Guys,

I picked up a Linksys HPNA router (HPRO200) and it works great. I tried enabling HPNA as secondary, per Kenwoods own PDF file, to no avail. This effort was to only to test if the Axcess unit was working. Axcess would recognize the Entre only if HPNA was enable on primary only. This setup would of course knock out the usb network adapter. Funny that Kenwood support would deny that this should work, when it is published on their support site. But thats another story.

I replaced my Linksys 8 port router for the new one and ran the LAN connection to a 10/100 switch. HPNA and Ethernet side all see each other. I also have iRadio on Axcess units.

Anonymous FTP access to the Entre is enabled!!! I was looking forward to this. I never noticed that the Entre has a DHCP id of ESCIENT as default. Pretty funny.

-NiteOwl

Anyone know where I can purchase an Axcess?? Vanns seems to be out....

Originally posted by NiteOwl
Guys,

I picked up a Linksys HPNA router (HPRO200) and it works great. I tried enabling HPNA as secondary, per Kenwoods own PDF file, to no avail. This effort was to only to test if the Axcess unit was working. Axcess would recognize the Entre only if HPNA was enable on primary only. This setup would of course knock out the usb network adapter. Funny that Kenwood support would deny that this should work, when it is published on their support site. But thats another story.

I replaced my Linksys 8 port router for the new one and ran the LAN connection to a 10/100 switch. HPNA and Ethernet side all see each other. I also have iRadio on Axcess units.

Anonymous FTP access to the Entre is enabled!!! I was looking forward to this. I never noticed that the Entre has a DHCP id of ESCIENT as default. Pretty funny.

-NiteOwl

Scott clued me in to set both primary and secondary to ethernet. That did the trick for me.

I notice that, in order to FTP to either of my Entre units, the Axcess unit has to be ON (and, in my case, set to the particular Entre . . . it recognizes both, so I can choose). If Axcess is not on, I can't open a link to the Entre.

I hooked up two speakers to the unit, and was pleasantly surprised at what it sounded like.

Although I'm too chicken to try, there are default settings having to do with the colors used, the OpenGlobe symbol, Internet Radio . . . all the stuff you see on your Entre. I wonder if those could be modified. . . I'd love to be able to change the UI to the colors used by Escient. I have copied some of those files to my hard drive, however, just to play around with them in the abstract.

Nick :cool:

Originally posted by DannyFresh
Anyone know where I can purchase an Axcess?? Vanns seems to be out.... hookedontronics is the only other on-line place I've seen. Did you try the find dealer link I mentioned a few days ago off of the Kenwood Axcess description page?

Wow... Vanns no longer offers them online? Am I glad I picked up mines a few days ago!! :)

hookedontronics.com offered them for $318... dang. I paid $399.99 ea last week at vanns.com! :(

It was nice and easy to replace the DVD cover for Bad Boys (Martin Lawrence+Will Smith) from the old Sean Penn 1985 movie of the same name!!

Now off to figure out how the entre opens the port when the axcess is present.

Thanks for all the help guys!

Originally posted by NiteOwl
Wow... Vanns no longer offers them online? Am I glad I picked up mines a few days ago!! :)
hookedontronics.com offered them for $318... dang. I paid $399.99 ea last week at vanns.com! :(
It was nice and easy to replace the DVD cover for Bad Boys (Martin Lawrence+Will Smith) from the old Sean Penn 1985 movie of the same name!!
Now off to figure out how the entre opens the port when the axcess is present.
Thanks for all the help guys! I paid $400 as well. Oh well.

Re: Bad Boys
Send in your request of a missing title. I've complained about Bad Company for a while and used it as my excuse for using FTP. Guess what DVD was automatically found tonight...yep Bad Company (2002).

Re: Now off to figure out how the entre opens the port when the axcess is present.
Re: Entre Searches:
I played a little tonight as my friend brought in his hub for me. It appears that the communication between the Entre and the outside world for search lookups is via HTTPS. In other words encrypted. Hats off to them in some regards for protecting their "VideoDB". The cover art is obtained via a normal HTTP GET but unless you know the exact name you can't access it. That doesn't matter much as you can get the cover art from DVD Profiler, elsewhere on the web or just scan it from your own DVD. I can't play more as I have to log into work for a while.

when i looked at hoookedontronics a few days ago, it said they were out. i looked again this morning and they are still out.

also, they are not an authorized dealer which would make me hesitant with kenwood products. since they give you a two year warranty on sovereign products, you might as well buy from an authorized dealer.

Originally posted by NiteOwl
I picked up a Linksys HPNA router (HPRO200) and it works great.


NiteOwl ,

Where did you find a HPRO200? I've been looking around and every where seems to be out of stock. Also what did you end up paying for it?

-apnar

Apnar,

I picked it up at my local CompUSA. It was $149.99. I could have purchased it for a little over $100 from newegg.com (see url below)

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=33-124-013&refer=C173T

but I didn't want to wait. I could also just return it to CompUSA and be done with it if it didn't work.

-NiteOwl

I tried my wife's Rio S50 and it wasn't recognized. I noticed that there are only 3 units officially supported. Does anyone know of any units unofficially working with the entre?

Re: Sniffing by accident.

I was watching MS Player look up DVDs automatically and noticed communication from the Axcess to the Entre. I see why the Axcess 'stays alive'. It sends out request "is alive" EVERY 10 seconds to the Entre and the Entre response with "is alive". Seems like they'd be a little more polite...like "are you alive" and "yes, I am. Thanks for asking.":rolleyes:

Well here is something that is unexpected. I rebooted up the entre without the axcess on the network. As expected, the ftp port is not open. Afterwards, I plugged the Axcess in and the port was again open. I then disconnect the Axcess and moved it upstairs, it is no longer connected but the ftp port remains open. Has anyone else experienced this? I am guessing that if I reboot the Entre the port will close. Has anyone sniffed the traffic while the axcess is "discovering" the entre?

I'm still in the market for a 5900, but I can't find them anywhere. Is there a dealership that is selling the upgraded 5900?

I know a local dealor who is authorized and will sell it to you barely above his cost. He's a custom installer not a showroom dealer.

Cheers Derek, could you forward his telephone number and/or details, perhaps by pm.

You've got mail.

Derek I'm looking to buy another DV-5900M does your friend have another one for me?

Email me at: slowrey@everestkc.net

Originally posted by NiteOwl
Well here is something that is unexpected. I rebooted up the entre without the axcess on the network. As expected, the ftp port is not open. Afterwards, I plugged the Axcess in and the port was again open. I then disconnect the Axcess and moved it upstairs, it is no longer connected but the ftp port remains open. Has anyone else experienced this? I am guessing that if I reboot the Entre the port will close. Has anyone sniffed the traffic while the axcess is "discovering" the entre? Yes, it stays open per my initial findings.

I looked briefly at the Axcess to Entre traffic last night but didn't have much time. I'm using Analyzer ( http://analyzer.polito.it/ ) as it was the last one I tried unsuccessfully a couple weeks back. Apnar provided the tip of using an extra HUB for my devices (PC, Entre, Axcess) plugged into my Switch (nexland router). It is working well. I will go back and install http://www.ethereal.com/ again which I did a couple weeks ago. Apnar suggested this one as well when he made the HUB suggestion. More testing likely this weekend...but my HT is not getting any closer to getting done nor those outside project with all this playing!!!

mmsean, you've got mail.

i played a little with the old version of MM. Thxs Scott.

Still not synching all the cover art from the entre to MM. Just got maybe 3 covers out of 20.

Originally posted by NiteOwl
Apnar,

I picked it up at my local CompUSA. It was $149.99. I could have purchased it for a little over $100 from newegg.com (see url below)

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=33-124-013&refer=C173T

but I didn't want to wait. I could also just return it to CompUSA and be done with it if it didn't work.

-NiteOwl

NiteOwl thanks for the link. In retrospect I have been looking for the HPB200 not the HPRO200 as all I want is the bridge (not all the extra router stuff). How are you using your HPRO200? just as a bridge or are you using it as a router as well? I'd likely pick one up if I could use it as a bridge.

-apnar

i did a search and saw several links:

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=linksys+hpna+bridge

I replaced my BEFSR81(Linksys 8 port router) for this. I am in fact using it as a router. I did however test it as a bridge, as long as you disable dhcp and give it a different ip than the router, it will act as a bridge.

-NiteOwl

Originally posted by slocko
i played a little with the old version of MM. Thxs Scott.

Still not synching all the cover art from the entre to MM. Just got maybe 3 covers out of 20.

I still can't get MM to show anything more than the genres on the entre.

Originally posted by DerekFSU
I know a local dealor who is authorized and will sell it to you barely above his cost. He's a custom installer not a showroom dealer.

Could you pm that dealer info along to me as well? My single 5900 is nearly full and I'll be needing another one soon.

Thanks,
Ken

Tonight, I attempted to connect one of my Entres. The purpose was to add cover art to the CD section, since the "America's Greatest Hits" CD had, via CDDB, produced the "America Homecoming" cover art.

Initially, it just wouldn't connect. Then, the message came across that "login successful," but nothing appeared in the window where I usually see Entre's files.

I don't know if this is a momentary glitch, or bad tidings. Ultimately, I received an error message, and this was true of BOTH Entre units (after setting my Axcess unit to "on," and to the particular Entre in question).

Hopefully, Scott or one of the more computer savvy can tell me that it's not a problem (or suggest a fix), but I'd be interested if anyone is having difficulty FTP'ing to the Entre (of the few that have done it, with the Axcess unit).

Photo 1 is attached, and photos 2 & 3 will follow. Comments will be most appreciated.

Thanks,

Nick :cool:

Looks like connection made, but . . . nothing in the right hand box.

Nick :cool:

This is what ultimately happens, even after the connection. Bad photography, but the message reads: "425 Can't build data connection".

Houston? . . . we have a problem. . .

Nick :cool:

Originally posted by Nick Satullo
<snip>Hopefully, Scott or one of the more computer savvy can tell me that it's not a problem (or suggest a fix), but I'd be interested if anyone is having difficulty FTP'ing to the Entre (of the few that have done it, with the Axcess unit).<snip> Nick, it is still working OK for me. My Entre updates come in the wee hours. As I recall you can't turn this off short of unplugging the net connection. Basicallly the setup screen gives you 3 shifts to choose to get your updates.

Originally posted by ScottF200
Nick, it is still working OK for me. My Entre updates come in the wee hours. As I recall you can't turn this off short of unplugging the net connection. Basicallly the setup screen gives you 3 shifts to choose to get your updates.

Hi Scott:

I have my Entres setup for updates in the afterhours as well. However, if you look at the pictures, I don't think that's my problem . . . Ijust can't get a connection that "opens" the Entre to me, in using the Cute FTP program. Usually, something appears in the right box (representing the Entre's contents), but, as you can see, I'm now getting nothing.

Perhaps rebooting my Entres?

Nick :cool:

Still have not gotten MM to sync. Once I burned the 1600 MP3's straight to the Entre, I spent about 4 days trying to sync to no avail. MM would think it was synced but either show absolutely nothing or just the genres. I would then change the name of a genre by just a letter to make it actually so some syncing. Once, it did it until I changed the genre's letter back to lower case and it stopped again.

I have sent one MP3 through MM to the entre to again force a sync but to no avail. It would sync for a minute, tell me that it could not sync, and freeze up the entre. After a few resets of the entre and more syncs, it goes back to just showing the genres with nothing else (no tracks, albums, artists, etc.) Been going at it for a few weeks now. I'll chip in $250 for anyone who can fix this program.

Actual error message that I get is "Could not synchronize local database with client device." After a few resets to the entre and a few more of these errors, it will eventually go back to showing either nothing or genres only.

Derek,

Do you have ghost mp3s on your entre? It looks like MM doesn't work for those of us who have ghost mp3s.

I have tried the old and new version and 3 different pcs, two with XP and one with 2000.

Originally posted by DerekFSU
Still have not gotten MM to sync. Once I burned the 1600 MP3's straight to the Entre, I spent about 4 days trying to sync to no avail. MM would think it was synced but either show absolutely nothing or just the genres. I would then change the name of a genre by just a letter to make it actually so some syncing. Once, it did it until I changed the genre's letter back to lower case and it stopped again.

I have sent one MP3 through MM to the entre to again force a sync but to no avail. It would sync for a minute, tell me that it could not sync, and freeze up the entre. After a few resets of the entre and more syncs, it goes back to just showing the genres with nothing else (no tracks, albums, artists, etc.) Been going at it for a few weeks now. I'll chip in $250 for anyone who can fix this program.

DerekFSU, FYI, my Entre has just over 1300 MP3s that I ripped directly from the Entre transport. As I've mentioned I'm not having any trouble with MM.

I'm wondering if it is your configuration vs mine?

I had mentioned a few weeks back that I thought MM was a bit sensitive to timing and to firewall software. I mentioned that UDP packets it uses do not appear to be generally used to pass important data that can't be lost...ie. it is used often for streaming and if there is a hickup in the music you listen to or video you are watching then it is a so what and works fine.

I had recalled that when I had my firewall (Outpost) allowing MM through via rules that I had problems. I only got partial displays in MM as well. Once I let my firewall all MM to do ANYTHING it wanted without rules defined (i.e. see application name MM then let ignore it) I did not have MM problems nor see partial displays. Based on your post I deleted my local MM DB and tried to reproduce my partial displays to see if I could. I COULD NOT NOW reproduce this even with making MM work with firewall rules.

Hmm...ahhh...the difference is that now I'm not going through a "workgroup" hub. ( http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=59&grid=2 ). It is working well and even seems to be faster. (note I'm using the hub per apnars suggestion which allows all the packets to be sent to all the devices in that "workgroup" hub for my sniffing purposes).

So my configuration for comparison to others is.

a) Entre & HPNA_bridge_PE102 & PC_w_MM are all connected to that "workgroup" hub.

b) that hub is then connected to my router_hub_switch which talks to the internet and does my DHCP (assigned IPs to all devices).

BEFORE when I had similar problems to yours I had all my devices connected to my router_hub_switch (Nexland Pro800).

I BELIEVE that the "workgroup" hub is working similar to the cross connection wiring I mentioned in an earlier post where as the devices are talking more directly to each other and not going through my router_hub_switch that could interfer/slow_down the "communication".

All that being said and the fact you are working so hard at getting this to work I thought you may want to invest in the cross wire or the "workgroup" hub (my suggestion). They are much cheaper than $250 which is an interesting number but I'm not interested in taking any of your hard earned cash. I just like the product and want to help others with it.

I don't recall your network configuration / devices and I have to get to work so I can't search. You could describe in detail?

We could discuss off line or on the phone if you'd like. My e-mail avsforum at sign fauque dot com.

I'm also curious if others think my theories of MM not working is related to the connection types. My experience is that it is sensitive but I'm not testing in a "LAB" with a pencil and notepad.

Scott,

Your theories are certaintly plausibe. I have a cross over cable and will try a direct connection. That should be a good test of your theory.

Thanks guys. Slocko, I am not having ghosting issues. I did have them once the Entre upgraded its software. I restored to factory defaults, added the MP3s with no problems, and then upgraded the software. As soon as I upgraded the software, it doubled my MP3s from 1600 to 3200. I then restored to factory defaults again but this time updated the Entre's software prior to ripping the MP3s. I followed the progress CD by CD through all 10 cd's (MP3 CDs with 160 songs each). The entre would vary the number it showed me with the actual number by 5-10 each way. Sometimes showing me a few more files than I should have and sometimes showing me a few less than I should have. And that is how I have gotten to where I am now.

Scott, I am running MM on a Dell Inspiron 8000 laptop with XP Pro. It is on a wireless network (802.11 b) to a linksys wireless router. The entre is hardwired into the wireless router. MM has full access through my zonealarm firewall and that has not changed from back when it used to work, for the most part.

I did talk to Escient once who advised against wireless and agreed with what you said Scott about the software not being very forgiving to packet loss. I have tried hardwiring straight to the router but had not change.

I am told by Linksys that my router has a built-in firewall that cannot be turned off. They said the best I can do is to open whatever ports MM is using. Does this make sense and if so, what ports does MM use?

Derek,

If you want to try it out, they sell cross over cables at most computer stores. you can then connect your laptop directly to the entre just to test out what Scott is saying.

If it works, then the solution might be to buy a hub to put between your devices and your router.

I'll give it a try this weekend.

Also, even though you don't have ghost issues, it sounds like you still have some sort of corruption going on that might be also affecting it.

Hopefully this weekend I can test out Scott's theory on UDP being the culprit.

Thanks Slocko. So I get a Cat5 crossover cable and run it from my laptop into the USB adaptor, right?

yep.

Guys,

I used to have the Ghost MP3s on my Entre as well. I found that 9/10 times a media transfer from MM to Entre would fail, if I used my Wireless Bridge>USB adapter. I have since replaced the Wireless Bridge and hard wired using both RG6>USB, and RJ11(HPNA) and no longer have failed transfered. I also modified the MS Access database to delete the groups in which I had the ghost entries where. Again no more ghost issues since getting rid of the wireless connection.

NiteOwl,

You do know that you can delete music groups from within the Entre. That might be a little safer than messing with the database. Still, I am intrigued enough to open up the database to see if I can get rid of the entry in the All Group.

My current ghost entries came from deleting by using the Entre only.

Got the crossover cable, 25ft by Belkin, and ran it from my laptop's cat5 port to the netmate adaptor on the entre into the upper USB port. My laptop has some little lights above the cat5 port that show activity and they are lit up. Thet netmate also shows the greenlight but MM does not see the entre.

Did you reboot it? you might have to make both addresses static since the router is not available to give out addresses.

by both i mean the entre and your laptop.

Yes to the reset, have no idea how to do the whole static thing. I

Does your laptop still function via the wireless connection when you have it connected to the entre?

if it's still up then you might only have to change the entre to static.

if you go into the setup screens write down the ip information for the entre and change it to static and put in the information you wrote down.

The entre is on static. I have written down the other info. What next? Should I email you so I don't bore everyone with my lack on IP intelligence? Thanks for your help.

Derek there isn't much else I can think to try.

If you bring up a cmd window on your laptop and type "ipconfig" does it report an ip address?

if it does, then your laptop has a valid address and since your entre is static with an ip address in the fields then they both should be able to talk to each other via the cross over cable.

I went into the router and opened ports 80 and 443 (the MM ports per tech support), but no change. I changed the cat5 network to static and entered all the entre network info, reset the entre a few times, and no change. Windows was telling me I had an ip conflict so I pulled out the wireless card, but still MM is not seeing the entre with the crossover cable.

Had to use the wireless laptop IP in order to open ports for MM through router.

To make sure I did it right- Went into the network configuration for my hardwired network card, went to properties, highlighted "IP" and went to properties, unchecked "obtain automatically" by checking "use the following IP address". I then enter the static IP info exactly as it appears on the Entre network screen. After resetting the entre a few times and with the crossover cable running from my network port on my laptop to the netmate to the entre, MM does not see the entre.

The error I get when using the cat5 network port is "Windows-System Error
There is an IP address conflict with another system on the network"
Once I remove the wireless card, the error goes away but still no entre MM.

Derek,

Change the ip address on the laptop by one digit. Two devices can't have the same ip address.

that is progess. if you are getting an ip address conflict the entre and the laptop are talking to each other.

Thanks. OK, was still getting the IP conflict even with wireless card out of laptop and wireless network disabled. The IP address that I entered for the static IP under my network connections was my entre's IP- 10.10.10.99

I went back into the network properties and changed the static IP to 10.10.10.98. No more conflicts but MM still does not see the entre. I was able to find the IP for my laptop through the DOS prompt, should I use it somewhere?

is mm set to automatic discovery?

Hmm, does that mean static or dynamic? It is set on static.

In MM it is set to automatic discovery.

as pathetic as it sounds, I missed you guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My DV-5050M is in for warranty repair. It will be for sale after its comes back assuming that it works.

Originally posted by DerekFSU
I went into the router and opened ports 80 and 443 (the MM ports per tech support), but no change. <snip> Sorry to have caused you a "headache" with my hardwire suggestion. I have never seen MM use those ports. 1500 is the magic port number for the destination. Perhaps if Slocko gets one and tries it he can confirm that it works or doesn't.

Scott, not a headache at all. Just another workaround. I NEED to get MM working in order to fix genres and all the like. If not, I'll have to restore to factory defaults again, re-do ALL the MP3 tags to the genres/groups that I want, reburn all the MP3 disks, and re-rip them to the entre- AGAIN. So thanks for the ideas!!

Originally posted by DerekFSU
Thanks. OK, was still getting the IP conflict even with wireless card out of laptop and wireless network disabled. The IP address that I entered for the static IP under my network connections was my entre's IP- 10.10.10.99

I went back into the network properties and changed the static IP to 10.10.10.98. No more conflicts but MM still does not see the entre. I was able to find the IP for my laptop through the DOS prompt, should I use it somewhere?

Derek,

Seems like your machine may be confused about routing since both interfaces are on the same network (logiclly, not physically). You can give this a try and see if it works for you... Connect the two with the crossover cable. Pick an unroutable network range that you aren't already using like 192.168.88.0. Then assign both the computer and the entre IPs in this range. So you could use the following (the gateway doesn't exist but you can put it in anyway):

Computer:
IP: 192.168.88.4
Netmask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.88.1

Entre:
IP: 192.168.88.5
Netmask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.88.1

Both need to be static. Also I would suggest removing your wireless card while testing this out. In DOS on your computer when you can this setup, you can run 'ipconfig' and make sure that you only have one adapter listed and it has the settings above. Also from DOS you can run 'ping 192.168.88.5' you should be able to see return packets.

-apnar

Scott, not a headache at all. Just another workaround. I NEED to get MM working in order to fix genres and all the like. If not, I'll have to restore to factory defaults again, re-do ALL the MP3 tags to the genres/groups that I want, reburn all the MP3 disks, and re-rip them to the entre- AGAIN. So thanks for the ideas!!

okay. Just finished running some tests.

Disabled my wireless card and set my hard connection to static with ip address and gateway information from my wireless card before I disabled it.

Next went into the entre and set both connections to ethernet and set them to static with the same information from my wireless card, except increased the number by one digit. The gateway info has to be the same on the pc and entre for them to communicate.

Next I connected them together via the cross connect cable. i pinged the entre using the address i had given it and got a reply.

Deleted the database id directory from kenwood directory and fired up MM. it found the entre and it synced the library.

unfortunately there was no improvement. actually the few covers it had found before, it did not find now.

so i still think the ghosting of the mp3s is an indication of some sort of corruption that is interferring with the sync.

Just out of curiousity, what routers are people using with their Entres? I have an old SMC 7004ABR that I cannot get to work with the Entre due to the firewall issue. It works fine if the Entre is connected directly to the cable modem on the WAN side. Any chance anyone can help me out here? I didn't see this covered in the previous posts. If you recall this issue, would you please point me in the right direction. Do I need to open up ports on the router? Obviously, I'm not up on networks. Thanks.

- Kevin

Originally posted by slocko
<snip>unfortunately there was no improvement. actually the few covers it had found before, it did not find now.

so i still think the ghosting of the mp3s is an indication of some sort of corruption that is interferring with the sync. Bummer. Say from your recollection has everyone who is having sync problems also doing customizing of "builtin" genre / cateogry names. I have never changed or edited them. Just throwing out ideas.

i have modified mine extensively, both movies and music.

a lot of us seem to use either dlink or linksys. i didn't have to open any ports.

i use a linksys hpna bridge that connect to the dlink wireless router.

Originally posted by isfman
Just out of curiousity, what routers are people using with their Entres? I have an old SMC 7004ABR that I cannot get to work with the Entre due to the firewall issue. It works fine if the Entre is connected directly to the cable modem on the WAN side. Any chance anyone can help me out here? I didn't see this covered in the previous posts. If you recall this issue, would you please point me in the right direction. Do I need to open up ports on the router? Obviously, I'm not up on networks. Thanks.

- Kevin

Originally posted by ScottF200
Bummer. Say from your recollection has everyone who is having sync problems also doing customizing of "builtin" genre / cateogry names. I have never changed or edited them. Just throwing out ideas.

Scott

I certainty fall into that category... sad to say

Here's the Media Manager I know.

Two Entre units, both connected to the same router. Both Entres appear in the drop down box on Media Manager.

I first started using Media Manager right after the changer upgrades. At the time, I could access either one from Media Manager. Every now and then, however, when I would try to synch with the "music" Entre, it would say that I had achieved synch, but MM would display no contents in the Entre. It would just list the general categories (blues, rock, folk, etc.).

It has been at least a month since I have been able to synch to the music Entre. All the while, I could snap up the movies Entre--and both were connected to the same router.

Yesterday, while trying to troubleshoot my FTP problem (which has sort of been solved . . . there is a problem with my laptop, but not my other PC), I almost connected via MM--for the first time in a month, it identified the contents of the music Entre, but then froze while it was retrieving the cover art. Then it went back to being an idiot.

Two Entre on the same router--Media Manager works with one, not the other. I'm sure that makes troubleshootin easier.

Nick :cool:

Guys,

I don't understand how a firewall (most likely NAT) on a router would prevent MM from connecting to the entre. The firewall ONLY affects WAN <> LAN traffic. Since MM and the Entre are on the LAN side, all ports should be available to each other.

Try this experiment (set everything to static):

1) Set your router's IP address to 192.168.1.1
2) Set your Entre's IP address as 192.168.1.2
3) Set your computer's IP address as 192.168.1.3

Gateway and DNS should be 192.168.1.1 on Entre and computer.

Reboot both the Entre (hold power button for like 5 seconds),
and computer

Once entre comes back press SETUP on remote then go to
SYSTEM INFORMATION (if I recall correct)
check that the IP setting are correct

Try pinging the entre. Then try MM.

NiteOwl, I appreciate your advice and PM. As soon as I get a minute this week, I am going to try it. Thanks.

Well from my test using the cross connect cable I can pretty much rule out latency as the problem. You can't get more direct than two machines talking to each other directly via a cross connect cable.

I still think corruption either due to deletions gone bad, or rearranging the built in groups.

Originally posted by NiteOwl
Guys,

I don't understand how a firewall (most likely NAT) on a router would prevent MM from connecting to the entre. The firewall ONLY affects WAN <> LAN traffic. Since MM and the Entre are on the LAN side, all ports should be available to each other.

Try this experiment (set everything to static):

1) Set your router's IP address to 192.168.1.1
2) Set your Entre's IP address as 192.168.1.2
3) Set your computer's IP address as 192.168.1.3

Gateway and DNS should be 192.168.1.1 on Entre and computer.

Reboot both the Entre (hold power button for like 5 seconds),
and computer

Once entre comes back press SETUP on remote then go to
SYSTEM INFORMATION (if I recall correct)
check that the IP setting are correct

Try pinging the entre. Then try MM.

Originally posted by slocko
Well from my test using the cross connect cable I can pretty much rule out latency as the problem. You can't get more direct than two machines talking to each other directly via a cross connect cable.

I still think corruption either due to deletions gone bad, or rearranging the built in groups. No doubt there are several situations that can cause MM problems.

It would seem a very positive thing if KW/OG recognized this/these bugs and offered one of the people here having problems free shipping to get their Entre, image copy the harddisk, and then ship it back to the person promptly. They could use their debug tools to find the problem promptly. It is incredibly more simple to use real world examples for variant errors. Perhaps Jill or one of the other inititive taking KW folks could be contacted.

Is there anyone out there having problems with Media Manager software syncing AND they have a hardwired system (no wireless) AND they have not renamed built in groups?!?

Scott,

If you look through prior posts (way back, to over a year ago ;) ) you'll notice all the problems with MM were there for me that far back. I think slocko is correct, there is something that corrupts their local database. Unfortunately, once it's corrupted, there's no way back other than a reset.

As for Escient/OpenGlobe doing anything about these issues -- I have a ton of issues with MM and I've offered them test cases, mp3 files, and drive images. I'm under the impression that they just don't care. I'd be the first to beat down on Kenwood, but they're a customer to OG & Escient just like we're Kenwood's customers. I'm not sure how much longer Escient/OG can go with this attitude.

Once again, these could be GREAT products, if Escient/OG would just listen and start to address these concerns.

btw, the MM problems are why I gave up trying to use the Entre as an all-in-one solution. I only use it for Internet Radio (even with all the skipping & popping) and Movies.

I'm currently testing out the Fireball & Request ARQ units and because of support issues, I'm leaning more towards a Request solution for Music.

hm

Originally posted by ScottF200
No doubt there are several situations that can cause MM problems.

It would seem a very positive thing if KW/OG recognized this/these bugs and offered one of the people here having problems free shipping to get their Entre, image copy the harddisk, and then ship it back to the person promptly. They could use their debug tools to find the problem promptly. It is incredibly more simple to use real world examples for variant errors. Perhaps Jill or one of the other inititive taking KW folks could be contacted.

Is there anyone out there having problems with Media Manager software syncing AND they have a hardwired system (no wireless) AND they have not renamed built in groups?!?

I only use Kenowood for DVD's and find the cover search options frustrating. As far as Escient is concerned I use it for music (mp3's and for a cd changer) Both products in terms of support are not great. A couple of months ago Escient did a remote update which wiped out all my playlists it took me weeks to get it up again. No backups for either products and cover art software for DVD is non existant.
Request has to be better even though Ive never tried it. I know its more expensive..I guess the old adage is "you get what you pay for"
I dont really understand companies advertising their products doing something and then not coming through with their claims.

Clingpeach, did I notice you on the Interactive Web Forums where Tony is posting? Did you notice his response to my issues with MM? I can't believe he could actually say that it works for some people. I want to meet just ONE person that it's working for!

Originally posted by Clingpeach
I only use Kenowood for DVD's and find the cover search options frustrating. As far as Escient is concerned I use it for music (mp3's and for a cd changer) Both products in terms of support are not great. A couple of months ago Escient did a remote update which wiped out all my playlists it took me weeks to get it up again. No backups for either products and cover art software for DVD is non existant.
Request has to be better even though Ive never tried it. I know its more expensive..I guess the old adage is "you get what you pay for"
I dont really understand companies advertising their products doing something and then not coming through with their claims.

I cant even begin to tell you my dealings with Tony...Scott is a better person to talk to. No that he can change anything.

Originally posted by hmatos
Clingpeach, did I notice you on the Interactive Web Forums where Tony is posting? What is this?

I found this website when I was looking for help with my Fireball.

http://www.interactiveautomation.com/forums/



Originally posted by rbienstock
What is this?

Let me just say that Scott is a genius. I won't say anything further until I hear from him.

We have blast off!!!!

Was that cryptic enough?? :D

I took a quick look at those boards and they reminded me of the Jeff guy who came here thinking he was going to be a knight in shining armor.

What he found was that we already had figured out the easy things and wanted answers to the hard stuff. He ran out of here in a hurry.

I think Tony is probably in the same predicament.

Originally posted by hmatos
I found this website when I was looking for help with my Fireball.

http://www.interactiveautomation.com/forums/

Originally posted by hmatos
Scott, If you look through prior posts (way back, to over a year ago ;) ) you'll notice all the problems with MM were there for me that far back. I think slocko is correct, there is something that corrupts their local database. Unfortunately, once it's corrupted, there's no way back other than a reset.

As for Escient/OpenGlobe doing anything about these issues -- I have a ton of issues with MM and I've offered them test cases, mp3 files, and drive images. I'm under the impression that they just don't care. I'd be the first to beat down on Kenwood, but they're a customer to OG & Escient just like we're Kenwood's customers. I'm not sure how much longer Escient/OG can go with this attitude.
<snip> Heroildo, you are 110% right. Faded ink is better than a good memory anyday. I do recall now a bunch of memories of your post and efforts on this front. I think they have missed opportunities to work with several dedicated, ethusiastic and technically competent people on these products for betas or for working through bugs. I do recall the forum members helping with that 1:45 one tho' for you old timers. Was that Tom who first narrowed that one down? Regards,

Originally posted by slocko
Let me just say that Scott is a genius. I won't say anything further until I hear from him. We have blast off!!!! Was that cryptic enough?? :D Slocko, I humbly admit it is not the first time people have thrown outrageous complements my way. I'm just an above average guy who has clever moments on occasion. I'll e-mail the small group I've been communicating with.

Oh My! I had forgotten about that one. How embarassing was that?

You go out, spend $4k on a brand new DVD Changer & Entre.

Get them home and set them all up (after the constant reboots while editing title information).

You have a nice group gathered around the projector.

All the "ooooh's" and "ahhhh's".

Start watching a movie (you pray you don't get the "disc is unreadable".

It starts. Wow, cool (whispers a friend).

You're at about the last chapter in the movie, when all of a sudden, "STOP". The thing just stops playing.

Drum Roll ..... because I know we've all heard it from our sig. other at one point or another with these devices.

"and how much did you spend on that?"

:D


btw, Scott -- slocko is right -- you are a genius. Excellent work!


Originally posted by ScottF200
Heroildo, you are 110% right. Faded ink is better than a good memory anyday. I do recall now a bunch of memories of your post and efforts on this front. I think they have missed opportunities to work with several dedicated, ethusiastic and technically competent people on these products for betas or for working through bugs. I do recall the forum members helping with that 1:45 one tho' for you old timers. Was that Tom who first narrowed that one down? Regards,

Originally posted by hmatos
I found this website when I was looking for help with my Fireball.
http://www.interactiveautomation.com/forums/ FYI and interesting post there that has come up here a time or two.


Question: What I would really love to see is a way to pull MP3s off of the Fireball to my PC. I ripped ~400 CDs to my fireball, not realizing that I couldn't get the MP3s off. If I had known that, I would have ripped them on my PC, and then pushed them to the fireball.


Answer: Following SCMS guidelines, we could not allow a user to transfer music from the FireBall DIRECTLY to a PC. The only way at this time is to make a MP3 mix CD of the music you want to take to the PC. Our product then stays legal and it's up to the enduser what they do with their MP3 mix CD's.

Tony Montgomery
Customer Support Technician
ESCIENT Division

To access files on my Fireball --

ftp fireball
user = friend
pass = psos

cd 7.0.6//Media/0m/0m

Notice the '//' and how I specified "exactly" where to go to.

There, you're in -- it's kind of a pain because the files are stored in those weird directory names. I use a GUI ftp tool (Bulletproof FTP) and I was able to copy everything off the unit. It screws with the filenames and directory names and I have no idea what putting these files back would do. You still need to understand where the database is and how they generate it.

p.s. I can't take credit for this -- someone else gave me the info!

hm



Originally posted by ScottF200
FYI and interesting post there that has come up here a time or two.

Originally posted by hmatos
To access files on my Fireball --

ftp fireball
user = friend
pass = psos

cd 7.0.6//Media/0m/0m

Notice the '//' and how I specified "exactly" where to go to.

There, you're in -- it's kind of a pain because the files are stored in those weird directory names. I use a GUI ftp tool (Bulletproof FTP) and I was able to copy everything off the unit. It screws with the filenames and directory names and I have no idea what putting these files back would do. You still need to understand where the database is and how they generate it.

p.s. I can't take credit for this -- someone else gave me the info!

hm LOL - I found that same thread not 15 minutes ago and then successfully did this with FTP "DOS" command or CuteFTP. Apparently // is how you change partitions. I was wondering whether to let the cat out of the bag on that one just yet but ... here kitty kitty

This really could be a take off to backing up our MP3 files. You MP3 geeks surely understand the naming convention of MP3 files. It appears that you can put the CD or artist name as the first part of the file name and then Media Manager will 'categorize' it for you. I think that is exactly what happened with my previous MM testing of the 11 MP3 Maverick files.

I would probably then use Media Manager to restore them to the Entre's new harddisk (when mine eventually crashes). That is if we can figure out how to make MM more reliable. (I still have $ on the keep the categories the standard name bet <grin>)

Derek,

Have you modified the default groups that the entre comes with?

The entre just hit a new low. There is one on ebay with a $500 buy now option. If I had the money I would buy it just for hacking purposes.

Slocko, yes. Once I ripped all the MP3's to the entre, MM would not sync. After failing a few times, it would then just show the groups and think it was done. It would show an "80's" group per the tags on the MP3s. In order to make it to try to sync once it "thought" it was done, I would change "80's" to "80'S" and back again to try and force a sync. I did not change a group prior to it not working other than whatever was added by the entre after reading the MP3 tags.

how much trouble would it be for you to delete all the groups and just leave the built in groups All, CDS, and MP3 which can not be deleted.

i am going to try that tonight if i have time. I think Scott is on to something and that manipulating the groups has caused some sort of corruption. Deleting the groups might fix it, but it's a long shot.

I'll try anything.

MM displayed nothing in the entre so I opened and closed the database a few times and it then showed the groups only. I deleted the groups one by one on MM and then synced. After 3 or 4 minutes, it showed the groups being gone and the entre shows no groups as well. MM still shows no files.

I can't believe I just did that. How am I going to get all those files in the groups again? Looks like I'll be restoring to factory defaults and re-ripping them again. OK, I'll up my offer to $500 for a working MM.

Keep lookin' -- I'll be posting my Fireball very soon. ;)

Originally posted by slocko
The entre just hit a new low. There is one on ebay with a $500 buy now option. If I had the money I would buy it just for hacking purposes.

Keep in mind that restoring the mp3 files is not enough. You must also find and backup the database files (XML as well?) that are on the unit that the gui uses to create the guide.

I accidentally placed my Fireball in my DMZ and someone got really creative and hacked it. The unit stopped responding to IR & TCP/IP traffic. Anyway, to make a long story short -- I restored the OS partitions, not the Media partitions. The units started working just fine ... except there's no music and rebuilding the indexes didn't bring them back.

So, the music is there -- but the Fireball refuses to acknowledge them.

hm

Originally posted by ScottF200
LOL - I found that same thread not 15 minutes ago and then successfully did this with FTP "DOS" command or CuteFTP. Apparently // is how you change partitions. I was wondering whether to let the cat out of the bag on that one just yet but ... here kitty kitty

This really could be a take off to backing up our MP3 files. You MP3 geeks surely understand the naming convention of MP3 files. It appears that you can put the CD or artist name as the first part of the file name and then Media Manager will 'categorize' it for you. I think that is exactly what happened with my previous MM testing of the 11 MP3 Maverick files.

I would probably then use Media Manager to restore them to the Entre's new harddisk (when mine eventually crashes). That is if we can figure out how to make MM more reliable. (I still have $ on the keep the categories the standard name bet <grin>)

Derek,

Sorry I wasn't clear. I wanted you to use the Entre itself to delete the groups. It's under options.

You can recreate the groups by using the Entre. It shouldn't take too long.

If you use the circle button on the remote it will select all the tracks under and album in one shot.

You might also consider creating playlists on the entre for now until we sort this out. Now that I can ftp I can play a little with it. I just have to make sure I don't wipe out my entre by accident.

Originally posted by DerekFSU
I can't believe I just did that. How am I going to get all those files in the groups again? Looks like I'll be restoring to factory defaults and re-ripping them again. OK, I'll up my offer to $500 for a working MM.

Originally posted by hmatos
Keep in mind that restoring the mp3 files is not enough. You must also find and backup the database files (XML as well?) that are on the unit that the gui uses to create the guide.<snip> Understood. That is why I stated I would use MM to upload/restore the MP3s...as it will create the XML/groups/etc.


Further thoughts about your good point. Just using MM would be a hassle but better than nothing. Perhaps the XMLs and real DB (and other files) could be identified just by using MM to add one MP3 for a new artist & genre. My thoughts are that would fingerprint all the files on the Entre that are changed when you add a new MP3+artist+genre. In theory, restoring all those should be you back. Hey if your Entre harddisk crashes you are $hit out of luck anyway so you could do the FTP restore and if it didn't work do a factory-reset.

...by fingerprint I meant change the date/time of the file so we would know that it was changed by the MM sync of MP3+new_artist+new_genre

I didn't notice the part about using MM -- although, in my case that would not work. It just won't handle that much music without crapping out.

I wonder if the database is the XML? I wonder if just putting the XML files out there would be enough to make the "rebuild index" work? Oh well, too late for my -- unless the XML was in one of the Media partitions.


Originally posted by ScottF200
Understood. That is why I stated I would use MM to upload/restore the MP3s...as it will create the XML/groups/etc.


Further thoughts about your good point. Just using MM would be a hassle but better than nothing. Perhaps the XMLs and real DB (and other files) could be identified just by using MM to add one MP3 for a new artist & genre. My thoughts are that would fingerprint all the files on the Entre that are changed when you add a new MP3+artist+genre. In theory, restoring all those should be you back. Hey if your Entre harddisk crashes you are $hit out of luck anyway so you could do the FTP restore and if it didn't work do a factory-reset.

from what i saw last night, the database is probably a file that ended with .db extenstion. it was the biggest file i could see on the entre. it was under the database folder i believe.

Originally posted by ScottF200
<snip> Apparently // is how you change partitions.<snip> Doh! I should have figured that out on my own. When CuteFTP connects it does a PWD which then gets a response of 257 "7.0.5//". Doesn't take much leap to figure out to do a CD to a similar "directory/partition". If someone knows the details of "//" or can just point me to a link I'd be curious to learn. PM me or e-mail avsform at fauque dot com or respond.

Here is how to access the other partitions:

one slash seems to be enough

while in ftp, changing directory to the following will open the other partitions:

7.0.5/ is the default active boot partition, contains dbs and dvd cover art
7.0.6/ has the mp3 media files
7.0.7/ clean image of 7.0.6
7.0.8/ appears to be the same as 7.0.7
7.0.9/ CDR
7.0.2/ has the radio stations and tar files contains clean copies of the dbs
7.0.1/ active partition for brand new units, 7.0.5 takes over after settings are configured

If you look though 7.0.6/Media, you will find that alot of MP3s are 0 bytes in length. I found that was the cause to why some didn't want to play, yet listed.

-NiteOwl

ScottF200, apnar, hmatos & Slocko:

You have have email.

-NiteOwl

Originally posted by NiteOwl
<snip> one slash seems to be enough<snip> True enough. I was able to do this via the "DOS" FTP application. Under CuteFTP when just entering 7.0.6/ it appeared to strip the / off then fail. Also if you enter 7.0.6// it would strip the // then fail. Entering 7.0.6//Media it would not strip anything and would work. Looks like a CuteFTP thing.

Originally posted by slocko
I took a quick look at those boards and they reminded me of the Jeff guy who came here thinking he was going to be a knight in shining armor.

What he found was that we already had figured out the easy things and wanted answers to the hard stuff. He ran out of here in a hurry.

I think Tony is probably in the same predicament.

Poor Jeff. We did ride him out on a rail, didn't we? ;)

Nick :cool:

He left Kenwood too.

moved to other thread.

Created new thread for technical discussions on the new frontier we just discovered.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=311141

Let's try to move the technical talk over there so we don't make this thread useless. Let's keep this one for general issues that don't require special tools or utilities to figure out.

You know what would be nice. Instead of transfering the files to the Entre. It would be nice if the entre could see your home pc's hard drive and just work to control and stream those MP3's.

No worrying about loosing the Entres hard drive.
No back up of the Entre.

Just let it be a streamer.

Originally posted by Carbo
You know what would be nice. Instead of transfering the files to the Entre. It would be nice if the entre could see your home pc's hard drive and just work to control and stream those MP3's.

No worrying about loosing the Entres hard drive.
No back up of the Entre.

Just let it be a streamer. Interesting. We know that from looking at XML files on the Entre or just looking at the Microsoft Access database used by Media Manager (MM) that they have defined their own protocol (aka access scheme).

Example:
erp://KMC-10800099/7.0.6/Media/5m/5m/Confederate Railroad-Confederate Railroad-1-She Took It Like a Man.mp3

Where 'erp' is their protocol. We can see that they designed that database/structure (in MM case) to keep track of which Entre the MP3 is on 'KMC-10800099'. For those like Nick who have multiples <grin>.

One has to wonder if instead of that whole URL string you put a UNC there that pointed to one of your MP3s. UNC being Uniform Naming Convention for networking, that is. (i.e. \\servername\sharename)

Example:
\\myputername\mysharedname\dirlevel1\MP3\Barenaked Ladies-Stunt-8-In the Car.mp3

Wonder if it would stream it. I'm not going to try it. You try it. I'm not going to try. You try it. Hey, let's get Mickie, he'll try anything.

Derek,

Do you mind sending my a zipped up copy of the MM Access db?

I like to take a look at it.

Hmmm, what is that? Sorry, but I am not up to you all's speed on all this tech stuff. I have MM in a zipped folder from Kenwood.

If you have installed MM and have had it successful sync with the entre, there should be a database called Media Manager.mdb at this location:
C:\Program Files\Kenwood\Media Manager\Kenwood\<YOUR SERIAL #>\Database
Zip up this file and send it to me, I'd be interested at looking at the music track table. PM me for my email address.

I remember a few years ago there were companies like MSB that used to modify electronics (like DSS receivers) to get digital audio out. Does anyone know if there are any companies that modify a DVD player (specifically the Sovereign) to have DVI video out? I will be changing from a CRT projector to a fixed pixel one (LCOS or DLP, as soon as I find one I love as much as my CRT) and I know DVI will look best on those type of displays. The Entre/5900 is a sizeable investment and I would love to be able to upgrade it without loosing out on modern features like DVI and upscaling (like what you can get from a $150 Bravo.) Any ideas?

I've been told that the 5050 may be SDI-modifiable. Combine that with something like a HoloGraph scaler, and you would have nice DVI output.

I don't know if the 5900 would be similarly able.

Originally posted by JustMike
I've been told that the 5050 may be SDI-modifiable. Combine that with something like a HoloGraph scaler, and you would have nice DVI output.

I don't know if the 5900 would be similarly able.

http://www.jvb.nl/pages/1sipbtneUpgrade.htm

Nick :cool:

So if I understand this: DV-5900 digital bus is tapped in a modified player to get an SDI out before any analog conversion. Then I would need to put the SDI back into an outboard processor (such as the Holograph) than supports SDI, scale it (with the same Faroudja chipset that is already built-in to my DV-5900!) and that would get me a DVI out. Would there really be a visiable advantage to this on a fixed pixel projector (such as a JVC SX21?)

I've communicated with that guy at JVB. You should send him email. He was very approachable.

The Fireballs do something similar -- but I think they use the ERP protocol as well. I no longer have more than 1, so I can't test this.

Originally posted by ScottF200
Interesting. We know that from looking at XML files on the Entre or just looking at the Microsoft Access database used by Media Manager (MM) that they have defined their own protocol (aka access scheme).

Example:
erp://KMC-10800099/7.0.6/Media/5m/5m/Confederate Railroad-Confederate Railroad-1-She Took It Like a Man.mp3

Where 'erp' is their protocol. We can see that they designed that database/structure (in MM case) to keep track of which Entre the MP3 is on 'KMC-10800099'. For those like Nick who have multiples <grin>.

One has to wonder if instead of that whole URL string you put a UNC there that pointed to one of your MP3s. UNC being Uniform Naming Convention for networking, that is. (i.e. \\servername\sharename)

Example:
\\myputername\mysharedname\dirlevel1\MP3\Barenaked Ladies-Stunt-8-In the Car.mp3

Wonder if it would stream it. I'm not going to try it. You try it. I'm not going to try. You try it. Hey, let's get Mickie, he'll try anything.

Originally posted by slocko
I've communicated with that guy at JVB. You should send him email. He was very approachable.

I have dealt with them on a few occasions. My purpose was to get my then-DVD changer, the Pioneer DV-F727 modified to an all region player. Worked fine, and they were very responsive.

Keep in mind that you would not be able to pass the video signal through the Entre, though, unless it got modified--or at least that's my take on it.

Nick :cool:

No Posts In Two Days?????? Whats going on here????

Well I FINALLY got my DV-5900M 6-channel audio out connected to my Yamaha RX-V3000 and all I have to say is "DAMM". I:D What a difference it makes.

I went out and purchased a DVD-A a few months after I installed my 5900M and was "underwhelmed".

Well just like most things I have run across with my Sovereign gear the reason was found on this forum.

THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT HELP !!!

Now with the proper wiring in place it is AWESOME. I would guess that I have listened to this album (Foreigner - Foreigner) over 150 times in my life on every media it has been on but it has NEVER sounded like this.

If you are into music and have DVD-A available do yourself a favor and get it working !!!

Thanks again for all the help. Keep up the GREAT posts.

Follow-up on DVD-Audio.

Does anyone have a good site to see what DVD-Audio discs are available with techinical information about the discs??

Thanks in advance !!

Originally posted by m s jaxjag
Follow-up on DVD-Audio.

Does anyone have a good site to see what DVD-Audio discs are available with techinical information about the discs??


Don't know if this is what you are looking for or not. But they do have reviews on both DVD-audio and SACD discs.

http://www.newmusicrevolution.com/

Originally posted by m s jaxjag
Follow-up on DVD-Audio.

Does anyone have a good site to see what DVD-Audio discs are available with techinical information about the discs??

Thanks in advance !!

www.highfidelityreview.com

Nick :cool:

does the 5050m play DVD-A?

I also have a Yamaha RX V3000... I wish the entre could tune my AM/FM stations :)

Originally posted by NiteOwl
does the 5050m play DVD-A?

I also have a Yamaha RX V3000... I wish the entre could tune my AM/FM stations :)

NiteOwl -

Sorry :( but the 5050m DOES NOT support DVD-A, that is one of the reasons I got the 5900m vs the 5050m. The 5050m does not have the needed 6-channel out's to connect to the receiver.

Sorry for the bad news.

Originally posted by Nick Satullo
www.highfidelityreview.com

Nick :cool:

Johnla & Nick -

THANKS for the web sites. Some very good reading. They will really help with my new wish list. :D

THANKS AGAIN !!!

When I download cover art into MM it's all distorted. The cover looks like digital artifacts. What am I doing wrong? Thanks Dave

vaha,

What are the pixel dimensions of your cover art pictures? The Entre accepts up to 300x300 pixel images - if you send it a lower resolution image it will scale it up to 300x300 pixels resulting in the "digital artifacts" you noticed. If you are <theoretically> copying the pictures from Amazon or CD-NOW, click on the link for the "larger image" and use that one for the Entre - the larger images typically match the 300x300 pixel size the Entre is looking for.

Mike

DVD Lobby
Please help me im not quite sure what im doing.. I purchased and downloaded dvd lobby pro and connected my computer to my DVD 5900 changer (took it off the entre). Im at a very pretty picture of shrek but have no idea what im doing.. How do i connect to my changer in the software program and download what i have

Originally posted by Mkellyvich
<snip>The Entre accepts up to 300x300 pixel images - if you send it a lower resolution image it will scale it up to 300x300 pixels<snip> FYI, I think the optimum is 200x200 or 200x199 or the like. That is what all the coverart is in my C:\Program Files\Media Manager\Kenwood\10800xxx\Music\Covers directory.

Thank you both for the replies.

I've uploaded a number of covers that are 300x300. The Entre seems to take anything below those pixel dimensions. You can see the quality difference between the 170x170 cover art common on many web sites and the 300x300 - the smaller files look very blocky when the Entre puts up a cover when playing an album.

Mike

Originally posted by Mkellyvich
I've uploaded a number of covers that are 300x300. The Entre seems to take anything below those pixel dimensions. You can see the quality difference between the 170x170 cover art common on many web sites and the 300x300 - the smaller files look very blocky when the Entre puts up a cover when playing an album. Mike Mike, are you saying you think it is displaying the 300x300 pixels. I was guessing it scaled it down to 200x200. That is still better than 170x170...plus the scaling up that the Entre does may not be too sophisticated.

I think it is displayed at 200x200 because:
a) those are the size of the files media manager uses
b) I FTP'd to my Entre and those are the files sizes stored on the Entre
c) the FAQ states (http://www.kenwoodusa.com/group_info.jsp?productTypeId=168&sortBy=price&categoryTypeId=110): "Q: Why is my cover art distorted or out of proportion? A: Media Manager and your Entré display all images as squares. For example, if your image is 190x150 pixels it will be displayed at 200x200"

If on the Entre display, you compared one at 200x200 to and another at 300x300 I wonder if you'd see a difference or is 300x300 just scaled down. No matter just curious.

DVD cover art is ~(255-265)x365 from my sampling of what they down load to the Entre from OG.

Could be that it compresses the covers down to 200x200 automatically. I know that if you have covers bigger than 300x300 Media Manager tells you the covers are too big and won't accept them. I'll mess around with it again this weekend and see if I find out anything useful.

Mike

Originally posted by Mkellyvich
Could be that it compresses the covers down to 200x200 automatically. I know that if you have covers bigger than 300x300 Media Manager tells you the covers are too big and won't accept them. I'll mess around with it again this weekend and see if I find out anything useful.

Mike

I did the forced re-registration of my Music Entre yesterday . . . the 5555 and then the 64000 reset . . . and, voila, Media Manager now works again.

For what it's worth, I had added several covers via FTP while Media Manager was down. I used the approach suggested by Scott at one time, to make the height 365 pixels and preserve the original aspect ratio of the image. I've done the same for CD as DVD images.

For those CD images I had added via FTP (causing me not to complain much about the loss of Media Manager), I got the same message as Mike, i.e., "image greater than 300 x 300" and it could not be displayed.

Nick :cool:

i have a new problem. i have 4 discs in the rental slots and 2 of them are listed as unknowns. The strange part is that the 2 unknowns don't show up in the rental category.

Very strange indeed.

I have a 5900M for sale, if you're interested. It has not been updated, but it does include a 2-year extended warranty from Best Buy (and yes, it is transferable). Contact me directly if you're interested...

Bob O'Donnell
bob@everythingcomputers.com

Make that Good Guys (not Best Buy). Sorry....

Slocko, I think your problem may be having 4 discs in the rental slots, unless you have 2 units. Have you taken them out, closed the door so it can go through detection, and then put them back in?

never mind. i totally forgot that i had taken out the rentals i had in there. it's working correctly.

I recall that the contents of our respective Entre units are listed on the internet (I think you have to get the password, etc. off of the system information for the Entre).

Anyone know what that address is?

Nick :cool:

Originally posted by Nick Satullo
I recall that the contents of our respective Entre units are listed on the internet (I think you have to get the password, etc. off of the system information for the Entre).

Anyone know what that address is?

Nick :cool: See this post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=2771416#post2771416)

Guys, I have tried to enter Open Globes site to veiw my account many times. I have never sucessfully got past thier "login" screen. Heres the address, I anyone has any luck please let me know..

http://www.openglobe.net/kenwood

I don't quite understand what "PROD" actually does for the Entre?? I searched this thread and found Slocko's post about how to get "PROD" listed as the server name. After completing setup per the instructions I have sucessfully aquired "PROD" as the server name. What does this do, and mean for me and my Enter??

Originally posted by DannyFresh
Guys, I have tried to enter Open Globes site to veiw my account many times. I have never sucessfully got past thier "login" screen. Heres the address, I anyone has any luck please let me know.. My previous post to Nick pointed to another post that was this "same" URL. I easily get logged on using my entre serial number (108000xx) as the id (not e-mail) and the password from my Entre's setup screen. After which I get the error (see previous post) trying to edit my playlist.

Please write EntreReports@kenwoodusa.com to complain if you get the same error.

I have "Absolute Power" stored in my DV-5900M. The Entre has sucessfully looked up this disc, downloaded and stored the information on the Entre. Whenever I do an automatic lookup up of all unidentified DVD's, Entre always re-finds "Absolute Power" as if it were never found. I have pressed record as to save it in Ente's memory, but looking up unidentified discs starts the process all over again. Has anyone seen this before???

Originally posted by ScottF200
My previous post to Nick pointed to another post that was this "same" URL. I easily get logged on using my entre serial number (108000xx) as the id (not e-mail) and the password from my Entre's setup screen. After which I get the error (see previous post) trying to edit my playlist.

Please write EntreReports@kenwoodusa.com to complain if you get the same error.

Way back when, approaching two years ago now, I was able to access it when Entre was just out. It was meaningless to me then, because at the time I used other CD changers, though now it would be potentially useful.

My experience was the Same as Scott's. I was able to login all right, by getting my information from the Entre, and I was even able to edit my identification (switched email addresses, and it still had me from long ago). But when I tried to go beyond that (e.g., to access the playlist), I also got the error message.

Nick :cool:

i thought i was the only one with this problem.

this title was not found until probably a month ago. now it just keeps re-discovering over and over again. thought it was a problem with my entre.

Originally posted by DannyFresh
I have "Absolute Power" stored in my DV-5900M. The Entre has sucessfully looked up this disc, downloaded and stored the information on the Entre. Whenever I do an automatic lookup up of all unidentified DVD's, Entre always re-finds "Absolute Power" as if it were never found. I have pressed record as to save it in Ente's memory, but looking up unidentified discs starts the process all over again. Has anyone seen this before???

Slocko, I thought I saw a post from you about this movie.. Well I am glad its not a problem with our Entre's. I haven't had any other discs do this yet thus far. I'll keep my eyes peeled......

BTW, I'll be getting my 5050M back from warranty repair this week. Anyone interested in buying it should PM me.

the new changer that i bought a few months ago, exhibited the unreadable disc error, flip over message today for the first time.

sadly this doesn't bode well for the changer. my expectations are that this will get progressively worse. i took out the disc and it was clean. put it back in without doing anything, and it played fine. the eject mechansim also stopped working, meaning the spring came loose. my kids do love to jump around in my family room no matter how oftern i beat them, so i wonder if those vibrations slowly worked the spring loose?

I can't believe you guys would spend 3x the price of a recorder for this player!

What's so great about this overly expensive toy?

Videobruce,

The DVD/CD changers (5050 and 5900M) have nothing to do with a recorder, so comparing the prices of the two really doesn't seem relevant.

Even without the Entre controlling it (which, btw, is the killer app), the 5900M is a sound value. How many other single DVD players with Faroudja processing and DVD-Audio support w/bass management are out there under $1000?

Add a couple hundred, and you get 403 disc management.

Sounds like a deal to me.

And then... add the Entre... and the equation is so tilted in Sovereign's favor that it's not even worth getting into on this thread.

Ditto, and most folks with this setup probably watch their movies in a surround environment which recorders don't offer anyways. These are for the theater experience, not for archiving tv.

I must say I owned my 5900M for about a year before stumbling onto this message board. After reading so much from everyone here, I purchased an Entre. It has turned out to be the best av purchase I have ever made..

I guess I'm not into status symbols especially since I couldn't afford or at least justify spending that much over a 'average' player. The improvement I'm sure isn't worth THAT much more AFAIC.

"Gross profit monsters" as a store manager I worked for use to say.

Oh, it seems we have someone looking to incite unrest in this thread. Bruce, we answered you in an honest way the first time and your only comeback had to do with "status symbols." This thread is for those who use the Sovereign line, are researching the sovereign line, or have something substantive to add. Why don't you take that weak rhetoric somewhere else where you might find the sparring you seek.

Originally posted by videobruce
I guess I'm not into status symbols especially since I couldn't afford or at least justify spending that much over a 'average' player. The improvement I'm sure isn't worth THAT much more AFAIC.

"Gross profit monsters" as a store manager I worked for use to say. Bruce, It's an ease of use thing for us, our families, our baby sitters, etc. It's nothing to do with "status symbol". Thanks for your opinion. Bye bye.

Can someone PM me Jill's telephone or e-mail address. My 5900 was not reading 1/2 my discs and the front display was not lighting up. Jill had me send it back to the CA service center. After one week it was returned and the front display now works, but it still is not reading 1/2 of my disks. some of those disks are brand new, no scratches, no fingerprint smudges and they play in my second player.

Now I can't seem to find her phone number.

Thanks

oh yeah. since i owned a porsche and a chateau on the rivera, the only thing i needed was the soveregin line to complete my ascedence to the plateu of greatness. give me a break. bye bye brucie.

Well, a little knowledge can still be dangerous . . . but for anyone that has the Sovereign setup, they know that it's actually a hugely value-driven purchase. The versatility of the Entre, combined with what is still the best DVD changer available (including the new Sony DVP-CX777ES), gives features that really can't be matched until you're about three times that price point.

Leaving aside the intricacies that Entre offers, Jon's point about the DV5900 is valid. The only thing it's really missing is full universal status (it would have to add SACD to do that), but the only competition on that front is the new Sony, and it lacks DVD-Audio. I would put the DV5900 in the upper echelon of all DVD players, period. And this is a product that is two years old.

Entre provides the brains to the brawn. To those who do own it, or are simply familiar with the feature set of the Sovereign ensemble, we recognize we're getting a lot for what otherwise would cost lots more.

Nick :cool:

Which flavors of home recorded DVD media does the 5900 play:

DVD-R
DVD-RW
DVD+R
DVD+RW
DVD-RAM

Also, is there really a use and are there blamks available for home recorded DVD-R Dual Sided "Flipper" Media?

Thanks in advance.




Murray Kerdman

Oh yeah, is the NetNamerDV software for the 5900 mature and stable at this time?



Murray Kerdman

Originally posted by mkerdman
Which flavors of home recorded DVD media does the 5900 play:Murray Kerdman See this AVSForm thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=2061402

and check out the "dvdrhelp.com" link in that thread. HTH. I'm curious about the flipper as well but DVD X Copy Xpress works well.

I know it's heresy to say here, but, I am try to decide between the 5900 and the new Sony 985 400 disc MegaChanger.

I asked about NetNamer DV earlier because I do not think I would go for the Entre piece as well.

Any constructive points of comparison I should consider?



Murray Kerdman

Originally posted by mkerdman
I know it's heresy to say here, but, I am try to decide between the 5900 and the new Sony 985 400 disc MegaChanger.


You might want to read some of this thread, as it seems the new 985 is a downgrade of sorts for the Sony changers, even though it holds 100 disc's more than the older models it replaced.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=304387

Originally posted by mkerdman
I know it's heresy to say here, but, I am try to decide between the 5900 and the new Sony 985 400 disc MegaChanger.

I asked about NetNamer DV earlier because I do not think I would go for the Entre piece as well.

Any constructive points of comparison I should consider?

Murray Kerdman

Murray:

I own the ES model of the 985, as well as owning the 5900. I was impressed by its build quality at CEDIA, and, since my real passion is Multichannel Music, I needed a changer for SACD drill.

There are really only three changers available, i.e., Sony, Pioneer, and Kenwood. There were some Pioneer knock-offs (Onkyo, and, I think, Marantz), but those are the three platforms.

Sony's changers are burdened with the lumbering, clumsy Disc Explorer system, which is just plain torture. In fact, while my initial impressions of the DVP-CX777ES (picture attached) are halfway confirmed, up close its build quality is no better than the Kenwood's, and is probably a bit worse. It's got an impressive brushed metal plate on the front, but the carousel mechanism is not as sturdily built as the Kenwood's.

Both have outstanding video performance, although I only use each through its interlaced outputs to an outboard video processor. Both also have great audio performance, although in this respect you're choosing between SACD and DVD-Audio, since I think your A/V receiver/processor will have a lot more to do with the reproduction of digital signals than will the player.

If you're not interested in the Entre, then you're going to choose between two changers that perform very well, but each lacks in the user interface. Kenwood's seemed to have been deliberately designed to make you buy an Entre, because there's just too many steps to get to the menu from which you choose discs. Having said that, however, the Disc Explorer of Sony is much worse. At least with the Kenwood there is some speed, once you get to the right place, but never with the Disc Explorer. I owned three earlier models of the Sony changer (the 870 was the best built), and they were all plagued by this. The new generation offers nothing in this respect.

Although you may not want an Entre now, you never know when you might in the future. While I have the ability to connect my Sony changer to an Entre-like product, made by Escient (the DVDM-100), it offers only some of the features of the Entre, and costs more to boot. If I wanted to add recording abilities, I'd have to also purchase an Escient Fireball, which is also a lot more money. I don't know if the Sony model you're considering also permits what the ES version does (it would need an RS-232 port), but, even so, you may want to consider your present purchase in terms of future expansion. And . . . a lot of deals have popped up on Entre units.

Good luck.

Nick :cool:

Thanks Nick,you've given me alot to think about.


Murray Kerdman

i recently read that early next year we will see a dvd player with built in support for WM9. This will mean that it could play HD DVDs like Terminator 3. So marks the beginning of obsolence of the DVD.

Granted, who knows how many titles, but I know I will probably jump on the format if they get any big action titles in the format. T3 is a good start.

When does it end????

HD movies thus far have not really been that great IMO. Lord of the Flies last night on HDMovies looked awesome and was the best I have seen so far. Other than that, I have found them to be a bit lackluster. Even Star Wars, which we all thought would be out of this world on HBOHD, was pretty weak. I know that there won't be the same compression issues but I do not see it to be a HUGE deal.

I would like to use my dvd changer for whole house DVD distribution. I would like to modulate the svideo out onto a channel in my house as well as have an sdi out connected to my main theater.

With the SDi mod can I get dual output streams. one going out svideo and one going out sdi?

Does the overlay menu system work on the sdi output?

Any of you guys who have performed the Reset Factory Defaults on the Entre know about how long it takes? Mine has had the red light blinking for about 8 hours now...Starting to get worried....

Thanks,

Y2J

Originally posted by Y2JDMBFAN
Any of you guys who have performed the Reset Factory Defaults on the Entre know about how long it takes? Mine has had the red light blinking for about 8 hours now...Starting to get worried....

Thanks,

Y2J

Way too long. You may want to pull the plug and try from there. Otherwise, you have a problem.

Nick :cool:

Y2, make sure nothing is plugged into your usb on the entre. It will hang it up sometimes.

Not to get off topic, but have you had your tv calibrated for HD? Sorry if that is a dumb question.



Originally posted by DerekFSU
HD movies thus far have not really been that great IMO. Lord of the Flies last night on HDMovies looked awesome and was the best I have seen so far. Other than that, I have found them to be a bit lackluster. Even Star Wars, which we all thought would be out of this world on HBOHD, was pretty weak. I know that there won't be the same compression issues but I do not see it to be a HUGE deal.

Yes I have, by the famous Craig Miller out of California. The HD movies look good, but usually not so much over DVD that there is really a wow factor.

Proudx,

All of the video (and audio) output ports on the DV-5900m are active simultaneously. I currently have the composite signal and audio monitor lines routed to a modulator, while the digital output and component outputs run through the receiver to support the theater setup. I have an infrared relay with IR receivers throughout the house and an emitter attached to the DV-5900m. Works fine - I've considered relaying the changer through the Entre but decided against it since the entre controls the theater reciever. By setting it up the way I have it now, someone can watch sat TV or HDTV in the theater while someone else watches a DVD in another room. The only drawback to the setup as I have it now is that you have to use the less-user-friendly DV-5900m menu structure instead of the Entre's GUI.

Hope this helps...

Mike

Mike,

If you have the component output set to 480p, does the s-video output still work?

Originally posted by rbienstock
Mike,

If you have the component output set to 480p, does the s-video output still work?

I can say for sure that it does work. I have the component output set to progressive going straight into my DLP. I have S-Video going to a receiver so it can feed a second room. Both outputs are hot regardless of the progressive switch position.