I just got my PCH finally, and whenever I try to play a DVD (either ISO or IFO) I get a "can't play" message. Any advice?

are you trying to stream or playing off HDD?

If you are trying to stream, with myihome, it does not support ISOs from what i understand. You have to use NFS or SMB.

I'm trying to play off my NAS. But I tried off the HDD also and got the same results. In any event the PCH only has room for 1HDD and I have 3TB worth of ISOs.

Sheesh. Another doorstop. Anybody want to buy it?

If you are serious about selling your A-100 - I'll take it. My A-100 plays all of the DVD ISO's (over NFS) I have and also never stutters on any of my BluRay or HDDVD rips (over myIHome). There must be something else wrong. The wiki is a good guide for setting up the A-100. http://www.networkedmediatank.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

So I take it the popcornhour has no problems playing HD DVD rips? Do the rips require any additional processing?

So I take it the popcornhour has no problems playing HD DVD rips? Do the rips require any additional processing?Right now I have to demux with evodemux, convert DD+ with eac3 and then remux. User dburch created a great little java based utility to automatically do the above steps. See thread http://www.networkedmediatank.com/viewtopic.php?t=1471

There is talk about Syabas working on direct .evo support but if it can be done it is a way off.

The A-100 can access a HTTP server called myIhome that has a higher streaming bitrate then NFS, also the A-100 uses a buffer, so far using myihome I haven't had any stuttering problems with my BluRay m2ts or remuxed to ts files, and the HDDVD ts files I have remuxed. The A-100 is not without a few problems though... The firmware updates have been great so far. I would read up at http://www.networkedmediatank.com for more info.

Well that web site says this:

How do I back up my DVD so that it can be played back by the NMT?

1. You need to backup your DVD into .iso format

2. If your movie is backed up in .img format renaming it to .iso may help.

3. DVD support in .iso is only supported via NFS/SMB connection at this time. It will not work with Myihome. If you are having judder or audio drop out problems with SMB share. Use NFS instead.

It also says this:

Why can't I view my DVD .iso file using MyiHome?

Currently MyIhome does not support DVD playback. Please use SMB/NFS for playback instead.

Whenever I select an ISO over SMB it doesn't even try to play it. I just get "unable to play" meessage.

As for HD, I tried a Blue Ray rip I'd downsampled to 12Mbps using Nero and it stuttered like crazy. I don't have too many of those so I don't care that much, but the DVD ISO issue is big for me.

Well that web site says this:

How do I back up my DVD so that it can be played back by the NMT?

1. You need to backup your DVD into .iso format

2. If your movie is backed up in .img format renaming it to .iso may help.

3. DVD support in .iso is only supported via NFS/SMB connection at this time. It will not work with Myihome. If you are having judder or audio drop out problems with SMB share. Use NFS instead.

It also says this:

Why can't I view my DVD .iso file using MyiHome?

Currently MyIhome does not support DVD playback. Please use SMB/NFS for playback instead.

Whenever I select an ISO over SMB it doesn't even try to play it. I just get "unable to play" meessage.

As for HD, I tried a Blue Ray rip I'd downsampled to 12Mbps using Nero and it stuttered like crazy. I don't have too many of those so I don't care that much, but the DVD ISO issue is big for me.

I've had no problems streaming BBC HD (18Mbs H264) video in either a .ts or .m2ts stream via cabled ethernet from my PC to my PCH using either http streaming or SMB access. Similarly HD MPEG2 .ts stuff - nearer 10-15Mbs - has played fine via SMB and http.

I've ripped about 40 DVDs as ISOs to a couple of NTFS formatted hard drives, and these play fine via USB connection. I've not tried streaming these as I decided that the PCH worked fine with an external hard drive for my application. Others seem to suggest that ISO is better than VIDEO_TS for SMB streaming of DVD rips...

What network connection system are you using - WiFi, HomePlug, Cabled Ethernet?

Your rips aren't CSS encoded still are they? The PCH won't play CSS content.

Well that web site says this:

How do I back up my DVD so that it can be played back by the NMT?

1. You need to backup your DVD into .iso format

2. If your movie is backed up in .img format renaming it to .iso may help.

3. DVD support in .iso is only supported via NFS/SMB connection at this time. It will not work with Myihome. If you are having judder or audio drop out problems with SMB share. Use NFS instead.

It also says this:

Why can't I view my DVD .iso file using MyiHome?

Currently MyIhome does not support DVD playback. Please use SMB/NFS for playback instead.

Whenever I select an ISO over SMB it doesn't even try to play it. I just get "unable to play" meessage.

As for HD, I tried a Blue Ray rip I'd downsampled to 12Mbps using Nero and it stuttered like crazy. I don't have too many of those so I don't care that much, but the DVD ISO issue is big for me.

Hmmm..how are you making your DVD ISO'S? Have you tried rebooting (Power -> USB Eject)? The A-100 plays DVD ISO's/Bluray(m2ts) flawlessly from internal HDD. Your 'downsampled' Bluray, which I'm guessing, was ripped with x264,was probably encoded with non-standard specs. Try remuxing it to TS.

I set up a SMB share today to check DVD ISO on my A-100. I had no trouble playing using wired, 80211.g and 80211.n over SMB and have never had a problem with ISO over NFS.

How are you connecting the A-100 to your server?

Are you sure your problem isn't with permissions on your share? One of my shares is on a Windows machine and I constantly forget that copying a file into a shared folder doesn't mean the file will play even though it shows on the file list. I have to manually give the file itself guess access.

Martin

All these problems with the different streamers.....guess I just keep using my Hacked Xbox with XBMC.....

RayJr

I replaced my XBMC setup with the popcorn hour and could not be happier. While I did prefer the UI of XBMC, the Popcorn Hour is certainly usable and plays WAY more content. I have played Blu-Ray and HD-DVD rips with no probs, .iso, .avi, h.264/x264, etc and nothing has had any problems. Only issue I have had was some non standard divx files that had audio issues, but I converted to h264 and all was well. I am not even using an internal hdd and am running everything through wired ethernet from my mac.

I would LOVE to have another one of these for my other TV and am already back on the list to buy.

I'm having the same problem as t3 - I've got the NMT connected to my media server (Vista based) via SMB - wired connection. My XBMC has no problems playing my .ISO files but the NMT won't play them. Could the "sharing" issue affect the NMT and not XBMC? Very frustrating as I have almost 2TB of media that I'd like to use the NMT to stream.

I'm trying to play off my NAS. But I tried off the HDD also and got the same results. In any event the PCH only has room for 1HDD and I have 3TB worth of ISOs.

Sheesh. Another doorstop. Anybody want to buy it?

1. All, well actually 99% of, my SD DVD ISOs play back OK, streaming wirelessly from my 2TB Infrant ReadyNAS NV+ to PCH A-100. Even 720p HiDef are streaming without considerable stuttering (yes, wireless transmitting).

2. PM me if you still want to get rid of your PCH. I do like to have a 2nd one for my basement HT.

The only problems I've been having streaming DVD content from my ReadyNAS via SMB to my PCH is that every once in a while during scenes with very high motion", the audio will totally cut out for a while. Once the very high motion stops, the audio comes back.

Not sure if this has something to do with the way the DVD was transferred, the PCH, my network, etc. It happens only very occasionally, but it's still a little annoying. I think a new firmware update came out at the end of January; not sure that will help at all but I guess I give it a shot.

Well i got a Popcornhour for sale. I got 2 of them and only use one of them. Its never been out of the box. PM me if interested.

Also I got some Blu-Ray ripped movies and didn't try to play them yet. Can I play them without having to do anything to them?

Also I got some Blu-Ray ripped movies and didn't try to play them yet. Can I play them without having to do anything to them?


It depends. If the audio is DTS-HD(HR/MA) you will have to 'core' the track which is a one click operation with either TsRemux or TsMuxer. If it has TrueHD only you can also use one click through TsRemux to 'core' the TrueHD track so it will play.

I hookup the PopcornHour to --> AVR using HDMI to -->Projector, connect a USB drive to the Popcorn. Play movies using remote control, no PC involved.

I intend to play HD content @720P my projectors native resolution in either the MKV or TS container or both.

Can this be done? In reading the Wikki, it seems it can, but I have been wrong before!

I hookup the PopcornHour to --> AVR using HDMI to -->Projector, connect a USB drive to the Popcorn. Play movies using remote control, no PC involved.

I intend to play HD content @720P my projectors native resolution in either the MKV or TS container or both.

Can this be done? In reading the Wikki, it seems it can, but I have been wrong before!

Yes.

Yes.

Thanks,

Looks like there is one in my future then. I don't have time to use it right now I hope they are in better supply by late spring.

Where can I find information and screenshots of the PopcornHour UI.

I would like to know if you can create playlists and is there a random shuffle for music collections. There isn't much detailed information on their website. Also is there anyway to subscribe to podcasts?

So I'm back to playing with my PCH just for yuks, and I still can't get DVD rips to play. Same thing... Unable to play.

Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? ReadyNAS NV+ -> PCH all wired, all permissions set normally, the DVDs show up, but when I press "ENTER' or "Play" I get kicked right back to the menu. I have a lot of DVD rips which my NETGEAR box and my PC play just fine.

I am wondering if some of this could be a problem with the readynas+ firmware as well.

Came to the forum looking for a new network media player since my linkplayer is real old. Suddenly, it started having all sorts of problems playing video files, long pause, start to play and then freeze. After reading through some of this thread though I am thinking maybe it is the ReadyNAS+ because the pausing only started after upgrading the firmware on it.

It almost seems like the same thing the linkplayer did with their firmware upgrade making it impossible to play .avi files without stutter.

So I'm back to playing with my PCH just for yuks, and I still can't get DVD rips to play. Same thing... Unable to play.

Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? ReadyNAS NV+ -> PCH all wired, all permissions set normally, the DVDs show up, but when I press "ENTER' or "Play" I get kicked right back to the menu. I have a lot of DVD rips which my NETGEAR box and my PC play just fine.


Did you share the folders where you have your DVD rips under SETUP -> NETWORK SHARE?

All these problems with the different streamers.....guess I just keep using my Hacked Xbox with XBMC.....

RayJr

XBMC can't play High-Def content, not even 720P. That's the sticking point for people looking for a media streamer these days. No High def, not interested.

I am wondering if some of this could be a problem with the readynas+ firmware as well.

Came to the forum looking for a new network media player since my linkplayer is real old. Suddenly, it started having all sorts of problems playing video files, long pause, start to play and then freeze. After reading through some of this thread though I am thinking maybe it is the ReadyNAS+ because the pausing only started after upgrading the firmware on it.

It almost seems like the same thing the linkplayer did with their firmware upgrade making it impossible to play .avi files without stutter.

+1

I just came here tonight to figure out why my PCH started stuttering all of the sudden and I am having the exact same issue. I upgraded both firmwares yesterday so one of them I am sure isn't playing well together. I have the ReadyNAS NV+. Darn...

I can't speak for the PCH since I don't have one yet (on order).

However, I looked through all my settings after the upgrade I saw that jumbo frames were enabled. After turning that off everything is fine again. Jumbo frames can cause problems in certain circumstances...I am not sure if it will help your PCH issue or not but you may want to check the readynas+.

I can't speak for the PCH since I don't have one yet (on order).

However, I looked through all my settings after the upgrade I saw that jumbo frames were enabled. After turning that off everything is fine again. Jumbo frames can cause problems in certain circumstances...I am not sure if it will help your PCH issue or not but you may want to check the readynas+.

Jumbo frames are known to cause issues with the PCH. It is recommended that they are disabled on networks that the PCH is connected to.

Jed,

You figure anything out? I just got my PCH today and it stutters on every single video I've thrown at it with no audio as well. It is completely unusable. I tried over the network and playing via USB, same problem.

My ancient linkplayer2 at least works (just not on HD stuff).

Speaking of DVD rips, I noticed that there a few different user apps which give a nice coverart interface for DVD's. Anyone tried any of these and had success using them?

I have the popcornhour A100 with no hard drive, and stream everything from my home Linux server. I use the LLink program for http streaming (which handles iso's fine) . I then use YAMJ moviejukebox with the default skin for the cover-art interface. It works great and it's written in Java so it works on many platforms! I also use a Linux package called incron to monitor my movie folder, so if i copy, delete or change anything, YAMJ is automatically triggered to reprocess the new movie list. If you want any setup guides, I have them already typed up in emails I've sent to friends that wanted to do the same thing, PM me your email and request and I'll send it out. The linux server also does samba file sharing so Windows boxes on my home network can see the files, and also is my 24-hour torrent seed box among other things.

I'm having a similar problem, no ISOs play (http://www.networkedmediatank.com/showthread.php?tid=12177), and haven't been able to solve it. My symtoms are differnt than yours. Instead of an error message, my screen goes black, and I sometimes hear a little bit of audio (which I believe is the menu audio, but haven't verified).

I don't use ReadyNAS+, just regular old WinXP. Well, it's media center edition, but that presumably doesn't matter for SMB.

I don't know how I would set permissions in this context. I'm never heard of, nor experienced, that being an issue for WinXP SMB shares. Also, I believe I am ripping the CSS off; AnyDVD does this when I 'Rip to Image...' right?

PS: If the Neuros Link I ordered can stream all this stuff, I'll sell my A110 (assuming I can find the remote I misplaced! or someone with a harmony wants to buy it)

nothing on manuals or popcorn site ddubois ?

It didn't come with a manual, just a one page quick start guide, which is pretty pathetic.

But, I haven't found anything on the NMT wiki, no.

ddubois:

hmm, first thing I'd do is make sure you have the latest firmware. second maybe try a different program. I use DVD Decrypter (free and extracts to ISO)