[tonyd79]

I played with Media Share way back when it started and had it working. I put it all off until I replaced my desktop with a new machine that I was going to dedicate to media (streaming, storage, DVD creation, etc.).

Now I have finally set up that machine (not exactly working fast on this, can you tell?) and sort of have Media Share working.

My HRs see the host machine and I can navigate through videos (it will play music and see pictures but I am not sure I care about those aspects). I have successfully gotten Hulu to work with PlayOn.

What I am having problems with is playing locally stored video. It tries to start then tells me that the video is higher bit rate than what is supported by Media Share.

The video I am trying to play says that it is 143kps. It is avi.

Any ideas?

 

[Davenlr]

AVI is the container. It can contain all sorts of variations of actual content. Basically, anything high def is pretty much useless with Media Share. You could try to tell your media server to transcode the videos to a lower bitrate (like a standard mpeg2 bitrate) which may or may not provide the results you want.

To be honest, if you are actually wanting to set up a media center computer, I wouldnt waste any time with the DirecTv media share. There are many more options out there that actually work. SageTv w/media extender, or their new standalone media machine among others.

I really, honestly, dont understand why DirecTv even bothered to include media share on their boxes. They cant play DVDs, they choke on any video with even a remotely good quality, they can barely play MP3 files, the menu system is terrible, there are few codecs they natively support without transcoding. Its just wasting your time IMHO.

 

[Avder]

I was looking at getting something like this to work. I take it I should just run component video cables from my PC to my TV and get a good wireless mouse and kb?

 

[thekochs]

I was looking at getting something like this to work. I take it I should just run component video cables from my PC to my TV and get a good wireless mouse and kb?

YES......but a very a slippery slope into full blown HTPC...go to AVS Forum...whole section on HTPCs: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=26/
* Constant software updating and ineroperability issues, graphics drivers with TV issues, DVD & BR playback software, media front end software, etc. I personally spent a year building one with very nice front end software (http://www.xlobby.com/) only to have to keep it updated with all the software, etc. every flippin week....finally tore it down and sold off.

or...........do Web lookup for Networked Media Player (NetGear, PopCorn Hour, DLink, QNAP, Dune, Patriot, WD). Here is real nice one....BR Disc + Netflix + HDD + Codecs + Easy Updating, etc.
http://dune-hd.com/hd_players/111-dune-bd-prime-3.0.html
These are great appliances that just work.....easy firmware updates over the Net. Downside is they are still expensive....some of them......Patriot & WD about $100 though. Also, have to worry about long term support for any given model.

Thus, a good argument for just getting a Playstation 3 which will do all this plus games....plus it will have long term support...plus fairly cheap by comparison....includes BR disc.
PS3 MM Website - http://us.playstation.com/ps3/features/ps_multimedia.html
Media Server Guide - http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/playstation-3-media-server-setup/

 

[GregLee]

What I am having problems with is playing locally stored video. It tries to start then tells me that the video is higher bit rate than what is supported by Media Share.

The video I am trying to play says that it is 143kps. It is avi.

Any ideas?

Here's an idea. Use MediaTomb on Linux as server, where you have control over the bit rates. If the Mediashare client won't tolerate a certain bit rate, you just lower it. I have my bit rate set for 7000k bps video and 256k bps audio (DD 5.1). If I set higher rates, I get errors.