Media Extender - Xbox or Xbox 360 or ?

eddiem74

OK, so I have just got my first HTPC built, and am in the process of ripping, music, photos, and dvds to it. It's a vista premium set-up.

So now I am starting to look into streaming to other rooms, and it seems that the Xbox is the recommended approach.

So any and all advice is welcome here.

Should I be looking at an Xbox or Xbox 360 ? What else do I need in addition to the Xbox if anything ? Will there be anything I will need to download ? Etc..

Please share your experiences, so I can get stuck in !

Useful links to websites also welcome. Thanks !

eddiem74

Mods, please move to Xbox forum if that is a more logical place. Thanks !

mukki

descition is already made for you for your using media center



the original xbox wont extend vista mce


but a modded original xbox would be able to access all your files over the network

eddiem74

Ok, so a 360 it would need to be. Luckily they are coming down in price !

So what are the limitations of using the 360 as an extender ? Any issues in displaying pictures, playing music, and I believe this is some constraints on DVD formats (what can play which was ripped to my HTPC harddrive?)

Also, is there any addtional items I require with the 360 e.g. remote, or does it come with them all ?

SouperComputer

eddiem74 wrote: »

Ok, so a 360 it would need to be. Luckily they are coming down in price !

So what are the limitations of using the 360 as an extender ? Any issues in displaying pictures, playing music, and I believe this is some constraints on DVD formats (what can play which was ripped to my HTPC harddrive?)

Also, is there any addtional items I require with the 360 e.g. remote, or does it come with them all ?

The constraints are that, technically, it cant play XVID, DIVX etc. However you can install software on the HTPC that "transcodes" or converts the files on the fly into a format that the XBOX 360 likes. This is where having a good/overclocked/multi core CPU comes in if you are running multiple clients...

http://www.runtime360.com/

trabpc

I got a 360 at X MAS only used it twice!
However last night i tried to play divx from my pc and it was not supported. however it did say to log into XBox live and it would download the updatees to play divx,etc.

So i lgged in 1st time into xbox live with my free months sub and when i tried to play a divx file it downloaded an update and he presto I can see all my DIVX files on my Vista PC and play them on my tv next door.


My pc is connected to a netopia Router Wired and 360 is also connected to same (wired)

I believe Microsoft have added these extra file supports since last Nov .

eddiem74

So would that mean I need to maintain an Xbox live subscription in order to always get updates ? I think u have to pay for that right ? I would primarily be using the Xbox as an extender as I am not a gamer, however the kids might use it for some gaming, but nothing heavy, so I wouldn't want to pay for a subscription just for updates.

trabpc

sorry but not much of a gamer my self either so I dont really know. the nov 07 was the last major update on the 360 and I dont think they are very frequent. Maybe someone else Knows

eddiem74

trabpc wrote: »

sorry but not much of a gamer my self either so I dont really know. the nov 07 was the last major update on the 360 and I dont think they are very frequent. Maybe someone else Knows

I think its only if you want gold subscription you need to pay, silver is possibly free which is hopefully enough to get updates.

spartacus93

Eddie,

Do you have a wired network in place? Video streaming can be abit touch and go without this. Especially HD content with film rips coming in over the 4 Gb mark.

While the X Box 360 can appear to be the best option the costs do add up, especially if you require wireless connectivity. The basic console comes in at €200, add the wirelsss dongle €80, and the remote control €30. So now you're up to €310.

The X Box 360 has some great features, but if like me you're not interested in gaming maybe another extender would be a better option. The Linksys DMA 2100 is €270 from Komplett. I'm still waiting on mine to come (ordered, but there was a delay due to other products i ordered at the same time). From what i've read this is a smaller and quiter unit than the 360. Also it features 802.11n which isn't available on the 360.

I plan on installing 3 or 4 extenders throughout my house over the coming months. I intend gettin one 360 just to have, maybe get a game or 2. But in the other rooms i'll defo be going with the DMA2100.

Brian

mickoneill30

I've a 360 and a few Xboxes.

You can get updates from Xbox Live for free. Everybody has a Silver subscription. That's all you need.

What do you want to do?

If it's just to play videos and music anywhere in the house then an old Xbox (no more than €50 second hand) modded is all you need. It can play nearly any format thrown at it. You can also upgrade the internal HDD and store your media on that if you wish. It can access network shares on a Windows or Linux box, or UPNP server, and you can listen to internet radio stations if you want. One nice feature is that it can access Apples movie advertisement sites and you can stream ads from the internet for upcoming movies. It's quite cool.

The reason I say nearly any format is that it won't do some HD stuff. So if you want to stream HD content then the 360 is probably the way to go.

For me I got a few homeplug adapters which allow me to send ethernet over the powerline. These work at up to 85Mb/s and I've had no issue with them in two years.

Here's another option I just found today.
http://www.archos.com/products/gen_5/archos_tv/index.html?country=ie&lang=en
Bit pricier but it's a PVR too.

eddiem74

spartacus93 wrote: »

Eddie,

Do you have a wired network in place? Video streaming can be abit touch and go without this. Especially HD content with film rips coming in over the 4 Gb mark.

While the X Box 360 can appear to be the best option the costs do add up, especially if you require wireless connectivity. The basic console comes in at €200, add the wirelsss dongle €80, and the remote control €30. So now you're up to €310.

The X Box 360 has some great features, but if like me you're not interested in gaming maybe another extender would be a better option. The Linksys DMA 2100 is €270 from Komplett. I'm still waiting on mine to come (ordered, but there was a delay due to other products i ordered at the same time). From what i've read this is a smaller and quiter unit than the 360. Also it features 802.11n which isn't available on the 360.

I plan on installing 3 or 4 extenders throughout my house over the coming months. I intend gettin one 360 just to have, maybe get a game or 2. But in the other rooms i'll defo be going with the DMA2100.

Brian

I am planning on running a wired network as creatively as I can (behind coving, etc.), and upgrading my wireless router to something more up to date. I am also looking at Linksys media extender as an option.

mickoneill30 wrote: »

I've a 360 and a few Xboxes.

You can get updates from Xbox Live for free. Everybody has a Silver subscription. That's all you need.

What do you want to do?

If it's just to play videos and music anywhere in the house then an old Xbox (no more than €50 second hand) modded is all you need. It can play nearly any format thrown at it. You can also upgrade the internal HDD and store your media on that if you wish. It can access network shares on a Windows or Linux box, or UPNP server, and you can listen to internet radio stations if you want. One nice feature is that it can access Apples movie advertisement sites and you can stream ads from the internet for upcoming movies. It's quite cool.

The reason I say nearly any format is that it won't do some HD stuff. So if you want to stream HD content then the 360 is probably the way to go.

For me I got a few homeplug adapters which allow me to send ethernet over the powerline. These work at up to 85Mb/s and I've had no issue with them in two years.

Here's another option I just found today.
http://www.archos.com/products/gen_5/archos_tv/index.html?country=ie&lang=en
Bit pricier but it's a PVR too.

HD will be a consideration especially moving forward, but bascially I want to be able to access anything on my media centre via the extender.

spartacus93

Is it one room or many rooms you plan on streaming to?

eddiem74

spartacus93 wrote: »

Is it one room or many rooms you plan on streaming to?

1 initially, 2 soon thereafter, and then possibly 5 in total over time.

spartacus93

Well I'd get one 360, but if you're putting them in bedrooms the Linksys would be a much quiter, neater unit.

eddiem74

spartacus93 wrote: »

Well I'd get one 360, but if you're putting them in bedrooms the Linksys would be a much quiter, neater unit.

Thanks for the inputs, will give it some thought in my set-up.

Ron DMC

Have a quick browse through this. It shows how to set up xbmc on an original xbox and a bit of what you can do once it's set up.

I set up mine myself and use it to access samba shares on both a vista and an xp machine. It streams directly onto the xbox for both music and video perfectly and I haven't had any issues with it at all. If you get the xbox dvd remote even better.

The original xbox option is definitely the cheapest option. There are updates to the XBMC application every couple of weeks with new media options, scripts etc.

AFAIK some HD video have problems, but if you're just using a normal telly, you'd be laughing with this.

Wavey

mickoneill30 wrote: »

I've a 360 and a few Xboxes.

You can get updates from Xbox Live for free. Everybody has a Silver subscription. That's all you need.

What do you want to do?

If it's just to play videos and music anywhere in the house then an old Xbox (no more than €50 second hand) modded is all you need. It can play nearly any format thrown at it. You can also upgrade the internal HDD and store your media on that if you wish. It can access network shares on a Windows or Linux box, or UPNP server, and you can listen to internet radio stations if you want. One nice feature is that it can access Apples movie advertisement sites and you can stream ads from the internet for upcoming movies. It's quite cool.

The reason I say nearly any format is that it won't do some HD stuff. So if you want to stream HD content then the 360 is probably the way to go.

For me I got a few homeplug adapters which allow me to send ethernet over the powerline. These work at up to 85Mb/s and I've had no issue with them in two years.

Here's another option I just found today.
http://www.archos.com/products/gen_5/archos_tv/index.html?country=ie&lang=en
Bit pricier but it's a PVR too.

Have you got a link showing your ethernet mains
plug adaptors?
I could do with a few of those.

mickoneill30

http://www.devolo.com/co_EN_cs/produkte/dlan/mldlanhsethernet.html

They're what I have. That one is a bit pricey. I've a mate that bought a couple of cheaper models off eBay.

Do a search for Homeplug.

eddiem74

Ronny Mitchell wrote: »

Have a quick browse through this. It shows how to set up xbmc on an original xbox and a bit of what you can do once it's set up.

I set up mine myself and use it to access samba shares on both a vista and an xp machine. It streams directly onto the xbox for both music and video perfectly and I haven't had any issues with it at all. If you get the xbox dvd remote even better.

The original xbox option is definitely the cheapest option. There are updates to the XBMC application every couple of weeks with new media options, scripts etc.

AFAIK some HD video have problems, but if you're just using a normal telly, you'd be laughing with this.

Cheers Ronny, some food for thought for sure !! Will delve into it soon.

Shiny

spartacus93 wrote: »

Eddie,

....bla.... But in the other rooms i'll defo be going with the DMA2100.

Brian

Does this device even play Divx files?

From what im reading it doesn't.

Use an Xbox myself with the DVD remote and it is nearly
perfect. I would prefer a different interface but it plays everything
i throw at it over the network (Ethernet).

The homeplug idea is a very good one for the xbox.