Does WD TV Live support both 60 and 50HZ?

[Bencuri]

I would like to buy a WD TV Live box, but I didn't find anything in the manual about refresh rates. I have a Sanyo HD1000 camcorder, and Sanyo didn't manufacture Pal / NTSC camcorder versions. These camcorders records in 60/30 fps, but you could select PAL/NTSC output on playback on AV channel. But both American and European type versions records with 60/30 fps, there are no 50/25 fps versions. So it would be essential for me to know whether this WD TV supports both NTSC and PAL. Does anyone have info about it?

[mail2tom]

Check the WD web site. They give the specifications for all models of their WD TV media players.

[jman98]

I do NOT have a WD TV Live. I do have the the first generation WD TV box. It allows you to set your video system and it can play 25 fps video fine. I would assume the WD TV Live is the same but you should check the website as suggested.

[jagabo]

I have a WDTV Live, the version before the Live Plus (the Plus added NetFlix). It supports output resolutions of 480p60, 576p50, 720p60, 720p50, 1080i60 (really 1080i30), 1080i50 (really 1080i25), 1080p24, 1080p30, and 1080p60. It plays some 1080p50/60 videos properly but not others.

I'm pretty sure WD doesn't claim the device plays 1080p50 and 1080p60. There were almost no such videos around with the device came out.

[Bencuri]

So you don't recommend this box?

[jagabo]

Very few media players will play 1920x1080p50/60. That's just more than the chipsets can handle.

[jman98]

So you don't recommend this box?

My WD TV box is one of the best investments I ever made in my life. I paid about $120 US I think when it came out. I've used it so much (I'm actually using it tonight) that I have easily gotten more value from it than what I paid. But as jagabo points out, if you are looking for anything that can play 1080p50 or 1080p60, good luck.

[Bencuri]

So you don't recommend this box?

My WD TV box is one of the best investments I ever made in my life. I paid about $120 US I think when it came out. I've used it so much (I'm actually using it tonight) that I have easily gotten more value from it than what I paid. But as jagabo points out, if you are looking for anything that can play 1080p50 or 1080p60, good luck.

Actually I don't have a camcorder that records in 1080p yet, so this wouldn't be a problem. I have 1080i camcorders, or I also have one that records in 720p, too.

[jman98]

Do note that 1080i camcorders can record in 50 fps and 60 fps and those will not play on the WD TV models.

[jagabo]

Do note that 1080i camcorders can record in 50 fps and 60 fps and those will not play on the WD TV models.

I don't know what you mean by that. 1080i camcorders record at 25 frames per second or 30 frames per second. My WDTV Live has no problems with that. Though I can't rule out that some camcorders produce odd files that the device might have problems with.

[edDV]

The Sanyo HD1000 camcorder uses a proprietary 1080i AVC (mp4 container) format. Many have reported problems playing or editing the format so it is best to test all players before purchase.

[Bencuri]

Okay, the best will be to go and check the player in the shop. I can decide then, what to do.

[jagabo]

My WDTV Live played one of the OP's 1080i files (from another thread). I did see a few jerks that seemed worse than the usual handheld camera jerks, though no worse than playing the same clip on my computer. And it was a short clip so I can't say if a longer video might lose A/V sync.

[Bencuri]

We'll see. Here I can order it with 2 weeks no questions asked return option, so during that time I will have the chance to test it fully. Anyway when I play those mp4's on my HDTV from USB flash drive, there is no audio sync problem.

But I am much more curious about those flickerings I described in another thread about my HDTV and my camcorder. I hope the WD TV can overcome that.

[jagabo]

I suggest you go out and shoot some test clips using a tripod. Shoot oncoming traffic, people walking by, etc. With all the jerky camera work it's hard to differentiate which jerks are camera shake and which might be playback problems.