Western Digital HDMI USB Media Player?? (WDAVN00BN)

[whooka]

fff

DTS does work

No DTS does not work.. It will get passed thru to a suitable decoder but the Unit itself can Do nothing with DTS. I doubt that this will be changed in a future firmware as its a "paid-for" option.. eg Popcorn Hour with DTS decoding is $50 MORE , than without.

Wouldn't want anyone to make the wrong buying choice!

i was surprised to see how many people in various forums were complaining about the lack of dts decoding, though i can understand it as it'd be a pain but they don't really say it will support dts anywhere but whatever, as even my brokeass has a $150 sony receiver that decodes dts. if you got something like that the toslink works freakin' awesome for dts on this thing. not only has it made me a total convert to flac based audio rips but it's the first time i've seen my receiver show proper dts types (3/2.1, etc) for mkv's i play that use dts audio. when i played them from laptop to my tv even using an external usb sound card that did toslink via usb to optical it wouldn't show the the dts being active. my main beef is that they don't have a seperate option to select specifically hdmi audio output or toslink/optical audio output, it plays both at the same time which caused me nightmarish episodes of loud white noise whenever the thing got reset but i just figured out how to work around this little quirk so i'm happy. my playstation 3 lets you select hdmi or optical so i had no prob with that ever but for some reason my tv, which is admittedly lower end but still nice 27" lcd (insignia) has a problem with this player.

[whooka]

I have my WD TV hooked up like yours (hdmi and toslink) and have never experienced that problem. It is not inherent in the player.

Maybe your WD TV is bad, or one of the other components.

Yeah, i hear ya, i googled the hell out of it and was somewhat dismayed when i saw no matches at all (never a good sign for said owner) but i literally just figured out how to fix it and why i don't know exactly why i have this problem i've determined it's most likely a bad/unique combination of my tv being slightly lower end (but still a nice 27" lcd (insignia) and the fact that this thing DOES put out audio on both hdmi and toslink optical if you're using both cables which you have to as the optical toslink obv won't do the video. the fact that there is no menu option (there are very few at all) to choose EITHER hdmi or toslink optical may not be a flaw but it is poor design imo (though overall i love this thing). now if i had a slightly more expensive tv there would prob be an option to turn off audio from the hdmi, okay fine, but i have a playstation 3 that connects to the same tv using the same hdmi/toslink combo and never had this problem because the ps3 system settings for audio output let you select EITHER hdmi or optical seperately and then it kills one of the other (at least the hdmi when optical is used because i have no sound coming from my tv speakers when i use digital optical). so i'll split the blame 50/50, shame on you western digital for making such a great, affordable media player that won't let you either kill audio out to the hdmi or select toslink seperately and shame on you insignia for making a very nice, affordable lcd tv that has no option to turn off hdmi audio (and the freakin' mute button on the remote does nothing!).

oh yeah, how i fixed this (i tried it 2x and it works) in case anyone else runs into it:

symptoms: when media player is on tv speakers emit loud, white noise that cannot be turned down via the volume. you are connected via hdmi and toslink/optical cable and your cheapass tv has no way to turn off sound from the hdmi.

fix:

1. turn off media player
2. disconnect hdmi cable from both media player and tv
3. connect media player to tv using component cables
4. turn on media player, switch tv to component input (whatever order is fine)
5. most likely the picture will suck but alas, no horrible white noise!
6. turn off media player. disconnect component cables at both ends.
7. connect media player using hdmi cable, turn it on.
8. dance around the room very happy

[Teutatis]

I looked through the thread, but could not find any information on this. My question is does the WD work with a USB-powered hard drive? Does its USB port provide enough power, or does it need a HD with external power?

[glenmike]

Yes, it is made to be used with their own Passport series USB powered hard drives. It also works great with flash (thumb) drives.

[TBoneit]

I've used it with a Generic USB powered drive.100GB 2.5" IDE laptop drive in a generic case with no problem.

Tonight I plan to start creating folder.jpg pictures si I can have folder art instead of those generic folder icons. (Beta firmware support)

From their 1.02 docs:
"For Folder Thumbnails:
Music:
1. Display folder.JPG (the image file must be named “folder.JPG” or thumbnail will not function)
2. If no folder.JPG file is found, display the first album art image (.MP3 with embedded..JPG)
3. If no album art is available, display the first .JPG in the folder
Photo:
1. Display folder.JPG
2. If no folder.JPG file is found, display the first photo in the folder
Video:
1. Display folder.JPG
2. If no folder.JPG file is found, display the first cover art (.MP4 with embedded .JPG)
3. If no cover art is available, display the first photo in the same folder as the video to be played
For File Thumbnails:
Music:
1. Display album art (.MP3 file with embedded .JPG)
2. If no album art is available, display the image file with the same name as the audio file to be played. (for
example, song.wav will be associated with song.JPG)
Photo:
1. Display thumbnail
Video:
1. Display .MP4 with embedded .JPG
2. Display image file associated with the video file to be played (for example video.mkv will be associated
with video.JPG)

It just keeps getting better.

Cheers

[Supreme2k]

Please let us know how the beta firmware works out. I already have the thumbnails on deck from my cataloging program, so these extra features will be sweet.

[TBoneit]

Well I did some samples last night. Folder.jpg in a folder and a jpg named the same as the video. The results were it worked. I thought the thumbnails were a little small and took time to appear. I suspect the time lag was due to the resizing from the original size to the displayed size.

I'm more interested in music cover art anyway so that's my next test. I did the video first since it was easy to do a screen cap for that.

Cheers

[Supreme2k]

I'm testing out the new beta firmware, and I've found a couple of thing that I hope they fix before it's considered stable:

1. If you go above 4X fast forwarding on mkv files, it seems to scan much faster than it is actually going, but when you press Play again, it has only advanced a little. This seems to only be a problem with mkv (h.264).
2. Default is subtitles on, with no way to change the default (though you can still turn them off). That is a big annoyance to me.

[misterbill]

Prerelease 1.02.07 (includes all previously released updates)


Fixed items:

* Added option to toggle subtitle default to 'On' or 'Off' <-------------------
* Added subtitle outline thickness selection
* Added hard drive spindown on WDTV power off

[Supreme2k]

I'll check it out. I got 1.02.04, releases slightly before .07

[festmaster]

The AVS forum thread on this beta firmware indicates there are definitely bugs to be worked out, particularly with a big slowdown in indexing the drive. I am looking forward to adding thumbnails but I think I am going to wait until the firmware is formally released.

[nick3lz]

Hi people,

I have a problem with my WD TV HD Media Player (btw, i have the latest firmware 1.02.07).

I switched from composite to HDMI today and the Video is perfect! But the audio isn't working anymore. Not even the audio of example movies on the cd included with the device.

My WD TV is connected to an 37LG5000 tv. 1080p, 60 Hz. I also tried different Hz and 720p but it had no effect on the audio (but I expected that). I couldn't find any settings in my tv regarding audio and HDMI. I also tried 'Stereo' and 'Digital' in the Settings of the WD TV. I really don't know what is wrong... Any of you?

Thanks for replies!

GrZz

[Supreme2k]

Could be:
1. bad cable
2. bad WD TV
3. Bad input ports
4. Bad/unsupoprted files

but mainly
5. Not enough information

[glenmike]

Sometimes it helps to turn off your TV and Wd TV. Then turn on the WD TV first then your TV. My Samsung HDTV loses audio sometimes if I turn on the WD TV last. Hope this helps in your situation.

[nick3lz]

Okay, today I still don't have any sound. Following things were said:

Could be:
1. bad cable
2. bad WD TV
3. Bad input ports
4. Bad/unsupoprted files
5. Not enough information

Well, today I got
1. another HDMI cable, the audio still doesn't work.
2. another WD TV, still no audio.
3. Bad input ports could be, but that would be strange because I bought this TV (37LG5000) just over a month ago.
4. Bad/unsupported files, this isn't the case because I used the sample video's on the included cd with the WD TV.
5. Not enough information is not the case.

So if anybody got any other tips or similar experiences please let me know. And i'm gonna check if it works on another TV (the same as mine) of a friend of mine. But in the mean time any, ANY information would be lovely.

Thanks..

[jagabo]

If the WDTV is like a lot of other devices you have to choose between audio being sent to the HDMI port or the SPDIF port.

[nick3lz]

I only got an xbox360 connected with a component cable to my TV. The WDTV is the only device using HDMI. But I can't find any settings for HDMI ports/SPDIF(??) ports or simply audio and HDMI settings...

[jagabo]

I happened to notice this post:
https://forum.videohelp.com/topic358929-390.html#1958624
which mentions that there are no SPDIF/HDMI audio options, it outputs to both all the time.

Check your TV's setup options. It may be set up to take audio from a different port (ie, not the HDMI port). (It looks like you've already tried that but I would look again, even in unexpected places -- not in the audio menu for example.) Also try a different HDMI port if you have another. And try running all possible audio cables to the TV (HDMI, TOSLINK, RCA) -- see if any of them are working. That might give you a hint of what's going on with the audio.

One last possible issue: the player doesn't have a DTS decoder. You're TV probably doesn't either. If your source has DTS audio it has to be fed via TOSLINK to a DTS capable receiver.

[nick3lz]

Okay, I checked the TV setup options (again). The only thing I can find is "Digital Audio Out:" with options 'PCM' and 'Dolby Digital'. I have 3 HDMI ports and tried all of them, no result.

I have 1 option left, trying a TOSLINK cable, but is it supposed to be connected as well as the HDMI? (that's would make since toslink is only for audio, right?) And RCA is composite cable isn't it? When i tried that, i DID got audio and video...

[jagabo]

I have 1 option left, trying a TOSLINK cable, but is it supposed to be connected as well as the HDMI?

Normally HDMI will carry both video and audio. But some devices can be set to output audio to another port instead.

And RCA is composite cable isn't it? When i tried that, i DID got audio and video...

Some TVs can be set up to take audio from RCA or TOSLINK intead of HDMI. I'm just trying to cover all the bases. Ie, where is audio coming out of the player, and where is the TV trying to get it.

[Delta2]

And why not a TV with Media2.0 built-in ? it is another good and cheaper alternative

like this one :

www.hdtvtest.co.uk/Samsung-LE40B650/Operation.htm

see the formats that are supported, subtitles are also supported

it is a Full HD, good price, and reads almost everything

[jagabo]

You're recommending a $1500 TV instead of a $100 media player?

[nick3lz]

whahaha, wrong topic i quess :P

But about my problem..When i connect rca, i have to choose 'RGB' of all input channels. So I can't connect the rca and the hdmi and have them on the same channel at the same time...

There are 3 options to get audio out of the player:
- hdmi
- toslink
- composite

My tv has also 3 options:
- hdmi
- toslink
- composite

I mailed to customersupport of western digital today, hope they recognize my problem.....or else de wd tv is going back to the store..

[jstewart]

Perhaps try reverting bag to the older firmware version.

Could you reset back to factory defaults?

[RabidDog]

Samsung Tv + wd tv = problems

[Randm]

does it copy the file onto the player or does it play it off the USB?
basically, i want to know if i can plug it in, copy, plug it out, and then watch the video...just in case i want to save time and copy a diff. video from my comp to the USB while watching...

[jman98]

Samsung Tv + wd tv = problems

As an owner of both, there is some truth to this. However, the only problem I ever have is that sometimes the TV can't find the signal from the WD TV when I power the WD TV on. I have learned that if I turn off the WD TV, unplug it and then plug it back in, it works fine. I've had no issues with playback itself.

[jman98]

does it copy the file onto the player or does it play it off the USB?
basically, i want to know if i can plug it in, copy, plug it out, and then watch the video...just in case i want to save time and copy a diff. video from my comp to the USB while watching...

It ONLY plays off USB. There is no storage of any kind within the unit so you can't copy anything to it. What you propose CANNOT be done. If you unplug a device, it will stop playing and you'll run the risk of potentially damaging what you just unplugged.

[Randm]

does it copy the file onto the player or does it play it off the USB?
basically, i want to know if i can plug it in, copy, plug it out, and then watch the video...just in case i want to save time and copy a diff. video from my comp to the USB while watching...

It ONLY plays off USB. There is no storage of any kind within the unit so you can't copy anything to it. What you propose CANNOT be done. If you unplug a device, it will stop playing and you'll run the risk of potentially damaging what you just unplugged.

ok, can i transfer from one USB to the other? ie. use my ext. hard drive for permanent storage while using my 8-16GB USB to add new movies to the hard drive?

[chits007]

Does WDTV supports USB HUB (simple unpowered kind of hubs) ?