WDTV Live (non Plus)

[Wink Dinkerson]

I received my WD Live, last night I downloaded the latest WD firmware to the USB, as per instructions, and at setup, the WD Live immediately found, and loaded the firmware. Pleased at the ease of set-up, with networking via ethernet, WD Live was found and configured automatically. My wife is glad that she no longer needs to locate DVDs, and can easily find our movies via the WD Live.

When the Queen is Happy, the Kingdom is Happy!

Thank You redwudz for the advice on the HDMI splitter. I ordered splitter and cables (hdmi, toslink, usb), but no expedited shipping, due to monoprice moving warehouse

Keeping the thread alive.

[redwudz]

The HDMI splitter works very well for me. I output to my projector and LCD VGA/HDMI monitor at the same time. I have to switch the LCD monitor over to HDMI, but it permits me to view my two DVD changers or the WDTV on my monitor without having another switch. If your HDMI/VGA monitor gets stuck on HDMI input, just use the HDMI switch to select a different HDMI input and the monitor will go back to VGA. (That took a while to figure out. )

The optical>coaxial converter just works, no problems at all. Nice if your surround amp only has coaxial or that's all you want to use. Same quality as optical.

Now if I can just program my Harmony remote to replace all seven remotes.

I have no complaints about the WDTV box. Works very well with my system. The LAN setup was very easy and worked right away with all my shared drives. I also found I could share any of my DVD ROM drives over the LAN, so they are available to the WDTV also.

[Delta2]

Does anybody know where I can buy a mini-jack to RCA Composite Cable bigger than the original ?

[misterbill]

Does anybody know where I can buy a mini-jack to RCA Composite Cable bigger than the original ?

If you mean longer, Google

rca extension cables

and add them to your original cable.

[jagabo]

The mini pin plug to RCA yellow/red/white cables are quite common because they are used by many camcorders. You can find them just about anywhere that sells A/V cables. For example:

http://www.amazon.com/HIGH-QUALITY-CAMCORDER-AT19032-2-Atlona-Technologies/dp/B0017M5VRC/

[torrentlord]

I have been using the original version since DEC 08 and the only problem files are WVM. I have mine hooked up with an HDMI cable and watch all my recorded HD files in full 1080 and the blue ray rips from BT files look SUPER. ISO and VOB files only play the movie with no chapters or menu. Fast Foward very unreliable . It jumps all over the place with anything in HD . It works fine with non HD files. I have not done a firmware update as of yet. I am viewing on a 46" Samsung 1080P LCD. I do not use thumbnail mode as it is very slow. I use list mode . I have used thumb drives, 2-1/2" external and 3-1/2" (7 diff brands) external with no problems. Hope this helps.

[Wink Dinkerson]

Unfotunately, I have been "bricked"! Spoke with WD technical (ha), but no fix. I was able to return at the point of sale, no problems, since they had been dealing with unhappy WD Live owners, who were also "bricked". Read below:

http://wdtvforum.com/main/index.php?PHPSESSID=9dc0b0b5cd91289afc23b51531aa548c&topic=3298.0

Bought a new WD Live, and have learned to wait on upgrading too soon

Up to this point, I was pleased with my WD Live.

[redwudz]

WD has removed the problem update from their site. (version 1.01.12). This is going to cost them a few $$.

From WD: http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/updates/?family=wdfwdtv_live

[MJA]

expect to see a flood of refurb WDTV Live after the holidays

[Delta2]

I wonder if someone get in a fancy cicle of upgrading the PC's BIOS every 1 month

If something is working great why to upgrade ? big, big mistake

[TBoneit]

Has anyone tested with more than three drives attached ?

Right now I have a 500Gigabyte USB and a 1Terabyte USB as well as a 1 Terabyte WD World edition hooked up to the ethernet port.

So down the road if I needed more storage I'm wondering if it will work through a hub and 2 or 3 network drives.

Glad I missed that update!

Cheers

[TBoneit]

I wonder if someone get in a fancy cicle of upgrading the PC's BIOS every 1 month

If something is working great why to upgrade ? big, big mistake

In general I tell people if it isn't broke don't fix it.

One exception is some models of Toshiba laptops. Toshiba wants the BIOS upgraded as part of any repair. Some of them have been setting a random bios password. The new bios is supposed to prevent that. Also Some models had a XP bios release and a Vista Bios release concurrently.

Some HP servers I've seen come with a paper instructing to update the bios before installing the OS.

OTOH I've had more than one person bring in a computer motherboard they bricked trying to upgrade the bios. Asked if they were having any problems that prompted the upgrade, the answer was no.

Cheers

[Wink Dinkerson]

RE: B-RAD f/w update for WD Live

What advantages are there to this, other than the linux connectivity?
I read the b-rad web pages, but I would like to hear from anyone that has actually flashed this firmware, regarding their experiences.

Sincerely-

[carlmart]

Will the WDTV Live power an external DVD player or HDD through its usb 2.0 interface?

I already have a lot of DVDs with MKV files on them, and I will need to play them through the WDTV. So not having an external power supply to worry about would be great.

Presently I have an LG BD390 BD player, which also plays MKV files and streams from my PC. But it has some limitations and problems that I want to solve. I wonder if the WDTV Live might do that.

[Soopafresh]

HDD, yes. For a USB powered DVD player I don't know. I believe you'd need to use a hacked version of the firmware to play it anyway.

I use an 8GB USB thumbdrive for file storage.

[RdM642]

I wonder if someone get in a fancy cicle of upgrading the PC's BIOS every 1 month
If something is working great why to upgrade ? big, big mistake

Uhm, my PC hasn't stopped on startup and and prompted mne to update the bios, but the WD TV Live has. This is not like users are scouring the net or WD and looking for the latest firmware and installing it, the unit prompts you to

[carlmart]

HDD, yes. For a USB powered DVD player I don't know.

Has anyone tried it?

I believe you'd need to use a hacked version of the firmware to play it anyway.

Any already available?

I use an 8GB USB thumbdrive for file storage.

Until I streamed my LG, I was mainly using a 32GB usb thumbdrive. Very practical.

[stiltman]

Has anyone tried it?

Has anyone tried it?


Any already available?


Until I streamed my LG, I was mainly using a 32GB usb thumbdrive. Very practical.

Yes, I have (2) 500gb WD HDDs hooked up to mine and the are powered off when I turn off the Player
If you look at the first post in this thread you'll see a link to the modded software. This software supports USB hubs and DVD/CD drives. You still do not have DVD menu support.

[carlmart]

Yes, I have (2) 500gb WD HDDs hooked up to mine and the are powered off when I turn off the Player
If you look at the first post in this thread you'll see a link to the modded software. This software supports USB hubs and DVD/CD drives. You still do not have DVD menu support.

Thanks Stiltman.

Now I will need more info on the subtitles question. I have just seen a photo from another Forum, showing the sub position and character size, and it's very very bad. It's worst to what it is on my present streaming and mkv setup, with the LG BD390. I want to improve on it, not get worst!

Is anyone using subs on the Live and can comment over this?

[stiltman]

Yeah, my subs look like crap on mine. I'm running the original firmware not hacked.
It also matters what type of subs you are using. Text based subs seem to display better.
These are selectable subs, burned in subs look fine

[jagabo]

Subs can also vary in appearance and location depending on whether they are internal or external.

[stiltman]

Subs can also vary in appearance and location depending on whether they are internal or external.

Yep, mine were internal inside a MKV wrapper....What is called..dubsub or something like that

[carlmart]

Subs can also vary in appearance and location depending on whether they are internal or external.

Well, that will depend on many factors. To start with I am always referring to MKV subs.

If that is what you are talking about, then the subs may be inside or outside the mkv. Does the WDTV Live treat them differently?

I could not find any tutorial or manual for the WDTV, Live or not, to explain what you can do with subtitles.

On the LG BD390, which is what I am using now, when streaming it will only "see" the sub if it's outside the MKV. If you are playing a disc with an MKV, it has to be inside the file.

But you can't change anything: font, size or position.

[sconaway1]

I hope I've found the right place to ask my question. I have a WD TV mini media player, an WD Elements 500MB Ex HD and a Dynex switchbox with RF modulator. I have DirecTv which has one coaxial cable from the DirecTv DVR to the TV. I need to figure out how to connect the media player using the switchbox without messing up my DirecTv. I'm pretty sure I know what to do, so I'm double checking and will appreciate any help offered

[jagabo]

Subs can also vary in appearance and location depending on whether they are internal or external.

Well, that will depend on many factors. To start with I am always referring to MKV subs.

If that is what you are talking about, then the subs may be inside or outside the mkv. Does the WDTV Live treat them differently?

What type of subtitles are you talking about? SRT? IDX/SUB? Something else?

[carlmart]

What type of subtitles are you talking about? SRT? IDX/SUB? Something else?

I'm always referring to srt subs.

[jagabo]

I think SRT subs look ok. They appear as white with a thin black outline, or white with a thicker half transparent gray outline (a setup option). They are sharp and smooth. They appear a little higher or lower on the screen depending on whether they are muxed in the MKV file or external. I'll see if I can get you a snapshot.

I think there are more subtitle options if you use one of the mod firmwares.

[carlmart]

I think SRT subs look ok. They appear as white with a thin black outline, or white with a thicker half transparent gray outline (a setup option). They are sharp and smooth. They appear a little higher or lower on the screen depending on whether they are muxed in the MKV file or external. I'll see if I can get you a snapshot.

That woudl be nice Jagabo, thanks. Color white is a minor thing, even if yellow is more relaxing to read, I discovered.

But character size and position are major. They should be positioned in lower 1/5 horizontal area in the screen, and they should allow at least 45 characters/line with free areas on the sides.

I think there are more subtitle options if you use one of the mod firmwares.

Do you know which one cares for that?

[MJA]

WD TV Live firmware upgrade 1.01.24 (2/9/10)

• Implemented add to playlist feature in YouTube™.
• Added Save search queries to save users time in re-entering search terms in YouTube.
• Added seeking controls (fast forward/rewind) in the YouTube player in 10 second increments.
• Fixed YouTube video list not presented in the same order as provided by YouTube server.
• Added Flag Video feature to YouTube.
• Updated to the new YouTube Video logo throughout the application.
• Modified YouTube video timestamp format to make it more readable.
• Redesigned YouTube user interface to comply with YouTube requirements.

for a sec I thought they added netflix

[hydra3333]

2nd September ? You must be clairvoyant.