Some clarification please

[untechnoman]

I've been using MB for a year or so (via a Linsys Extender :( ) and have recently upgraded to the current version. I thought I would make a concerted effort to try to use the Transcode 360 feature in hopes of playing file formats that don't require extensive and time consuming code conversions (as well as compromising video/audio quality) to play. While setting up MB to play file structures not supported on my extender in the extenders + iso tab; are the Extender formats added supposed to be ones not supported by the extender or ones that are supported. The knowledge base indicates that those formats that are supported should be entered. However, when I don't enter a format, such as mkv or iso, I get an error saying unsupported file format. Adding iso, for instance, gets the image mounted but it still won't play. Which brings up another issue, getting iso's to play on an extender. The KB indicates that this is possible with Transcode 360 set up properly, all of which I've done per the KB instructions...twice, to no avail. Each time (both on the PC and the extender) it mounts the image (via Daemon Tools Lite), but launches the external PowerDVD player on the PC (nothing happens after that in MB). Is there a way to get the iso's to play within MB in WMC? Or is the external player required. Can iso's even play through my Linsys extender? I realize that the Knowledge Base is a work in process and us extender folk are a minority but any help i could get would be greatly appreciated.

[tylor]

I used to use a Linksys extender and did extensive research on how to configure the setup to play as many file formats as possible. In the end I gave up on the extender platform as there are simply too many constraints, I purchaseda nettop small form factor Pc (which are now very resonably priced).

Anyway to answer your question, the file formats entered in the iso tab are the formats that the extender does support i.e. .avi .wmv
entering .mkv will not work as the extender is unable to play .mkv natively. In order to play a .mkv file via the linksys extender you have to use transcode360. You also have to have the necessary codecs installed on your main pc. This would be a mkv splitter (like hali) and the ac3 filter for ac3 sound playback.

I also got iso files to play but experienced a lot of issues on and off so foundit much better to simply unack the video_ts folder from the iso image and place that in my movie folder as MB will play this fine.

Regards
Tylor

[untechnoman]

Thanks Tylor, I appreciate the response.

I'm about to give up on the extender, but heh, I purchased it so I might as well try to get as much out of it as possible (especially if I use it as a bedroom hookup). Anyway, not to sidetrack this but rather than go to a HTPC, I'm considering a media player. All I want is to play the recorded content stored on my computer (in the future a WHS). I know it runs against the grain here at MB, what with this being a WMC app. On the other hand what would be perfect is to be able to port the MB app to to something like WD live. They play all the formats, but lack a geat user interface.

Still just a thought though.

[untechnoman]

Sorry I got sidetracked, but you mentioned a MKV splitter(hali); as well as the ac3 filter. I'm unfamiliar with either of those codecs and how to install them vis-a-vis MB since its not mentioned in the knowlege base (at least that I know of). Do you know where I can find out where these fit in the MB equation and how to get them to work with MB? I have transcode 360 installed. BTW, my interest in playing iso's relates only to bluray, not DVD so VOB isn't an issue if that makes any difference.

Thanks.

[tylor]

All the info you need on codec's (haali and ac3 etc) can be found at http://www.hack7mc.com ;)

Bluray iso play is different from the norm as I think you need an external app like total media theatre to do this as it's not supported natively in media centre, I don't think this will work via an extender unfortunately.