D-Link DSM-5x0 network multimedia devices

[cowan]

We've just hooked up our DSM-520 and all I have to say is that is rocks. We also bought the D-Link DSM-G600 Network Storage Enclosure and added a WD-250 drive. The 520 plays all of my media (wmv, xvid, divx, vob's...) effortlessly and also now has me hooked on free internet radio (live365.com). The network storage device is Gigabit (as well as my computer and switch) , but I can only sustain about 7-8 MB/sec (100TX is about 5-6, 802.11g is about 4-5). This is the most disappointing thing. But I love ability to access all of the media with computer turned OFF. After a week, we are sitting at about 100GB. When we have media ready, we drag and drop it from computer to network drive. We may buy a second DSM-520 or DSM-120 for hookup to our stereo in dining room. The G600 supports writing and reading from multiple sources without any problem. We use the gigabit for computer transfer and the 802.11 for communictaion with DSM-520. Nice thing about the DSM-520 is that it can support MULTIPLE media sources at the same time.

Don't waste you time with XBOX-360. You'll fill it up in no time at all and be looking to upgrade.

Bottom line - THIS IS THE FUTURE.

Nice thing about the G600 is that you can put all of your family pictures (.. ect) and have it as a backup. The file partition is EXT3 which is Linux with Journaling. It can be read under XP, but needs a small extender.

any questions - cmoore at esilab dot com 3307013922

[gman80]

Sounds good cowan. I am really interested in getting one of these units once they arrive in Canada. Keep posting any info that you have on the unit.

Gordon

[marcowoman]

I've had my new DSM-520 for about a week now.... and in general am very happy.... 2 questions I am trying to deal with:

1) this one is more of a 'nit' at this time.... but when going thru my library of MP3s (very large), I occasionally have the machine 'hang'. Nothing on the remote works, and I have to hold the power button in for ~5 seconds to reboot the thing.... has happened maybe 5 times, so it's not the end of the world.... anyone else seen that yet? I called DLINK, and they hadn't heard this before (they say) firmware 1.05 I think

2) But here's my real question: I have several movies that are in DVD image format (like ISO) that I'm trying to watch. I've used NERO to put them into MP4, and try to play them. The picture on HDTV looks wonderful, but no sound.... I've tried every sound option in Nero, nothing. In general, what advice would you have for converting a DVD image to *which* format for best picture and 5.1 sound? I'm assuming this is possible.... but so many choices. Also any recommendation on which tool to use to perform this conversion?

Thanks so much.... and yes the live365 is pretty good.... too many choices to even get through all the stations!

[RRH]

Thanks For the Info All, Keep any issues or problems Comming as
there are Quite a few of us paitiently awaiting this units arivial
here in the frozen North, Like me for one ,My wife's giving me an IOU
Card for under the tree for one when it arrives.

P.S.
What Software are you all using, a couple of early
reports I ran accross indicated that the Dlink- Media server
software was still rather clunky, and that Windows media connect software still preformed much better
then Dlinks.

[Jup]

Would you happen to know if this unit will play dvr-ms files? I've been in the market for an MCE extender but because of lack of xvid support I've held back, but if this unit could be pointed to my tv files and play them, then this would be a viable solution.

Thanks.
Jup

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by Jup

Would you happen to know if this unit will play dvr-ms files? I've been in the market for an MCE extender but because of lack of xvid support I've held back, but if this unit could be pointed to my tv files and play them, then this would be a viable solution.

Thanks.
Jup

I have had a Gateway ADC-220/320 connected DVD player for a couple of years and it plays DVR-MS files. The players are no longer sold but you can find good ones for around $50 on ebay.

[Wayne]

By the way, ecost.com has them and they ship to Canada so if you are eager to have it immediately there are options. The cost is US$221.94.

http://www.ecost.com/ecost/ecsplash/...pno~575374.asp

[Danno100]

I have the DSM-320, and have been using it for about a year. To answer some of the questions about the DSM-520 (which is similar to the 320):

1. DVR-MS do not play directly on the DSM-320. However, if you use TVersity as your server software (free beta) it will transcode them in real time (assuming you have a P2.4 or better). I use it for MCE 2005 recordings. For standard digital recordings (e.g. PVR-150), MPEG-2 files play natively of course.

2. Regarding large MP3 libraries, it is a known flaw in the D-Link server software. Anything above 7,500 tracks or so WILL hang my system. Again TVersity overcomes this issue, plus scrolling through files is much faster.

3. Nero MP4 is not 5.1 sound. Sound is in stereo AAC format. The DSM-320 handles this audio properly, not sure about the DSM-520. If using MP4 (which I do) you must select simple profile each time you convert a DVD.

4. If you want 5.1 sound, either leave the video in vob format or use XVID. If you use vob format, leave each file in 1 GB chunks and turn off random play or else they won't play in order! There will be a slight delay between files. Keep any video file under 4 GB if using the DSM-320 (not sure about the DSM-520).

5. I have three DSM-320's running off one PC server. No problems serving different video simultaneously to each unit.

6. A final repeat plug for TVersity (PC based only) as the best server software on the market. It handles large MP3 libraries (100,000+), video transcoding of non-native formats, 1,500 or so built-in audio streaming channels, and finally a number of streaming video stations. Of course you can add your own URL's for audio or video. For photo's it works, but can not rescale, so I use the DSM-320 rescaling option in the firmware (V1.06).

One question about the G600 product. Are you running Twonky 3.0 on the box? I used the NSLU2 with Twonky server software, but video performance was not good enough for the DSM-320 (files stuttered).

[mmorais]

How can it be a HD streaming server if it max's out at 8Mb/sec? That's not wide enough to stream full HD is it? Other than that it sounds like a nice server....HDMI and wider video support looks like it gives it an edge over most other media servers right now if TVersity works as well as it's made to sound. What about other servers instead of TVersity?

[Danno100]

I assume the limitation of 8Mb/sec is if it is on a wireless G environment, and that it is a limitation of the typical streaming consistent throughput on that technology? I'll assume on a wired network this is not true.

[mmorais]

Actually I downloaded the manual and it says MPEG 2 is limited to 8Mbps up to 1080i. Given that there's not much HD content that's downloadable it probably won't make much difference but it's not exactly "future-proof" either.

[dad311]

Danno100, can you give some tips on creating VOB files that the DSM-320/520 will play? I have a 520 and everytime I rip a DVD, some of the VOBs have no audio.

thanks

[Ridicule]

Are you fellow's getting Mbps and MBps confused? (bits vs bytes).

If HD required 8MBps, that's quite excessive (and I doubt it would require such bandwidth).

1MB/s = 8Mb/s (So, 8MB/s = 64Mb/s)

802.11g is only 54Mb/s (in ideal circumstances) - if this is the case, you cannot stream HD over 802.11g. (hence my skepticism over 8MB/s)

8Mbps is doable by most network interfaces (barring practical uses of 802.11b and 10-base T)

[mmorais]

Originally Posted by Ridicule

Are you fellow's getting Mbps and MBps confused? (bits vs bytes).

No. Most of us are talking Mbps and the literature for this is quite clear for this unit. Limit of 8Mbps which is not enough to handle HD....maybe divxHD but I don't know the bitrate on that.

As for 802.11g, while it's ideal limit is 54Mbps, I've yet to see a single comment that streaming HD over it has been successful in regular implementations. you're simply going to want it wired.

[aufgang]

does anybody know the answer to this question: if i get the DSM-520 and plug in a USB drive, can that drive be shared on my local network? to me it seems to make more sense to use a usb drive plugged right into the dsm-520 than a NAS drive or a shared fileserver, because then you are not using network bandwidth at all while you're watching movies. but if i do that, i'd still like to download movies onto that USB drive through the 520 over the network, rather than having to unplug the usb drive and connecting it to my home computer or laptop.

Thanks for any replies.