DHL dropped off my Linksys DMA2100 Media Center Extender yesterday, and I had it completely set up within 30 minutes.
My first impression was, “Wow, this is small.” The v1 extenders were the size of large pizza boxes, and an Xbox 360 has a certain chunkiness to it. I didn’t appreciate how small this device was till I unboxed it:
It’s a nearly perfect square, less than 7 inches from front to back and side to side, and about 1-1/2 inches tall. For contrast, that black Vista remote, which is included with the extender, is an inch longer than the box is deep.
The backside has most of the connectors you’d expect: HDMI, component, composite, and S-Video. It has stereo audio outputs (two RCA jacks) and a digital audio output. My Xbox had been connected using a digital optical (TOSLink) cable, but the DMA2100 only has an RCA-style digital output. (The manuals say the DMA2200, which includes a DVD player, has an optical connector.)
Although I could use HDMI and pass it through my receiver, I chose component video instead to connect to my 50-inch 1080i set and found a high-quality RCA cable for the digital audio. When I powered up the unit, I had to adjust a few system settings to let it know I was using a surround sound system and wanted output at 1080i. I also configured it to go straight to the Media Center interface
I’ve set up Media Center Extenders many times before, and this setup was typically simple. I did have to install an extender update on the Media Center box before I could complete the connection, but after that small detour everything worked perfectly.
I noticed right away that there was none of the glitching I had been seeing when using the Xbox 360 as an extender. That glitching was only on one or two channels (NBC HD programming was especially noticeable); the symptoms were a very slight jerkiness in fast-motion scenes. That effect is completely gone now. I’m not sure whether it was the extender update or the hardware that did the trick, but I’m glad to see it.
Performance on menus is fast, very fast. It takes about 10-12 seconds to go from a cold start to the Media Center interface. By contrast, the Xbox 360 had to first load its own interface, then log me in, and then finally connect to the remote system, a process that could easily take a minute or more. In operation, the system is faster as well. I’m using a Logitech Harmony remote to control the extender, and response to each button press is instantaneous. That wasn’t always the case with the Xbox 360.
And it’s gloriously quiet, unlike the Xbox. The Spousal Acceptance Factor for this unit is an 11, compared to maybe a 3 for the noisy Xbox 360.
The price should drop over time, but I’m thrilled with the performance and consider this unit worth every penny of its $250 price tag.
Update: Scott Williams asks what kind of network connection I’m using with it. I knew I forgot to mention something! I have a wired connection that goes through three switches to get to the living room. The extender has Wireless N capability built in, but I don’t need it (and don’t have an N-capable router/access point anyway).
And one more unboxing picture, to show which cables are included, from top to bottom, counterclockwise: RCA stereo, component video, composite video, Ethernet. No HDMI cable, no digital audio cable (although any decent RCA cable should do fine).
I’m happy to answer questions in the comments section and will continue updating this post as needed.
I’m wondering if you can help. I bought the DMA2100 about a week ago from Circuit City on a discount because it was the used store model. After using it over the past week I have been very happy with its performance. Today I came home from work to find that on the RGB connection, all I get is the screen full of bright colors. The HDMI works alright, but trying to get the RGB to work, I reset the box and now I can’t get it to connect wirelessly. I’ll try wired later. I’m wondering if you have heard of this happening before (the box freaking out and going funky colors) or do you think I have recieved a lemon?
Setup:
Dell Desktop wired to a Linksys router, DMA 2100 connected wirelessly to the router, connected by HDMI (for now) to the Widescreen LG TV.
Mike, I recommend you contact Linksys support. They have a lot more experience with the device and should be able to diagnose any problem (including detecting a DOA unit). Your unit is definitely still under warranty, even if you bought it as open box.
I was hoping there was an extender that would allow me to take my 80 DVD’s and put them on a PC so they can be managed and watched on a 1080i display. Don’t even think apple PC does that. In the past the only video that the extender would show was Video recorded to the PC’s…NOT Purchased DVD. Has that changed?
Joseph, there is no legally available tool that will permit riping of commercial DVDs. As a result, no company will dare create a feature like that, which could get them sued out of business overnight.
Hello Ed,
I know you’re a busy person (followed other articles to this blog and found some answers I’ve been searching for), so I’m taking a stab at hopefully a simple question for you.
I read the q’s above between Luis and yourself which answered a lot. Though I must admit I am a little unclear on a couple of things.
I would like to setup 4 dma2100’s wirelessly around the house and serve “Live-TV” to each dma at the same time should they be needed.
Admittedly I know little about TV signals, though I do understand I will need 4 satellite recievers now…
My question is; because most satellite channels are not all in HDTV, can/should I use 4 “Dual Tuner combo cards” and use a splitter from the output from each receiver in order to watch both NTSC/HDTV per reciever? or should I just buy 4 single Digital (HD) PCIe tuner cards and connect each (of 4) receivers to 4 of those? I don’t want to run into problems viewing HD vs regular signal..
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. buying the right tuner card seems to be my last step here…Thanks in advance!
Oh and I wondered if vista U MC will change the channels on each receiver for me through the dma2100’s when being watched individually? or do they need to be programmed to use a specific Tuner card?
Thank you in advance again for any help.
Sean, if you use standard cable receivers you will NOT get HD output to them. In my setup I have two USB digital tuners connected to an antenna, receiving over-the-air HDTV, and two CableCARD tuners receiving HD cable signals. It is not possible to pick a tuner when you choose a channel; the Media Center service does that using its own logic.
If you are willing to buy a new PC to get CableCARD support, then I recommend a setup like the one I have, which is adequate for most needs. Adding a third or fourth CableCARD tuner will cost over $200 each and require some registry hacking. If all four extenders are in use at once, presumably at least one will be watching something previously recorded. If they’re all watching live TV all the time, you don’t need a Media Center, just a cable/satellite tuner box!
I have problem with installation soft for DMA2100 on my PC. Could someone tell me if it’s work with Windows XP ? I have installed also MS netFramework.
I’m new to the extender world, so I’m sorry if this sounds like a stupid question, but, how does the DMA2100 change the channels on my set top box if it’s not in the same room?
Thanks in advance.
Odd questions centering on how the remote control works with the extender and the IR receiver connected to the PC.
Main question: does the DMA2100 IR remote-control, control MCE from the PC’s MCE IR receiver (not through the extender)?
Or, when using the Extender from another room with the DMA2100 remote, does the PC react in the same way as it if you were in the same room with the PC using an MCE remote?
I plan on being able to watch MCE on two different TVs, one controlled by the existing MCE IR receiver connected to the PC, and the other connected to the Extender. My problem is the IR signals that control the PC get blasted in the room which has the extender. I need to make sure they don’t conflict.
Ron, an extender’s remote works on the extender, which in turn controls the Media Center interface through a Remote Desktop session. Normally, these would be in separate rooms and you could do completely separate things with each session, watching a live program on Tuner #1 on the extender, recording a program on Tuner #2 in the background, and browsing the music collection or watching a prerecorded program on the main PC.
If you are in the same room with two devices side by side, then any button you push on the remote will be sent to the extender AND to the main PC. Bummer.
There’s a utility you can use to change the ID number of the remote control you use for your main PC. It’s included with the MCE Power Toy, which was just reissued for Vista.
Follow the links in this post:
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=2075
This is a good device when it works but…… it rarely works. I’ve been through 2 devices in the last several months and 2 reinstalls of my OS all because of this device. I’ve never had to purposely do an OS reinstall for anything before. I’ve lost 20-30 hours just trying to fix it. If its working for you now don’t do anything to it, meaning don’t put in the firmware.
Its currently sitting broken no long able to connect to the OS for no reason what so ever.
I don’t recommend it to anyone, unless you want waste hours on end trying to fix it.
Why not put your old firmware back in de DMA 2100 if it causing so much trouble…
Greet comments. Thanks, helped my a lot
I am not sure about the codec problems, I would like to view Movies that are .AVI or Mpeg, is there a codec that I need for the extender and if they play on my main computer why dont they play on the extender. If you have a link for the newest firm ware, I would greatly appreciate. Because it this is not any fun, all I get is errors on all the channels, and I can play my Sirius Music, I am about ready to sell this on EBAY and wait for a better Idea, Is there not a wireless monitor extension out there, it seems with wireless key boards and game controlers, all we need is a wireless conection for the TV.