Are networked media servers all that? Part 2

I’m continuing on my quest to succeed with the Video Without Boundaries’ MediaREADY 5000 Advanced Media Server , a networked media server that includes a personal video recorder and DVD/CD player/recorder and a multitude of other features (Part 1 is here). With the system connected, I was able to get some features working, while other features left me scratching my head.

First, the good stuff. Connected to a TV cable feed, the system was able to download a program guide over the Internet, giving me the ability to record shows through its personal video recorder. The MediaREADY 5000 box uses SageTV software, which I am familiar with through other systems, so figuring out which shows to record was easy. For those unfamiliar with that software, it acts much like the guide for your regular cable or satellite TV. Accessing the guide was easy through the MediaREADY 5000’s included remote control and wireless keyboard, which both include a trackball for manipulating a cursor around the screen.

The TV-centric Web browser worked well enough, although it reminded me of the early days of WebTV – a browser on a TV screen just doesn’t cut it for me anymore. The system does include a VGA output port, and I’m assuming that connecting a PC monitor will improve the Web browser and e-mail functions. I’m waiting to hear back from the company about whether dual video outputs are supported.

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I’m continuing on my quest to succeed with the Video Without Boundaries’ MediaREADY 5000 Advanced Media Server , a networked media server that includes a personal video recorder and DVD/CD player/recorder and a multitude of other features (Part 1 is here). With the system connected, I was able to get some features working, while other features left me scratching my head.

First, the good stuff. Connected to a TV cable feed, the system was able to download a program guide over the Internet, giving me the ability to record shows through its personal video recorder. The MediaREADY 5000 box uses SageTV software, which I am familiar with through other systems, so figuring out which shows to record was easy. For those unfamiliar with that software, it acts much like the guide for your regular cable or satellite TV. Accessing the guide was easy through the MediaREADY 5000’s included remote control and wireless keyboard, which both include a trackball for manipulating a cursor around the screen.

The TV-centric Web browser worked well enough, although it reminded me of the early days of WebTV – a browser on a TV screen just doesn’t cut it for me anymore. The system does include a VGA output port, and I’m assuming that connecting a PC monitor will improve the Web browser and e-mail functions. I’m waiting to hear back from the company about whether dual video outputs are supported.

The DVD player worked fine as well - we could watch a regular DVD movie through the system, and the audio went through our digital optical output and 5.1 speaker system perfectly. I mention this because the first glitch appeared when I tried to play an audio CD.  The sound suddenly disappeared and didn’t return until I connected the two composite audio ports to the TV. Despite telling the system to output audio through the digital optical cable, the CD player software still wanted to play the music through the TV speakers. Strike one. (Video Without Boundaries says this is a known bug and is being fixed.)

The next challenge was to have the MediaREADY 5000 box find my digital music and photo files from a network-attached storage (NAS) device and play it through the TV and speaker system. The system does this by having you map the directories in which shared folders are located. Once mapped, the system can stream music or display photos in a slide show fashion. Another option is to directly copy music files from your network location (such as a PC or NAS box) onto the MediaREADY 5000’s hard drive. I found this took too long to accomplish, mainly because of the powerline network adapter. If you have a regular wired Ethernet connection or use wireless, this may run faster.

Then the second glitch popped up. When streaming music over the system, the music sounded like it was going too fast, as if we were listening to a 45rpm record at 50 or 55 rpm. It wasn’t quite Alvin and the Chipmunks, but it was definitely faster and not the speed we were used to. Another question was fired off to Video Without Boundaries, and the company was lost for an explanation.  Strike two.