DSM-320 Quality issue

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Shankly

26 posts

Geek

Topic # 10198 9-Nov-2006 20:46

Hello everyone,

I have just bought a D-Link DSM-320 media player but I am finding the quality of avi files a bit average. I am using it wired as I have read that wireless is pretty useless. The files that I am playing are very good quality playing directly on the pc, I have also converted them with Nero to dvd and the quality is perfect, but I want to do away with recoding to save time and space.
I have upgraded the firmware and the medialonge software to the latest version but it has made no difference. The problem is the video is slightly stuttered at times and the audio is not quite in sync all of the time.
I have it connected via component cables to a Bravia V series tv so I know there is no issue with either of those.
Is this just how it is on this old unit or should I expect better ?
Thanks for your help.

Lipex666

444 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 8

Trusted

Reply # 51802 9-Nov-2006 22:27

Hello

Welome to the world of the DSM 320 be prepared for some pain

If you have not done so already uninstall the dlink media server.

Go to http://www.tversity.com/ install this as your media server on your pc

Tversity has some great support forums and there is heaps of info about the DSM320

If you have the drive space you can play just the vob files (there is only 3 - 4 vobs that make up the movie) and they run as well as playing them as a DVD

"The only way to learn some- thing is to do it"

Shankly

26 posts

Geek

Reply # 51806 9-Nov-2006 22:53

Thanks for that. I was hoping to avoid 3rd party software but it seems to be where most people are going.
I'm downloading it now, hopefully it will solve my (D-Links) problems. Will let you know how I get on.
Cheers.

Lipex666

444 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 8

Trusted

Reply # 51816 10-Nov-2006 06:23

Cool

In this case tversity is the software that should have been shipped with the dsm 320.

Remember thoe the quality of what you are playing is dependant on the quality of the media namely
the programe used to rip it, the bit rate it was recorded at and the aspect ratio.

Some of the XviD avi and what Nero can do do is not the same quality as the DVD and you are streaming
this to your DSM 320 from your PC so make check what programes you have running etc and you may need to shut down some.

Point being the best format to use is the origanal vob files themselves but the trade off is the size as say the Dukes of Haz for example is 5 vob files at 4.31 GB on my hard drive.

I still think value for money and what else is avalable the DSM 320 does a ok job of playing ripped movies and I have a 36 inch wide screen Sony.

"The only way to learn some- thing is to do it"

Shankly

26 posts

Geek

Reply # 52021 11-Nov-2006 22:46

Well, I have replaced the D-Link server software with TVersity which made a huge improvement, but have had big problems tonight watching a movie. After about an hour of perfect picture quality and sound it goes completely pixellated and unwatchable. The file that I was watching had been converted from avi to Nero Digital which I have found gives a far better quality image and only takes about 20 minutes to convert from avi, total file size was 1.12GB so small enough to keep a heap of these on the hard drive. My main reason for buying this media player was to avoid having to convert to vob and burn to dvd.
Then tried to watch the avi version and this was stuttering a bit too much.
So after this I restarted the pc and shut everything except Norton but the movie still pixellated in the same place. So tried watching on the pc with Nero Showtime and VLC player and it was perfect all the way.
Anyone have any suggestions ?
Thanks.

Shankly

26 posts

Geek

Reply # 52022 11-Nov-2006 23:26

I haven't changed any of the default settings in TVersity for Transcoding, does anyone have any recommendations ?
My server is a P4 3GB, 1GB RAM, SATA1 HDD's.
Thanks.

Lipex666

444 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 8

Trusted

Reply # 52023 11-Nov-2006 23:49

Hello

I sometimes get pixalated why watching a movie and I get this more on one of our other pc's on the network and I generally shut down all the ipod, realplayer, itunes all those not esssentail services and that can give a boost seems to be memory or getting low on disk space. Check your disk space.

Could be a codec issue - Have you downloaded the latest ffdshow - for MPEG2/4, H.264, Divx, Xvid, AAC, FLAC, Vorbis, FLV, and many more

Yep check under settings try these different settings and note what they are before you change them.

Transcode to on see if that makes a differance default is only if needed

connection speed to wired 100 Mbps excellent - could try good

vid resolution to 400 x 300
Image to 1280 x 1024

Decode as fast as possible

I did use nero recode and gave up and found it pays to search for better XviD avi

Remember to press the save button at the bottom scroll down.

check out the support forums

Please understand that TVersity by default does not transcode. Only when it identifies a device (there is a long list of devices that are automatically detected) it will transcode the content that this device cannot play. This is unless it is set to always transcode or never transcode. After making these changes you need to restart the device, not TVersity.

"The only way to learn some- thing is to do it"

Shankly

26 posts

Geek

Reply # 52025 12-Nov-2006 00:58

Thanks for all your help, I really appriciate it, I'd buy you a beer if I could send it down the phone line !
I have been going through the TVersity forum for a couple of hours and have just downloaded the ffsshow software. I'll also try those other settings and see if it makes a difference.
I hope I can get this thing going as I really wanted to build a Windows media center, but that was never going to happen for less than $1400.00, I bought the DSM on Trade-Me for $200.00 so I guess what I have is value for money.
Cheers.

Lipex666

444 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 8

Trusted

Reply # 52026 12-Nov-2006 01:39

cool glad I could help as I know how frustrating this can be.

Im the same brought off Trademe as there is not many other choices except for having a pc by your tv or a modded xbox and for a few hundred dollors I can get all my mp3's on the tv and all my movies.

I mainly use the dsm320 for downloaded tv shows and if you find them recorded in HDTV they play and look ok on my widescreen.

I have just accepted what I get as its still watchable and tversity has made this device enjoyable.

"The only way to learn some- thing is to do it"