Can anyone here vouch for the AC Ryan Playon HD3?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Can anyone here vouch for the AC Ryan Playon HD3?

bener

272 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#115328 21-Mar-2013 23:20

I just want to access my server's shared network drive wirelessly, and play the video on my TV - don't need a lot of extras like youtube I just want a robust system that works...

Mostly playing HD x264 video.

Can anyone share their experiences?

sidkumar

84 posts

Master Geek

#785348 22-Mar-2013 10:27

Initially I was quite happy with my HD2 mini, after that too many wireless dramas. Ditched it for WDTV Live. So far happy with it. I connect to my audio over UPNP/DLNA and video via NFS share.

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robjg63

3838 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#785354 22-Mar-2013 10:50

I have an original ACRyan HD mini.
It plays pretty much everything you can chuck at it.
The interface is a bit crap - but you are looking at a much later item - so its probably ok.
If you arent intending installing a hard drive then you just need the mini.
It doesnt have space for a hard drive internally - but does have USB ports - you can attach a USB drive if you want.
It was a dutch company and they went into receivership last year - I think the Australasian/Singapore branches now run it.

I use it exactly as you intend to use yours - ie stream from a PC drive to my TV.

I have seen a lot of people say the WDTV is pretty good though - seems to have more active development/support as far as I can see.

The ACRyan unit sells the wifi dongle separately - so you have to add that onto the buy price.

I would look at the WDTV unit if I were you:
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=DVAWD0005&name=Western-Digital-WD-TV-Live-Streaming-Media-Player-
Seems to include built in wifi.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

reven

3646 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#785359 22-Mar-2013 11:13

if you can wait 3 to 4 months, an ouya might be a good solution.

heres a youtube video of it running on an early dev kit

$120 USD including shipping, so its pretty cheap. just have to wait a few months. Kickstarters are shipping next week, early preorders are in april (when mine should ship) and new orders will be shipped in June.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#785650 22-Mar-2013 19:57

robjg63:

The ACRyan unit sells the wifi dongle separately - so you have to add that onto the buy price.

Interestingly according to th A C Ryan website the HD3 has inbuilt WiFI and pictures of it shows the antenna on the back.
The one I looked at on Playtech's local website has no WiFi and needs a dongle. Strange. Does NZ get cheaper inferior models?

bener

272 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#786959 25-Mar-2013 22:58

Hey everyone, thanks for all the replies -

sidkumar: That might be enough to put me off, I am planning on using wireless for now as I am wating to upgrade my home network to eheternet once my fiber connection is available in September. Wireless issues are always a real hassle!

robjg63: now that's a substantial rundown, thanks! As you are now the second user to vouch for WDTV, that may be my new model to research. It's a bit of a concern that ACRyan went into recievership, a good user base is always something I look for in new tech gear...

reven: I have been watching the OUYA with much interest, but I did not realize that they are so close to release - I will look into it further...

B1GGLZ: It appears that PB Tech stock the model with WiFi - see here

Input is much appreciated everyone, I was a bit busy the last few days so my response time was a bit slow, but I now have plenty more research to do!