[ngc1967]

I've got to the stage where I now have about 200 DVDs and 600 CDs.

These are taking up a lot of space so I want to convert them all digitally to .avi or another format for the DVDs and mp3 or FLAC for my CDs. I then want to and save them on a new 2TB SATA hard disc (which I have just bought) so that I can get rid of 80% of the originals and clear up a lot of space.

The question is how to play them?

Ideally I want a hard disc media player that I can install this SATA drive in and be able to watch the DVDs (once converted) as well as listen to the mp3s/FLAC on my TV.

BUT I also want to be able to access this unit from my PC and ALSO stream to my 'Apple TV' which is in another room.

Therefore I would want the media player to have Wifi as well as being able to work as a stand alone through my wireless router without the need for my PC to be turned on all the time.

Does anything exist that would meet these requirements? or does anyone have other suggestions on how to do this?

I don't really know what is available?

[Gilly]

I would consider a mede8er 500x2 with wifi option but I am maybe bias. When encoding DVD or Bluray you should consider mkv file format with h264 video encoding. Everyone seems to have there own way to do this I am afraid it could be a matter of trial and error for you for the different solutions out there. I used TMPGEnc Video Master works (will cost you) with VBR encoding (Using set to a bit rate of 8000 max - DVD) to encode my DVD's. I find the Variable Bit Rate encoding handy for keeping file size down. Although peeps will argue with me on this I am sure but it is what suits me.

If you have problems with copyright then certainly do try Slysofts AnyDVD (free trial for 1 month).

[JER1956]

Your CD's are a backup in their own right. Whatever you do..don't transfer them to a hard drive thinking nothing adverse might happen. Without those cd's you cannot remake the copies you play.

So either keep the CD's..or use a NAS setup which can handle drive failure and/or data loss.

[ilev]

Forget streaming Video over Wi-Fi, it just doesn't work. Either attach the Hard-drive to a streamer , or connect a streamer with an installed hard-disk to your network.

[Gennoise]

Hi

If you want to stream to multiple devices, setting up a NAS is probably the best way to go. A NAS (network-attached storage) is typically a small linux box that barely uses power when compared to a full-blown fileserver, but accomplishes more or less the same. You can then stream to all networked devices in your home network (and, with additional configuration, outside your home network).

Example of an entry-level NAS: http://www.synology.com/products/pro...S112j&lang=enu
This is fine for small projects like yours, but you'll probably want to upgrade a couple of years later on.

Now that you have one of those hidden in the laundry room, all you need is a media player that supports streaming over SMB or NFS (or, if you REALLY have to, UPnP), and you're done. I use a Dune HD Max device myself, which is great, but there are cheaper alternatives.

I would highly recommend that you don't stream wirelessly though. It's slow and will quickly become aggravating. Just imagine watching halfway through a 3 hour movie, just to get a playback error because the playback position caught up with the buffer. In the best case, the player will handle this by showing you a loading screen until there is enough buffered data, but I've seen this crash the playback more often than not.
Fair enough, no 3 hour movies and the problem is solved? Try streaming any content to 2 or 3 devices simultaneously.

In all seriousness though, you'll save more on the ethernet cables than the USB WiFi dongles that you need to buy seperately for most streamers. So don't torture yourself.

[Next2Last]

WD Live TV from Staples. Go to slickdeals.net and see what people do to get this unit from $60 to $70. It has built in WiFi, USB connection for HD and a network connection plus it does different apps over the Internet like Netflix, music services like Spotify, weather and a bunch of others. It has a very lively community that creates themes and movie sheets. Bought mine for $70 and it plays so far everything that I threw at it from a 2TB attached hard drive. For a NAS it reads from network shares.

[astropolak]

Originally Posted by Next2Last WD Live TV from Staples. Go to slickdeals.net and see what people do to get this unit from $60 to $70. It has built in WiFi, USB connection for HD and a network connection plus it does different apps over the Internet like Netflix, music services like Spotify, weather and a bunch of others. It has a very lively community that creates themes and movie sheets. Bought mine for $70 and it plays so far everything that I threw at it from a 2TB attached hard drive. For a NAS it reads from network shares.

Another vote for WDTV SMP, great little box, NFS and SMB support, plays ISO's (BD and DVD) over the network, 10x more features than Dune Prime, the Prime beats it in the final polish and delivery of BD playback ..., but not by much.

[Bumblebee]

Well, I would suggest the WD TV Live Version 3 too.
I did try a set of different units including Mede8er - but after buying this little (miniature) gadget I am absolutely surprised what it offers.

No more using Tvixie, thumbgen etc. - this little thing € 70+ loads it just via WLAN build in!
You can attach (today's technology) up to 2x 2TB 2.5 drives.

At least I do not want more - and I wonder why this beauty with online firmware updates never received any serious mention on this site.

Bernie

[ngc1967]

Thanks for all your replies and advice – sorry for the late response back but had some trouble with my 8 year old PC etc.
The replies have helped me to consider a lot of things that I didn't even know about for which I have thought about but now have some more questions! (It seems that there are lots of different routes you can go down to achieve a good home entertainment system.)

Since my original post I have upgraded my TV to a Samsung 27” 3D HD Ready Smart TV (1080p) with Freeview HD (T27A750). I have also ordered an 3D Blu-ray player (Panasonic DMP-BDT220EB) to go with it which will also have internet facility (ie. Netflix/YouTube/Love Film etc.) via Wi-Fi or hard wired Ethernet cable. (This is due to arrive next week)

To compliment these I want a Media Player that I can put my own 2TB hard drive in and play all my DVDs once converted to whatever format is the best for quality. I don’t actually have any Blu-ray discs yet but not doubt I will get some eventually (as well as 3D discs)


I will answer each comment separately.

Originally Posted by gilly I would consider a mede8er 500x2 with wifi option but I am maybe bias. When encoding DVD or Bluray you should consider mkv file format with h264 video encoding. Everyone seems to have there own way to do this I am afraid it could be a matter of trial and error for you for the different solutions out there. I used TMPGEnc Video Master works (will cost you) with VBR encoding (Using set to a bit rate of 8000 max - DVD) to encode my DVD's. I find the Variable Bit Rate encoding handy for keeping file size down. Although peeps will argue with me on this I am sure but it is what suits me. If you have problems with copyright then certainly do try Slysofts AnyDVD (free trial for 1 month).

I've heard of the Mede8er MED500X2 - KJGlobal (in the UK) say this is quite good but I'm also considering the Egreat R200S, TVIX A1 and and HiMedia HD900B. I know DivCo have stopped manufacturing their machines but they were good machines and KJGlobal are now selling the Xdroid A1 in the UK for £179 (instead of £27.
Dune seems to be a little dearer and there are so many models all similar that I'm finding it hard to narrow it down to a couple. (Mainly as I don't know what half of the descriptions mean or do!).
The size of the file isn't too important to me at the moment as I already have a 2TB disc and I was planning to convert my DVDs to DVD-ISO so that I keep the quality as close to the original file. (I may be completely wrong but I am under the impression that a DVD ISO file is the kind of video equivalent to a WAV file in Audio quality and a MKV file is the video equivalent to a FLAC file with other encoders being the equivalent to MP3s – in a round about way).

I do actually have a copy of Slysoft’s AnyDVD as well as Digiarty’s WinX DVD Ripper Platinum so I am able to convert my DVDs to various formats.

[ngc1967]

Thanks for all your replies and advice – sorry for the late response back but had some trouble with my 8 year old PC etc.
The replies have helped me to consider a lot of things that I didn't even know about for which I have thought about but now have some more questions! (It seems that there are lots of different routes you can go down to achieve a good home entertainment system.)

Since my original post I have upgraded my TV to a Samsung 27” 3D HD Ready Smart TV (1080p) with Freeview HD (T27A750). I have also ordered an 3D Blu-ray player (Panasonic DMP-BDT220EB) to go with it which will also have internet facility (ie. Netflix/YouTube/Love Film etc.) via Wi-Fi or hard wired Ethernet cable. (This is due to arrive next week)

To compliment these I want a Media Player that I can put my own 2TB hard drive in and play all my DVDs once converted to whatever format is the best for quality. I don’t actually have any Blu-ray discs yet but not doubt I will get some eventually (as well as 3D discs)

Originally Posted by JER1956 Your CD's are a backup in their own right. Whatever you do..don't transfer them to a hard drive thinking nothing adverse might happen. Without those cd's you cannot remake the copies you play. So either keep the CD's..or use a NAS setup which can handle drive failure and/or data loss.

I understand completely what you mean about the CDs being the backup and I want to keep about 100 of my best CDs but with the majority of them I am happy to take the risk and just have them as FLAC files.
Eventually I plan to save all the FLAC files to Blu-ray discs (using the Blu-ray discs as storage discs to save the equivalent of 60-70 CDs on each 50GB Blu-ray disc) but that’s when I upgrade my PC and get a Blu-ray writer.