rfusz84 Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 I started backing up my Blue ray discs to see how they would stream over the network, while googleing around I came across this: http://www.popcornhour.com/onlinestore/index.php?pluginoption=catalog&task=info&item_id=6&main_id=0&category_id= Anyways its a network media player that handles, what seems like anything u throw at it. I ordered mine and it's on the way. I report back with the end user experience of streaming an HD m2ts from a MD-1500 to a A-110 (Currently using a ZIOVA Clearstream™ CS615 w/ less than stellar results, better yet terrible results) Quote Link to comment
Billped Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Where is the compliment? Bill Quote Link to comment
WeeboTech Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Anyone have this version? What is the turn around from pre-order to delivery? Quote Link to comment
NAS Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 I tried to buy one in the stores in Florida last week and no one had a clue what i was talking about. Based on my reading turn around is related mostly to batch production. The site is generally sold out non stop and all are pre-order. Some places in the EU have them but at almost double the cost when converted to dollars. Quote Link to comment
bubbaQ Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 The delay used to be bad... but as of 2q2008, it was OK. I bought one a few months ago... took about 2 weeks to arrive. They import through LA, then ship from there.... so it takes a few more days for the east coast. It works well with unRAID. Quote Link to comment
abq-pete Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Where is the compliment? Bill I believe he meant to type "complement" Regards, Peter Quote Link to comment
Billped Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Where is the compliment? Bill I believe he meant to type "complement" Regards, Peter LOL! I should have figured that out. Cheers, Bill Quote Link to comment
CrashnBrn Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 I've heard that it has difficulty playing various MKV files, and that it depended on how they were encoded. Otherwise all you would get is laggy playback. Quote Link to comment
NAS Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 The problem with the PCH (which is also one of its biggest upsides) is that what you heard last month might not be true this month due to firmware upgrades which are fast and plenty. For sure not all HD content are created equal but this was also true of SD which such nonsense as QPEl etc If you can get one the PCH is great value for money.... if you can actually get one. I think i might try. Quote Link to comment
rfusz84 Posted September 7, 2008 Author Share Posted September 7, 2008 Where is the compliment? Bill I believe he meant to type "complement" Regards, Peter Lol, yes this is what I meant Quote Link to comment
musicmann Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 I couldn't find any screenshots. Can someone describe the user interface. I have a large collection of movies, so I'm wondering what the navigation is like. Quote Link to comment
SuperPerry Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 I couldn't find any screenshots. Can someone describe the user interface. I have a large collection of movies, so I'm wondering what the navigation is like. Here's review from earlier version of PCH http://www.mpcclub.com/modules/Reviews/reviews/popcorn_hour_a100_review.pdf They should have very similar or same interface as from my understanding only hardware change from this version to the newer PCH-A110. Quote Link to comment
SuperPerry Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 I am actually interested getting PS3 to work with unRAID... PCH is just streamer for price $200-ish with PS3 $399 with 80G HDD and blueray player is a plus. I do't play games myself but since blueray player is cost as much anyway why not buy PS3. For media streamers maybe also read istarminiHD. Quote Link to comment
rfusz84 Posted September 7, 2008 Author Share Posted September 7, 2008 I am actually interested getting PS3 to work with unRAID... PCH is just streamer for price $200-ish with PS3 $399 with 80G HDD and blueray player is a plus. I do't play games myself but since blueray player is cost as much anyway why not buy PS3. For media streamers maybe also read istarminiHD. The HDMI chip on the PS3 cannot send bitstream of TrueHD and DTS-HD/MA. The PCH can pass through : DTS, AC3, DTS-HD MA, DTS-HD HR, Dolby True HD, Dolby Digital Plus. Only matters if you get a receiver that can also process those streams, but if you have a nice system in place it makes a big difference in sound. Also PCH handle pretty much any type of video u can put on a hard drive. Only gripe I have with this player is the nic card on it. 10/100 I guess if streams a HD file ok then it doesn't matter. Quote Link to comment
SuperPerry Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Only gripe I have with this player is the nic card on it. 10/100 Good point... That's why I probably wait for PCH-A120 LOL! Maybe addition of Wi-Fi and 10/100/1000Mb. My system is not capable of TrueHD yet. I own HK AVR 745 reciever I probably just use Logic 7. Quote Link to comment
bubbaQ Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 @musicmann ... the user interface is created by software, and the PCH does not have one beyond the basic file browsing. It does support uPnP however, so any number of interfaces such as slimserver, OxylBox, Open Showcenter, etc., can all be used... whichever you want to add. The user contributions section of the PCH forums have several user-supplied alternative interfaces. Quote Link to comment
rfusz84 Posted September 8, 2008 Author Share Posted September 8, 2008 hopefully the following of the PCH gets as big as the modded xbox scene. Quote Link to comment
BLKMGK Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 hopefully the following of the PCH gets as big as the modded xbox scene. FWIW there's not a precompiled beta of XBMC for Linux out there http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=37329 and a "live" version that can be booted and run. -> http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=32853 Quote Link to comment
speeding_ant Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 I'm running a frankenstein MacBook 2Ghz C2D (headless, no optical drive wireless, battery etc.) with a bluetooth card in-tact, running 10.5 and a mac dedicated version of XBMC called Plex. It runs into my 1080p TV, and plays 1080p without any issues. Its running through a gigabit router to my UnRaid server, and mounts shares automatically. Its sweet! Its small and quiet, and it cost me bugger all to build (less than $150 NZD). It has digital out, and with Plex it can passthrough any audio. PLUS it has the IR port so I can use the Apple remote. Seriously guys, get modding with some damaged MacBooks on eBay or TradeMe! Quote Link to comment
donburkard Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Blu ray you say.... why dont you let us all know what you have been using to rip them with. thank you Quote Link to comment
NAS Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 I'm running a frankenstein MacBook 2Ghz C2D ...It runs into my 1080p TV, and plays 1080p without any issues. Its running through a gigabit router to my UnRaid server, and mounts shares automatically.... I follow XBMC development closely and whilst i can believe that rig will play some or perhaps even lots, theres no way it can play all 1080p, especially the high bit rate stuff. Can you play the killa sample or can you qualify how many drops you get on high bit rate stuff.? I just want to play devils adocate here especailly when you are advocating people buy kit at that level. Quote Link to comment
speeding_ant Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 I'm running a frankenstein MacBook 2Ghz C2D ...It runs into my 1080p TV, and plays 1080p without any issues. Its running through a gigabit router to my UnRaid server, and mounts shares automatically.... I follow XBMC development closely and whilst i can believe that rig will play some or perhaps even lots, theres no way it can play all 1080p, especially the high bit rate stuff. Can you play the killa sample or can you qualify how many drops you get on high bit rate stuff.? I just want to play devils adocate here especailly when you are advocating people buy kit at that level. I've got several 12Gb 1080p files, plays no issues. I've played a full BlueRay image with no discernible dropped frames. I personally would have expected dropped frames as well, but XBMC development has made leaps and bounds with 1080p playback on slower machines, and a C2D is no slouch. Where can I find the killa sample? Quote Link to comment
Equilibrium Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 I'm with NAS on this one, I highly doubt that it could play any 1080P VC-1 Blu-ray images without significant framedrop. Quote Link to comment
Miwa Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 I have a PCH-A110, and I use it mostly for playing .iso files from the network. Right now I'm having samba issues between it and my unRAID. I'm patiently waiting for the next beta unRAID release, hoping it has nfs. (and/or the next pch firmware with an updated samba build). Haven't had time to try and debug what's going on with unRAID to make it unhappy over samba. Overall, the PCH-A110 is pretty cool for what I got it for (mostly being able to play .iso from the LAN!). Took about a month between ordering and receiving it. They ship twice a month from China. It arrived shortly after they actually shipped it. Quote Link to comment
bubbaQ Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I can play 1080P VC-1 from unRAID to a PCH with no stutter.... am watching "Pitch Black" as I write this..... I'm using Apache and HTTP...not Samba. Quote Link to comment
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