Back Again - AN OBSCENE PRICE! DMA2200 Linksys Media Center Extender $99.99 shipped at Newegg

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cyberia

Platinum Member
Oct 22, 1999
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Originally posted by: notposting
Love my DMA2200 so far. Remote is kind of crappy (have to aim fairly accurately) and bootup time is probably a minute, but otherwise it's plenty responsive enough and the dvd upconversion works quite nicely.
Even has me interested in adding more extenders, a WHS, and an HDHomerun at some point. And this is all with using digital converter boxes for my whopping 15 OTA channels.

I have to agree on the DMA2200. I used to have a DSM-750, but I do not miss it at all. The DMA2200's user interface *is* "faster" (more responsive) than the DSM-750's on my wireless network. That's a huge plus. (I remember reading a comparison review of MCXs that claimed it couln't be because they all have identical underlying hardware, but it is true. It also reconnects to my VMC PC faster.

I leave mine on 24/7 because a "cold boot" takes a while. The remote does suck in comparison with a standard MCE remote or even the DSM-750. The biggest disappointment to me is the small size of the Back button. However, I think you can use any MCE remote for non-DVD tasks.
 

Binky

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,046
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The Linksys remotes included with the 2100 and 2200 are junk. Don't use them unless you like to frustrate yourself. Both extenders work perfectly with any universal remote. The Logitech remotes are my choice.
 

notposting

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2005
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Originally posted by: Binky
The Linksys remotes included with the 2100 and 2200 are junk. Don't use them unless you like to frustrate yourself. Both extenders work perfectly with any universal remote. The Logitech remotes are my choice.

Eh, I've figured them out okay...they could obviously be improved. It is amusing watching my wife trying to use it though. Just starts mashing on the buttons :p Benefit being I get the remote back then :evil:
The MS remote for the actual HTPC in the bedroom is much better.
 

notposting

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2005
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update: $99 is the sale price today, great price--remember it also includes an upconverting DVD player.
 

cyberia

Platinum Member
Oct 22, 1999
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Originally posted by: notposting
update: $99 is the sale price today, great price--remember it also includes an upconverting DVD player.

Thanks. I updated the OP.
 

cyberia

Platinum Member
Oct 22, 1999
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Originally posted by: zoiks
So can this be used instead of the WD Media player? Or is this much more?

Yes, it can. Yes, it is. However, it is a totally different animal and is NOT a stand-alone product.
 

Basilisk

Senior member
Sep 15, 2000
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Sigh... I do wish it supported more formats: be nice if there was an Open version of this, allowing FLAC, AVI's and all the other formats I've accumulated to be added.

PS: note that the default TV capture format changes from DVR-MS to WTV with Windows 7. That may make this version incompatible... or so I'd fear. [BTW: W7 Media Center is MUCH MUCH MUCH improved, in IMO.]
 

cyberia

Platinum Member
Oct 22, 1999
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Try Transcode 360. It works for most people. I didn't get it to work, but I did not put any effort into it either.
 

notposting

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2005
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Originally posted by: Basilisk
Sigh... I do wish it supported more formats: be nice if there was an Open version of this, allowing FLAC, AVI's and all the other formats I've accumulated to be added.

PS: note that the default TV capture format changes from DVR-MS to WTV with Windows 7. That may make this version incompatible... or so I'd fear. [BTW: W7 Media Center is MUCH MUCH MUCH improved, in IMO.]

According to the forums on TGB, they work with W7.
Another point...this may be a last big clearance. DMA2200 is clearanced at Linksys site for $119 w/coupon and FS, DMA2100 is nowhere to be found on their site. Don't know if newer models will come out or if they are just dropping the line.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
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Anyone know if these things will be backwards compatible with Windows 7 Media Center?
 

cyberia

Platinum Member
Oct 22, 1999
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Originally posted by: vi edit
Anyone know if these things will be backwards compatible with Windows 7 Media Center?

I think you mean forward-compatible. There are reports that they work with Windows 7 Beta. I don't have a hands-on experience with it though.
 

SunnyD

Belgian Waffler
Jan 2, 2001
32,674
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www.neftastic.com
I don't understand what would make this better than just hooking up your HTPC to your TV. It doesn't have storage or a tuner, so you still need a dedicated HTPC anyway. Am I missing something here?
 

notposting

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2005
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Originally posted by: SunnyD
I don't understand what would make this better than just hooking up your HTPC to your TV. It doesn't have storage or a tuner, so you still need a dedicated HTPC anyway. Am I missing something here?

Yes. This puts your HTPC on other TVs. We have our HTPC in the bedroom, and then I have the DMA2200 in the living room with the HDTV.
You could also have a monster headless HTPC in your basement/closet/wherever with lots of drives, loads of tuners, and then put extenders everywhere else. Maybe your Xbox 360 in the living room--and magically also have your whole DVR interface available through it too :D
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,483
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Originally posted by: notposting
Originally posted by: SunnyD
I don't understand what would make this better than just hooking up your HTPC to your TV. It doesn't have storage or a tuner, so you still need a dedicated HTPC anyway. Am I missing something here?

Yes. This puts your HTPC on other TVs. We have our HTPC in the bedroom, and then I have the DMA2200 in the living room with the HDTV.
You could also have a monster headless HTPC in your basement/closet/wherever with lots of drives, loads of tuners, and then put extenders everywhere else. Maybe your Xbox 360 in the living room--and magically also have your whole DVR interface available through it too :D

Yup. A bedroom (or any room for that matter) DVR/Media Jukebox that is virtually silent. And it's a DVD player which is a nice little plus.
 

SunnyD

Belgian Waffler
Jan 2, 2001
32,674
146
106
www.neftastic.com
Originally posted by: vi edit
Originally posted by: notposting
Originally posted by: SunnyD
I don't understand what would make this better than just hooking up your HTPC to your TV. It doesn't have storage or a tuner, so you still need a dedicated HTPC anyway. Am I missing something here?

Yes. This puts your HTPC on other TVs. We have our HTPC in the bedroom, and then I have the DMA2200 in the living room with the HDTV.
You could also have a monster headless HTPC in your basement/closet/wherever with lots of drives, loads of tuners, and then put extenders everywhere else. Maybe your Xbox 360 in the living room--and magically also have your whole DVR interface available through it too :D

Yup. A bedroom (or any room for that matter) DVR/Media Jukebox that is virtually silent. And it's a DVD player which is a nice little plus.

Ah. I suppose with only 1 TV in the house this is "mostly" useless for me then.
 

cyberia

Platinum Member
Oct 22, 1999
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Originally posted by: SunnyD
Ah. I suppose with only 1 TV in the house this is "mostly" useless for me then.

Only if you have a dedicated HTPC already hooked up to that TV. Otherwise, you could have a regular Vista Premium/Ultimate PC in the office and have a DMA2200 hooked up to your TV.
 

notposting

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2005
3,489
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Don't forget if you have a DPA to choose purchase w/credit card and then have them offer 3% off for using DPA. Nice way to save $3 more. Saw that it was temporarily out of stock but it was all ready to let me buy...just don't need one now or anytime soon. Hell it's just me, the wife, and a cat :p
Need to save my shekels for an HDHomerun...