Need a Wireless Multimedia device that actually works.

Aintnorock · 03-26-2008, 11:24 AM

Okay, I'm getting a little frustrated now. I want to be able to play the music on my computer and transmit it to my home theater.

I bought a SMC Networks Wireless EZ Stream receiver on e-bay (that should have been my first clue). Never could get it to work.

So I spent a little more money and bought a ZyXEL NMP-1100 W wireless music box. I followed all the instructions, and the device picked up the local network, and I entered the WEP key, but when I run the utility on my computer, it can't find the wireless device on my network.

ZyXEL support has not returned my emails, and I'm about ready to send it back to the vendor.

Any suggestions? Any other devices that you've used that have actually worked? My primary goal is to play wma files, but showing videos and jpgs would be nice, too.

Thanks,
carl

Robert_J · 03-26-2008, 03:30 PM

The Popcorn Hour Media Tank would work perfectly but it is wired. I think they are working on a wireless model or a wireless adapter. A google search will take you to their site/forum.

-Robert

Aintnorock · 03-26-2008, 04:31 PM

there's no way a wired device would work - the ht is in another room completely from my router.

Has anyone had experiences with Roku's SoundBridge?

nolesrule · 03-26-2008, 04:42 PM

Look into the SlimDevices product line from Logitech. The Squeezebox may be what you're looking for.

Robert_J · 03-27-2008, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aintnorock

there's no way a wired device would work - the ht is in another room completely from my router.

There's aways a way to run additional wires. You have to decide if it is worth the time, effort and money to do it. For me, 1,000 ft. of CAT-5 was cheap and I've put a NAS in a closet downstairs (backup storage) and wired up my DirecTV receiver to stream audio and pictures from my PC. Not only are they in separate rooms, they are on different floors of the house.

-Robert

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Lew Crippen · 03-27-2008, 11:41 AM

If you did not already have a wireless router, you could get Airport Express from Apple. Another Apple product that would work (very easily from iTunes) is AppleTV (you could choose just to hook it up to your receiver). Even though that seems a bit wasteful, you can just connect the audio optical out to your receiver. Probably you would need to connect a TV to do the setup.

Robert_J · 03-27-2008, 12:21 PM

Setup a wireless access point in the room. That way the wired device can take advantage of wireless. With the Popcorn Hour, I don't think you can stream HD over wireless but regular DVD and audio should be no problem.

-Robert

Aintnorock · 03-30-2008, 09:55 PM

I purchased a Roku Sound Bridge M1001 unit, and it worked out of the box. Had it set up and running in 15 minutes. I love it.