ok, so I finally made the jump and purchased a DMA-2200 this weekend. I have to say, I'm very underwhelmed so far for various reasons, but that's another topic altogether. :)

My current problem: I cannot get a dvr-ms to play on my extender! Everything I've read points to dvr-ms as the magic bullet that "just works", except it "just doesn't" for me, and I cannot figure out why. When I attempt to play a DVD that I've converted to dvr-ms, the MC interface will lock up for 20-30 seconds, and then give an error that media center has disconnected. I don't know if the problem is with Media Center, My Movies or the DMA-2200. Any other format (.mpg, .avi, .wmv, .mp4) plays perfectly fine assuming the codec gods approve of the internal combination.

My Setup:

Host: 
   Vista Home Premium SP1
   myMovies version 2.42
   Quad Core CPU
   3g RAM

Network:
   Dell PowerConnect 2708
   Linksys WRT600N

Extender:
   DMA-2200 connected to TV via component video cables, network via 802.11n

Conversion Method:
   Rip DVD to a single vob file   
   using VideoRedo TVSuite free trial, load vob, select "Quick Stream Fix" while choosing dvr-ms as output.

I've set quick stream fix to mpg as well, and that plays... but I'm not entirely happy with the lack of control. I pressed skip once, and it started the entire thing over at the front! not to mention, I kept having moments where the mpg would pause for a second or two, then fast forward to catch up. Not a desirable option at all.

Is there something I need to do in order to get dvr-ms to work with the dma-2200? am I forgetting something in videoredo? Am I expecting too much by hoping that Media Center, and its extenders, actually work as promised?
   

ok, I tried putting a dvr-ms in my video library, bypassing 'My Movies'... it didn't play there, either.

I followed http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929707 as well, and it did nothing to improve the situation.

According to the network tests run from the extender, I've got full bars into HD streaming capability, so i'm doubting it is a bandwidth issue. (It ONLY does this on dvr-ms files)

I've searched and searched here to try and find a solution, and all i can find are numerous people claiming that dvr-ms files work, so obviously something is wrong that I'm not spotting.

Anyone have any advice for me at all? I'm very frustrated with the entire experience at this point, and my wife is getting angry over the amount of money I've spent, only to find out it doesn't work.

No, this has all been done with SP1. Does vista SP1 cause a problem with the dvr-ms? If so, I can just use my windows xp laptop to create my dvr-ms from now on.

daelic:

No, this has all been done with SP1. Does vista SP1 cause a problem with the dvr-ms? If so, I can just use my windows xp laptop to create my dvr-ms from now on.

Reconverted a vob to dvr-ms on my xp system, and still no luck. Doesn't anyone have any suggestions, even if it's just to say "I have this working on a DMA-2200" it would be nice.

an update if anyone cares: I re-imaged my system to factory defaults, so I'm now on a clean Vista system, no patches, no service pack 1, no codecs or applications installed except for videoredo... dvr-ms played perfectly on the extender.

Obviously it's either a problem with service pack one (I assume someone would have pointed this out if it were the case) or it was a case of codec/software conflics specific to my system. I'm really hoping it's the latter. I'll be very thorough on what I put in, so if something does break it again, I'll be able to pinpoint it.

Now I just gotta get myTV and my movies reinstalled. >_<

System patched up to, and including SP1... still playing dvr-ms just fine. Aside from a quality issue I'm noticing (a "jittery" effect, most noticeable around text and patterns, such as wallpaper or grassy scenes, as well as the borders of the screen. I don't notice this when replayed on my local system, only when replaying on my 43" widescreen via the extender) things are working well.

I'm guessing my earlier issue with the dvr-ms not playing at all was codec related.

Hi Daelic,

I too am having this "jittery" effect when playing back dvr-ms files on my DMA2100. Were you ever able to come up with a solution?

Thanks.

Chris Memento:

Hi Daelic,

I too am having this "jittery" effect when playing back dvr-ms files on my DMA2100. Were you ever able to come up with a solution?

Thanks.

Have you tried the new firmware update? http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/archive/2008/06/04/1631514.aspx

Yes, just did. Still doesn't help.

To expand, when I play on the pc... the first couple seconds of the DVR-MS file also has this jittery effect but it corrects itself and then plays perfectly. On the DMA2100, it doesn't correct itself and has a jittery effect as though the image is shifting 1 horizontal line up and then back down.

If I convert the file to an mpeg it plays fine... but then don't like the FF/REW of the mpegs compared to the DVR-MS.

Any suggestions appreciated.