Supported video files/containers

[gmd024]

I just received a new GearBox and am trying to set it up with an Ext HDD to serve a lot of my HD/BD media as ISOs and MKVs -- but it looks as though the GearBox will only support MPG,AVI and WMV - is this correct?

I'm using firmware v1.3 and I've copied a couple MKVs into the public folder -- the Folder containing the MKVs shows up but the MKVs do not

If not supported - does anyone know if ISOs and MKVs will be supported in the future

Edit -- OK I got access to the Ext USB HDD through the GearBox via the network on my Box Office - it plays ISOs just fine - I deleted the MKVs, but will test them later -- I don't expect any problems now that the shared network access is working -- BUT - If I try to access the same ISO via UPnP the ISO does not show up to be played - only the folder it's stored which is inside the Public folder on the Ext HDD
Any clues how to fix the UPnP/ISO access

[Rayonix]

Have your tried renaming the files you are having trouble with to the old 8.3 DOS standard? AKA, no spaces or funky characters and no longer than 8 characters for the filename?

Since I updated to the latest 1.3 firmware it seems to be a lot more picky about filenames and directory names than it was before. As soon as I change the names, then it's happy again.

[gmd024]

Have your tried renaming the files you are having trouble with to the old 8.3 DOS standard? AKA, no spaces or funky characters and no longer than 8 characters for the filename?

Since I updated to the latest 1.3 firmware it seems to be a lot more picky about filenames and directory names than it was before. As soon as I change the names, then it's happy again.

Do you think that would fix the UPnP issue, because I can play all of my content as ISOs and MKVs through shared folders from the USB HDD - my issue is trying to access them via the GBs UPnP

[Rayonix]

Ahh, I misunderstood. I thought you were just having difficulty accessing them in general, not just through UPNP. I myself don't use UPNP, so I'm not sure. I know it only looks in the places (Pictures, Music, Video) places that are specified in the config of the GB, but other than that not sure.

Noticed you're on a thread also on AVSFORUMS re: Viewsonic VMP75 :p I thought your name was familiar. I just got mine yesterday and plan on using wirelessly once my adapter arrives. Connected to my network wirelessly to my netbook using Internet Connection sharing at the moment and worried about accessing my W7 x64 box as well once I get the adapter. :(

Did e-mail Viewsonic support already with my concern...no reply.

[BadIntentions]

Do you think that would fix the UPnP issue, because I can play all of my content as ISOs and MKVs through shared folders from the USB HDD - my issue is trying to access them via the GBs UPnP

The UPnP server in the gearbox is rather simple. Since the gearbox processor is so slow, it can only directly present the files, without any transcoding. The client tells the gearbox what formats it can understand (kind of like a UPnP handshake) and the gearbox presents the files from its database that fit within those capabilities. If the player responds with something the gearbox doesn't understand, it ignores that capability. The ISO container isn't commonly associated with video (as its an image of a disk, not a single file on its own) so the Gearbox's UPnP server ignores it. The MKV (matroska video container) is a newer format, that a fair number of standalone hardware players dont support via UPnP. Its more likely though, that the gearbox UPnP server ignores MKV files, as it doesn't know they are video containers.

With a more powerful NAS (like higher end THECUS units, and others) the UPNP server in them will transcode video files to a format the player understands. This takes a rather beefy CPU, but increases compatibility quite a bit.

[gmd024]

The UPnP server in the gearbox is rather simple. Since the gearbox processor is so slow, it can only directly present the files, without any transcoding. The client tells the gearbox what formats it can understand (kind of like a UPnP handshake) and the gearbox presents the files from its database that fit within those capabilities. If the player responds with something the gearbox doesn't understand, it ignores that capability. The ISO container isn't commonly associated with video (as its an image of a disk, not a single file on its own) so the Gearbox's UPnP server ignores it. The MKV (matroska video container) is a newer format, that a fair number of standalone hardware players dont support via UPnP. Its more likely though, that the gearbox UPnP server ignores MKV files, as it doesn't know they are video containers.

With a more powerful NAS (like higher end THECUS units, and others) the UPNP server in them will transcode video files to a format the player understands. This takes a rather beefy CPU, but increases compatibility quite a bit.

Thanks - that definately helps to clear this up for me

I still have one unanswered question -- when I tried to access the ISOs and MKVs via UPnP through the Gearbox - it would show this... PUBLIC (MPG,AVI,WMV) - are these the files that UPnP in the Gearbox understands and most likely the only types that it will play?

[gmd024]

Ahh, I misunderstood. I thought you were just having difficulty accessing them in general, not just through UPNP. I myself don't use UPNP, so I'm not sure. I know it only looks in the places (Pictures, Music, Video) places that are specified in the config of the GB, but other than that not sure.

Noticed you're on a thread also on AVSFORUMS re: Viewsonic VMP75 :p I thought your name was familiar. I just got mine yesterday and plan on using wirelessly once my adapter arrives. Connected to my network wirelessly to my netbook using Internet Connection sharing at the moment and worried about accessing my W7 x64 box as well once I get the adapter. :(

Did e-mail Viewsonic support already with my concern...no reply.

Viewsonics support dept. is clueless about the recent network shares and my UPnP issue - they said they would confer amongst their tech support reps and get back to me -- btw calling them is faster than emailing them - they answered my 3 phone calls immediately without being queued in line

Plus I just realized that the VS only plays MPEG 2 BD ISO's and most of my many BD ISOs aren't MPEG 2 - and to top it off, the couple of BD ISOs that I got it to play had constant stutter - and they were being played from a USB connected Ext HDD :eek: :( - and - I had to drill down into the m2ts folder all the way to the "Stream" folder and search for the biggest file - one movie had over 300 files in the stream folder and the VMP75 broke the main movie file into into multiple files that would have to be clicked on one at a time to view the entire movie (in segments)

I've pretty much made up my mind to RMA this 2nd buggy device and order another Box Office -- they're $58 after rebate at Amazon right now - less than half the price of the VS - I don't want Netflix so I can load the 'other' firmware available on the PBOs' Media Player forum and pretty have much all the internet content available on the VS (or more)

Good luck with your VMP75 - hope it's one of the issue free models - let me know how it works out for you

[BadIntentions]

Thanks - that definately helps to clear this up for me

I still have one unanswered question -- when I tried to access the ISOs and MKVs via UPnP through the Gearbox - it would show this... PUBLIC (MPG,AVI,WMV) - are these the files that UPnP in the Gearbox understands and most likely the only types that it will play?

As best i can tell; its supported list is pretty damn short.


Video MPEG-1: MPG, MPEG, TS, file's extension must be "mpg" or "mpeg". like "abc.mpg".
MPEG-2: MPG, MPEG, M2TS, TS, file's extension must be "mpg" or "mpeg".
MPEG-4: AVI, DIVX, file's extension must be "avi" or "mp4".
WMV: file's extension must be "wmv".
Audio MP3: file's extension must be "mp3".
WMA: file's extension must be "wma".
Image JPG, file's extension must be "jpg".

[gmd024]

As best i can tell; its supported list is pretty damn short.


Video MPEG-1: MPG, MPEG, TS, file's extension must be "mpg" or "mpeg". like "abc.mpg".
MPEG-2: MPG, MPEG, M2TS, TS, file's extension must be "mpg" or "mpeg".
MPEG-4: AVI, DIVX, file's extension must be "avi" or "mp4".
WMV: file's extension must be "wmv".
Audio MP3: file's extension must be "mp3".
WMA: file's extension must be "wma".
Image JPG, file's extension must be "jpg".

Thanks again - much appreciated