Playing .avi files, possible?

[thehawk]

Good evening friends.

I am on the verge of buying one of these, but have one question. Let's say that I want to play an .avi file on my TV(via the dreambox of course), how is that possible? Do I have to stream it via my PC or I can do it using the DreamBox only?

I was told the 500 has no hard disk but the 600 does so if I opt for the 600 I would be able to copy the .avi on the hard drive and play it from there?

Am I right here?

Cheers.

 

[mhku]

You have to stream it from a PC as a Dreambox doesn't have the codecs to play a .avi

An easier option can be to buy a cheap DVD player that will play .avi, divx etc and play them that way.

 

[thehawk]

You have to stream it from a PC as a Dreambox doesn't have the codecs to play a .avi

An easier option can be to buy a cheap DVD player that will play .avi, divx etc and play them that way.

hehe, that's indeed an option I did consider ....

thanks mate

 

[HB13DISH]

hehe, that's indeed an option I did consider ....

thanks mate

The DVD player is the best option for *.avi files.
But try to see what is available on the market today as one with a USB interface would give you better flexibility.

 

[thehawk]

The DVD player is the best option for *.avi files.
But try to see what is available on the market today as one with a USB interface would give you better flexibility.

Yes, I just spent 30 minutes or so researching and without going off-topic, it seems no player plays MKV x264 files which is a shame.

 

[mhku]

It's your thread - you can go off-topic

 

[thehawk]

Thanks mate.

Just in case someone may have my same "problem", I decided to actually opt for a device like the Popcorn box or the Western Digital WDTV which seems does what I need to perfection.

And of course to use the dreambox for what it was originally invented

 

[HB13DISH]

Thanks mate.

Just in case someone may have my same "problem", I decided to actually opt for a device like the Popcorn box or the Western Digital WDTV which seems does what I need to perfection.

And of course to use the dreambox for what it was originally invented

Thank you for your feedback. Let us know when you buy it if you encounter any unforeseen problems.
Will take a look at it when I have the time.
It is always nice to see our members sharing information.

 

[thehawk]

I have another question, if I may.

What's the best way to connect the dreambox to my LCD TV. I see it has SCART and those yellow/red/white(component?) if I'm not wrong. Which one gives the best picture?

Thank you.

 

[HB13DISH]

Component is better than composite video.
Do you have components input in your LCD TV?
The cable should be as short as possible, and it is quite expensive, at least last time I checked.

 

[mhku]

Red & white are audio out, yellow is composite video and is poor quality. Scart is your best option.

I think some Dreamboxes support component output via scart - I'm sure I tried it with a scart/ component adapter and couldn't see any difference.

Does a DM600 have component out (green,red, blue)?

 

[thehawk]

Have to admit I'm a bit lost with all these terms now :-crying

Based on mhku's "scart is your best option", if I purchase one of these "expensive" SCART cables, that would do the trick, correct?

Thanks

 

[compufunk]

Does a DM600 have component out (green,red, blue)?

Yes, and as you have mentioned, the quality is rubbish.

Based on mhku's "scart is your best option", if I purchase one of these "expensive" SCART cables, that would do the trick, correct?

Yes, scart is the best output on the DM600. I dont see why you would need to buy an expensive one. I dont have an LCD TV so dont know for sure, but I'd have though a decent quality reasonably priced one would be fine.

 

[thehawk]

Thanks friends ... purchased one by b-tech international, looks more like a belt than a cable

 

[mhku]

If your LCD is hi-def (HD) the limiting factor for picture quality will be the standard definition (SD) broadcast quality from the Dreambox.