Vudu almost here - need some preperation help

[MaxH]

Re: Vudu almost here - need some preperation help

That's why I have power strip plugged into power strip!

Wait, if you plugged it into one of its own outlets, would you get free power?

Nah, they are on their own circuit breakers and I'm an engineer and know how much load my 20 A circuit will handle!

He's probably also calculated the total peak and normal loads for all devices on that circuit.

[calseeor]

Re: Vudu almost here - need some preperation help

Well - Vudu is here. What a sleek, sexy box it is too.

Setting it up was a breeze. It took about 15 minutes before the latest software was downloaded and I was to the point of being able to browse movies. So that was nice and easy. It was showing me as only have 2 meg download speeds when I was pegging out at 8, so I'm not sure what that is about...however it is the least of my problems.
It seems that none of the stores near me (Best Buy, Circuit City) carry the wireless conenctors mentioned here in the thread so I went with a Linksys WGA600N game adapter.
It took me all day with the "help" of the Linksys off shore tech support (twice) to still not get this "easy to use" game adapter on my network. I have an xbox 360, ps3, wii, Tivo and laptop all running wireless here with no issue...but this gaming adapter just didnt want to work.
I spent about 30 minutes on the phone with Vudu support (nice guy, very helpful) and we never got it working.
Then I gave it one more go and this time at least the "default set up software" you run on your PC worked and was able to find the adapter and assign it to my network. So that was a win after about 4 hours of messing around.
The next step was "unplug adapter from PC and plug it into your device and you will be online"
Nopers.
No way.
Didn't happen.
Scratch that.
Beam me up Scotty.

So - it looks like I am on the prowl for a wireless bridge that will work. I'm not a netowkr guy so getting some device and reflashing its memory to some other firmware seems a bit over my head.
There has to be some sort of device that out of the box, with a few setting changes, will work with my vudu. If not, I'm afraid my vudu is a lost cause.
I am very disappointed. I took tomorrow off work so my wife and I could stay up late and watch us some movies.

[Nded]

Re: Vudu almost here - need some preperation help

If you could find an outlet to plug in the Gaming adapter, then you could just as easily use the same outlet for the Ethernet over AC adapter.

[NA9D]

Re: Vudu almost here - need some preperation help

Don't give up. Vudu's not a lost cause. We'll get you working here. I'm certain that at some point you'll find a wireless device that will work. Is it possible to snake a long ethernet cable at this time? I still would try to encourage the use of a powerline adapter as well.

[calseeor]

Re: Vudu almost here - need some preperation help

If you could find an outlet to plug in the Gaming adapter, then you could just as easily use the same outlet for the Ethernet over AC adapter.

Incorrect, sadly. All this testing I am doing is in my computer room. I have wires slung across the room for the test (power cords even).
In the living room, there is no such option. I have 2 outlets within range of my entertainment center.
Plugged into them are:
TV
Xbox
PS3
WII
Tivo
Cable Box
Audio System
Lamp

Also, from what I read, you need to put those on the same circuit. Is that true? Because I highly doubt my upstairs PC room is on the same circuit as the downstairs living room.

[calseeor]

Re: Vudu almost here - need some preperation help

Don't give up. Vudu's not a lost cause. We'll get you working here. I'm certain that at some point you'll find a wireless device that will work. Is it possible to snake a long ethernet cable at this time? I still would try to encourage the use of a powerline adapter as well.

3 dogs make snaking a line across the floor and down the stairs impossible. I was thinking of trying to find a contractor that may be able to make me an ethernet outlet. One in the PC room to plug into the router directly and the other end of it in the living room. Would that work if I can find anyone to do it or is there some funky reversed wire situation that would be needed (like in the old days of linking pcs together where you needed the flipped wires?)

I just cant believe this "easy to use" gaming adapter cant even get my PC online. Unreal.

[Nded]

Re: Vudu almost here - need some preperation help

So, what are your plans to plug in the Vudu and whatever ethernet solution you choose (wireless vs. over AC)?

Re AC adapter - I thought they had to be on the same phase, not the same circuit. Jon - can you chime in on this?

[calseeor]

Re: Vudu almost here - need some preperation help

Vudu would go where the lamp is in our power strip and the adapter would go on the last blank spot on the power strip. As I was told, the Powerline adapters must NOT be in a powerstrip. And there in lies the problem.

What does the same phase mean? Would that mean that I shouldnt have a problem? (I'm not hip to electrical terms)

[NA9D]

Re: Vudu almost here - need some preperation help

Powerline adapters need to go directly into the wall. I suggest this:

Get a large power strip with about 8 or 10 outlets - they make them for AV equipment. Plug everything in there except the powerline adapter. Then plug the powerline adapter into the other wall socket.

The best solution is indeed to run an ethernet line. But right now that will cost you the most if you have to get a contractor. Too bad you don't live close to me, I'd come do it for nuttin!

[calseeor]

Re: Vudu almost here - need some preperation help

Powerline adapters need to go directly into the wall. I suggest this:

Get a large power strip with about 8 or 10 outlets - they make them for AV equipment. Plug everything in there except the powerline adapter. Then plug the powerline adapter into the other wall socket.

The best solution is indeed to run an ethernet line. But right now that will cost you the most if you have to get a contractor. Too bad you don't live close to me, I'd come do it for nuttin!

Going to be taking any trips to Virginia in the near future?

So a single outlet could hold that power load without shorting or bursting into hellish flames? If that is the case, then I guess i don't have a problem anymore (aside from the simple fact that wireless should just work like all my other wireless stuff - so its really annoying).
Future upgrade enhancment for Vudu - add built in wireless or make it more wireless device friendly.

[HeadHodge]

Re: Vudu almost here - need some preperation help

So, what are your plans to plug in the Vudu and whatever ethernet solution you choose (wireless vs. over AC)?

Re AC adapter - I thought they had to be on the same phase, not the same circuit. Jon - can you chime in on this?

I bought the linksys powerline adapters and they worked great from my office to my kitchen but would not work from the office to the rec room (where VUDU is). The rec room was further away and maybe on different circuit, but in either case it would not work.

So I bought 2 Sonos ZoneBridges and I plugged one into my router and the other into my VUDU and it was up and running just great in about 10 minutes. That is why I always keep recommending Sonos.

http://www.sonos.com/products/zonebr...0/features.htm

If memory serves me, you can go to the Sonos forum/tech support site and I'm (almost positive) they describe a way to configure your computers ethernet port to act as bridge when using the same computer with WIFI. I never tried this myself.

This is for Windows so I don't know if you can do the same with MAC.

So my point is you may be able to temporarily use your computer as a bridge until you get something better.

Also if I "really" wanted to watch a few movies tonight I would go to your local Blockbuster, which is physically located in your office, plug the VUDU box in there, then select a few movies you want to watch, download them to the box then move the VUDU box to your TV tonight and watch the movies.

Where there's a will there's a way!!!!

Regards

Regards

BTW I'm currently in scenic Bakersfield CA and the VUDU content I downloaded works fine and it's about 250 miles from my router!!!!

[NA9D]

Re: Vudu almost here - need some preperation help

Wireless gaming adapters have lots of problems.

OK, secret on your electrical outlet:

It can typically handle a load of at least 15 amps. There's probably other devices but you aren't going to draw maximum power each time. You have two outlets per wall socket. Guess what - they are connected together. So even if you "split" the load between them, it's the same wire that carries that load. If for some reason, you overload the circuit, your circuit breaker will trip, but I've never overloaded anything on my AV system and I have breakers on my power strips. I have a TON of stuff loaded and have never had a problem. Most of your AV devices draw probably between 10 and 20 Watts of power on the AV voltage side of the power supply and that at maximum. Most are probably a few watts worth of power. Let's put it this way, if something draws 500 mA of current at 12 Volts, that's a 6 W device. Pretty typical. So that 6 W at 100 Volts turns into 0.06 Amps. So it barely loads your circuit.

Plus you want the power strip for your AV equipment as that protects the equipment from power surges. The powerline adapters have surge protectors built into them so they are OK to plug in directly.

As for the Vudu and wireless: Vudu is always listening to customer input. I am sure they know that people want a wireless solution.

[HeadHodge]

Re: Vudu almost here - need some preperation help

Guess what - they are connected together. So even if you "split" the load between them, it's the same wire that carries that load.

Oh yea right.... The next thing you'll tell us is that the refrigerator light goes off when you close the door!!

[Nded]

Re: Vudu almost here - need some preperation help

...snip...What does the same phase mean? Would that mean that I shouldnt have a problem? (I'm not hip to electrical terms)

I am going to paint a picture of "phase" for you with a very wide brush - folks who speak electricitese try not to be overly critical of this simplified version.

Typical US electrical service comes into your home on 2 hot wires (~110V each) and is desperately seeking a neutral/ground to escape. If you have any 220V devices (AC, Ovens, cool Tools), they need to connect to both 110's to get service. All of your regular 110V outlets are only connected to one of the hots. These 2 hot wires are on opposite cycles or "phases". If you look at your circuit breaker box you will find that the circuits on the left side are on one phase, while the circuits on the right side are on the other phase. When the electric wave of one is "high", the wave of the other is "low". When you use things like X-10, Telephone over AC, and I'm assuming ethernet over AC, they need typcially need to be on the same "phase" to see each other. For X-10 users there is a bridge device that will allow your signals to cross over to the other phase.

I hope this helped, but I may have just muddied the waters in your mind.

[NA9D]

Re: Vudu almost here - need some preperation help

Damn, Ed! You explained phase good!