Release notes for the Media Center Extender for Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (883352)

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General

• When you try to watch premium TV channel content that has copy protection enabled, you may receive a full-screen error message that is similar to the following message:
  Restricted Content - The video playback devices does not support playback of restricted content.
  A software update that will let you view copy-protected TV content on an Extender device will be available by the end of 2004.
• When you start the Extender, it may seem to stop responding when you receive the following message: Connecting to Media Center PC. If your Media Center PC is within 10 days of the grace period for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 activation, you may experience this behavior. After you activate Windows XP Media Center by using a valid Product Key, you may have to restart your computer. Additionally, you may have to turn off the Extender and then turn it back on.
• If you press MUTE on the remote during TV playback, Closed Captioning may not appear on the TV screen even if Windows XP Media Center is configured to display Closed Captioning when the audio is muted. This issue may occur if either of the following conditions is true:
  • Closed Captioning is not enabled on the TV set. To enable Closed Captioning, see the user's manual for the TV.
  • You are using a component video output cable to connect the Extender to your TV. The Extender does not currently support Closed Captioning through component video output. To see Closed Captioning when you are using the Extender, connect the Extender to the TV by using either an S-video cable or a composite video output cable.
• When you try to play unsupported video formats, you do not receive a warning message in a dialog box. Instead, you receive the following error message in the Preview thumbnail:
  Cannot play Video
• When you try the play a Windows Media Video (WMV) video that contains a Windows Media Audio Professional (WMA Pro) audio track, you receive the following error message:
  Cannot Play Program - The channel may not be supported. If you cannot tune to any other channel, restart Media Center and/or restart the computer, and then try again.
  The Extender does not currently support playback of WMV video content with WMA Pro audio.
  
  You can use Microsoft Windows Media Encoder to re-encode affected videos to the WMV 9 format with WMA Pro 9 audio. This format will play correctly on the Extender. To obtain Windows Media Encoder, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/default.mspx

• 22-kilohertz (kHz) mono MP3 audio files may play at a speed that is double the expected speed. The Extender does not support playback of 22-kHz mono MP3 files. You can use Windows Media Encoder to re-encode the audio files into a supported WMA format with an audio sample rate of 32 kHz or more. To obtain Windows Media Encoder, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/default.mspx

• During playback of some WMV video files, the video may freeze when you press SKIP or REPLAY on the remote. To work around this issue, press STOP on the remote, and then select Resume to let the video continue playback.
• With some poorly encoded MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 videos, the screen may turn black during playback. To work around this issue, you can use Windows Media Encoder to re-encode the affected MPEG videos into the WMV format. These videos will play correctly on the Extender. To obtain Windows Media Encoder, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/default.mspx

Networking

• Poor wireless networking performance may be caused by using wireless equipment that is not Designed for Media Center Edition (DfMCE) logo certified. To ensure compatibility with current gear while providing additional uninterrupted bandwidth for the Extender, replace an older 802.11g-only router with a newer dual-band 802.11g and 802.11a router that is DfMCE certified. The Extender can connect to either an 802.11g or an 802.11a router. Optimal performance can be achieved when the Extender connects by using an 802.11a router. Other wireless devices, such as portable computers or desktop computers, connect by using an 802.11g router.
• Connection failures can occur if Extender devices are connected to the Media Center PC through a D-Link DI-784 wireless access point or through a router with Dynamic Turbo mode turned on. Extender devices currently do not support Dynamic Turbo mode. You can turn off this mode by using the D-Link router administration page. Contact the router manufacturer if you need help.
• When you are watching a TV show or playing back a video, frame drop or "choppiness" may occur. This issue occurs if proprietary speed boosting modes--such as SuperA, SuperG, or Turbo--are enabled on the wireless access point. To prevent this issue, disable these proprietary modes on the wireless access point. To do this, see the manufacturer's documentation.
• Video playback on an Extender may appear choppy on an 802.11g wireless network. This issue occurs if slower 802.11b devices are connected to the same wireless network or if other devices interfere with the signal. These devices can include cordless phones, microwave ovens, or a nearby neighbor's 802.11b devices. Try to remove the 802.11b devices from the wireless network. Or, to minimize this effect, use a wired Ethernet network to connect the Extender.
• Connection failures can occur when you start TV playback if your Extender devices are connected to the Media Center PC through a D-link DI-774 wireless router. This is a known issue with earlier versions of the firmware that is used in the DI-774 wireless router. To minimize this issue, contact the router manufacturer for help with downloading and installing the latest firmware revision for the wireless router.
• The Extender may not work correctly if you configure a firewall after you install the Extender. The firewall may close ports that the Extender must have open. If a firewall is configured before you set up the Extender, the Extender Setup program detects it. Then, Setup helps you configure the firewall. If you configure a firewall after you set up the Extender, you must manually configure the firewall to open the following ports:
  • 3776
  • 3390
  • 5555
  • 7777
• You may receive the following error message on the Extender when you work with earlier network card device drivers:
  Network Congestion - There is not enough network bandwidth to provide a good TV experience. For more information, see Help. Would you like to watch TV anyway?
  Contact the system manufacturer for help with downloading and installing the latest network card driver to minimize this issue.

Technical support for Media Center

Because Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition was included with your hardware device or system, the hardware manufacturer provides technical support and assistance for this software. Your manufacturer may have customized the installation with unique components such as specific device drivers and optional settings to maximize the performance of that manufacturer's hardware. If you require technical help with Windows XP Media Center Edition, contact your manufacturer directly because the manufacturer is best qualified to support the software that the manufacturer has installed on the hardware.

You can also visit the Windows XP Media Center Edition product information Web site at the following Microsoft Web site: The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.