MA XIMUMPC JUNE 200 5
Linksys WMCE54AG Media Center Extender
Like all Media Center Extenders, Linksys’ WMCE54AG is nothing
more than a terminal for your Media Center Edition 2005 PC
(note that you must have a MCE2005 machine on your network
for an Extender to work). The WMCE54AG includes some kick-ass
features, but also has some signifi cant shortcomings, which
makes it diffi cult to categorize.
MCE2005 users will feel immediately familiar
with the Extender’s interface, which is virtually
identical to MCE2005’s. And we can’t imagine
anyone not being impressed with WMCE54AG’s
ability to stream live TV over your wired or
wireless network. It’s the only streaming box we’ve
ever tested that can take over a TV tuner on your server. That’s
pretty nifty, especially when you consider that you can connect
up to fi ve of these puppies to one MCE2005 box.
The Extender’s Achilles’ heel is its format support. It streams
only MPEG-2 and WMV formats; none of the other MPEG-4-based
formats are supported. Folks who have encoded their movie
collections using Divx or Xvid are plum outta luck, and utilities
that encode commercial DVDs to the Windows media format are
nonexistent. Image quality is good for the videos the Extender
can stream, but that can’t begin to make up for piss-poor format
support.The only conceivable reason to buy the Extender over another
non-MCE device is the ability to stream live TV.MA XIMUMPC VERDICT 5
$250, http://www.linksys.comWere it not for a lack of MPEG-4
support, the Linksys Media Center
Extender would be a strong candidate
for top-honors in the streaming media
category.1. Multiple Measures
You can’t easily rejoin a cable once you’ve cut it. Measure the
distance for all your cable runs more than once. Add a few
extra feet, and leave the excess cable coiled inside the attic or
basement at the termination point. Even better, leave the cable
connected to the spool at one end until you’ve completed the
run.- Know What You’re Dealing With
The walls and ceilings in older homes are built using lath and
plaster, instead of gypsum wallboard. Take care when drilling
into or hammering this type of construction, lest you knock
loose chunks of structure. - Keep It Cool
The species of wood used in some older homes is much denser
than that used in newer construction. Our drill bit became so
hot from the effort that it broke apart, leaving a large piece
embedded in the fl oor. Lesson: Let your drill bit cool down
periodically, and also consider buying a spare drill bit. Breaking
your bit halfway through the project will ruin your day.
4. Reduce Cable Clutter
We fi nd that it reduces clutter if we feed cable from the
termination points back to the central switch location, as
opposed to stuffi ng a bundle of cables up into the attic or down
into the basement.
5. Avoid Bandwidth Constraint
Wi-Fi networks have their advantages, but bandwidth isn’t one
of them. A wireless network can carry only one video stream, so
make sure you run Cat5e cable into any locations where you’ll
want to stream video.
6. Keep Your Distance
Don’t run Cat5e cable alongside electrical cable. Phone lines are
OK, but electrical circuits can interfere with data transmission. If
you must cross an electrical cable, do so at a 90-degree angle.
7. Add More Ethernet Easily
If you need more Ethernet ports in an already wired room, you
can add more by using an inexpensive switch. Just plug it in
and go!
PITFALLS—AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
Learning from other people’s mistakes is a lot more fun than making your own
BUY^ THE PERFECT STREAMING BOX