Mede8er Firmware V1.2.2 Feedback

[StoneColdCrazy]

Thanks for the quick response, Insomniac. I will follow your advice and upgrade to v1.2.2.

Maybe a little remark on the manual. It is kind of global on some topics. When I started to use the Mede8ter I couldn't get any picture on my LCD tv. Finally I figured out that I could get visual on my tv using composite cables. Then I had to set the settings to 1080P 60Hz and suddenly I could use the Mede8er via HDMI cable.

I am pretty familiar with all kinds of technical products, but I can imagine some non-technical customers would really struggle with an issue like this. On the whole the manual provided me enough info, but then again non-technical customers will have more trouble understanding some chapters.

I already was a very happy person, but since my Mede8er lives with me I am even happier. And my wife likes it too, that counts for something ;-) !

SCC

[Insomniac]

The wife-friendliness-factor is very important...
I even let her hold the remote sometimes...


There is a TVOUT button on the front panel of the unit - pressing this cycles through the various video outputs. The same is true for the TVSYS button on the remote.
If you see no Mede8er GUI on your screen then start pressing either one of these buttons with about a 2 second pause in-between until something shows up...

Thanks for the feedback on the manual - sometimes you get too close to a project and expect people to be on the same page as you - you forget that they haven't travelled the entire development journey...

(I also thought real men didn't read manuals... it's kind of like asking for directions... )

The ideal status would be to make the GUI so user-friendly and intuitive that a manual would be superfluous. Perhaps that's asking too much though - I've been exposed to some real dim bulbs in my life...

[StoneColdCrazy]

I hadn't tried the TVOUT and TVSYS buttons yet, but I'll certainly use them in the future.

Did I say I read the manual ... you must have mistaken me for someone else  ...

One more question about the TV settings. I disconnected the Mede8er from the TV and connected it to my pc via USB-slave. Copied some video files and disconnected it again. When I reconnected the Mede8er to my TV it had forgotten the TV settings. They were back to NTSC and suddenly the screen was 16:11.

The strange thing is that I didn't have that option before. I was on 16:9 and strange enough I don't have that setting anymore. I only have 16:11, 4:3 Panbox and 4:3 Letterbox. It runs on 16:11 now and I have changed NTSC to 1080P 60Hz. When I shut the machine down and start up again it does keep these settings, but I still don't have the 16:9 option which I had before.

I haven't upgrade the firmware yet. I am on v1.2.1.

Three separate questions:
- It seems that Internet Radio doesn't work. When I select it from the menu it starts downloading stations. It says downloading is succesful, but after that it doesn't matter which option I choose, in every scenario the Mede8er goes black and the TV says 'no signal'. After 2 or 3 seconds the main menu reappears.
- When should I use the 1080P 24Hz option?
- How can I shut down the system completely? If I use the remote it shuts down, but the red light stays on. Is the system completely off or is it in some sort of standby?

I hope you can help me out with the above.

[Insomniac]

One more question about the TV settings. I disconnected the Mede8er from the TV and connected it to my pc via USB-slave. Copied some video files and disconnected it again. When I reconnected the Mede8er to my TV it had forgotten the TV settings. They were back to NTSC and suddenly the screen was 16:11.

The strange thing is that I didn't have that option before. I was on 16:9 and strange enough I don't have that setting anymore. I only have 16:11, 4:3 Panbox and 4:3 Letterbox. It runs on 16:11 now and I have changed NTSC to 1080P 60Hz. When I shut the machine down and start up again it does keep these settings, but I still don't have the 16:9 option which I had before.

What cable were you using and what is the make & model of your TV? I've never seen 16:11 before?? Again the v1.2.3 firmware includes some new SDK code that corrects certain HDMI handshake issues.
Try switching the Mede8er on before you turn on the TV.

Three separate questions:
- It seems that Internet Radio doesn't work. When I select it from the menu it starts downloading stations. It says downloading is succesful, but after that it doesn't matter which option I choose, in every scenario the Mede8er goes black and the TV says 'no signal'. After 2 or 3 seconds the main menu reappears.

The internet radio is not functioning at present as the SHOUTcast server was changed from the host side. The configuration can only be updated on the Mede8er by means of a firmware upgrade at this point. We are busy beta testing the 1.2.3 firmware upgrade at present and testers have reported that internet radio is working fine again on the beta (with an additional search feature). The fix is therefore dependent on the updated firmware release.
Please bear with us as we finalise the testing - hopefully we'll have a final release early this week.

- When should I use the 1080P 24Hz option?

This is best answered the long way, so here goes:
o This setting is effective only when HDMI has been selected as your video output in the SETUP.
o Use of this setting is only applicable when the TV is connected to the system using an HDMI cable - adjust the setting to match the TV in use.
o The TV or A/V receiver (amplifier) that is being used must support 1080p 24frames/second video mode. For details, refer to the instructions for the device in use. (another manual )
o The media file in use must also support 1080p 24fps video mode. Generally movie files that use 1080p 24fps resolution are BluRay rips in either M2TS or BD-ISO format.
o If the movie does not display correctly when this option is selected, then set it to Off.

Note: That really shouldn't read '24Hz'... it refers to 24 frames per second.

- How can I shut down the system completely? If I use the remote it shuts down, but the red light stays on. Is the system completely off or is it in some sort of standby?

While the red light is on the system is in standby mode.
You can perform a 'hard-off' by holding in the power button on the front panel for 5 seconds - this must be performed from an 'ON' condition. Note that the remote will then not work to bring the unit out of standby - you'll need to use the front-panel button again to switch it on.

[Maasbommel]

While the red light is on the system is in standby mode.
You can perform a 'hard-off' by holding in the power button on the front panel for 5 seconds - this must be performed from an 'ON' condition. Note that the remote will then not work to bring the unit out of standby - you'll need to use the front-panel button again to switch it on.

 
Thanks Insomniac! Didn't found that feature yet.
This is easier then unplugging the powerplug from the wall

[Ormbett]

o The media file in use must also support 1080p 24fps video mode. Generally movie files that use 1080p 24fps resolution are BluRay rips in either M2TS or BD-ISO format.

and MKV:s?

You can perform a 'hard-off' by holding in the power button on the front panel for 5 seconds - this must be performed from an 'ON' condition. Note that the remote will then not work to bring the unit out of standby - you'll need to use the front-panel button again to switch it on.

Very nice and useful (undocumented ) feature if you want to minimize power consumption!

Kind regards
Ormbett

[Insomniac]

and MKV:s?

Yes - and 24fps MKVs too.

The important thing is for users to realise that it doesn't help to enable this setting if the media file is not of this frame rate - personally I'd prefer to take it out of the SETUP and have this as an automated feature that checks the frame rate of the media file and enables the 24fps feature seamlessly in the background, but then I suppose you'll have the town criers complaining "productY has this feature, why doesn't the Mede8er have it?"
Can you ever win?

[LightAds]

What does it take to be a beta tester?

[StoneColdCrazy]

I have been to busy with other stuff, so no time to respond. Sorry. But I am back now to see if the issues on my M8 can be solved. I will re-describe the situation to keep the topic clear:

I have a problem with my M8 forgetting settings. First it was multiple settings, but now it seems to only be the videosetting (resolution). It jumps to NTSC. I could try the following things (thanks Insomniac!):
   a. Use an other HDMI cable
   b. Start M8 before starting the TV (I have a feeling this will work)
When the videosetting is changed, I have to connect the composite cables to get visual. Insomniac adviced to use the TVOUT or TVSYS button. I used the latter and that did nothing. I will:
   c. Try the TV OUT button on the front panel.

I will upgrade to v1.2.2.a (still on v1.2.2) and perform actions above. I will report somewhere this week or the next what my findings are. Thanks for the help so far.

[Insomniac]

I have witnessed this myself on a new Sony Bravia LCD - this issue you are describing is most certainly related to HDMI handshake as I have tested a beta firmware which includes the new SDK on the same TV and this has resolved.
V1.2.2a will not resolve this particular issue as it does not include the new SDK.

[StoneColdCrazy]

Insomniac, thanks for the response. I thought it was something like that. I also experienced this issue when I connected the M8 to my TV after having connected it to my pc. I will wait for the new firmware release and see if that solves the issue.

[supacoopa]

Personally I'd prefer to take it out of the SETUP and have this as an automated feature that checks the frame rate of the media file and enables the 24fps feature seamlessly in the background

I think you should do that, or better still you could keep the "1080 p / 24Hz " option in the menu but add the "Auto" option you describe above, besides "On" and "Off"

I believe flawless 24fps compatibility is a "deal or no deal" subject for most people interested in HD content playback nowadays