Linksys has no plans to add H.264 support to discontinued Extenders

As soon as we heard the official word that Linksys had discontinued the DMA2100 and DMA2200 Extenders for Media Center, we though to ourselves, there goes any hope of a firmware update. But just to be sure we sent a quick email to see if there was any chance H.264 support would be added. As you might expect, when we asked if Linksys would release an update, the answer was "no they will not." Depending on where you live and what provider you have, this could be a big deal. Currently in the UK, no H.264 means no BBC HD, but eventually here in the US it will means no hope of HD from DISH Network or DirecTV. This also excludes those who want to use a Hauppauge HD PVR as well as anyone who has an HD camcorder that uses the codec. We have to say we're very disappointed with the support level from Linksys, even if it is an end-of-life product. We suppose it could be argued that we shouldn't expect new features on a dead product, but I doubt many who need H.264 would agree that this is anything but an update that ensures the device continues to perform its initially intended task.

[(Unverified) Posted May 20th 2009 4:12PM]

Man, I want to cry so badly but I can't get a tear to form.. Oh well.

[The Fuzz 53 Posted May 20th 2009 4:16PM]

At least the TV I have my 2200 connected to is a good 'ole 36" CRT SDTV. I'm still holding out for being able to connect Directv HD to my Media Center PC. Why oh why did they kill the HDPC-20?

[FNG Posted May 20th 2009 4:28PM]

the killed it because $5 per box is a lot of money they would lose if we could just add another extender... sonsabitches!

[The Fuzz 53 Posted May 21st 2009 9:25AM]

But really, how many people actually know or would care the thing existed? I'm already not paying them for DVR service and using media center, even though it's SD, so just let me have an HD tuner to make my experience better and really make sure I don't jump ship to cable.

[(Unverified) Posted May 20th 2009 4:40PM]

Why would a firmware update for H.264 even be possible? To do it quickly requires custom silicon - in the form of a GPU, or a 2.8ghz+ core2duo!

So, it was never going to support HD H.264 anyways.

[(Unverified) Posted May 20th 2009 4:47PM]

at least open source the firmware/OS on this thing.... if linksys doesn't want to support it, then let the community!

[(Unverified) Posted May 20th 2009 6:08PM]

getting happier every day about sage and the hd200

[Alton Posted May 20th 2009 7:10PM]

@jason It already supports h264, just not in live tv playback.

[SanFranSoxFan04 Posted May 20th 2009 6:34PM]

>>Why oh why did they kill the HDPC-20?

Why manufacture and support yet another device with limited functionality. It would be easier to offer a software solution instead that talked to their existing HR-21 or whatever receivers? Think the DirecTV2PC app but support for LiveTV, Guide Browsing, DVR functions but inside Media Center instead of the DirecTV2PC app. This means existing customers don't need any new hardware, and you have redundancy in your system, should your Media Center crash, you have the HR21 to fall back on. This is one of the problems with CableCard, those who replaced their Cable Co provided DVRs with CableCard would be unable to watch TV should their Media Center or tuner fail.

I don't know what's going on with DirecTV but I hope they ditched the HDPC-20 in favor of a software solution, which it appears from photos is the way that DISH network is going with their Win7 Media Center integration.

[(Unverified) Posted May 21st 2009 4:08AM]

Yes it happily plays H264 files but in a AVI container but not in a WTC container, boycott all Linksys products, as hardware will run this just Linksys are not commited to customersw.

[(Unverified) Posted May 21st 2009 8:31AM]

Why is anyone surprised about this? I don't think the board inside the Linksys can even handle h264.

[BenD Posted May 21st 2009 8:32AM]

Brent,
Actually it does. The DMA2100 uses the same Sigma 8622 chip that is in the HP Media Smart Connect and DSM-750, both of which support H.264 outside of Media Center.

http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/archive/2008/07/01/1638992.aspx

[bushi Posted May 21st 2009 2:29PM]

This is totally typical with the extenders from the start. No forward comparability or real updates. Yet they wonder why the line died off with barely a blip. Frankly the MS extender strategy has been crap from that get which is to bad because home home DVR functions are finally coming main stream and they could have had a 5 year head start if they would have stopped gauging their partners and all but forcing them to put out cripple ware while trying to suck up to the IP owners.
Classic Tivo, you can only bring one girl to the dance, yet all these companies jilt the consumers the second they think they can get some of that high maintenance loving from the IP overlords.

[(Unverified) Posted May 22nd 2009 10:06AM]

The "HD Camcorder" comment doesn't really apply. I can play videos recorded on my AVCHD Canon HG10 camcorder just fine on my DMA2100. It took a little tweaking to see the videos, but plays wonderfully.

[(Unverified) Posted May 22nd 2009 10:41PM]

I agree that it is entirely reasonable to expect Linksys to have supported this product through Win7/WTV including h264. I purchased it at full retail as soon as it was released in New Zealand which was only ~16 months ago! The device was advertised as supporting H.264 and it seems to work OK with HD in this format including pause/skips/FF/FR etc - just not in the WTV container. I think Linksys should support the device to perform its intended task through Microsoft updates for more than 16 months. If this is not possible for some technical reason then they should at least have the courtesy of explaining this to their customers. Linksys are completely arrogant in the way they ignore and treat their customers. As far as I can tell they never even follow discussion on their own "Community Forum Board" for these devices.

[frankinla Posted May 24th 2009 11:48AM]

I wouldn't worry... new extenders on the way, look here!

http://www.sigmadesigns.com/public/Products/SMP8630/pdf_files/MCX-8634_br.pdf