Question 1

Can the extender watch the same live TV tuner channel as the main PC running WMC - that is can they both watch the same channel at the same time from the same tuner?

Accepted Answer

I don't know About watching the same channel as the pc.  I have a 4 tuner TV card and you can watch any channel that you have available on Windows Media Center.  It is like having windows media center on the Television.

Question 2

I assume you can have as many Echo's as is many tuners.  Is this a correct assumption?

I have a Ceton InfiniTV 6 PCIe.

Accepted Answer

My answer is I assume so.the problem comes in I don't know what will happen if you are taping 3 programs and 4 people want to watch tv. I don't know who gets priority.???

If you have Verizon Fios they have a system that has 12 tuners in it and you need a mini STB for each tv. works great.

I still use my Ceton

Question 3

Can I this to pull a signal directly from a SiliconDust HDHomerun Prime,  Can I us this to change channels?

Accepted Answer

Directly no. You would need to configure your tuner in Windows Media Center first. Then the Ceton Echo working as a Media Center Extender will be able to interact with the tuner over the network.

You can watch live TV like you would normally with the ability to type in a channel number or use the channel up/down selection. You can also then watch recorded TV or other media available on your Windows Media Center PC via the Echo as though you were in front of the PC. These functions are the same no matter what Windows Media Center Extender you go with.

I see the HDHomrun Prime is a network tuner. One consideration to look at is if your network can handle the traffic. The PC will need to be able to handle simultaneous network traffic from both the network tuner and the Echo(s) sending HDTV. I run gigabit and have not had any issues but I do not have a network tuner. I run dual InfiniTV4 and several WMC Extenders, though if I did it over I could probably get away with a single InfiniTV 6.

Question 4

I'm considering this or an XBox 360 for a TV that's mounted on the wall.  I have an XBOX 360 but it seems to need line of sight for it to function correctly.  I'd like to put this unit up behind the TV so it is not visible from in front of the TV.  Is this realistic or will the remote signal not pass through the TV rendering it useless?

Accepted Answer

I'm on my mobile so I can't check to see if this has been answered yet, but it's IR and would be useless behind your TV.
With the wireless AC standard, why isn't there a Echo 2 that's wireless yet? I got 1 echo and 2 xboxes because the xboxes work better. Better picture quality, streams better, and easier to setup. You may as well run the HDMI cord behind your TV than the RJ45 you'd need for the Echo.

Question 5

Does this work with Windows 8?

Accepted Answer

Windows 8 does not support non-Microsoft extenders, including the Ceton Echo

If you go ceton website, and look under echo, you will see that statement

Question 6

How slow is this extender? I have read that it's a bit laggy.  What has your experience been like?

Accepted Answer

Slowness isn't the issue. My biggest  problem is the remote. You need close sniper aim for the remote work. I have gotten around this by using the smart phone app. That works well.

TV and play back quality is good as well.  I have 5 in my house and had all 5 playing HS hockey from a media center PC with no issue.

I wish it played netflix or had chrome cast type functions and a better remote. :)

Question 7

If I install the InfiniTV6 to a host computer running WMC and 4 Ceton echo devices on 4 different TV's, will each TV be able to watch a different channel at the same time?  How do you assign each Ceton Echo to a specific tuner - is this done in WMC?

Accepted Answer

It will tune in one each extender to one per channel. Meaning if u have 4 running then your gonna use 4 channels.. But keep in mind your computer is gonna use a channel for the main display and whatever you have recorded as well..
Personally I didn't like the entender.!! Remote is horrible and you can not stream your DVD movies through it at all..!!! Look in getting a second card 6 tuner and use the network tunner option.. Yea u would have to a computer for each tv..?? But then u can have a tuner for each tv plus all ur movies better than extender :) hope I helped.!!

Question 8

I want to use the Echo with a HD Fury Pro converter Input HDMI to RGB for a 10 year old 65"Mitsubishi any problems ?

Accepted Answer

I use a ceton echo with the HD Fury Pro to connect to my non HDMI 32" LCD TV (720p), and it works just fine. The HD Fury Pro terminates the HDCP and keeps the echo happy. I then connect to the TV through analog component and audio cables. Once every few months (say 3 or 4), the handshaking will glitch and I have to power cycle the echo and the HD Fury, but it works well for the rest of the time. I never turn the HD Fury off but I do power cycle the TV and the echo every time I use them. I do not know if the setup is capable of more than 720p, as that is all my TV can do.

Question 9

I know the mini-USB port is to provide power for the USB power adapter, but what is the standard/regular-sized USB port for? Also, can THAT USB port work with a USB WI-FI adapter, or is it for storage only (like for a USB-stick or external adapter)?

Accepted Answer

I reckon it's used for doing firmware updates. You can also use it to plug in a keyboard and/or mouse which is useful for some folks that have a massive movie collection and this makes it easier to search a title they want.

I don't like this thing anymore since it decided for some wacky reason, not to work properly anymore. It was shady from the beginning, but now I'm fed up with it.

It's insulting to see them claim Wi-Fi just isn't fast enough to support... Um, Xbox 360 manages to do it? And the quality of the picture is ten fold better! And with the next generation of Wi-Fi, why haven't they targeted that and made an echo 2 by now that does support Wi-Fi?

I'm going to try to get it working this weekend once again, and if it still doesn't work, I'll haffta update my review on it.

Questions & Answers