( 69 reviews )
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( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: 07-31-2009
I have owned a DSM-520 for 2 years now. It's an excellent device but most of the reviews here come from a misunderstanding of what is slow and how to use it. First, be sure to update the firmware on the device to the latest level which can be done online or through the USB port. Second, the included server software that loads on a PC is inferior and responsible for the lockups and pausing. Consider using WMP11 or for a truly superior performance buy a copy of TwonkyMedia server which I have run on Windows, Ubuntu, and a Linksys NSLU2 with no problems and never a lockup. The NSLU2 would have to have it's firmware flashed to "UnSlung" Linux V6.x but there is plenty of documentation online to do that if you are technical. The beauty of the NSLU2 is having a passively cooled, 5 volt server that fits in the palm of your hand and runs with an external USB drive 24x7 flawlessly. Regarding the comments on HD video content I can tell you I have hosted HD content with no streaming problems on my PC's and on my NSLU2. The HUGE caveat is you must either use the wired connection or use a Wireless N bridge to handle the required bandwidth. I have recorded HD content on Windows Media Center and saved the files back to the NSLU2 and the DSM-520 plays them flawlessly. I use a Dlink DAP-1522 as a Wireless Access point which I set to Wireless N Only mode on my infrastructure. I then use a second Dlink DAP-1522 as a Bridge on my home theatre. The DAP-1522 Bridge has four wired ports and hosts my DSM-520, a PC on my home theatre, My HD-DVD player ethernet port, and my U-Verse DVR. The NSLU2 is only a 200Mhz processor but it is running a very lean Linux configuration and so performance is not an issue. Persons running Windows even on 2Ghz single core systems may suffer performance issues if much else is going on. Be aware that the main performance bottlenecks on the DSM-520 tend to be either the server software running on the PC or the network connection. I highly advise not using the built in Wireless G. The fast forward and rewind functions are VERY lacking as noted by other reviewers but stopping a video and playing back later from the stopping point work very well if the server you are using is performing. Consider using an older lower end PC loaded with Ubuntu and TwonkyMedia as an alternative to running WMP11 and certainly ignore the server software packaged with the DSM-520 and I promise you will be much happier.
