The Tivo recordings played from the PC using Tivo Desktop are superior to the same Media Center recordings being piped through the Extender from the same PC. (The same PC also has Tivo Desktop installed on it allowing to play stored Tivo recordings from the PC.)Ĭomparing the Tivo versus Media Center output on the plasma screen coming from the PC, it’s no contest.

The plasma TV also has a TIVO III connected to it and the Tivo is also networked to the media center PC. (I assumed that DVD playback would be available via the Extender, which would have been a nice advantage for this type of equipment.) All other functions are available via the Extender. DVD replay on the media center PCs interface is available but not “extended” to the Extender. What surprised me about the extender was that it would not allow for DVD replay from the PC using the Extender remote and GUI on the plasma screen. The extender is CAT5 connected to the PC. The MC PC is located in one area of the house and the extender and large plasma in another area of the house.

I recently installed an extender for a 2005 version of a MS Media Center PC.

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