Netgear orporated 08200088 User Manual

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Digital Entertainer Elite Model EVA9000 User Manual

NETGEAR, Inc.

350 E. Plumeria Drive San Jose, CA 95134 USA

v1.0 September 2008 202-10374-01

Trademarks

NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo and the NETGEAR Digital Entertainer logo are registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc., in the United Sates and/or other countries. Other brand names mentioned here are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective holder(s).

September 2008

Statement of Conditions

In the interest of improving internal design, operational function, and/or reliability, NETGEAR reserves the right to make changes to the products described in this document without notice. NETGEAR does not assume any liability that may occur due to the use or application of the product(s) or circuit layout(s) described herein.

Customer Support

Refer to the Support Information card that shipped with your Digital Entertainer Elite Model EVA9000.

World Wide Web

NETGEAR maintains a World Wide Web home page that you can access at: http://www.netgear.com.

A direct connection to the Internet and a Web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape are required.

Product and Publication Details

Model Number: EVA9000

Publication Date: September 2008

Product Family: Digital Media Player

Product Name: Digital Entertainer Elite Model EVA9000

Home or Business Product:

Language: English

Publication Part Number:

Publication Version Number

Home

202-10374-01

1.0

iii

Digital Entertainer Elite Model EVA9000 User Manual

About This Manual

Audience, Conventions, Formats, and Scope xi Version History xii

Welcome to the Digital Entertainer Elite

Important Safeguards and Notices 1 What Is in the Box 1 Overview of the Digital Entertainer HD 2 Digital Entertainer Elite Front View 5 Digital Entertainer Elite Rear View 6 NETGEAR Universal Remote Control 8

Basic Setup

Connecting the Digital Entertainer Elite 13 Completing the Basic Setup Steps 16 Enabling Access to Your Media Library 19

Installing the Digital Entertainer for Windows Software 20 Giving the Digital Entertainer Elite Access to Your

Media Library 22

Getting Acquainted

Navigating with the Remote Control or from a Computer 25

Navigating with the Remote Control 25 Navigating from a Web Browser 28

Using Protected Media Files 31

Using Windows Media Player 11 32 Using iTunes for Windows 32

Using Multiple Digital Entertainer Elites 33

Listening, Viewing, and Recording

Listening to Music 35

Using the Remote Control When Music Is Playing 37 Listening to Protected Music 38

Viewing Photos 39

Using the Remote Control While Viewing Photos 40

Viewing Recorded Video 42

Watching Recorded Video 42

Using the Remote Control When Recorded Video Is Playing 43 Using the USB Connection for Pictures, Music, or Video 45 Installing and Using an Internal Disk Drive for Pictures, Music, or

Video 46

Installing an Internal Disk Drive 46

Setting Up the Internal Disk Drive 50

Drag and Drop Media Files to the Internal Disk Drive 51 Playing Internet Media 52

Viewing YouTube Content 53

Using the Remote Control When Viewing YouTube Content 54

vi Contents

Playing Internet Radio 56 Using the Remote Control When Playing Internet Radio 57

Viewing News and Weather 57 Combining Different Media Sources 58 Viewing the Status of Multiple Digital Entertainer Elites 59

Viewing Status 60

Fine-Tuning Your Experience

Improving Media Library Search Results 63

Using the Tag Tool Application 63

Adding Cover Art 66

Using the Script Wizard to Automate Tasks 68 Understanding Home Networking 70

Assessing Your Speed Requirements 71 Optimizing the Performance of Your Home Network 72

Optimizing Wireless Performance 72

Optimizing Your Network Bandwidth 74

Optimizing Media File Performance 76

Tips for Streaming Video 77 Taking Precautions 78

Access and Network Security 78

Exercising Parental Control 79

Custom Setup and Supervisor Functions

Custom Setup 83 Supervisor Functions Menu Screen 84

Advanced Settings 86

Setting Up Network Shares 91

Contents vii

Media Library Management 92

More... Settings 94

System Information 94 Setting Up Hot Keys 95

Using PC Access 95

Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Resetting to Factory Defaults 99 Updating the Firmware 100 Playing Media 100 Firewall Port Settings 101 Accessing Your Digital Media 102

Windows System Passwords 102 Macintosh OSX 102

Linux 103 Error Messages 103 Troubleshooting Tips 106 Network Connections 108

Ethernet LAN Connection 108

Troubleshooting a Wireless Network Connection 109

Wireless Range and Interference 110

Wireless Networking Tips 110

IP Address 111

Connecting to a Server 112 Unlocking the Disk Drive Tray 114

Default Settings and Technical Specifications

Default Settings 115

viii

Supported Media File Formats 116 Technical Specifications 117

Important Safeguards and Notices

Please observe these precautions, especially those regarding the risk of

electric shock or injury to persons.

To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove the cover. There are no user-serviceable parts inside. This device should be used only indoors in well-ventilated areas. To reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, or interference, do not expose this appliance to moisture or rain, and use only the recommended accessories.

Displaying static images can cause burn-in on certain displays. Do not display static images (such as menus, photos, or paused videos) onscreen for long periods of time.

What Is in the Box

The Digital Entertainer Elite comes with the following components:

• Digital Entertainer Elite Model EVA9000

• NETGEAR Universal Remote Control

• Category 5 (Cat 5) network cable

• Composite RCA-type A/V cable

• HDMI cable

• IEC power cable

• Two AA batteries

• NETGEAR Resource CD for use with Windows-based PCs and Macintosh computers

• Installation Guide

Contact your dealer to get a replacement for any missing component.

Overview of the Digital Entertainer HD

You can play media on the Digital Entertainer Elite without running media server software on your computer. The Digital Entertainer Elite can work with Windows, Macintosh, and Linux operating systems and various handheld computers. You can work with a wide variety of digital storage formats and systems. The Digital Entertainer Elite enables you to view them as a single media library that you can browse through on your television screen.

• NETGEAR Digital Entertainer for Windows software

This software provides a variety of media management tools that make it easy to access media files stored on a Windows PC. You can perform many of the same tasks on non-Windows computers using the native utilities of those systems. The NETGEAR Digital Entertainer for Windows includes the following applications:

– Configuration Wizard. This application helps configure PCs

to share media, automatically set firewall settings, and verify communications between PCs and the Digital Entertainer Elite.

2 Welcome to the Digital Entertainer Elite

– Check for Updates. This application uses your Internet

connection to check for software updates. If an update is available, you can choose to download and install it.

– Digital Entertainer. This application lets you play Internet

video on your Digital Entertainer Elite.

– Documentation. Use the NETGEAR Resource CD to view the

Installation Guide, the Universal Remote User Manual, the software Readme file, or the BitTorrent installation guide.

– Tag To ol . This application applies tags and cover art to media

files to make using your media library easier. Also used to add an MPPA or TV rating to video files for parental control restrictions.

– Script Wizard. This application lets you automate tasks. You

can create virtual playlists to play any combination of media. You could create a playlist or command to play a sequence of videos, or to view photos while playing music.

• NETGEAR Digital Entertainer for Macintosh software

This software provides a variety of media management tools that make it easy to access media files stored on a Macintosh computer.

– Configuration Assistant. This application helps configure

Macintosh computers to share media, automatically set firewall settings, and verify communications between your computer and the Digital Entertainer Elite.

– Status Check. This application displays the status of your

NETGEAR Digital Entertainer Elite. (Not yet available.)

– Remote Control. This application allows you to control your

NETGEAR Digital Entertainer Elite from your computer.

Welcome to the Digital Entertainer Elite 3

– Tag To ol . This application applies tags and cover art to media

files to make using your media library easier. Also used to add an MPPA or TV rating to video files for parental control restrictions

– NETGEAR documentation. This is a link to the website

where you can download the latest versions of the Installation

Guide, the Universal Remote User Manual, and this User Manual.

– Updater. This application checks for updates to the Digital

Entertainer Elite software.

• Multi room playback

Digital Entertainer Elites within the same home can intelligently share resources. You can have all the Digital Entertainer Elites and Digital Entertainer HDs play the same music simultaneously.

• Parental controls and monitoring

The Digital Entertainer Elite can block access to media files based on a rating you assign to the files or based on their location in your network.

4 Welcome to the Digital Entertainer Elite

Digital Entertainer Elite Front View

The front view of the of the Digital Entertainer Elite is shown in the following figure:

USB port

Power button

Figure 1

Welcome to the Digital Entertainer Elite 5

Internal Disk Drive

(Optional)

Sensor

window

Digital Entertainer Elite Rear View

The rear view of the Digital Entertainer Elite is shown in the following figure:

Wireless

antenna

(internal)

Component

video

S/PDIF coaxial (audio)

Optical

audio port

USB

port

Reset

Fan

connector

Wireless

antenna

(internal)

Power

Stereo

S-Video

SCART

HDMI

audio

Composite

video

On/Off

Ethernet port

with LEDs

Figure 2

The Digital Entertainer Elite is compatible with all cables described in the following table, though some cables are not included in the package.

Table 3. Rear Panel Description

Item Compatible Equipment and Cables

SCART port SCART television cable (not included) that is widely used

HDMI port High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable (not

in Europe and Australia.

included). If your television has an HDMI connector, you can connect only this cable.

6 Welcome to the Digital Entertainer Elite

Table 3. Rear Panel Description (continued)

Item Compatible Equipment and Cables

S/PDIF coaxial (audio) port

S-Video port S-Video cable (included) that works with most televisions

Component video ports

Composite video and stereo audio port

S/PDIF optical audio port

USB v2.0 port USB mass storage devices such as hard drives, media

10/100 Mbps Ethernet port with LEDs

Reset button Reset the Digital Entertainer Elite to its default factory

Fan Fan for cooling the optional internal hard drive. The fan

Power connector IEC Digital Entertainer Elite power cord (included). On/Off switch Turns the Digital Entertainer Elite on or off. Wireless antennas

(internal)

Sony/Phillips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) cable, also called standard RCA type coaxial cable (not included).

in the United States. Component video cable (not included).

Composite video and stereo audio cables (included), which can be used with most televisions in the United States.

Sony/Phillips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) for optical cable (not included).

players (including Windows- or Mac-formatted Apple iPods), and flash memory devices.

Cat 5 network cable (included in the package) that you can use with this port to connect the Digital Entertainer Elite to a wired local area network (LAN).

settings. To reset, press and hold the button down while the unit is powering up. The Power LED blinks to acknowledge the reset request.

operates only when a hard drive is installed.

The internal wireless antennas support IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11g, and IEEE 802.11b. Keep the internal wireless antennas clear of metallic obstructions.

Welcome to the Digital Entertainer Elite 7

The only inputs on the Digital Entertainer Elite are the USB ports and the Ethernet port.

NETGEAR Universal Remote Control

Use the NETGEAR Universal Remote to operate the Digital Entertainer Elite and up to three additional home entertainment devices.

This guide describes how to use the remote with your Digital Entertainer Elite Model EVA9000. For information about programming your remote to control other devices, see the Universal Remote User Manual.

If the Digital Entertainer Elite does not respond when you are using your remote, press the DE button on the device and try again.

Table 4. Remote Control Buttons

Button Description

Power. Turn the device on and off.

Back. Go back to the previous screen.

Navigation. Navigate the menu selections.

8 Welcome to the Digital Entertainer Elite

Table 4. Remote Control Buttons (continued)

Button Description

Home. Display the main menu.

DE. Set the device mode to control the Digital Entertainer Elite.

TV. Set the device mode to control another home entertainment

device, such as a TV, that has been programmed on the remote. DVD. Set the device mode to control another home entertainment

device, such as a DVD player, that has been programmed on the remote.

AUX. Set the device mode to control another home entertainment device, such as cable or satellite receivers, amplifiers, tuners, or other auxiliary devices, that has been programmed on the remote.

Eject. Ejects media when you are using the remote with other devices, such as a DVD player.

Play. Play or resume playing the media. This button also resumes normal play from fast wind mode.

In the media menus, Play plays the selected item and queues up the rest of the items in the order shown on the screen.

Pause. Pause the media.

Stop. Stop the media that is currently playing.

Record. Records the media that is playing.

Rewind. Rewind to the beginning of the media that is playing.

Previous. Skip back to previous item playing.

When you are navigating the menus, this button takes you directly to the first item in the list.

Welcome to the Digital Entertainer Elite 9

Table 4. Remote Control Buttons (continued)

Button Description

Fast-forward. Fast-forward the media that is playing.

Next. Skip forward to next item on the playlist.

When you are navigating the menus, this button takes you directly to the last item in the list.

Select and Play. Press OK to select a menu item or to play a single song or video.

Information. Display media information.

Vol ume. Increase or decrease volume.

Page up and Page down. This button is also used for the following:

• Scroll up or down.

• Zoom videos and photos.

• Change channels when the remote is programmed for another device, such as a TV (see the Universal Remote User Manual for more information).

Mute. Mute or unmute the sound.

Music. Display the Music menu.

If you are currently navigating music, the Music button jumps directly to top level music menu.

Video. Display the Video menu.

If you are currently navigating video, the Video button jumps directly to top level video menu.

10 Welcome to the Digital Entertainer Elite

Table 4. Remote Control Buttons (continued)

Button Description

Pics. Display the Picture menu.

If you are currently navigating pics, the Pics button jumps directly to top level pics menu.

Web. Display the Internet media menu.

Menu. Toggles to and from full screen mode during video or photo

playback. During video playback, press Menu to display the DVD main menu or the audio and subtitle options.

Caps. Toggle Caps Lock or numbers on or off.

TV Mode. Cycle between TV output modes.

Repeat. Repeat a track or media selection.

Zoom. Change the aspect ratio of videos or photos.

Enter. Enters or selects a setting or option.

Rotate. Rotate a photo or video image.

Set. Enters settings when you are configuring the NETGEAR

Universal Remote.

0–9 Use for alpha-numeric entry, choosing presets, and searching. A–D Use to assign macros that can perform multi-step operations by

CLR Clear. Clears all text from a text entry field (for example, a YouTube

pressing a single button.

search box).

For information about using these buttons with specific types of media, see “Getting Acquainted” on page 25.

Welcome to the Digital Entertainer Elite 11

12 Welcome to the Digital Entertainer Elite

Basic Setup

In the order listed, complete these three steps to set up your Digital Entertainer Elite:

1. Connect the Digital Entertainer Elite.

2. Connect to your network using the Digital Entertainer Elite Basic

Setup option.

3. Use the NETGEAR Digital Entertainer for Windows software to enable the Digital Entertainer Elite to access your media library.

For custom installations, such as using more than one Digital Entertainer Elite or working with Macintosh or Linux computers, see

“Advanced Settings” on page 86.

Connecting the Digital Entertainer Elite

To connect the Digital Entertainer Elite:

1. Connect the Digital Entertainer Elite according to the options available in your entertainment system.

Component

video

Optical

S-Video

Composite

audio port

USB port

Stereo

audio

video

Ethernet port

with LEDs

S/PDIF coaxial (audio)

SCART

HDMI

Figure 3

For example, connect the composite video cables between your entertainment system and the Digital Entertainer Elite.

If you use a digital audio/visual (A/V) receiver, NETGEAR recommends that you use an S/PDIF coaxial or an optical cable to connect it.

The quality of the picture display is related to the video format you use. If your television supports multiple formats, choose the format that provides the best picture quality. HDMI offers the best picture quality video. Component video provides the next best quality, followed by SCART, S-Video, and composite video.

2. Connect the Digital Entertainer Elite to your network.

• If you are connecting to an Ethernet LAN, connect the Digital Entertainer Elite to the LAN with an Ethernet cable.

• If you are connecting to your wireless network, configure the wireless settings of the Digital Entertainer Elite using the Basic

14 Basic Setup

Setup steps described in the following section. Be prepared to provide the wireless network name (also called SSID) and the wireless security settings for your network.

3. Turn on the television.

Turn on the television before you turn on the Digital Entertainer Elite.

4. Set the video source selector on your television to match the connection from your Digital Entertainer Elite. For example, if you used an HDMI connector, set the television to use Digital HD or HDMI input.

5. Connect the power cord to your Digital Entertainer Elite, and plug it into an outlet.

The LED on the front of the Digital Entertainer Elite lights up to show that it is powered on.

6. Install the two AA batteries into the remote control that came with the product.

7. Optimize the television display as necessary.

• If the display is not sharp, or you do not see a picture, aim the

NETGEAR remote control at the Digital Entertainer Elite, and press the TV Mode button.

Basic Setup 15

• You can cycle through the TV modes to get the best display.

It can take 5 to 10 seconds for each TV mode change. In some modes you might not see a picture on the TV. If you do not see a picture after four mode changes, check the cable connections, and verify that the TV is on and set to the correct input.

• You might be able to enhance the picture quality by selecting from additional high-definition video modes in the advanced settings.

8. When prompted, select a language, and press OK.

9. When you hear the audio welcome tune, press OK.

If you do not hear the audio welcome message, check your volume settings and the connections to the Digital Entertainer Elite.

You will now use the Basic Setup option to finish setting up your Digital Entertainer HD.

Completing the Basic Setup Steps

The Basic Setup option enables the Digital Entertainer Elite to use media files that are on Windows PCs or Macintosh computers. If you use Linux or have a complex home network, use the functions described in “Custom Setup and Supervisor Functions” on page 83.

Follow these steps for the Basic Setup option:

1. After the audio welcome message, select Basic Setup, and then press OK.

16 Basic Setup

The Digital Entertainer Elite checks for a network connection. If connected to an Ethernet network that is running DHCP (the usual case for home networks), the Digital Entertainer Elite automatically joins the network. Skip to step 3, “Connect to the Internet.”

2. Connect wirelessly (optional). If an Ethernet LAN connection is not

found, you can wirelessly connect your Digital Entertainer Elite to the network.

Select Connect Wirelessly, and then select one of the following options:

– Connect using Push 'N' Connect

If your router supports Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) push button automatic configuration, you can add the network name (SSID) and security settings automatically using the Push 'N' Connect feature. Select your network from the list, select OK, and then push the WPS button on your router. Select OK to continue. See your router documentation for more information on WPS support.

– Connect using WPS pin

If your router supports WPS pin configuration, you can use this option to manually enter a WPS pin number on your router. Select your network from the list, to generate a WPS pin number, and then enter that WPS pin number into your router's setup screen from a computer on your network. Select OK to continue. See your router documentation for more information on WPS support.

– Connect Manually

The available networks are displayed in a list sorted alphabetically. You might have to scroll to see your network. Select your network from the list, or enter the required network name (SSID) and security settings as

Basic Setup 17

needed. Select the network that provides 5 Ghz connection for maximum bandwidth, if available.

Wait for the Digital Entertainer Elite to connect to the wireless network. If the connection is successful, information about the network settings is displayed. Press OK to accept the settings.

If the Digital Entertainer Elite does not connect to your wireless network, the options screen is displayed. Check to make sure that the wireless settings for the Digital Entertainer Elite match the wireless network exactly, and then try again. See “Troubleshooting Tips” on page 106. For more information about wireless networks and wireless security, see “Wireless Networking Basics:” on

page 119.

3. Connect to the Internet.

After the Digital Entertainer Elite connects to your network, it tries to connect to the Internet. A message confirms that the Internet connection is available.

• Depending on where you bought your Digital Entertainer Elite,

you might be prompted to enter your zip code.

To receive local news and weather, enter your zip code, navigate to the OK button, and then press OK.

• If the Digital Entertainer Elite does not connect to the Internet,

use your computer to see if your Internet connection is working. The following options display on the Digital Entertainer Elite:

– Set up network configuration. Lets you view and change

network settings.

– Skip and use stand alone. Lets you use the Digital

Entertainer Elite without a network. You can play media if

18 Basic Setup

you connect a USB drive with media on it. You will not be able to use these features: Internet radio, YouTube Video, weather, or Electronic Program Guide listings.

– Try again. Test your network connection. For example,

you can use this option to check a LAN connection. First, check your cables to make sure that they are securely attached, and that the network is up and running. Then select Try again.

Upon completion of the Basic Setup steps, you are prompted to install software. Go to the computer where your media files are located, and install the software from the NETGEAR Resource CD, according to the instruction in the following section.

Enabling Access to Your Media Library

For the Digital Entertainer Elite to access your media files, you must share the media folders on your computers. Although you can manually use the Windows Sharing and Security option to share media folders, it is much easier to use the Digital Entertainer for Windows software on the NETGEAR Resource CD to do so.

Basic Setup 19

Installing the Digital Entertainer for Windows Software

Use the NETGEAR Resource CD to install the Digital Entertainer for Windows software on your Windows-based computer.

The software on the CD is designed to make installation easier. Only the Digital Entertainer Control center is added to your startup configuration, and you can close this application at any time.

To install the Digital Entertainer for Windows software:

1. Power on your computer, and log in as necessary.

2. Insert the NETGEAR Resource CD into the CD drive on the

computer.

3. The Welcome screen opens. If you do not see the Welcome screen, browse the files on your CD, and then click Setup.

4. Select Install the NETGEAR Digital Entertainer for Windows Software.

20 Basic Setup

Figure 4

5. Follow the Setup Wizard steps to accept the license and install the

software.

6. When the Setup Wizard finishes, click Configure to use the

Configuration Wizard.

Figure 5

Basic Setup 21

Giving the Digital Entertainer Elite Access to Your Media Library

Use the Configuration Wizard to share media files with the Digital Entertainer Elite. The Digital Entertainer Elite can access media files in more than one location at the same time. Use the Configuration Wizard to configure shared access to media files on the PC where you have them stored. The Digital Entertainer Elite performs a full scan of your network to combine the data into a media library.

To use the Configuration Wizard:

1. Click Next to begin. The Configuration Wizard displays.

The wizard prompts you to select media folders to be shared. This allows the Digital Entertainer Elite to access these files.

Figure 6

2. Browse and select the folders that you want to use, and then click Next.

22 Basic Setup

The wizard displays the following screen when it is ready to configure your Digital Entertainer Elite.

Figure 7

If the wizard is unable to connect to your Digital Entertainer Elite, disable any third-party firewall or security software such as those from Symantec or McAfee. For more information, see “Firewall Port

Settings” on page 101.

3. Select whether or not you want to create photo thumbnails, and then

click Next.

4. When you see a message confirming that the configuration is done,

go to your television.

Depending on the media files you have, the initial full scan might take some time to complete.

Basic Setup 23

You are finished with the installation and can play media on your Digital Entertainer Elite.

24 Basic Setup

Getting Acquainted

Now that the basic setup is complete, use the topics in this chapter to guide you through getting acquainted with your Digital Entertainer Elite.

Navigating with the Remote Control or from a Computer

The Digital Entertainer Elite lets you use either the remote control or a Web browser on a computer to navigate to your shared media files and select the ones that you want to play.

Navigating with the Remote Control

To go to the main menu, press Home on the remote control.

While you are viewing a slideshow or video, you can use the Home key to show and hide the main menu.

If the Digital Entertainer Elite does not respond when using your remote, press the DE button on the device and try again.

The main menu offers these selections:

• Video. Watch Internet or recorded video.

• Photos. View photos.

• Music. Listen to music files or Internet radio.

• Internet Media. Watch YouTube, browse Internet radio stations, or remove or add a station. See “Playing Internet Media” on page 52.

• PC Access. Access your PC remotely to check e-mail or browse the web from your TV.

Do not use the PC Access feature to stream Internet video while browsing the Internet. This feature is intended for lower bandwidth tasks such as Web browsing and email.

• News/Weather. View news and weather. Weather is available only in the United States. To receive local weather you must enter your zip code. You can enter your zip code during installation or through local settings. See “Viewing News and Weather” on page 57.

• More. View or work with system functions. See “Custom Setup

and Supervisor Functions” on page 83.”

Using the Remote Control

The following table describes how to use the remote control to navigate, depending on what task the Digital Entertainer Elite is performing. For a complete list of all remote control buttons, see “NETGEAR Universal

Remote Control” on page 8.

26 Getting Acquainted

Table 5. Using the Remote Control

Button

0–9 If you set up hot

From the Main Menu

Go back to the previous screen.

Move the selector up or down.

Select the highlighted item.

Hide menus if video or photos are playing.

Move the selector one screen up or down.

keys, you can use them to play media. See “More...

Settings” on page 94.

When Browsing Music, Videos, or Photos

Go back to the previous screen.

Move the selector up or down.

Select the highlighted item.

Go to Home / main menu.

Move the selector one screen up or down.

Find entries that contain the letters or numbers entered.

In an Edit FIeld

• Go to the previous or next field.

• Left arrow erases 1 character.

• Right arrow goes to the next field or button on a screen.

Edit the selected item.

Cancel the edit and jump to the main menu.

Enter characters into the edit field.

Getting Acquainted 27

Tips When Using the Remote Control

Here are some tips to help you quickly locate media files.

• You can combine categories to narrow your search. For example, you can browse by genre and then by rating to get to R-rated action movies.

• Some audio or video files might be stored without information in some fields, such as album or genre. If this is the case, these tracks are listed in a category called Unknown. You can use the Tag Tool to fix these. See “Using the Tag Tool Application” on page 63.

• You can enter letters contained in a title to quickly find a media file by name when browsing. For example, enter EYE to find both Goldeneye and For your Eyes Only.

To enter letters, tap the number button to get the letters that you want. For example, tap 6 twice to change from M to N.

Navigating from a Web Browser

You can access the Digital Entertainer Elite with any browser that supports HTML 3.2, including browsers on PCs and on most PDAs.

Cookies must be enabled for the browser menus to work properly.

From a browser, you can use the same menus displayed on the television. The browser interface works like the television menus in most instances. A few functions are available only through the browser interface.

28 Getting Acquainted

The browser interface makes it easy to set up your favorite Internet radio stations that are not on the Digital Entertainer’s top 500 list, to add RSS news feeds, and to configure complex network settings.

Using the Browser Interface

The browser interface screen is shown in the following figure:

Shuttle control buttons

Open remote control screen

Navigation links

Shortcut buttons

Select a room to control

Figure 8

To access the browser interface, do one of the following:

• Right-click the Digital Entertainer for Windows task bar icon, and

select the room name of the Digital Entertainer Elite that you want to access.

Getting Acquainted 29

• Set your browser to the IP address of the Digital Entertainer Elite that you want to configure. To view the IP address, press Home and select More > Supervisor > System Information.

To change which room you are controlling, click the room name. A list of available rooms displays.

Playing Media from the Browser Interface

To start playing something, click a menu entry. For example, click Music to browse to the music you want to play, and then select a song. When media playback starts, the browser opens the remote control screen shown in the following figure.

Figure 9

You can also click the Remote Control icon in the PC Browser Interface to open the remote control screen.

30 Getting Acquainted

The buttons on this screen correspond to the Digital Entertainer Elite remote control. Click them to send commands to the Digital Entertainer Elite. For example, click Volu m e U p to increase the volume in the selected room.

See “Supported Media File Formats” on page 116 for a Web address for the list of supported formats.

Using Protected Media Files

You can play most media files that are protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM) on a Digital Entertainer Elite by selecting the Enable UPnP Media Sharing in the Configuration Wizard.

Figure 10

Getting Acquainted 31

Alternatively, you can use:

• Windows Media Player Version 11

• iTunes for Windows

Using Windows Media Player 11

Media files bought or downloaded from online services such as Napster, MSN Music, MovieLink, and others are usually protected by Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM). They can be played only from a PC using Windows Media Player Media Sharing. Other thirdparty media servers do not work with these files.

The Configuration Wizard makes setting up Windows Media Sharing easy. Once you’ve installed Windows Media Player 11, use the Configuration Wizard to share your protected media with the Digital Entertainer HD. Windows Media Player Version 11 can be downloaded from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/11/

default.aspx

If you use Windows Player Media Sharing to access downloads with DRM, NETGEAR recommends that you place all your protected media files in one folder, and use Windows Media Sharing to share only that folder. Then use the Configuration Wizard to share all other folders. See

“Connecting to a Server” on page 112.

Using iTunes for Windows

You can play protected iTunes audio files by running the Digital Entertainer for Windows software on the PC on which iTunes is installed. You cannot play protected iTunes directly from a Mac. You must authorize a PC and install iTunes on the PC so that it plays songs.

32 Getting Acquainted

See “Listening to Protected Music Stored on a Mac” on page 39 for more information.

Using Multiple Digital Entertainer Elites

You can have multiple Digital Entertainer Elites on your home network. Features available for this type of installation are:

• Room name. You can use local settings to select a room name such

as Living Room for each Digital Entertainer Elite. Otherwise, they are named Digital Entertainer #1, Digital Entertainer #2, and so on, in the order in which they are installed. See “Custom Setup” on

page 83.

• Follow me. Move the programming from one room to another

(press Home, and select More > Follow me).

• Send message. Send messages from one Digital Entertainer Elite to

another.

• Monitor another Digital Entertainer Elite. To monitor what is

playing in another room, select More > Now playing, and use the left and right remote buttons to scroll between rooms.

• Whole house audio. You can have all the Digital Entertainer Elites

play the same music simultaneously. Use Follow me, and select Everywhere; or use Follow me, and add rooms one at a time.

Getting Acquainted 33

34 Getting Acquainted

Listening, Viewing, and Recording

Your Digital Entertainer Elite can play a wide variety of digital media. Also, with the addition of optional equipment and services, you can schedule and record a variety of video or audio programming.

Listening to Music

The Digital Entertainer Elite provides easy access to the music files on an optional internal hard disk, on your computer hard disks, on external hard drives connected to a computer or to the Digital Entertainer Elite, or on other storage devices on the network.

To access music files, you need the following:

• The Digital Entertainer Elite.

• Music files available on your network or on an attached USB device.

See “Listening to Protected Music” on page 38.

To listen to music:

1. Press Music on the remote, or press Home, and then select Music.

This menu offers these selections:

• Play something. Play a random selection of shared music.

To play an entire album or list of songs, highlight the first song, and press Play. The rest of the songs will be played in the order shown.

• Browse. Browse digital music such as MP3. See “Tips When

Using the Remote Control” on page 28 for tips.

• Playlists. Select and play a playlist.

Playlists should include only songs on the same server as the playlist itself, or the songs might not be identified correctly.

• Internet Radio. Browse Internet radio stations, or remove or add a station. See “Playing Internet Media” on page 52.

2. Select the music that you want to play.

The Repeat button on the remote lets you repeat a selection.

When you browse and select a song, it is added to the list of playing songs. You can select the next song while you are listening to a song. To go to a song you selected, either press Sto p before you select the song, or press Next repeatedly until you reach the song you want to hear.

To save the list of playing songs, press i on the remote, select View Playlist, and then select Save.

36 Listening, Viewing, and Recording

There might be a difference between the time displayed when you are browsing a song and the time displayed when you are listening to the song. The time embedded in the song file is shown in the browser, while the actual length of the audio file (calculated by the Digital Entertainer Elite) is shown in the Now Playing screen.

Using the Remote Control When Music Is Playing

The following table describes how the remote control works when music is playing or paused. For a complete list of all remote control buttons, see “NETGEAR Universal Remote Control” on page 8.

Table 6. Remote Control When Music Is Playing

Button When Music Is Playing When Music Is Paused

Fast-forward. Not available.

Go to the next track.

or 9

Listening, Viewing, and Recording 37

Press 9 to skip to the next item playing in a second session.

For example, if you start music first and then photos, skips to the next song, while 9 skips to the next picture.

Go to the next track and start playing.

Table 6. Remote Control When Music Is Playing (continued)

Button When Music Is Playing When Music Is Paused

Go back to the start of the current track. If already at the start of the current track, go to the previous track.

or 7

Press 7 to skip to the previous item playing in a second session.

For example, if you start music first and then photos, skips to the previous song, while 7 skips to the previous picture.

Show the Now Playing screen. Show the Now Playing

Mute. Not available.

Pauses the music. Not available.

Listening to Protected Music

You can listen to music stored on a mac or PC.

Listening to Protected Music Stored on a PC

Go back to the start of the current track. If already at the start of the current track, go to the previous track and start playing.

screen.

To play protected music stored on a PC, you need the following:

• A media player

• Windows Media Player 11

• iTunes for Windows

• The Digital Entertainer for Windows software on the same PC.

• Music files that are protected through Digital Rights Management. It is best if these protected files are stored in a single location on your network.

38 Listening, Viewing, and Recording

The protected music files must be in a shared folder to play on the Digital Entertainer Elite. For information about how to add folders containing shared music, see “Enabling Access to Your Media Library”

on page 19.

Listening to Protected Music Stored on a Mac

To listen to protected iTunes music stored on a Macintosh:

1. Use the Configuration Assistant to share your music with the

Digital Entertainer Elite.

2. Install iTunes on the PC that contains the Digital Entertainer for

Windows software.

3. The first time you try to play an iTunes song, you will be asked to

enter your iTunes password on the PC that contains the Digital Entertainer for Windows software.

Viewing Photos

The Digital Entertainer Elite finds the media files on an optional internal hard disk, on your computer’s hard disk, on other computers, on external hard drives, or on other storage devices on the network.

To view photos, you need the following:

• The Digital Entertainer Elite.

• Photo files available on your network or on an attached USB

device.

To view photos:

1. Press Pics on the remote control, or press Home, and then

select Photos.

Listening, Viewing, and Recording 39

2. Browse by title, by folder, or by year. See “Navigating with the

Remote Control” on page 25 for tips.

3. Press Play to view the selected photo and the rest of the listed photo as a slide show.

You can view photos in full screen or thumbnail mode.

• Press OK to toggle between thumbnail or full screen mode.

• Full screen mode. Cycle through the photos. These are displayed in the same size and zoom level as they were last viewed.

• Thumbnail mode. View thumbnails of several photos at a time, so you can scroll easily. In thumbnail mode, you can use Page Up and Down to change the number of thumbnails displayed.

To play music while watching a photo slideshow, press Music, and start playing a song or playlist. While the music is playing, press Home, and then select the photos that you want to view with the music in the background.

Using the Remote Control While Viewing Photos

The following table describes how to use the remote control while viewing photos. For a complete list of all remote control buttons, see

“NETGEAR Universal Remote Control” on page 8.

Table 7. Using the Remote Control to View Photos

Button Action When Viewing Photos

Speed up the slide show. The maximum speed depends on the size of the photos

Slow down the slide show.

40 Listening, Viewing, and Recording

Table 7. Using the Remote Control to View Photos (continued)

Button Action When Viewing Photos

Go to the next photo. Press 9 to skip to the next item playing in a second session.

or 9

or 7

For example, if you start photos first and then music, skips to the next picture, while 9 skips to the next song.

Go back to the previous photo. Press 7 to skip to the previous item playing in a second session.

For example, if you start photos first and then music, skips to the previous picture, while 7 skips to the previous song.

Toggle to and from thumbnail view.

Zoom in and zoom out in full screen mode. When viewing thumbnails, increase or decrease the size of thumbnails.

Zoom in or out to change the aspect ratio. The aspect ratio settings adjust the display of the photo for different types of television sets.

Select another thumbnail in thumbnail view. Pan photo in full screen view.

The Rotate button rotates a photo. For faster results, switch to thumbnail view by pressing OK; rotate the thumbnail; switch back to full photo view.

Go back to the last browser menu.

Jump to the music browser.

Listening, Viewing, and Recording 41

Table 7. Using the Remote Control to View Photos (continued)

Button Action When Viewing Photos

Jump to the video browser.

Jump to the photo browser.

Viewing Recorded Video

The Digital Entertainer Elite finds the video files on an optional internal hard disk, on your computer’s hard disk, on other computers, on external hard drives, or on other storage devices on the network.

Downloaded content from noncommercial sources might be of varying quality, and might not play back correctly.

To view recorded video files, you need the following:

• Digital Entertainer Elite.

• Video files available on your network or on an attached USB device.

Watching Recorded Video

To watch a video:

1. Turn on the television and the Digital Entertainer Elite.

2. Aim the remote control at the digital media player, and do one of

the following:

• Press Video.

42 Listening, Viewing, and Recording

• Press Home, and select Video > Recorded Video.

3. Use the Recorded Video screen to browse videos. See “Tips When

Using the Remote Control” on page 28 for more information.

4. Select the video that you want to watch.

• To change the aspect ratio of the video to match your television screen, press the Zoom button on the remote control.

• To display information about the video, press the i button on the remote control. This option is available only when a video is playing.

Play plays the selected item, and then plays the rest of the items in the order shown on the screen.

Using the Remote Control When Recorded Video Is Playing

The following table describes how to use the remote control when video is playing. For a complete list of all remote control buttons, see

“NETGEAR Universal Remote Control” on page 8.

Table 8. Using the Remote Control When Video Is Playing

Button When Playing When Paused

Fast-forward. Slow motion. Fast-forward faster.

Rewind. Not available. Rewind faster.

Go forward 30 seconds.

Listening, Viewing, and Recording 43

Single frame. Go forward 15 minutes.

During Fast Forward or Rewind

Table 8. Using the Remote Control When Video Is Playing

Button When Playing When Paused

Go back 30 seconds.

0–9 Jump in the file to

0%, 10%, 20%, … 90% of the file.

Toggle the aspect ratio.

Zoom the video in or out. Press Home twice to restore the original size.

Go back to t he las t video browser screen.

Not available. Go back 15 minutes.

Jump in the file to 0%, 10%, 20%, … 90% of the file.

Toggle the aspect ratio.

Zoom the video in or out. Press Home twice to restore the original size.

Go back to the last video browser screen.

You can also use the onscreen DVD menu to turn subtitles on or off, change subtitle text, color and background, or to change the active audio setting. To access the DVD screen, press Menu on the remote control, and then press the down arrow to select a topic. Press OK to open the screen, and then press the down arrow to select a setting. Press OK to accept the setting.

During Fast Forward or Rewind

Jump in the file to 0%, 10%, 20%, … 90% of the file.

Toggle the aspect ratio

Not available.

Go back to the last video browser screen.

44 Listening, Viewing, and Recording

Using the USB Connection for Pictures, Music, or Video

You can connect up to two USB flash drives or a media player such as an iPod to a USB port on the front or rear panel of the Digital Entertainer Elite.

The Digital Entertainer Elite plays files stored in Windows (FAT, FAT32, NTFS), Macintosh, or Linux disk formats. It does not matter if you set up the music player on a PC or a Mac.

Be sure to use USBv2 devices with your Digital Entertainer Elite. The limited bandwidth of the older USBv1 devices might interfere with the performance of your playback.

To play media with a USB connection:

1. Use the USB cable that came with your product to connect it to the USB port on the front or rear of the Digital Entertainer Elite.

USB port

Figure 11

The Digital Entertainer Elite scans the media, and then the media files are available for you to play on the Digital Entertainer Elite.

Listening, Viewing, and Recording 45

2. If you want to play the media on your USB device, press Music, Video, or Pics on the remote control, and then select the media

files.

When browsing media files on an iPod, note that iTunes uses an unusual file-naming convention to store music files on the iPod. The Digital Entertainer Elite can display only the folder names as they are saved on the iPod. You can find the files by using other criteria such as artist or genre.

Installing and Using an Internal Disk Drive for Pictures, Music, or Video

Install an optional internal disk drive to store your media files.

An internal cooling fan operates when an internal disk drive is installed.

Installing an Internal Disk Drive

To install an optional disk drive for storing media files, carefully follow these instructions.

The installation process formats the hard drive and erases all existing data. Before you begin, back up any existing data, if necessary.

46 Listening, Viewing, and Recording

Always power off the Digital Entertainer Elite using the on/off switch on the back of the unit before installing or removing the internal disk drive.

1. Power off the Digital Entertainer Elite using the on/off switch on

the back of the unit.

2. Remove the disk tray as shown in the following figure.

Figure 12

a. Swing open the front cover.

b. Press to release the latch.

c. Pull out the tray.

Listening, Viewing, and Recording 47

3. Set the lock inside the tray before installing the hard disk into the tray for greater security (optional).

Figure 13

4. Insert a hard drive into the tray. Position the drive with the bottom facing out from the tray, and the connectors facing away.

If you set the tray lock, insert a push-pin or a paper clip into the round button to release the latch and open the tray (see “Unlocking the Disk Drive Tray” on page 114).

48 Listening, Viewing, and Recording

5. Use the four screws provided with the unit to secure the drive to the

tray.

Figure 14

6. With the latch in the open position, slide the disk tray into the

Digital Entertainer Elite completely, securing the latch and closing the door.

Figure 15

Listening, Viewing, and Recording 49

7. If the hard disk is not in EVA9000 format, you are prompted to format the drive. This process erases all data on the drive. See the following section for more information.

Setting Up the Internal Disk Drive

This step is necessary only when a hard disk is first inserted into the Digital Entertainer Elite. Formatting a disk erases all existing data. Back up any existing data before you begin, if necessary.

1. If you install a drive that is not in EVA9000 format, you are prompted to format the drive. Select Yes to format the disk, and continue to step 2.

If the disk is already in the required EVA9000 format, you can manually start the formatting process.

a. Press Home, and select More > Supervisor functions >

Hard Drive Tools > Format disk.

b. Select Ye s to format the disk. Wait for the format process to

complete.

2. When the formatting process is complete, select Yes to copy your persistent data to the internal hard disk. The persistent data includes your media library and favorites, but does not include your media files, such as videos and music.

The data source, such as a PC or USB drive, must be available over the network or through a direct connection.

50 Listening, Viewing, and Recording

3. Copy your media files to the internal disk drive as described in the

following section.

Drag and Drop Media Files to the Internal Disk Drive

To copy your media files onto the internal disk drive, do the following:

1. Press Home, and select More > Supervisor functions >

Advanced Settings > Power and Hard Drive.

2. Scroll down to File Sharing, and select Enabled.

3. Enter a password (optional).

a. Select the password field and enter the new password using the

drop-down keyboard.

b. Select Done/OK from the on-screen keyboard to save the

changes.

To disable the password, press the CLR button to clear all text.

4. On your PC, the EVA9000 hard drive is listed with the networked

devices:

• On a Windows PC, go to Windows Network Neighborhood (Vista) or My Network Places (XP), and open “media on EVA9000”.

• On a Mac, go to Go > Network > EVA9000 name > Media.

It might take a few minutes for the EVA9000 drive to appear on your network.

Listening, Viewing, and Recording 51

The Data folder for the EVA9000 drive contains playlists and other system files. Do not modify the contents of this folder.

5. Use your mouse to drag media files to the media folder on the hard drive. NETGEAR suggests organizing the files into folders, such as music and videos.

6. To play the media on your internal hard drive, press Music, Video, or Pics on the remote and select the media files.

For improved video playback over a wireless connection, activate video buffering, select More > Supervisor functions > Advanced Settings > Power and Hard Drive. Scroll down to Video buffering and select All videos. See

“Power and Hard Drive Tools” on page 89 for more

information.

To copy media files directly from a USB drive to the internal hard disk, select More > Supervisor functions > Hard Drive Tools > Manage data on disk. See “Hard

Drive Tools” on page 85 for more information.

Playing Internet Media

To go to the Internet Media screen, press Home, and then select Internet Media. The Internet Media menu offers these selections:

• YouTube Video. You must have a PC running the Digital Entertainer for Windows software to use this feature.

52 Listening, Viewing, and Recording

• Internet Radio Player. Browse and edit the list of Internet radio

stations.

To add Internet radio stations more easily, use the Digital Entertainer Elite Web browser interface. Find your favorite station on your PC, copy its URL, and paste that into the browser.

Viewing YouTube Content

You can use your Digital Entertainer Elite to view YouTube content and add items or publishers to your favorites lists.

To do so, you need the following:

• The Digital Entertainer Elite set up with access to the Internet

through your network.

• A PC running the Digital Entertainer for Windows software.

To view YouTube content:

1. Press Home, and select Video > YouTube, or select Internet

Media > YouTube.

2. Select the option you want to use to retrieve YouTube content, and

press OK.

– Recent searches. Displays your most recent YouTube keyword

searches.

– Favorite videos. Displays a list of your favorite videos.

– Favorite users. Displays a list of your favorite YouTube users.

– Search tags. Press Caps Lock to display the onscreen

keyboard, and then use the arrow buttons on your remote control to enter a search term (tag). Your last search tag is displayed by default. Select OK on the onscreen keyboard to close the keyboard.

Listening, Viewing, and Recording 53

– Search user’s videos. Press Caps Lock to display the

onscreen keyboard, and then use the arrow buttons on your remote control to enter a search term (tag). Your last search tag is displayed by default. Select OK on the onscreen keyboard to close the keyboard.

– Tag s. Browse categories of videos, such as action or animals.

– Top videos. Browse a list of top YouTube videos.

The results of your search are displayed, with a preview of each item shown on the right when an item in the list is selected.

3. Select the item you want to view, and press OK.

The Digital Entertainer Elite begins playing the YouTube item.

Use the Zoom button to improve the picture quality when viewing YouTube content.

When you have finished viewing the item, you can save this publisher or this item in your favorites list for easy access in the future.

Using the Remote Control When Viewing YouTube Content

The following table describes how to use the remote control when YouTube content is playing. For a complete list of all remote control buttons, see “NETGEAR Universal Remote Control” on page 8.

54 Listening, Viewing, and Recording

Table 9. Using the Remote Control When YouTube Is Playing

Button When Playing When Paused

Pauses the current video.

Fast-forward.

Press twice to skip to the next video.

Not available. Not available. Not available.

Stop the media that is currently playing.

If multiple videos are queued, the Skip back button skips to the previous video; the Skip forward button skips to the next video

Toggle the aspect ratio.

Play plays the selected item.

Play plays the selected item and queues up the rest of the items in the order shown on the screen.

Slow motion. Not available.

Not available. Not available.

Toggle the aspect ratio.

During Fast Forward or Rewind

Pauses the current video.

Returns to play mode.

Toggle the aspect ratio.

Listening, Viewing, and Recording 55

Table 9. Using the Remote Control When YouTube Is Playing

Button When Playing When Paused

Zoom the video in or out. Press Home twice to restore the original size.

Go back to the last YouTube browser screen.

Toggles to and from full screen mode.

Playing Internet Radio

You can use your Digital Entertainer Elite to access and play Internet radio programming and add items or publishers to your favorites lists.

To do so, you need the Digital Entertainer Elite set up with access to the Internet through your network.

Some Internet radio stations provide a low bit rate audio stream that your amplifier or receiver might not support. Try connecting the analog audio outputs of the Digital Entertainer Elite to the analog inputs of your home audio amplifier or receiver, and switch the device to that input when listening to a low bit rate Internet radio station.

Zoom the video in or out. Press Home twice to restore the original size.

Go back to the last YouTube browser screen.

Toggles to and from full screen mode.

During Fast Forward or Rewind

Zoom the video in or out. Press Home twice to restore the original size.

Go back to the last YouTube browser screen.

Not available.

To access and play Internet radio programming:

1. Press Home, and select Music or select Internet Media.

2. Select Internet Radio, and press OK.

56 Listening, Viewing, and Recording

– Browse station. You can browse by title, genre, or quality. Use

the up or down arrows and Page up or down to scroll through the list. A preview of each item is shown on the right when an item in the list is selected.

– Remove station. Remove an Internet radio station from the

list.

– Add station. Add an Internet radio station to the list. You need

to know the station’s URL (Web address).

3. Select the item you want to play, and press OK.

The Digital Entertainer Elite begins playing that item.

When you have finished playing the item, you can save this station in your favorites list for easy access in the future.

You can use the browser interface from the PC to add stations to the favorites list.

Using the Remote Control When Playing Internet Radio

Only the Stop button is available when Internet radio is playing. Press the Stop button to stop playing the Internet radio.

Viewing News and Weather

You can use the Digital Entertainer Elite to view news and weather.

To view news and weather, you need the Digital Entertainer Elite set up with access to the Internet through your network.

Listening, Viewing, and Recording 57

Viewing Weather

Weather is available only in the United States. To receive local weather, you must enter your zip code. You can enter your zip code during installation or using Digital Entertainer Elite settings. (Press Home, and select News/Weather.)

Internet Channels

Internet Channels uses Really Simple Syndication (RSS) for accessing regularly updated information such as news, podcasts, and blogs. Common sources are the major television networks and wire services, as well as many Internet websites and portals.

To use the Digital Entertainer Elite to browse RSS news feeds on your television, press Home, and select News/Weather > Internet channels. The Digital Entertainer Elite includes several common news feeds, and you can add your own. To add your own list, select Add new RSS feed, and enter the URL (Web address) of the RSS news feed as well as a descriptive title.

You can locate the RSS feeds on your computer and use the Digital Entertainer Elite browser interface to save the RSS feeds to view on your television.

Combining Different Media Sources

You can play both photos and audio media at the same time. For example, you can view a slideshow and play music.

• Start viewing photos, and then start the audio.

• You can start the audio first if you prefer.

58 Listening, Viewing, and Recording

Navigation commands from the remote control go to the media that you started last. The other buttons control the first media. For example, if you are watching television, and then you start playing music, pressing Pause pauses the music. Pressing the number buttons or Channel up changes the channel.

Viewing the Status of Multiple Digital Entertainer Elites

Use the Digital Entertainer application to view the status of any Digital Entertainer Elite operating in your network.

To do so, run the Digital Entertainer application:

1. From the Windows Start menu, select All Programs > NETGEAR

Digital Entertainer for Windows > Digital Entertainer.

This icon appears in the system tray when the Digital Entertainer for Windows software is running.

2. Click to open the Digital Entertainer for Windows screen.

• To access the Web browser interface, use one of these methods:

– Select Open.

– Double-click .

– Select Rooms > name of Digital Entertainer Elite to open

a specific Digital Entertainer Elite.

You can also monitor what is playing on another Digital Entertainer Elite using the Now Playing screen on your TV. Use the right and left arrows to scroll between rooms and see what is s playing in each.

Listening, Viewing, and Recording 59

Viewing Status

You can view the status of what is playing in each room. Click and select Status. The Status screen opens.

Figure 16

The Status screen includes these buttons:

• Power Off. Stop media. This does not turn off the Digital Entertainer Elite.

• Message. Send a message for the Digital Entertainer Elite to display on the television screen.

• Follow To. Have media that is playing follow you to another Digital Entertainer Elite.

• Lock. For future use.

You can also right-click the Digital Entertainer Elite name to select the following additional options:

60 Listening, Viewing, and Recording

• Play. Play media in the selected room.

• Control. Opens a screen with buttons that control playback of the

selected session, such as play, pause and skip.

• Power off. Stops the selected session.

Listening, Viewing, and Recording 61

62 Listening, Viewing, and Recording

Fine-Tuning Your Experience

The topics in this chapter will help you fine-tune your experience with the Digital Entertainer Elite the following areas:

• Improving media library search results using tags and media art.

• Optimizing network performance to ensure that you get the best entertainment experience possible with your equipment.

• Taking precautions so that information such as personal photos sent over a wireless connection are not subject to snooping.

• Assuring that adequate parental controls are in place for using the digital media in your network.

Improving Media Library Search Results

To make browsing easier or to add media cover art, you can tag your media files with the Tag Tool.

Using the Tag Tool Application

Use the Tag Tool to enhance your file management on third-party devices, such as your mobile phone or MP3 player, as well as on the Digital Entertainer Elite. The Tag Tool works with these file formats: AVI, WMV, MPG, MP1, MP2, MP3, MKV, FLAC, ISO, and IFO. The

Digital Entertainer Elite can read the existing tag information associated with your media files.

You can use the Tag Tool to remove a tag for a file. Select Remove Tag or select Edit > Remove Tag.

You can use the Tag Tool to add or change the identification information stored in media files. For example, you can enter the artist name or rating.

If you set the rating for a file, you can also control access to that file from the Digital Entertainer Elite Security screen.

To use the Tag Tool:

1. From the Windows Start menu, select All Programs > NETGEAR Digital Entertainer for Windows > Tag Tool.

64 Fine-Tuning Your Experience

The Tag Tool screen opens, as shown in the following figure.

pane

Hide or view

the search

pane

Preview window

Figure 17

2. Locate the file that you want.

• File menu. You can select File > Open to open a file.

• Browse. Select Browse to view the files within a folder, and then select the file that you want.

• Preview window. You can select Play to watch a preview.

• Search pane. Enter the name of video in the Name, and then use the Search pane buttons: Search IMDB, Search Amazon, or Search Google. After you select a movie, you can select Form Fill to copy the information from the Web page into the Tag Tool screen.

3. Make the changes that you want, and then click Apply to save the tag.

Fine-Tuning Your Experience 65

Adding Cover Art

You can use the Tag Tool application to add cover art to files individually or in groups.

Capturing a Video Frame for Cover Art

You can use the Tag Tool to capture a single frame from the video to use as cover art for your video.

To capture a video frame:

1. Click Play in the Preview window.

Figure 18

2. When you find a frame that you like, click Capture.

The frame is captured into the Preview image.

Adding High-Resolution Album or Cover Art

You can add high-resolution album or cover art to a media file.

66 Fine-Tuning Your Experience

To add high-resolution art:

1. In the Tag Tool screen, click Search Amazon to locate the art. For even higher-resolution images, click See larger image.

2. Right-click the image of the album or cover art.

3. Select Copy, and then right-click to copy and paste the image into

the Tag Tools Picture area.

Figure 19

You can also copy and paste any other image into the Picture area.

Adding Album Art to All the Songs in an Album

If you want to tag all the songs in an album with the same cover art, the songs must be in the same folder.

To add album art to all songs on an album:

1. Place all the songs from the album in a single folder.

2. Select any one of the songs from the album in the Tag Tool list box.

3. Click Search Amazon, and copy and paste the album art into the Tag Tool Picture area.

4. Select the Use folder.jpg check box. This saves your cover art

picture into a file named folder.jpg in the album’s folder. Both

Fine-Tuning Your Experience 67

Windows Media Player and the Digital Entertainer Elite will recognize this as the album art for all the songs in the folder.

Using the Script Wizard to Automate Tasks

Use the Digital Entertainer Script Wizard to automate a variety of tasks. You can create three types of scripts:

• Command script.Creates a new script to automate the ways you use your Digital Entertainer Elite.

• Video script.Creates a new script that appears in the video browser of your Digital Entertainer Elite.

• Audio script.Creates a new script that appears in the audio browser of your Digital Entertainer Elite.

To create a script:

1. From the Windows Start menu, select All Programs > NETGEAR Digital Entertainer for Windows > Script Wizard.

Figure 20

68 Fine-Tuning Your Experience

2. Select the script type (command, video, or audio).

Figure 21

3. Click New to add an action from the list.

Figure 22

4. Select the options for the script action, if prompted, and then click

Next.

5. Add additional actions, if necessary.

Fine-Tuning Your Experience 69

Understanding Home Networking

In recent years, home networks have become common. More and more, they include a variety of technologies that work together in ways that are not always obvious. The following topics identify common connection types, their speed, and security considerations.

• Broadband Internet Your Internet connection speed is determined by your Internet Service Provider, as well as the connection speed of the sites to which you connect, and general Internet traffic. ADSL and cable modem connections are asymmetrical, meaning they have a lower data rate to the Internet (upstream) than from the Internet (downstream). A typical residential ADSL or cable modem connection provides a downstream throughput of about 1 to 3 megabits per second (Mbps). Newer technologies such as ADSL2+ and Fiber to the Home (FTTH) increase the connection speed to tens of Mbps.

•Wireless Current-generation 802.11n wireless routers such as the NETGEAR WNR854T RangeMax NEXT Wireless-N Router provide wireless data throughput of up to 300 Mbps using technology called multiple input, multiple output (MIMO). MIMO uses multiple antennas to transmit multiple streams of data. The use of multiple (internal) antennas also provides excellent range and coverage. With the introduction of the newer WPA and WPA2 encryption and authentication protocols, wireless security is extremely strong.

• Powerline For connecting rooms or floors that are blocked by obstructions or are distant, consider networking over your building’s AC wiring. NETGEAR’s Powerline HD family of products delivers up to 200

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Mbps to any power outlet and connects to your devices and network using standard Ethernet cables.

You need at least two Powerline HD adapters to make this type of connection in your network.

Data transmissions are encrypted for security, and you can configure an individual network password to prevent neighbors from connecting.

The Powerline HD family of products can coexist on the same network with older-generation XE family products or HomePlug

1.0 products, but they are not interoperable with these older products.

• Wired Ethernet

As Gigabit Ethernet ports become common on newer computers, wired Ethernet remains a good choice for speed, economy, and security. Gigabit Ethernet can extend up to 100 meters with twistedpair wiring of Cat 5e or better. A wired connection is not susceptible to interference, and eavesdropping would require a physical connection to your network.

Assessing Your Speed Requirements

Because your Internet connection is likely to operate at a much lower speed than your local network, faster local networking technologies might not improve your Internet experience. However, many emerging home applications require high data rates. For example:

• Streaming HD video requires 10 to 30 Mbps per stream. Because

latency and packet loss can disrupt your video, plan to provide at least twice the capacity you need, or add an internal hard drive to provide “buffering” for your connection.

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• Streaming MP3 audio requires less than 1 Mbps per stream and does not strain most modern networks. Like video, however, streaming audio is also sensitive to latency and packet loss, so a congested network or a noisy link can cause problems.

Actual data throughput varies. Network conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead, can lower actual data throughput rate.

Optimizing the Performance of Your Home Network

To get the best performance from your home network, you should optimize each portion of the network, as well and place files in the network where they will get the bandwidth their use will demand.

Optimizing Wireless Performance

The speed and operating distance or range of your wireless connection can vary significantly based on the physical placement of the wireless router. You should choose a location for your router that will maximize the network speed.

To find the best location, start the Network test (from the Supervisor Functions screen) running on the Digital Entertainer Elite, and then move the Digital Entertainer Elite and the wireless router. Monitor the Network test results to determine which location maximizes network speed.

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Failure to follow these guidelines can result in significant performance degradation or inability to wirelessly connect to the router. For complete range and performance specifications, see “Technical Specifications” on page 117.

The following list describes how to optimize wireless router performance.

• Identify critical wireless links.

If your network has several wireless devices, decide which wireless devices need the highest data rate, and locate the router near them. Many wireless products have automatic data-rate fallback, which allows increased distances without a loss of connectivity. This also means that devices that are farther away might be slower. Therefore, the most critical links in your network are those where the traffic is high and the distances are great. Optimize those first.

• Choose placement carefully.

For best results, place your router:

– Near the center of the area in which your computers will

operate.

– In an elevated location such as a high shelf where the

wirelessly connected computers have line-of-sight access (even if through walls).

• Avoid obstacles to wireless signals.

– Keep wireless devices at least 2 feet from large metal fixtures

such as file cabinets, refrigerators, pipes, metal ceilings, reinforced concrete, and metal partitions.

– Keep the device away from large amounts of water such as fish

tanks and water coolers.

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• Reduce interference. Avoid windows unless communicating between buildings. Place wireless devices away from various electromagnetic noise sources, especially those in the 2400–2500 MHz frequency band. Common noise-creating sources are:

– Computers and fax machines (no closer than 1 foot)

– Copy machines and cell phones (no closer than 6 feet)

– Microwave ovens (no closer than 10 feet)

• Choose your settings.

– Use a scanning utility including those provided with the

NETGEAR wireless adapters to determine what other wireless networks are operating nearby, and then select an unused channel.

– Turn off SSID broadcast, and change the default SSID. Other

nearby devices might automatically try to connect to your network several times a second, which can cause significant performance reduction.

Optimizing Your Network Bandwidth

As your network grows, it might consist of several segments of different networking technologies, each providing different throughput. In planning your network, you should first consider which devices will have the heaviest traffic flow between them. Here are some examples:

• A Digital Entertainer Elite in one room streaming high-definition video from a server in another room

• A storage device that is used for backing up your computers

Next, consider the throughput of your network devices. Where possible, use higher-speed technologies to make the heaviest-traffic connections with no lower-speed bottlenecks in the path.

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Figure 23

This illustration shows a sample network using multiple networking technologies. The two PCs with Gigabit (1000 Mbps) Ethernet adapters have a gigabit connection through the gigabit switch to the ReadyNAS Duo network storage unit with a gigabit connection. This connection should allow for extremely fast access to large files on the ReadyNAS

Duo unit. The EVA9000 connected through a pair of Powerline HD adapters has access at the 200 Mbps speed of the Powerline HD connection. This is fine for any of the media files it will use over this connection and might be more suitable than running Ethernet cables to

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where the entertainment system is located. Although any of the links in this example would be sufficient for high-traffic applications such as streaming HD video, the use of older devices such as 10 Mbps Ethernet or 802.11b wireless would create a significant bottleneck.

Optimizing Media File Performance

Video playback can be resource intensive. To avoid pauses in video viewing, select hard disk drives and network equipment designed to handle large files quickly. If you want to send video over a wireless network connection, new wireless technologies like those found in the NETGEAR RangeMax operate at higher speeds, but they also sustain those speeds over greater distances.

File transfer speed depends on the following:

• Hard disk drive speed

SATA hard drives can be any of the following speeds: 4,500 RPM, 5,400 RPM, 7,200 RPM, 10,000 RPM.

For best performance separate your media into their own set of folders. This will maximize performance of your PC and reduce time needed to find media files.

products are good choices. Not only do they

• LAN connection speed

A Gigabit Ethernet connection through a gigabit switch provides the fastest LAN file transfer speed and gives the best performance. NETGEAR HD Powerline adapters provide adequate bandwidth without the inconvenience of running Ethernet cables.

• Wireless communication speed

– 802.11b (11 Mbps,) is not recommended for video.

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– 802.11g (54 Mbps) is not recommended for HD video.

– 802.11n is not recommended for high bandwidth HD video.

However, when using 802.11n, the 5GHz band is usually less crowded and will likely provide better performance.

– If many wireless networks in your area are sharing the same

channel, this can slow the speed of your wireless network. (The scanning utility built in to NETGEAR wireless adapters lists all wireless networks operating at your location along with the channel each is using.)

– If any 802.11b devices are powered on in an 802.11g network,

they can cause the entire network to slow to 802.11b speeds.

Tips for Streaming Video

Use these tips for the best performance with streaming video or during file transfers to the Digital Entertainer Elite.

• Use a wired LAN connection to stream HD video.

• For streaming video, use no more than one wireless link. For

example, do not wirelessly connect both the Digital Entertainer Elite and your computer with media to your router. Replace one of these wireless links with a wired connection.

• For playing music and viewing photos, wirelessly connecting both

the Digital Entertainer Elite and the computer with media files should work fine.

• With a wireless 802.11g connection, you can stream standard-

definition video, music, and standard-resolution photos reliably, although high network traffic and interference might cause some audio/video interruptions.

• You can use NETGEAR’s Powerline HD product with a wired

connection; it supports all but the most demanding HD streaming.

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• Upgrade to a Dual Band 802.11n router such as the NETGEAR WNDR3300. Use the less crowded 5GHz band for video and keep your computers and other internet devices on 2.4GHz bands.

• Add a hard drive (see “Installing and Using an Internal Disk Drive

for Pictures, Music, or Video” on page 46) to improve playback

results over wireless by using the hard drive to buffer playback.

Taking Precautions

Take precautions to secure personal data sent over wireless connections to your Digital Entertainer HD. Also take precautions for monitoring content, if you wish to exercise parental control.

See the following sections for information about doing this.

Access and Network Security

Use care when sharing media, and set up security in your home network to protect your privacy and prevent unauthorized access to your photos and media files.

When sharing media use the following precautions:

• Share only the folders containing media files. Do not share your

main hard drive or any folder containing programs or personal data.

• Share media folders on a read-only basis (do not allow others to write to the folders.) unless recording to the folders.

• For maximum security, consider a storage device, attached to a network, dedicated to entertainment and media.

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When using a wireless network:

• Use wireless security such as WEP, WPA, or WPA2. For more

about wireless security, see “Wireless Networking Basics:” on

page 119.

• Use a firewall or home router with Network Address Translation

(NAT), which hides your in-home systems from the Internet.

Exercising Parental Control

You can block video files by rating, or block any files based on their location.

Block Video Files By Rating

To block video files using an MPPA or TV rating, mark the files with a rating and then select a rating level on your Digital Entertainer Elite:

1. Use the NETGEAR Tag Tool application to tag video files with an

MPAA or TV rating. From the Windows Start menu, select All Programs > NETGEAR Digital Entertainer for Windows > Tag Tool.

Files without tags are considered “NR” or Not Rated, the most sensitive and highest rating.

Files restricted by rating do not have to be in the same folder.

2. Change the supervisor password on your Digital Entertainer Elite:

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a. Press Home and select More > Supervisor functions >

Advanced Settings > Parental controls and security > Supervisor password.

b. Enter the new password, and press OK.

Be sure you pick a password that is easy to remember, or store it in a safe place.

3. Select More > Supervisor functions > Advanced Settings > Parental controls and security > Parental control.

4. Select the standard entertainment industry ratings such as G, PG, NR, and so on.

Users can access files with the selected rating or a lower rating (higher up on the menu), but cannot access files tagged with a higher rating. For example, if you select PG-13, all files with a PG13, PG, TVPG or G rating are accessible at all times. However, files with TV-14, R, NC17, TVMA or NR (no rating set) are accessible only if you enter the supervisor password.

Select the NR rating to allow access to all shared media files.

To temporarily suspend parental controls for 20 minutes and display blocked files, select More > Supervisor functions and enter the supervisor password. To reestablish parental controls, press the power button to turn the device off and back on.

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Block Files By Location

To block files by location, choose the shared folders that require a supervisor password:

1. Place the files in a shared folder.

2. Press Home on the remote and select More > Supervisor

functions > Advanced Settings > Parental controls and security > Share Restrictions.

3. Check the boxes next to the shared folders that require a supervisor

password. Folders with a checked box can be accessed only with the supervisor password.

4. (Optional) Enter an additional password for each protected folder:

a. Press Home, and select More > Supervisor functions >

Advanced Settings > Servers and shared folders > Select which servers to scan

b. Highlight the shared folder that is password protected with

parental controls.

c. Press Menu and enter a username and password.

d. Select OK.

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Custom Setup and Supervisor

Use the custom setup options to manually set up your Digital Entertainer Elite. Use the screens you access by selecting More > Supervisor functions to perform housekeeping tasks, run media library scans, and view system information. You can also use your Digital Entertainer Elite to access the desktop of a PC on your network.

Custom Setup

The Custom setup screen lets you manually connect the Digital Entertainer Elite to your network, and to share media files on your network so that the Digital Entertainer Elite can access them.

Use this screen to set up access to media files on your network that are on Linux systems or storage servers attached to the network.

To use Custom setup, press Home, and select More > Supervisor functions > Setup Wizard. After you select a language and hear the audio welcome tune, you are offered a choice of Basic or Custom setup. The Custom Setup screen offers these options:

• Select video mode. Set the appropriate resolution for your TV.

• Change room name. If you have more than one Digital Entertainer Elite, you can select room names, such as living room, from the list of options to identify them. Or, you can enter a room name, using the onscreen keyboard.

Functions

• Enter your ZIP code. You can enter your zip code to receive news, weather, and TV programming information for your local area.

• Install Computer Software. Next, you are prompted to use the installation CD (included with your Digital Entertainer Elite) on the computer where you store your media files. Follow the prompts in to complete the setup of your Digital Entertainer Elite.

• Scan for shared content. Your Digital Entertainer Elite will scan your network for shared folders. Alternately, you can enter the name of a network workgroup to be scanned.

• Data location. Specify a writeable server location where your media library and other persistent data files can be stored.

Supervisor Functions Menu Screen

To go to the Supervisor Functions screen, press Home, and select More > Supervisor functions. The Supervisor Functions menu screen offers these options:

• Setup wizard. Enter or change the settings for the Digital Entertainer Elite.

• Advanced settings. See “Advanced Settings” on page 86.

• Full scan for media files. Rebuild the media library. This replaces current media files and adds newfound media files. A full scan takes significant time, depending on the number of files you have designated for sharing.

• Scan for USB attached media. Check for media devices such as an iPod or MP3 player that are connected to the Digital Entertainer Elite.

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• Scan for hard drive media. Check for an internal hard drive

device installed in the Digital Entertainer Elite.

• Hard Drive Tools. Formats the drive or verify the health of the

drive. See “Hard Drive Tools” on page 85.

• Network test. Measure the data transfer between devices on your

network and your Digital Entertainer Elite.

• Update. Check for firmware updates for the Digital Entertainer

Elite on the NETGEAR website, or update the firmware from a file on a USB storage device. See “Updating the Firmware” on

page 100 for more information.

Be sure that power to your Digital Entertainer Elite unit is not interrupted during the firmware update process. Failure to observe this precaution can permanently damage the unit.

Following a firmware update, you need to reload your media library into the Digital Entertainer Elite from the backup location.

• System Information. See “System Information” on page 94.

• Restart. Restart the Digital Entertainer Elite.

Hard Drive Tools

If an internal disk drive is installed, use the Hard Drive Tools screen to format the drive or verify the health of the drive. You can also manually copy individual files to the drive.

To access these options, press Home, and select More > Supervisor functions > Hard Drive Tools.

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• Manage data on disk. Copies a single media file from another source drive, such as a PC or USB drive, to the internal hard drive.

• Format disk. Formats the disk for use with your Digital Entertainer Elite. The format process erases all existing data. Before you begin, back up any existing data, if necessary.

• Standard disk check. Checks the consistency of the disk file system. Use this option if you have trouble copying or reading a file. The standard disk check can take up to 30 minutes. The Digital Entertainer Elite cannot be used until the process is complete.

• Extensive disk check. Checks the entire disk surface for bad blocks. Use this option if you have trouble copying or reading a file. The extensive disk check can take up to several hours. The Digital Entertainer Elite cannot be used until the process is complete.

• Unmount drive. Unmounts and disables the drive from the Digital Entertainer Elite. This option is used to replace a disk. After the disk is unmounted, replace the hard disk following the instructions in “Installing and Using an Internal Disk Drive for Pictures, Music, or Video” on page 4-46.

• Drive information. Displays information about the drive including capacity and percentage of storage space used.

For more information, refer to “Installing and Using an

Internal Disk Drive for Pictures, Music, or Video” on page 4-46.

Advanced Settings

The following options are available to customize your Digital Entertainer Elite.

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Netgear orporated 08200088 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Contents

Important Safeguards and Notices

What Is in the Box

Overview of the Digital Entertainer HD

Digital Entertainer Elite Front View

Digital Entertainer Elite Rear View

NETGEAR Universal Remote Control

Basic Setup

Connecting the Digital Entertainer Elite

Completing the Basic Setup Steps

Enabling Access to Your Media Library

Installing the Digital Entertainer for Windows Software

Giving the Digital Entertainer Elite Access to Your Media Library

Getting Acquainted

Navigating with the Remote Control or from a Computer

Navigating with the Remote Control

Navigating from a Web Browser

Using Protected Media Files

Using Windows Media Player 11

Using iTunes for Windows

Using Multiple Digital Entertainer Elites

Listening, Viewing, and Recording

Listening to Music

Using the Remote Control When Music Is Playing

Listening to Protected Music

Viewing Photos

Using the Remote Control While Viewing Photos

Viewing Recorded Video

Watching Recorded Video

Using the Remote Control When Recorded Video Is Playing

Using the USB Connection for Pictures, Music, or Video

Installing and Using an Internal Disk Drive for Pictures, Music, or Video

Installing an Internal Disk Drive

Setting Up the Internal Disk Drive

Drag and Drop Media Files to the Internal Disk Drive

Playing Internet Media

Viewing YouTube Content

Using the Remote Control When Viewing YouTube Content

Playing Internet Radio

Using the Remote Control When Playing Internet Radio

Viewing News and Weather

Combining Different Media Sources

Viewing the Status of Multiple Digital Entertainer Elites

Viewing Status

Fine-Tuning Your Experience

Improving Media Library Search Results

Using the Tag Tool Application

Adding Cover Art

Using the Script Wizard to Automate Tasks

Understanding Home Networking

Assessing Your Speed Requirements

Optimizing the Performance of Your Home Network

Optimizing Wireless Performance

Optimizing Your Network Bandwidth

Optimizing Media File Performance

Tips for Streaming Video

Taking Precautions

Access and Network Security

Exercising Parental Control

Custom Setup

Supervisor Functions Menu Screen

Advanced Settings