How to use a digital media receiver
Published: February 28, 2005
Wow! I'm impressed. I don't say that often, so let me explain. For years I've put off converting my family's music to an all-digital solution because I didn't like the available options. I had no interest in putting a computer in the family room and expecting my wife and kids to log on and open an application just to play music. And I didn't want to look like that much of a geek when we had company over. It's one thing to be a geek. It's quite another to have everyone think you are.
So I made do with a 51-CD carousel loaded with CDs in a particular order to create my playlists. And I dreamed of the day I could have the perfect digital solution. That day has arrived in the form of a Roku SoundBridge M1000.
The SoundBridge is one of a new class of devices called digital media receivers. Sometimes they're called network music players. Like TiVo, a digital media receiver may be a computer, but it looks and behaves like an easy-to-use consumer electronics appliance. It's small and unobtrusive in your den or family room. A digital media player can connect wirelessly to your home network, and has all the outputs needed for your home theater system. Once configured, a guest in your house can figure out how to use it and be hard pressed to know how it accomplishes its magic.
In this column, I'll explain how to choose a digital media receiver and how to install it. Then I'll walk you through installing Windows Media Connect on your computer. Windows Media Connect is software that lets you share the digital media files on your computer with digital media receivers (DMRs) that are connected to your home network. Then you can stream the music, video, and photos stored on your Windows XP–based computer anywhere in your home.
Select the right digital media receiver for you
What really made this solution work for me was the "perfect storm" of Windows Media Connect, Windows Media Audio (WMA) support that includes digital rights management (DRM), easy wireless support, and the small and friendly SoundBridge hardware.
Check out the devices listed on the Microsoft Digital Media Receivers site that have PlaysForSure and Windows Media Connect support. Look for the PlaysForSure logo to make sure the digital music and video you purchase will play back on the digital media receiver every time. Although only three devices were available at the time of this writing, many more are on the way. I recommend Windows Media Connect because it is a technology that will enable a wide variety of media sharing capabilities going forward. There are other products that are not Windows Media Connect-enabled: if you have a system with computers that don't run Windows XP, you might want to consider them. You can find all digital media receivers that support WMA listed on the Cool Devices site.
The Omnifi DMS1 has TV output for an onscreen display and works with several online music services. It has USB ports for connecting wired or wireless network adapters. It comes with its own software for managing audio files, if you want to use more than the Windows Media Player Library.
When you want to stream pictures or video to your TV as well, the D-Link MediaLounge DSM-320 Wireless Media Player is a very nice solution. It plays MPEG-1/2/4, AVI, and XviD video files, but doesn't support playback of Windows Media Video (WMV) files yet. This fall D-Link will release the DSM-520, which will support WMV files.
The best solution for me was the Roku SoundBridge M1000. I'm not really into playing video files or displaying pictures on the big screen. I appreciated not having to find a way to connect yet another input to my TV. All I wanted was a convenient way to access the Windows Media Player 10 library of music I already had on my computer. I can use Windows Media Player 10 to create new playlists, add to my library, and not have to install any software beyond Windows Media Connect.
How to install Windows Media Connect
All you need to start sharing the music on your computer with a digital media receiver is Windows Media Connect. It can be installed on any Windows XP SP2-based computer, including Media Center and Tablet PC. Check the minimum system requirements for using Windows Media Connect. You can install it in one of two ways:
| • | Go to Microsoft Update, click Custom install to see all available updates, and under Optional software updates, select Update for Windows Media Connect. |
| • | Or get the download from this Windows Media site. |
Once you've installed the update, an Authorization wizard opens. After your receiver comes online and broadcasts its availability, it'll show up here to await your authorization. You can close this wizard and start it again later if you need to. Just go to Start, point to All Programs, and then select Windows Media Connect.
You can also install Windows Media Connect on other computers if you want to share music from more than one computer.
How to install the SoundBridge
The first step is connecting it to your home network. The SoundBridge has a wired Ethernet connection if you happen to have easy wired access to your network from your home theater system space. I did not, so I connected it using the 802.11b CompactFlash card that came with the M1000. If you use MAC address filtering on your wireless router like I do, make sure you read the MAC address of the adapter card and enter it into your router before you insert the card. It's on the back. (You may need a magnifying glass to read it.)
If you use the CompactFlash Wi-Fi card, insert it into the slot in the left side of the SoundBridge after removing the end-cap, as shown below.
Inserting the Wi-Fi adapter.
Next, you need to connect the SoundBridge to the amplifier in your home theater system. Remove the end-cap on the right side of the SoundBridge. There you will find outputs for both coax and optical SPDIF, as well as for stereo RCA. I chose to connect with the optical SPDIF. (Only the RCA cable is included with the SoundBridge unit.) Connect your output of choice to your amplifier or powered speakers, as shown below.
Connecting the audio output.
Replace the end-caps on the SoundBridge, position it on your shelf, and plug in the power adapter. Insert the batteries into the remote. Now you're ready to configure it for your network, as shown below.
The Roku SoundBridge is up and running.
1. | Using the remote Down arrow, scroll to the System Configuration menu and press Select. |
2. | Scroll to Select Wi-Fi SSID & Password and press Select. |
3. | Choose your SSID from the list displayed and press Select. |
4. | Enter a WEP key if you have one for your network. |
5. | After configuration is complete, return to your PC and see if the device shows up in the Windows Media Connect Wizard. You may have to wait a minute or two. After it shows up, as shown below, select it and click Next.  The Roku device is found. |
6. | The final page of the wizard allows you to specify whether to configure directories now or later. Select either Share these default folders with my devices or Let me choose which folders I want to share with my devices, and then click Next. After the device has been authorized, you will see the screen shown below.  The receiving device has been authorized for sharing. |
7. | If you did not share the default folders, as I did not, you can click the Sharing button on the left and then the Add button down below to add individual folders. I set mine up for two locations, as shown below.  Directories have been shared to it. |
You're now ready to share music from this computer. You can close this application if you want. An icon will appear in the notification area so you can access it later.
Play music
With your receiver now authorized, return to the SoundBridge.
1. | Press Menu on the remote and scroll to Change Library or Configuration and press Select. |
2. | Your PC name should now show up with "Windows Media Connect" next to it. Press Select. |
You have the choice of viewing a list of your playlists and selecting one, or browsing your available titles, or searching for a title. Explore all these options and you'll be surprised how easy it is to navigate. It won't be long before you're jumping up to return to your computer to throw together a custom playlist and running back to the Roku to see it show up. It's a kick. It's definitely easier and better than shuffling CDs around in a carousel. The SoundBridge can also play DRM-protected files available from online music stores such as Napster.
For more information on how to connect the Roku SoundBridge and play music wirelessly by using Windows Media Connect, see the video workshop Play Digital Music Wirelessly in Your Home.
Stream Internet radio
As great as it is to have the ability to grow your media library as large as you want and share content from multiple computers, sometimes it's nice just to have a stream of content from another source. The SoundBridge is also able to stream content from Internet radio stations. It can stream directly, or you can read the User's Guide to see how to stream through iTunes, Winamp, or a TwonkyVision plug-in.
I didn't care much for the 10 default preset stations, so I browsed the Web looking for streaming sources that might interest me. If you see stations delivering a stream with the .pls or .m3u extensions and they're active, then you can point your Roku to them and stream directly to the device without the stream passing through your computer. Use the built-in Web page in the SoundBridge to update the 10 presets. The User's Guide gives instructions on how to open the page in a Web browser.
Additional features for sharing media
Additional media sharing capabilities using Windows Media Connect continue to emerge. One additional capability is Media Transfer for Tablet PCs. This program connects the Tablet PC to Windows Media Connect servers and allows for either immediate or delayed transfer of your media files. It's available in the Experience Pack for Tablet PC.
Roku intends to eventually support WMA streams in the Internet radio feature. The device's firmware can be upgraded, so watch for announcements from Roku about new versions. You can upgrade the firmware using the SoundBridge menu and remote.
I certainly couldn't be more thrilled with this new gadget. Its ease of use is even better than I expected, not to mention the enjoyment factor. I think there'll be more music filling our home than ever before.
 | Galan Bridgman is a developer, architect, and enthusiast for digital media technologies. He co-developed QuickTime for Windows for Apple Computer. At Starlight Networks he developed innovative client and backend technologies using ActiveMovie® and NetShow® Server, the precursors to Windows Media Technology. He's currently developing a next-generation, fully-automated radio station using Microsoft Windows Media technologies. After hours he enjoys showing others how to make the most of Microsoft's latest Windows Media applications. Check Galan's Web site for more information about him.
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