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November 16, 2007 10:16 AM

Categories: EVA 8000 Setting up EVA Troubleshooting

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windy miller

Member
Joined: 11/16/2007

Having seen a friends high end digital media pc and being insanley jealous I visited my local pc-world and spotted the EVA8000! WOW! I thought no need to build another pc that'll sit near the tv, just plug n play.............

Not quite!

Having got home and pulled my tv out from the wall and plugged the EVA8000 in (note, it says the s video cable was included but it aint there!) and run the software on my media centre pc upstairs I expected the EVA8000 to connect wirelessly...no hope, It couldnt find my wireless network. So, back to pc world to buy a 10 meter long ethernet cable and much fun drilling holes through wall etc to thread it through (wife NOT AMUSED!) and connect to the EVA8000. Sit back and wait for it to connect, Still no joy, after many minutes of swearing at the pc during the configuration process I discovered that to connect to the EVA8000 you UNCHECK the selection (DUH!)

Well it worked sort of, except Norton fire wall has to be turned off completely for the eva to find the media files, once the media is shared norton can be switched back on.

So playing with the EVA8000. It doesn't like rewinding or fast forwarding video, it loses the sync between the audio and video............very annoying.

It refuses to go back to the beginning of a film. it starts back where you stopped it. Even after resetting!

And joy of joy..now its sitting there powering up continously stuck in a loop. So I'm off to PC World to return it and get a refund.

Overall Im very disapointed in the product. Its aimed at non geeks like me and just doesnt really work as well as it should. Netgear products are usually great. good value and reliable, in fact my entire home network is built using netgear products.

I'll accept an exchange if the store has one as it may just be a friday afternoon model. IF the new one works properly my faith will be restored. Ill keep you posted.

Im running windows XP media center service pack 2 PC

Discussion:    Add a Comment | Comments 1-6 of 6 | Latest Comment

Jeff Block Avatar
Administrator
November 16, 2007 10:28 AM

Wow, I hear the frustration.  Sorry it's being a bit of a pain.  Here are a couple thoughts that will hopefully help a bit...

First, re: Network setup.  The wireless setup for the EVA does have its challenges.  One alternative to drilling holes and running cables is the HD Powerline adapter.   It basically runs a network connection through your power lines.

Second, re: Norton firewall.  I don't know how committed you are to Norton, but I used to use their firewall / anti-virus software, and found that it caused these kinds of problems ALL the time.  I eventually abandonded them for a hardware firewall and AVG Anti-virus.  I would recommend this configuration in general, as it will interfere with far fewer devices (like the EVA), does just a good a job as anything Norton / Symantec has (and I would argue a better job), and is FREE.

The rewind / fast forward thing is a known issue.  Can't help you there other than to make sure you add your voice to the multitudes at NETGEAR support.  But I know they're working on it, so I'm not sure that's even really worth doing. 

You also said, "It refuses to go back to the beginning of a film. it starts back where you stopped it. Even after resetting!"  I definitely haven't had that problem.  Are you watching an AVI?  How are you "stopping" it?  Just hitting the stop button?  That causes it to stop for me, and if I press "play" or "select", it starts over from the beginning.

"now its sitting there powering up continously stuck in a loop"...  Definitely haven't heard that one either.  If you have this problem with your new unit, definitely let the community know.  Might need to get in touch with NETGEAR support on that one.

Has anyone else had this issue? 

Being digitally entertained...

pardizzone Avatar
  Moderator
November 16, 2007 12:53 PM

It may be aimed at Non-Geeks but it is definately "NOT" for Non-Geeks. You will need to return it for a replacement/refund at this point. If it has the stock firmware, there is no recovery code built in (it is in the latest beta). I had one out of the box that did that and had to get it replaced. If you decide to pick up a replacement, try the following: 

First off.... make sure you upgrade to the latest production firmware via the "Update" selection on the menu. That will clear up some issues (especially the wireless issue). If you are behind a router with a firewall, there is no real need for another firewall on your PC. The EVA software will disable "ALL" firewalls on the pc to enable access anyways.

The RW/FF issue is being worked on in the latest beta and is close to working.

Once you update the firmware, the "refuses to go back to the beginning of a film" should stop. And if you run the beta firmware, pressing "0" on the remote will start it from the beginning. Pressing 1 will jump 10%, 2 - 20% and so on.

Next, go to the Netgear support forums and do some reading up over there.

http://forum1.netgear.com/forumdisplay.php?f=85

Join the Beta program and load up the latest beta (119) to help stabilize the unit and add new function/file support. You may find it a little easier to use after upgrading.

FWIW... When I first got mine, I thought it was a POS and it still kind of is. The latest betas have made it better but it definately "does not" deliver what was printed on the box, even with the latest beta firmware. It has trouble reading my camera, MP3 player and doesn't support any WMV other v9 (you mostly get v7 or v8 from the internet) though it just states WMV on the box. It also doen't work with TV tuners as advertised although I was told it's on the TODO list but way at the bottom. I wish I had the box with me here at work, I could just go down the list.

Netgear let this out too early in the development cycle, IMHO. They needed to make sure what was stated it could do, it could actually do. I'm happy the Netgear is devoted to get this unit to work, but they need to fix it so it delivers what was promised and add features later. At the moment, they seem to just be adding new feature which is really sad.

Don't get me wrong, this is probably one of the better units out there, it's just really early in the game for these types of units. I'm actually on a waiting list for a unit from another vendor that looks very promising, that offers what the EVA does (minus the TV Tuner support), can add a drive to internally and is half the price.

"everything will be ok in the end. if it's not ok, it's not the end" - unknown

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Generic Member Avatar
Member
November 17, 2007 6:25 AM

Well thanks for all your advice. I returned the unit to the store last night. Unfortuanatly they didnt have another in stock and the tech support guys told me that the issues I was having were common to the unit. I decided to get another product from another vendor, ok it doesnt have mdmi hd and as my stereo appears not to have a digital audio input ill miss the oppertunity to have it way loud, but I think the neighbiurs may be thankfull for this. The new product worked straight from the box. no issues found so far. The UI isnt as nice as the netgear but its kinda like the i-tunes UI so its a breze to use.

 Its a shame that the EVA has been rushed to market before it was working as it was advertised. I for one have lost faith in the product. IMHO Netgear will lose out over this issue as ther are alternatives out there much cheaper that work.

Windy

BrandonC Avatar
Member
November 19, 2007 9:11 PM

windy miller said:  Its a shame that the EVA has been rushed to market before it was working as it was advertised.
Agreed, they let this one come out about a year too soon. It will be a good prodcut tho, based on what I see in the Betas 

Click here to see the BC Blog Click here to check out the SansaCommunity!

Generic Member Avatar
Member
  • member since: 03/12/2008
  • rank: 138 of 463
  • 1 comments
March 12, 2008 6:57 PM

Yes,

I fully agree!

Just bought one yesterday, play with a bit and everything was going pretty well.

Then I decided to update to the last firmware and did a clean restart system after it. 

Since that, i am stuck with the message "Powerin Up, Please wait". That is really a pain in the ass!!!

This box seems to have a great potential, but for now it just not works! And as i can see a lot of people are having problems too... 

And now i will be testing netgear's support which does not seems to be very reactive (more than 24 hours with no answer!).

 Enjoy yours!

Generic Member Avatar
Member
May 24, 2008 6:46 PM

I've had mine for a month, and it's been flawless. It does everything I need it to, although the remote-desktop thing is kind of a waste of programming.

Discussion:    Add a Comment | Back to Top | Comments 1-6 of 6 | Latest Comment

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