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Posted

A number of members have these media players but are unaware that third-party firmware is available with a slew of extra features, like more internet stations/vids, torrenting, webpage, ftp, telnet etc. I wasn't aware either till I upgraded the firmware to the latest official version and encountered problems. Looking around for a fix, I encountered WDXTV. Great stuff! I installed it and love it. Worked immediately, didn't need to screw around with any settings.

It's analogous to installing OpenWrt on a router. In fact if you have a VPN on your OpenWrt router, you should be able to watch, say, Hulu and BBC thru the player--from Thailand I mean.

If you don't like it, it's possible to downgrade your firmware later.

You'll need to do some research before you start, check your model number, pay attention to versions etc. Do at your own risk. All you need to know, and support, is here:

http://b-rad.cc/wdlxtv-live

http://wiki.wdlxtv.com/Main_Page

http://forum.wdlxtv.com/

http://forums.whirlp...archive/1759007

Posted

Good write-up, these builds are gems. I have DD-WRT installed on a router on my network, and the VPN details are embedded in it, so anything I plug into it goes straight to the US.

Posted

The WDTV Live player was widely available in Thailand, but I believe there are more modern boxes out there now.

WDLXTV is quite a nice hack though, and it is easy to test or change different firmwares without flashing.

Posted

Did you pick this box up in Thailand. If so where. Or did you bring it with you from outside. Thanks.

WDTV is available in a Western Digital shop in Pantip. there are two models available, the basic and the one with a 1TB HDD.

Posted

I had searched but couldnt find any firmware mods, thx for the heads up.

I got one of these a few months ago and was already planning on getting another. There around 3000 from the wd shop with no hd. Excellent if you have a NAS or similar even with the factory firmware. No remote media streamer is required, you just mount an NFS share.

Posted

Did you pick this box up in Thailand. If so where. Or did you bring it with you from outside. Thanks.

WDTV is available in a Western Digital shop in Pantip. there are two models available, the basic and the one with a 1TB HDD.

Hacks don't work on WD Live (1TB)

Posted

It's analogous to installing OpenWrt on a router. In fact if you have a VPN on your OpenWrt router, you should be able to watch, say, Hulu and BBC thru the player--from Thailand I mean.

Id guess there is already an openvpn ipkg for this? Netflix etc is blocked due to geolocation on the factory fw so that would be a permanent way to unblock it.

Posted

It's analogous to installing OpenWrt on a router. In fact if you have a VPN on your OpenWrt router, you should be able to watch, say, Hulu and BBC thru the player--from Thailand I mean.

Id guess there is already an openvpn ipkg for this? Netflix etc is blocked due to geolocation on the factory fw so that would be a permanent way to unblock it.

This may be helpful:

http://wiki.openwrt.org/inbox/vpn.howto

Posted

Did you pick this box up in Thailand. If so where. Or did you bring it with you from outside. Thanks.

WDTV is available in a Western Digital shop in Pantip. there are two models available, the basic and the one with a 1TB HDD.

Hacks don't work on WD Live (1TB)

True; as noted above, check the models. The links above give the model numbers. Obviously I have the basic.

You can attach an external USB HD to the basic model. With the hack, you can attach a USB hub, multiple HDs, and a DVD reader. :)

Posted

Cool hack. A friend bought two of the WD Live TV units in Pantip Plaza a week ago, 3700 baht each, no discount.

Good price! They've come down. :)

I love this hack, gives me a smile every time I fire up the player. What a piece of work.

Posted

Looks pretty good. I found a Live Plus (WDBABX0000NBK) on Amazon for $120, and a Wifi USB jobby for $11. On their way so I can play with this.biggrin.png

  • Like 1
Posted

Thanks for this thread.

It has prompted me to up date the firmware in my first generation player

I was a little worried I might brick it, but all went well

Now to see if if cures the restart problems when resuming a programme

  • 5 months later...
Posted

My remote for my WDTV player died. Really died, took to Amorn and they couldn't fix it. BUT the WDLXTV firmare allows you to telnet into the player and set remote codes for a different remote, as described here:

http://wiki.wdlxtv.com/Eiri

I did exactly that and I could then use the remote for an old DVD player I had stored away. Then I bought a programmable remote at PowerBuy and programmed it w/ the codes from the DVD player remote. Works a treat! In fact I programmed in a few codes from the Samsung TV remote, like volume up, device selection, etc.

Not to mention that the web interface of WDLXTV allows one to control the player via an onscreen virtual remote. VERY slick.

Posted

Can you get plex on a WDTV yet?

Why not? I've used the PS3 Media Server quite successfully, though now I'm accessing more directly via a Samba share. You can ask on the WDTV forums if you have doubts/problems.

Posted

I open the Smart TV and it sees the WDTVLive as a player. I can open it, locate to one of the two attached drives and play the content straight to the TV over the network.

I use Plex on the PC for the Drobo, but that's because it's got 10,000+ bits of video on it.

Posted

Very cool. I have one of those boxes lying around since forever, will have to try WDLXTV on it, maybe it'll give it a new lease of life...

Lemme know if you wanna sell it cheap.

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