KISS DP-500 Multiformat
(DVD/DivX/XVid) Player
with built in Ethernet Interface
Field Test Report
by P. Mateus
2003.11.08
The goal for this report is to present the major features and
setup details for a
KISS DP-500 Multi Format media player with built in Ethernet support - that
allows this unit to access and directly reproduce multimedia files stored
over a local area network storage. This unit is fully software upgradable with
official firmware releases being released on a regular basis. Also 3rd party
tweaks and PC based software solutions are available.
The unit used for the test was acquired online from
Nomatica for approx.
270 EUR (price inc. 2 day delivery by FEDEX from France to Portugal).
A two year warranty comes as standard.
Original package contains:
1 KISS DP-500 unit
1 infrared remote command (inc. 2 AAA alkaline bat.)
1 set of cables (pack labeled individual closed plastic bags)1 Power Cable
1 SCART Cable
1 Video RCA (composite)
1 Audio RCA (L/R, stereo)1 color printed manual (A4 size)
1 CD-ROM (PC-Link 1.0 Software)
[Note: no Ethernet cable is included on the original package]
The included cables were not used. They are standard OEM average quality selections. The cables used instead were:1 Profigold SCART interconnect cable
1 Vivanco Optical interconnect cable
1 Bandridge Ethernet UTP/CAT5 cable
Official Product Specs:
http://www.kiss-technology.com/?p=dp500&v=users
Setting up...
Outside casing (high quality plastic and aluminium), buttons/commands
and back connections: optical and coaxial digitals, SCART, S-Video,
Composite-Video and Stereo RCA (L/R).
Local Area Network (LAN) connection was established over a
DPL/PLC (Power Line) Bridge [for details on this Power Line LAN setup
please
check here].
Connections made to the AV amplifier, a
YAMAHA DSP A5 and
to the TV, a SONY 28FX66E [16:9 100Hhz Trinitron].
Setup Menu
Firmware Upgrades
The setup menu allow to configure preferences, connections,
language and TV screen settings. A
firmware upgrade
was done just after the first power up (from the factory 2.6.0 to the new
2.7.4). Also the Toshiba DVD drive firmware that support this KISS DP-500
was upgraded for
multiregion support. Upgrades are very easy to do - all done using internet
based ISO downloads (from the official site), recorded to auto-boot CDs that the KISS DP-500 auto
plays and prompts on screeen for simple options for confirmation of the
upgrade procedures.
Network Menu
With the 2.7.4 Firmware both automatic
(DHCP) IP and manual IP configuration is possible (previous firmware
releases would require a DHCP server present since there was no way for a
manual IP configuration). Following the wizard
(it simply asks for the input of IP from the local PC/Server on your LAN, where you
store the multimedia files and where the included PC-Link software must be
installed), and with one power cycle to ensure proper DHCP [IP] lease (or
just to ensure that all network configs are assumed) the
list of remote files is easly accessed and ready to be played.
Advanced [Hidden] Menu
To access use the open | clear |
2 | 7 | 6 | enter
key sequence on the remote command. On this menu
we can find details from the DVD drive used, on the firmware, RAM and
CPU
used, and also advanced options for Multi region and SCART management.
Video Advanced Properties Menu
While playing video using the "setup" option we can obtain
extra details on both video and audio codecs,
resolutions, rates, etc.
Testing
OK, DVD Region 1
OK, DVD Region 1
[RCE]
OK, DVD Region 2
OK, DVD+R
OK, DVD+RW
OK, SVCD (CDR/CDRW)
OK, DIVX and XVID with AC3 sound enconding
OK, JPEG Pictures
[further testing in progress]]
Links and Community:
KISS Technology
http://www.kiss-technology.com/
KISS Official Firmware Upgrades
http://www.kiss-technology.com/?p=updates&v=users
KISS DVD Community Forum:
http://www.gooddvdstuff.com/kissdvd/
Alternative Software for PC-Link:
http://www.kiss-ezlink.com/
Multi-Region Firmware Update:
http://www.firmware-flash.com/~hijacker/kiss/
Hard Disk Upgrade (not officialy supported)
http://www.audiomap.com/artikel/kiss/index-en.htm
All serial numbers and unique part number identifiers were digitally removed from the photos. 2003. Copyrighted by P. Mateus, All rights reserved. No image or text, as a all or in sections or samples, can be reproduced without formal request and authorization. There is no sponsor or partnership of any kind between the author and any of the brands or companies refered. This is a private and independent report.