Your take on Asustor AS-202TE

[vgrove]

Hello Friends,

I know Synology (and also QNAP) is better but I am still picking up an Asustor pretty soon. So, just want some opinion from the fellow members on the Asustor AS-202TE? How good OR bad is it?

I know the read/write is slower when compared to DS214 but I am willing to sacrifice that for the HDMI port that the Asustor has.

Also, will the NAS work with just a single disc? I don't want to set up RAID right now.

Thanks in advance

 

[manniraj]

Hello Friends,

I know Synology (and also QNAP) is better but I am still picking up an Asustor pretty soon. So, just want some opinion from the fellow members on the Asustor AS-202TE? How good OR bad is it?

I know the read/write is slower when compared to DS214 but I am willing to sacrifice that for the HDMI port that the Asustor has.

Also, will the NAS work with just a single disc? I don't want to set up RAID right now.

Thanks in advance

I believe that Synology has a similar NAS with a built-in HDMI port. Check it out on there website.

 

[vgrove]

I believe that Synology has a similar NAS with a built-in HDMI port. Check it out on there website.

They don't actually. Not in the same or similar price range.

 

[manniraj]

But why are you looking for a all in one player for NAS and Media. You can get a good media player for around 6 to 7K and the remaining amount either a 2 bay NAS. I prefer the separate components give better performance for the almost similar amount.

 

[vgrove]

But why are you looking for a all in one player for NAS and Media. You can get a good media player for around 6 to 7K and the remaining amount either a 2 bay NAS. I prefer the separate components give better performance for the almost similar amount.

Because I am trying to cut down on the number of components that I use. As it is I am having trouble with the display from my Raspberry due to the through and through connections that I have.

Source (STB/PS3/DVD/Pi) ---> AVR ---> Upscaler/Converter ---> TV

Don't want to buy another Media Player and end up facing a similar problem.

Asustor, even if it gives the same problem as my Pi, is not a total loss. At least the NAS would be fully functional.

 

[manniraj]

Because I am trying to cut down on the number of components that I use. As it is I am having trouble with the display from my Raspberry due to the through and through connections that I have.

Source (STB/PS3/DVD/Pi) ---> AVR ---> Upscaler/Converter ---> TV

Don't want to buy another Media Player and end up facing a similar problem.

Asustor, even if it gives the same problem as my Pi, is not a total loss. At least the NAS would be fully functional.

Can you elaborate on the media playback problems with Pi as I am using the Pi in my bedroom setup with Synology NAS and it plays perfectly fine. List down your problems in the components that you have and FMs might be able to give suggestions. So instead of all in one you can get only the NAS and use the Pi for media playback, should not be an issue unless you want to do HD audio which I believe the Pi does not support. Will save some money

 

[vgrove]

Can you elaborate on the media playback problems with Pi as I am using the Pi in my bedroom setup with Synology NAS and it plays perfectly fine. List down your problems in the components that you have and FMs might be able to give suggestions. So instead of all in one you can get only the NAS and use the Pi for media playback, should not be an issue unless you want to do HD audio which I believe the Pi does not support. Will save some money

The problem is with the display coming on itself. It's only rare that it'll show up on the screen. And even if it does (after toggling through different sources in an attempt to start it) it flickers most of the times and then just disappear. A direct connection to the TV works fine.

Also, I intend to use XBMC, which is sluggish over Pi.

And btw, it'll cost more to go in for a new Media Player and Synology as compared to just the Asustor

 

[manniraj]

The problem is with the display coming on itself. It's only rare that it'll show up on the screen. And even if it does (after toggling through different sources in an attempt to start it) it flickers most of the times and then just disappear. A direct connection to the TV works fine.

Also, I intend to use XBMC, which is sluggish over Pi.

And btw, it'll cost more to go in for a new Media Player and Synology as compared to just the Asustor

What AVR do you use and also tell us how do you powen on the sources/amp/TV, I mean the sequence? I use the Openelec XBMC on the Pi and it is buttery smooth even with a 30GB HD audio file streaming over LAN (powerline ethernet adapters) from my NAS. I think there is a thread in the HTPC section on how to connect and switch the sources on in the sequence explained in detail. Please check it and I hope that you resolve the Pi issue and just get the NAS without any additional media player. By the way did you try using the PS3 for media playback, I believe its a very good capable media player.

 

[vgrove]

What AVR do you use and also tell us how do you powen on the sources/amp/TV, I mean the sequence? I use the Openelec XBMC on the Pi and it is buttery smooth even with a 30GB HD audio file streaming over LAN (powerline ethernet adapters) from my NAS. I think there is a thread in the HTPC section on how to connect and switch the sources on in the sequence explained in detail. Please check it and I hope that you resolve the Pi issue and just get the NAS without any additional media player. By the way did you try using the PS3 for media playback, I believe its a very good capable media player.

I have a Denon 2313. I have tried all sort of sequences without any luck. It's most likely the upscaler (Atlona AT Line EX) causing the problem, which unfortunately cannot be removed from the setup.

Pi has OpenELEC XBMC.

PS3 is pretty good but I've had problems with various formats.

 

[manniraj]

I have a Denon 2313. I have tried all sort of sequences without any luck. It's most likely the upscaler (Atlona AT Line EX) causing the problem, which unfortunately cannot be removed from the setup.

Pi has OpenELEC XBMC.

PS3 is pretty good but I've had problems with various formats.

Why do you want to use upsalar as you already have the HDMI from Pi to your AVR connected as pass through and let the AVR decode it playback the audio without any processing for video. I am not aware of this Atlona AT Line EX upsalar, let me google it.

 

[vgrove]

Why do you want to use upsalar as you already have the HDMI from Pi to your AVR connected as pass through and let the AVR decode it playback the audio without any processing for video. I am not aware of this Atlona AT Line EX upsalar, let me google it.

I have an NTSC TV and the upscaler converts the PAL signal to NTSC.

 

[manniraj]

I have an NTSC TV and the upscaler converts the PAL signal to NTSC.

Hmm, but to my limited knowledge I think when using a HDMI port the NTSC/PAL is irrelevant. I may be wrong.

 

[vgrove]

Hmm, but to my limited knowledge I think when using a HDMI port the NTSC/PAL is irrelevant. I may be wrong.

Unfortunately it is not the case. Else I wouldn't have spent close to 16k on that upscaler back in the day.

You do need a converter for composite/component/HDMI. Only VGA works.

 

[srinisundar]

I am currently using 604-T for almost 6 months and running superbly without any problem and it has XBMC builtin ..And i am using for streaming / directly play of audio and video.

Regards

 

[vgrove]

I am currently using 604-T for almost 6 months and running superbly without any problem and it has XBMC builtin ..And i am using for streaming / directly play of audio and video.

Regards

Thanks Srini. Good to hear from a first hand user. How many discs do you have running? Does the NAS run with a single disc or does it have to be paired with at least one more?

 

[abhi80]

Am willing to buy this myself, can you share where can I purchase it.

 

[vgrove]

Am willing to buy this myself, can you share where can I purchase it.

I'm actually having it brought in from the US by a traveler.

 

[Mohanavel]

Even am using Synology 414+PI(Raspmc)+Denon 3132 working perfect,Only issue is i cant use large files if more than 20gb. After i saw manniraj post let me try using Openlac and try large files

 

[koushik]

Unfortunately it is not the case. Else I wouldn't have spent close to 16k on that upscaler back in the day.

You do need a converter for composite/component/HDMI. Only VGA works.

Even then, a media player would have solved your problem as there is option in almost all media player to put out PAL or NTSC.

 

[manniraj]

Even am using Synology 414+PI(Raspmc)+Denon 3132 working perfect,Only issue is i cant use large files if more than 20gb. After i saw manniraj post let me try using Openlac and try large files

Are you running LAN cable between Pi and the NAS or using WiFi? I am running via LAN and it plays smoothly without any issue even with a file of 30 to 40gb HD audio. It seems that these kind of big files (high bit rates) movie files stutter if played over wifi.