Common Issues with WD TV
Audio issues
I have an MKV file with DTS sound but I get no sound!
DTS cannot be played back (decoded) by the WD TV. It can downmix Dolby Digital AC3 5.1 sound to stereo so it can play sound on TV, but DTS can only be passed through. So if you connect it via HDMI or Toslink/optical to an audio receiver that supports DTS you can get DTS sound.

The workaround is to convert the file's DTS track to AC3 using PopCorn MKV AudioConverter (tutorial and download). It will leave the video alone, you can choose to keep the DTS track in the file - or remove it, and the conversion takes 5-10 minutes depending on file size and hard disc speed.

Stuttering DTS audio playback in MKV file
Many 1080p MKV files with DTS (or a 720p MKV with more than one audio stream, one of which is DTS) stutter during playback. The audio will cut in and out every few seconds. It is a known bug at the moment that affects certain MKV files with DTS, not all. If one of your files has this problem, there are two ways to fix it:

1. Remux the MKV into a .m2ts container using tsMuxeR. No transcoding is necessary and the process only takes a few minutes to complete. The resulting file may be about 1gb larger than the MKV and you will lose subtitle support. If you're using Windows, there's a GUI app. If you use Linux, there is a script that runs via a CLI terminal that will output the correct .meta file to run through the Linux CLI build of tsMuxeR. See the Linux help page. Thanks to FlangeMonkey@TDVDF (Original post found here)

* Run 'tsMuxerGUI.exe'
* In the 'Input' tab, select 'add' to import the file you want to remux
* Select 'M2TS muxing' under 'Output'
* Press 'Start muxing' and you will end up with a .m2ts file without the stuttering issues.

2. Cleanup track using PopCorn MKV AudioConverter.

* Download 'AudioConverter.exe' into a directory.
* Run the file and download the extra tools when prompted.
* Choose source and target file.
* On the right, check 'Convert DTS tracks?' box
* Select 'Cleanup track'
* Press 'Run' and a new cleaned MKV will be muxed without the stuttering issues. Subtitles and other tracks will be preserved.


My scanner found a (trojan) virus in PopCorn MKV AudioConverter!?
Probably not. It's been widely reported that some anti-virus scanners occasionally find a Trojan virus in PopCorn MKV AudioConverter, due to the way the executable was created. If you downloaded the program from a reliable source, you should be fine.

No Audio in my DVD-Video rip (Video_TS or ISO)
If you rip a DVD-Video and remove the primary audio track, then the WD TV will not play the remaining audio tracks. So, if possible, keep the primary track. You can repair this by editing the DVD rip, and assigning any language track as primary track (by setting ID 0x80). DVD Decrypter is reported to make this possible, maybe also IFOEdit. (Thanks to Ernie12121@AVSForum, post1, post2, post3)

Remote Control Issues
Remote Control not responding correctly
There seems to be a common conflict between some LCDs (especially Samsung and some Philips) and the WD TV's remote. The remote seems to act weirdly or even not work at all if your WD TV is near the TV. This is suspected to be due to high infra red radiation emitted by the LCD backlight.

Possible workarounds and experiments were discussed in forums (e.g. post 1, 2). A filter hack guide (with pictures) has been posted by Xtr3m3.

Diagnostic tips & possible solutions
1) You can try to reduce reflections by repositioning the WDTV or items in the room that cause reflections. The problem may be influenced by mirrors or reflective surfaces around the TV. You can test this out by using a towel or something similar to cover any reflective surfaces that may be the culprit and trying a few commands. If this helps you can try to reposition the WD so that it no longer receives the reflections.

2) The IR receiver on the WD seems to be highly sensitive and may benefit from a filter. You can try various materials to act as a filter before you go the whole hog and take the WDTV apart to install a filter on the inside. A lens from an old pair of sunglasses any dark tinted plastic or window film might do. It may not even have to be tinted if it has IR reflective characteristics. Just try it out by placing it over the area between the USB and Power indicator lights. If this helps then go ahead and install it if you feel up to it or just cut it to fit and tape it or glue it over the area where the IR receiver is. The person who posted the filter hack used a piece of anti static film from a bag that a graphics card or memory stick usually comes in. Essentially a partially aluminized mylar. He took his unit apart and installed it internally to cover the IR receiver.
Leave a note on this page or the AVSforum if this works for you!

A note for Samsung users:
Disabling the 'Power Saving' option for the TV may immediately rectify the problem. Set from Auto/Low/Med/High to OFF. This has been reported to be successful by several users on the following hardware:

LE32N71 (also marketed as the LAxxN71 series in other markets). Reference 1
LN40A650 (also marketed as the LExxA650, LAxxA650 series). References: 1, 2
LA40M81 (also marketed as the LExxM86 LExxM87 series)
[Where xx represents panel size in inches]

System issues
My WD TV freezes while upgrading the firmware
This is a known issue (fixed in firmware 1.01.02). You need to upgrade the firmware using a small external hard drive (supposedly max. 320GB). It is recommended to use a small USB memory stick, preferably even with no other (media) files on it. If the firmware upgrade has already failed, place the memory stick with only the firmware files into the unit and power it on. The firmware should be automatically upgraded approximately one minute after the error message appears.

My NTFS hard disk isn't being recognized
1) did you use the Windows tool convert to change the disk from FAT32 file system to NTFS? Several users on AVSForum have mentioned that their hard disk was not being recognized after using convert. The solution is a clean format - but be warned that this will erase the data on the disk.
2) did you remove the disk from a Windows computer without using "Safely Remove"? WD knowledge base article 2748 claims that the WDTV will not read the disk in this case. Connect again to a Windows computer, and use "Safely Remove". This will unset a marking bit on the disk that it was improperly disconnected.

Does the WD TV support HDMI 1.2 or HDMI 1.3?
We don't know for certain, but it seems most likely to be HDMI 1.2. Western Digital has not answered this publicly. Some users have contacted WD support, and at least one (or two?) has been told it's HDMI 1.3, while another was told it's 1.2; obviously causing confusion. However, user piecutter@AVSForum reported opening up the WD TV and finding electronic components for which the specs say that it's HDMI 1.2. (Some other posts: 1, 2, 3, and related: "How can the Popcorn A-110 be HDMI 1.3 with a Sigma Designs SMP8635")

Can I attach an external DVD, CD or BluRay drive?
Officially, no. Basically, any writable mass storage device (hard disc, memory stick, cameras) seems to work, and a few media players. But no optical drives. See WD KB article 2729. However, a group working on unofficial firmware modifications has reported to have added this feature!

Can I use a USB hub to attach more external devices?
Yes, but it's not officially supported. While there is no word about this on the WD website or support site, the manual does say twice that use of USB hubs is not supported. However, several users have reported (posts 1, 2, 3, 4) using an powered USB hub successfully. Also at least one user reported (post 1) using a bus-powered hub. Your different hard drives then show as subfolders of the USB1 or USB2 root node in the folder navigation. Also, the media library aggregation functions (e.g. show all videos) work across all drives on the hub (post 1). It's been reported (post 1) also that the eject procedure when using a hub is a bit more complex, needing to "eject" the hub as many times as there are disks attached to it. Also, users of the unofficial firmwares have reported using USB hubs when they attach network interfaces (USB connectors to LAN or WLAN).

Which chipset is used at the heart of the WD TV?
According to people who opened up their WD TV (Maddhat, Piecutter), there is a Sigma Designs SMP8635LF chip inside. One user asked WD Support, and received answer that it's a Sigma Designs SMP8634. That's a chip from the same chipset series, with one minor difference (additional Macrovision support) according to the Sigma Designs product page & brochure. We assume that the WD support guy was confused, and that it's a SMP8635.

*Courtesy of WD TV Wiki