Stream video to television via LAN

[davedeal]

I have been searching for days but don't seem to find anything (actually I find waaay too much, wealth of knowledge).

I am trying to find is a realativley simple way to watch videos on the TV in the den from files stored on the PC in the office (across the house). I have both wired and wireless APs available. My situation won't let me put a PC in the den, and I don't want a full fledged HTPC, just want a way to watch the video files (xvid, divx, mpg) stored on the pc. I have looked into something like the gateway ADC-220 or 320 but they seem to be discontinued. A simple device (aka slimp3) with or without remote would be ideal.
What's the consensus here?

Dave

[daveoggy]

You simply cannot beat a chipped xbox with xbox media centre IMHO.

You should be able to purchase an xbox pre-modded if DIY isn't your thing.

As for the software it's a little bit harder to find the binaries, but not impossible. Start looking here http://www.xboxmediacenter.de/download_files.htm

[Amish Electrician]

Do you video card have an Svid out if it does you can run a svideo cable to the other TV. They make a Svid wall jack that converts to cat 5 then back to Svid at other end.

[lchiu7]

What about a networked video player like this?

http://www.momitsu.com/dvd_880n_lan.html

Larry

[davedeal]

You simply cannot beat a chipped xbox with xbox media centre IMHO.

You should be able to purchase an xbox pre-modded if DIY isn't your thing.

As for the software it's a little bit harder to find the binaries, but not impossible. Start looking here http://www.xboxmediacenter.de/download_files.htm

This seems to be the most popular suggestion. Will do a little research on "custimizing" an xbox. Looks like I can get a refurb for ~100 US, +~50 for the chip. Definately looks promising. I need another tinker project (to go with my other 50 )

Amish Electrician
PostPosted: Dec 11, 2004 12:29
Do you video card have an Svid out if it does you can run a svideo cable to the other TV. They make a Svid wall jack that converts to cat 5 then back to Svid at other end.

I have been tinkering with that idea, but so far haven't been able to get a remote to work that far away (60') to control the pc. Still looking.

lchiu7
PostPosted: Dec 11, 2004 12:33
What about a networked video player like this?

http://www.momitsu.com/dvd_880n_lan.html

Has anyone tried this unit? Looks similar to the ADC-220. I like the concept, curious about the interface and the price.

[Amish Electrician]

For the cheap easy solution my why is best. You can get remote extenders that work fine not the RF ones but the IR ones that run on wire.

[lchiu7]

I use an IR extender that uses RF. There are two units, a unit that receives the IR signals and converts to RF to send over the air and a receiver that takes the RF signal and converts back to IR to beam at the remote unit. Works pretty well.

Larry

[lchiu7]

I have been tinkering with that idea, but so far haven't been able to get a remote to work that far away (60') to control the pc. Still looking.
.

http://www.smarthome.com/8024.html

[edDV]

1. Check out VideoLAN and see if it works for you
http://www.videolan.org/

2. Divx may directly stream over a LAN. Try a mapped network drive to get a local drive directory

3. Another way is Windows Media Encoder 9 (free)
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/encoder/default.aspx
I use WME9 to stream one of the cable boxes to the network so that channel can be viewed on my wireless notebook or any of the other PCs. I'm usually monitoring CNBC during the day. It can be viewed in a bowser.

WME9 will also directly detect my ATI AIW-8500DV card which has a RF remote that is good for up to 80-120ft. With that I can remotely change channels on the All in Wonder.

4. There is also ATI EasyShare if you have a ATI AIW and another ATI card at the remote computer.
http://www.ati.com/products/multimediacenter/eazyshare.html

PS: Ahh, no PC in the den. Just build a little shuttle box and hide it in a cabinet. Or run a long "ch3" coax" from an all-in wonder

[canadateck]

I run my video out to my main coaxial cable in the basement with a 3 way, and with the remote i hit channel 2 and it will switch my Video-2 on my T.v to show whats on my Computer, and i use the ATI wireless remote,Works better with a booster. This may not be the best way but it works for me.

[lchiu7]

1. Check out VideoLAN and see if it works for you
http://www.videolan.org/

2. Divx may directly stream over a LAN. Try a mapped network drive to get a local drive directory

Works for me. My videos are on my main machine in my office. I have a Shuttle PC in the bedroom to act as a PVR and it uses the TV as a monitor. It is connected to main machine over a 802.11b wireless connection. For Divx or Xvid files, the bandwidth is enough to play a video smoothly off the main machine, over the wireless LAN to the shuttle. I did try playing a MPEG2 encoded file and it was jerky - not enough bandwidth.

However on another machine I have (laptop) which has a 802.11a connection to that same desktop, MPEG2 files play fine (11mb/s versus 54mb/s I guess)

Larry

[junkmalle]

IF you want to use your computer's video output you can use a wireless A/V signal extender:

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=&product%5Fid=15%2D2572

[thesuarus1]

Check this from D-Link, it looks promising and on sale

http://support.dlink.com/products/view.asp?productid=DSM%2D320