Ethernet Video Card?

[liquid885]

Hello all,

I am looking for the ability to add a second display to my computer that will be connected via ethernet. The idea is to install a device on the network that will have a video output to drive a screen remotely. Windows (or the OS) will view this card just like a video card installed via PCI. The application would be to use my TV in the livingroom as a second monitor for my laptop. This will allow me to easily duplicate or extend my laptop screen to the Plasma for easy slideshow or internet video viewing. It would also be a lot "thinner" and less complicated/expensive than a media server type application.

The idea would be a small device that has an ethernet port and either a DVI or HDMI port on the other side.

Has anyone heard of this? Any ideas why this cannot work? Seems like Gb ethernet can handle the video streaming bandwidth of a digital video signal...

Thanks for the thoughts!

[ogk]

http://www.muxlab.com/products/ve_HDMI_Econo_Extender_Kit.html

http://www.avovercat5.com/products/dvi.htm

Google can give more

[greymalkin]

why not go wireless? for the same price as those HDMI to ethernet boxes you could get something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Brite-View-BV-2500-Wireless-Transmitter-Receiver/dp/B0026FCGLI

[liquid885]

Thanks for the responses. My problem with these balun systems or extenders is that they only address the problem of cheap/flexible distance. They require hardware and an additional video port on the laptop end.

More specifically, I would find value in a device that speaks the TCP protocol and display video. This way, I can add it to my local network, run a driver install on my laptop (no hardware installed on laptop), then have an additional monitor show up so the OS can extend or duplicate the desktop.

From my searches, I have not found such a device. What I am looking for is confirmation that there is nothing that exists and agreement that this would be a valuable accessory.

[edDV]

There are USB2 to DVI-D video display devices but I haven't seen one with the equivalent of AVIVO-HD or PureVideo-HD for video decode, deinterlace, inverse telecine, scaling, etc. The total load would go to the software player.

[nic2k4]

You mean this:
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3109386&CatId=1430
or
http://cgi.ebay.ca/AddLogix-EchoView-Wireless-Video-Adapter-MA-WL-DVI-/350291284469?cm...item518efcd1f5

They wont let you extend your display, probably could be done, but might not be worth the effort. Not much value in having to constantly move around to see one screen or the other.

These are actual USB video cards:
wired http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4266219&csid=_21
wireless http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4277814&CatId=467

They give you all the advantages of a separate video card.

[Khaver]

Try this: http://www.zoneos.com/zonescreen.htm

You'll need a computer with network card with your remote monitor attached to act as the receiver.

[edDV]

These are actual USB video cards:
wired http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4266219&csid=_21
wireless http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4277814&CatId=467

They give you all the advantages of a separate video card.

Some advantages. You get limited or no 3D game acceleration, and unspecified video processing. You would probably need to rely on software processing with a player like Cyberlink PowerDVD.

I haven't seen a USB display card from NVidia or ATI/AMD yet. If they design one, expect it to have a fan.

[liquid885]

You mean this:
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3109386&CatId=1430
or
http://cgi.ebay.ca/AddLogix-EchoView-Wireless-Video-Adapter-MA-WL-DVI-/350291284469?cm...item518efcd1f5

They wont let you extend your display, probably could be done, but might not be worth the effort. Not much value in having to constantly move around to see one screen or the other.

This is more like what I am describing. Thanks for the help. I think these types of devices would work perfect for a classroom or living room environment. I will try it out or make my own

Cheers!