Hey guys,
I have been using GBPVR for years now and I love it. I just closed on a new house and am trying to set up an LCD HDTV in my bedroom, which is one floor above my office. My computer will be in the office.
One of the nicest things about my new house is that I finally have QAM, so I can record HD programs. Now, I want to stream those recordings to the TV in my bedroom over the wireless-N network. As far as I can tell, I have a few options, but none of them seem like slam dunks. Here is what I've come up with:
1. Additional Computer.
I could build another computer and keep it in the room. I figure this would probably cost around $300-400 in order to have enough horsepower to play HD video.
2. Network Media Player.
I've been looking at these alot lately, and each one has its own drawbacks. The D-Link products require a Viiv processor and aren't available in wireless N. The Linksys products do come in N, but require Windows Media Center and Vista (don't use either). The netgear lineup looks the most promising- it has wireless N and works with XP. I just don't know if it plays all of GBPVRs formats. It costs $300. EDIT: The netgear is only G, not N. So there goes that idea.
3. Monitor Mirroring
This setup would be the most exciting, but the most difficult. It would require me to run wires through the wall to hook up my TV directly to my computer. I would need to use a USB KVM extender at least, and either run a monitor cable, buy a USB graphics adapter for $150, or convert the monitor to component with a $100 converter and run 5 rca-style wires. Total cost would be anywhere from $100-$250 for all of the wires and supplies, but it would take days and days of my time, and I've never done anything like it before. My room is diretly above my office though, so it is a possibility.
4. Laptop:
Just hook up my laptop to the tv when I want to watch something. This is the least elegant but the easiest since I already have all of the necessary cables.
I'm trying to make my new room really nice, so I'm installing the LCD flush on the wall and hiding all of the wires in the wall. I really want to keep it clean no matter what I do, so the laptop and desktop solutions kind of go against that feeling. I think I can wire up a network media player to look nice though.
Any thoughts? I really don't want to spend more than $300, and would prefer to spend less than that.
I have been using GBPVR for years now and I love it. I just closed on a new house and am trying to set up an LCD HDTV in my bedroom, which is one floor above my office. My computer will be in the office.
One of the nicest things about my new house is that I finally have QAM, so I can record HD programs. Now, I want to stream those recordings to the TV in my bedroom over the wireless-N network. As far as I can tell, I have a few options, but none of them seem like slam dunks. Here is what I've come up with:
1. Additional Computer.
I could build another computer and keep it in the room. I figure this would probably cost around $300-400 in order to have enough horsepower to play HD video.
2. Network Media Player.
I've been looking at these alot lately, and each one has its own drawbacks. The D-Link products require a Viiv processor and aren't available in wireless N. The Linksys products do come in N, but require Windows Media Center and Vista (don't use either). The netgear lineup looks the most promising- it has wireless N and works with XP. I just don't know if it plays all of GBPVRs formats. It costs $300. EDIT: The netgear is only G, not N. So there goes that idea.
3. Monitor Mirroring
This setup would be the most exciting, but the most difficult. It would require me to run wires through the wall to hook up my TV directly to my computer. I would need to use a USB KVM extender at least, and either run a monitor cable, buy a USB graphics adapter for $150, or convert the monitor to component with a $100 converter and run 5 rca-style wires. Total cost would be anywhere from $100-$250 for all of the wires and supplies, but it would take days and days of my time, and I've never done anything like it before. My room is diretly above my office though, so it is a possibility.
4. Laptop:
Just hook up my laptop to the tv when I want to watch something. This is the least elegant but the easiest since I already have all of the necessary cables.
I'm trying to make my new room really nice, so I'm installing the LCD flush on the wall and hiding all of the wires in the wall. I really want to keep it clean no matter what I do, so the laptop and desktop solutions kind of go against that feeling. I think I can wire up a network media player to look nice though.
Any thoughts? I really don't want to spend more than $300, and would prefer to spend less than that.
