PC's VGA/Audio to TV

Azunai · January 15, 2010, 11:59:17 PM

Ok, I need some more techie advice here. What I (or we rather, it's a joint project by me and my dad ^^) want to do is make it so our TV can broadcast computer imagery, essentially turn it into a 2nd monitor. We want this to be able to watch movies or view photographs stored on the PC on the TV. No biggie you might say, just pull a VGA cable from the PC to the TV. Very true, except the PC is 2 floors up from the TV. We have a laptop with which we've tried before, and it all works just fine. But it's a hassle to set up the laptop every time, and the files are generally not stored on it so we need to mess around with USB sticks etc. etc., so we'd rather a have a permanent connection that we can switch on and off at will, if costs permit it.

So today we got to talking about it and I was thinking whether there were any Wireless means of doing this. Some googling quickly got me to a device that seemingly did exactly what we wanted, but it seems the technology is still rather flawed. Interference caused by other wireless devices and networks and unable to transmit a steady signal through walls, and poor image/audio quality overall. Is it safe to say that wireless technology is not quite up to standards yet for this kind of thing, or have I just happened to stumble upon a very budget-bin product and is much better already available?

The second thing we've considered is pulling a direct and permanent cable down along the cables we already have running from my PC to downstairs (internet cable, TV signal for my own TV etc.). The option we have here is an HDMI-cable going from my videocard to the TV downstairs, but given the total distance that needs to be covered we'd probably end up with a cable of at least 15m, which ends up costing about ~Ã¢â€šÂ¬300,-. Seems a tad much, but then again it does exactly what those wireless devices would do, but with better quality of image and less of a hassle. However an HDMI-cable does not send along any audio, just a video signal, am I correct?

So in short, which of these 2 solutions is best, or are there any better? What we want in short is to be able to easily use the TV downstairs as a monitor for my (or possibly my dad's which is 1 floor below) PC, without having cables run visibly through the house or having to set up stuff every time we wish to do this. Distance between the 2 devices is roughly 15m.

lionheart · January 16, 2010, 12:42:59 AM

We do this at work, we send the signal over cat 5, have a look here.

lionheart · January 16, 2010, 12:45:01 AM

Or here.

Azunai · January 16, 2010, 12:54:57 AM

If I get this right I would need another Cat5 cable aside from my router (which is at my PC) to run downstairs right? And how would I connect the RGB plugs to my PC exactly? I only seem to have DIV/VGA ports on my videocard.

lionheart · January 16, 2010, 12:46:11 PM

The Maplins one has VGA connectors.

Yes you will need a CAT5 cable to send the signal over.

kregoron · January 19, 2010, 07:06:45 PM

why not just buy a tiny media center, and go wireless connection with it?

easy and fairly cheap way is for example the WD HD LIVE box, simple media center which supports most formats, and with a wireless dongle its wireless TADAAAA

Lexander · January 19, 2010, 07:19:18 PM

Quote from: kregoron;302003why not just buy a tiny media center, and go wireless connection with it?

:withstupid:

There are some very little ones that are also very cheap. Or just buy a Ps3 and do some gaming while at it ?

http://www.viewsonic.com/products/vot132.htm

Like that one, and I bet kreg has some more expertiece with those media centers

kregoron · January 19, 2010, 07:33:52 PM

Well a Atom 330/ION based Nettop is the best solution, but also a bit more hassle to get running perfect..

Nettop wise, i can only recommend the Asrock Ion 330

its the best Ion based media center out there, without doubt.. but it takes a few hours to get running perfect

Easy setup media center i can recommend the WD HD LIVE. Its ready to go when you get it, some limitations like no HDD and codecs are preset, but it playes currently nearly everything you throw at it.. and you can buy some cheap wireless dongles for it.. around where i live it retails for around 70Ã,Â£

DarkAngel · January 20, 2010, 04:18:29 PM

I currently use my Xbox 360, it cost me Ã,Â£50 2nd hand, and will stream anything i want from my pc its great!:)

Dewey · January 20, 2010, 05:19:53 PM

Hi Kregoron, can you fit a HD to it to give it pwr capability?

Quote from: kregoron;302006Well a Atom 330/ION based Nettop is the best solution, but also a bit more hassle to get running perfect..

Nettop wise, i can only recommend the Asrock Ion 330 its the best Ion based media center out there, without doubt.. but it takes a few hours to get running perfect

Easy setup media center i can recommend the WD HD LIVE. Its ready to go when you get it, some limitations like no HDD and codecs are preset, but it playes currently nearly everything you throw at it.. and you can buy some cheap wireless dongles for it.. around where i live it retails for around 70Ã,Â£

kregoron · January 21, 2010, 10:10:49 AM

the WD one has usb ports to connect USB harddrives yeah..

the Asrock has a built in HDD

Dewey · January 21, 2010, 12:48:08 PM

Is the software built into the WD for recording TV do you know?

Quote from: kregoron;302104the WD one has usb ports to connect USB harddrives yeah..

the Asrock has a built in HDD

ghoule211 · January 21, 2010, 05:45:06 PM

give me 2urs or so and will post you a link for a HDMI over wireless dongle that i think you will like, as it does the job ure describing...

unfortunately i have 124 servers to build and 1 week to do it

and my WDS server is acting up.....

kregoron · January 21, 2010, 10:32:11 PM

Quote from: Dewey;302110Is the software built into the WD for recording TV do you know?

I dont there is a way to use the WD to record TV.. its possible with the Asrock by using a USB tuner..

The reason im suggesting the WD / Asrock solution is because you dont have the same flexibility and ease of use..
Example i for a while used a DVI -> HDMI cable to transmit movies to my TV, and the fact that i had to go to the puter every single time to change a movie was just to much hassle..

so i bought a Asrock Ion 330 i chose the asrock because of its DVDrw (BD model has blu ray) and its reviews are premium. and i wanted the flexibity of installing my own OS and not being limited to certain certified models (WD USB disk for storage and WD NAS boxed for network storage)..
i can configure it any way i want..
ive installed both windows 7 and XBMC.. windows 7 for when i wanna use it for small games, and XBMC as media center and its awsome.

ghoule211 · January 21, 2010, 11:41:06 PM

http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=194354&partner=uknews

there ya go, and a bit quicker than 24 hours that i promised...