getting movies from computer to TV

danger boy
danger boy Posts: 15,722
edited June 2007 in Electronics
Ok. I know MAC has some kind of unit that allows you to view music and movies from your Mac computer and send that info wirelessly to your home theater TV.

but do PC's also have something similar.

I want to burn my movies onto my 500 gig hard drive in my PC, it's upstairs and the home theater is downstairs.. is there some kind of unit that will sit on top or near the TV and receive a wireless signal from my computer to send movies there? if so, how good is the video quality ?
PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • cheddar
    cheddar Posts: 2,390
    edited June 2007
    danger boy wrote: »
    Ok. I know MAC has some kind of unit that allows you to view music and movies from your Mac computer and send that info wirelessly to your home theater TV.

    but do PC's also have something similar.

    I want to burn my movies onto my 500 gig hard drive in my PC, it's upstairs and the home theater is downstairs.. is there some kind of unit that will sit on top or near the TV and receive a wireless signal from my computer to send movies there? if so, how good is the video quality ?

    You mean besides a ps3 or 360? There are numerous media boxes from networking manufacturers. But I don't know about their quality. But if you own or are thinking of getting a ps3 or 360, they work well with media center capable pcs from what I hear. I haven't tried it since I burn my movies to a 200gig drive in my ps3 and they play every bit as well as they do on the pc. I think the ps3 might even upconvert the files as they display full screen on my 1080p set.
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  • Refefer
    Refefer Posts: 1,280
    edited June 2007
    danger boy wrote: »
    Ok. I know MAC has some kind of unit that allows you to view music and movies from your Mac computer and send that info wirelessly to your home theater TV.

    but do PC's also have something similar.

    I want to burn my movies onto my 500 gig hard drive in my PC, it's upstairs and the home theater is downstairs.. is there some kind of unit that will sit on top or near the TV and receive a wireless signal from my computer to send movies there? if so, how good is the video quality ?

    There are quite a few things you could do. I have a very cheap PC (Read: $300) that streams movies and tv shows wireless from my server computer across the house and outputs them via DVI or component to my HDTV. Works beautifully, especially since I use a remote and GB-PVR for the OSD of my htpc.
    Lovin that music year after year.

    Main 2 Channel System

    Polk SDA-1B,
    Promitheus Audio TVC SE,
    Rotel RB-980BX,
    OPPO DV-970HD,
    Lite Audio DAC AH,
    IXOS XHA305 Interconnects

    Computer Rig

    Polk SDA CRS+,
    Creek Audio 5350 SE,
    Morrow Audio MA1 Interconnect,
    HRT Music Streamer II
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited June 2007
    Refefer wrote: »
    There are quite a few things you could do. I have a very cheap PC (Read: $300) that streams movies and tv shows wireless from my server computer across the house and outputs them via DVI or component to my HDTV. Works beautifully, especially since I use a remote and GB-PVR for the OSD of my htpc.

    Cheddar, i don't have any plans to get a PS3 or 360.. so that's out.

    Refefer, i don't want to buy another computer.. but that's not a bad idea for about $300

    please explain it in more detail if you can.. what type of video card is in the cheapy PC? what type of audio card and processor? I'm still pretty new to going wireless..so if you can explain it to me that would be great. . thanks
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • cheddar
    cheddar Posts: 2,390
    edited June 2007
    Here's two of the media boxes I was thinking of:

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882139001

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882103603

    I haven't used them, but they should at least get you started in your research.
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  • Refefer
    Refefer Posts: 1,280
    edited June 2007
    danger boy wrote: »
    Refefer, i don't want to buy another computer.. but that's not a bad idea for about $300

    please explain it in more detail if you can.. what type of video card is in the cheapy PC? what type of audio card and processor? I'm still pretty new to going wireless..so if you can explain it to me that would be great. . thanks

    Yeah no problem

    I picked up a motherboard with a sempron 3100+ with an agp port and coax out for about $100. Found a Video card that offered DVI out, worst then this one for about $40, got a small harddrive (since everything was going to be stored remotely after all) for $20 , bought a case for about $20. For the remote, you can pick them up for about $50, though I got a Hauppauge tv-tuner card on sale for $50 which came with a remote. I picked up a basic cd-rom drive for $20, and all was peachy. I believe that all comes out to about $250. Grab a wireless card, and you're peachy.

    As for the software, I use the free GB-PVR which is super good. It runs as a front end and a back end, so you install it on your server computer and configure it as a server. You take the just build machine, install it as a client, set it up to use the server computer for the files, and you're good.

    I also use mine as a PVR, and have it set up to record different shows with commercial skip, pause live tv, etc., etc.

    I don't have any real problems with it, the interface is intuitive and works great. Playback is great. I believe there is even a plugin to upscale the dvds also, but I'm not completely sure.
    Lovin that music year after year.

    Main 2 Channel System

    Polk SDA-1B,
    Promitheus Audio TVC SE,
    Rotel RB-980BX,
    OPPO DV-970HD,
    Lite Audio DAC AH,
    IXOS XHA305 Interconnects

    Computer Rig

    Polk SDA CRS+,
    Creek Audio 5350 SE,
    Morrow Audio MA1 Interconnect,
    HRT Music Streamer II
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  • ViperZ
    ViperZ Posts: 2,046
    edited June 2007
    www.x10.com - these guys have video transmitter/receiver to send A/V from your computer to TV. You obviously will need a PC with video-out (like AIW card).
    Panasonic PT-AE4000U projector for movies
    Carada 106" Precision Series (Classic Cinema White)
    Denon AVR-X3600H pre/pro
    Outlaw 770 7-channel amplifier
    B&W CDM1-SE fronts
    B&W CDM-CNT center
    B&W CDM1 rears on MoPADs
    JBL SP8CII in-ceiling height speakers
    Samsung DTB-H260F OTA HDTV tuner
    DUAL NHT SubTwo subwoofers
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-Ray player
    Belkin PF60 Power Center
    Harmony 1100 RF remote with RF extender
    Sony XBR-X950G 55" 4K HDR Smart TV + PS3 in the living room
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  • fatchowmein
    fatchowmein Posts: 2,637
    edited June 2007
    I haven't played with this since I'm using my Xbox 360 and a Windows Media Center file server but my co-worker swears this is the best thing since slice bread. Plays DAT, MPG, MPE, MPEG, M2V, M1V, VOB, AVI, ASF, DIVX, DIVX HD, XVID, RMP4, MP4, VRO, M4V, M2P, HNL, WMV, WMV HD.

    http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=90144011&SearchEngine=PriceGrabber&SearchTerm=90144011&Type=PE&Category=Elec&dcaid=17741

    http://www.buffalotech.com/products/multimedia/linktheater-dvd/linktheater-wireless-g-high-definition-network-media-player-with-progressive-scan-dvd/
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