I'll be retiring soon and need to cut my monthly expenses for HD programming. I thought I would be able to switch from my current satellite system to a system of internet-based connections such as Netflix, which I currently have, and add some services like Hulu, Vudu, and any others someone would recommend, that would: a> replace my current satellite feed, b> provide at least 720i programming, and not involve unique hardware boxes.
I have a 61" Samsung 1080p DLP set that I'm happy with and have a PS3, satellite STB, LG Blu-ray with Netflix (Instant Queue only), a laptop PC, and some older DVD and VHS equipment feeding the TV with a Pioneer 5.1ch audio receiver. What I wanted to do was replace the PS3 with a newer internet-ready Blu-ray player that would handle more services in a more sophisticated way (Netflix search for instance, and DLNA recognition). My wife is addicted to certain programs, largely from the SYFY network. I am considering the Panasonic BDT110 Blu-ray player which claims DLNA capability so I investigated some DLNA software I could run on a home server, Playon and Tversity, to feed programming to such a blu-ray player. But what I've discovered so far is that the programming available to play through this kind of software is dismal for resolution, some of the TV programming appearing to be no better than 240p YouTube videos. I have a 7mbps DSL feed that I'm going to upgrade to 12mbps (Qwest CenturyLink doesn't appear to be offering FIOS in my neighborhood - possibly ever!). And my home network is Gigabit but most of my devices can't interact at more than 100mbps because of older switch technology - but that should be sufficient for running HD feeds around the house locally and the 7mbps DSL has so far worked well with Netflix and their highly compressed HD programming. Netflix directly from the PS3 is watchable although nowhere near true HD. Netflix also works well with HD programming from the LG Blu-Ray player but can only access the Instant Queue. But Netflix HD fed directly through the attached 1.8GHz dual core Laptop to the TV is jerky - which I assume to be a processor horsepower problem since the laptop and PS3 are on the same network segment. And my problem with the PS3 is all the video formats the PS3 doesn't support when fed video from a network server - including tVersity feeds of local HD files that SONY declares corrupt but play on every PC in the house from Windows 2000 boxes through XP up to Win 7.
So against that context, what would anyone recommend as a way to get HD, albeit sometimes no better than 720 lines, through a home network off the internet? I have lots of computers to use as servers, I have a 100mbps network, and a 7mbps DSL feed I plan to upgrade to 12mbps - so what do I need to be able to serve quasi-HD feeds to the TV? And I am on a very restricted budget! Things like a Roku XDS or the Panasonic BDT110 are doable but not a lot more than that kind of money, i.e. under $150, but I need to know what other people have done that works to serve TV programming in quasi-HD from the internet - what software or hardware will actually work? So far I am unimpressed by Playon and TVersity and am assuming that subscriptions to Hulu and Vudu and a few others may get me the HD programming - but what box or software on a PC will serve that without major issues?
I have a 61" Samsung 1080p DLP set that I'm happy with and have a PS3, satellite STB, LG Blu-ray with Netflix (Instant Queue only), a laptop PC, and some older DVD and VHS equipment feeding the TV with a Pioneer 5.1ch audio receiver. What I wanted to do was replace the PS3 with a newer internet-ready Blu-ray player that would handle more services in a more sophisticated way (Netflix search for instance, and DLNA recognition). My wife is addicted to certain programs, largely from the SYFY network. I am considering the Panasonic BDT110 Blu-ray player which claims DLNA capability so I investigated some DLNA software I could run on a home server, Playon and Tversity, to feed programming to such a blu-ray player. But what I've discovered so far is that the programming available to play through this kind of software is dismal for resolution, some of the TV programming appearing to be no better than 240p YouTube videos. I have a 7mbps DSL feed that I'm going to upgrade to 12mbps (Qwest CenturyLink doesn't appear to be offering FIOS in my neighborhood - possibly ever!). And my home network is Gigabit but most of my devices can't interact at more than 100mbps because of older switch technology - but that should be sufficient for running HD feeds around the house locally and the 7mbps DSL has so far worked well with Netflix and their highly compressed HD programming. Netflix directly from the PS3 is watchable although nowhere near true HD. Netflix also works well with HD programming from the LG Blu-Ray player but can only access the Instant Queue. But Netflix HD fed directly through the attached 1.8GHz dual core Laptop to the TV is jerky - which I assume to be a processor horsepower problem since the laptop and PS3 are on the same network segment. And my problem with the PS3 is all the video formats the PS3 doesn't support when fed video from a network server - including tVersity feeds of local HD files that SONY declares corrupt but play on every PC in the house from Windows 2000 boxes through XP up to Win 7.
So against that context, what would anyone recommend as a way to get HD, albeit sometimes no better than 720 lines, through a home network off the internet? I have lots of computers to use as servers, I have a 100mbps network, and a 7mbps DSL feed I plan to upgrade to 12mbps - so what do I need to be able to serve quasi-HD feeds to the TV? And I am on a very restricted budget! Things like a Roku XDS or the Panasonic BDT110 are doable but not a lot more than that kind of money, i.e. under $150, but I need to know what other people have done that works to serve TV programming in quasi-HD from the internet - what software or hardware will actually work? So far I am unimpressed by Playon and TVersity and am assuming that subscriptions to Hulu and Vudu and a few others may get me the HD programming - but what box or software on a PC will serve that without major issues?
