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A/V extenders?

2572 Views 50 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  Jim J, 
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Has anybody here experimented with an A/V extender from a HTPC to a TV? By A/V extender, I mean something that just transmits the audio and video signals from the outputs on the PC. Are there any worth checking out?
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Nothing huh?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CrispyFish /forum/post/0


Has anybody here experimented with an A/V extender from a HTPC to a TV? By A/V extender, I mean something that just transmits the audio and video signals from the outputs on the PC. Are there any worth checking out?
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Your question is way too generic I guess, hence no replies... This whole forum is full of nothing but these devices, so you have read some of the threads, looked at the comparison spreadsheet, etc? If you had something more specific, you would probably get replies.


peter
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Quote:
Originally Posted by plumeria /forum/post/0


Your question is way too generic I guess, hence no replies... This whole forum is full of nothing but these devices, so you have read some of the threads, looked at the comparison spreadsheet, etc? If you had something more specific, you would probably get replies.


peter
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I don't think you understood the question. Most of the devices in this forum stream media, which the receiving device then decodes. I just want to transmit the A/V signals. Huge difference.
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Just check out the HTPC forum on this website-you will find more than enough info. there. But to answer what I think your basic question is, you really only need a graphics card with an output that will hook up to your TV or AV Receiver. If you are in need of outputting HD content it will help to have a very fast processor and a high end graphics card. The HTPC forum will help you out with choosing.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dobeman /forum/post/0


Just check out the HTPC forum on this website-you will find more than enough info. there. But to answer what I think your basic question is, you really only need a graphics card with an output that will hook up to your TV or AV Receiver. If you are in need of outputting HD content it will help to have a very fast processor and a high end graphics card. The HTPC forum will help you out with choosing.
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Perhaps I should have been more clear. I already have an HTPC. I want to be able to move the HTPC to a different room and still transmit the signals to my TV and receiver.
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GreySkies

Quote:
Originally Posted by CrispyFish /forum/post/0


Perhaps I should have been more clear. I already have an HTPC. I want to be able to move the HTPC to a different room and still transmit the signals to my TV and receiver.
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There are baluns to transmit video over cat5, or, VGA and component can be sent over five and three coax cables respectively.


You can send line-level audio over coax, either analog or digital.
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Any way to do it wirelessly, to satisfy the WAF?
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GreySkies

Quote:
Originally Posted by CrispyFish /forum/post/0


Any way to do it wirelessly, to satisfy the WAF?
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Oy-- there's the fly in the ointment. There was this box from Linksys , which is an extender for Windows Media Center only; it was supposed to control all of the media functions on a Media Center PC, but display via the extender instead of the PC. It looks to be what you're looking for-- provided your HTPC is running Media Center. There may be some left somewhere.


Otherwise, for video, there's a couple of wireless video repeaters with which I have no experience (leap frog?, IIRC). And I don't think any of those will do anything above SD video.


I'm not a fan of using wireless for any sort of streaming. I had to use it to stream music before I ran ethernet and ran into problems with running the microwave at the same time. I think stuttering music/video would be more of a problem with WAF-- at least it was for me.
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I just purchased the Tvix 4100sh and it does an excellent job of streaming files from my PC, this includes my HD .m2ts/.mpg files from my HDV camcorder, which are 25mbps. I use a wired LAN to stream the signal. You can also install a 3.5' stata drive in the unit. Just read the threads or check out digitalconnection.com for details on the unit.
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That's not the same as streaming a video signal... far more limiting...
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I suppose this is over my head; however, I do know you can get something like stores have for sending out video signals to multiple monitors throughout a store. I think I saw something about this over on AV forums, but if I remember correctly it was extremely expensive, but might be worth checking out.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CrispyFish /forum/post/0


Any way to do it wirelessly, to satisfy the WAF?
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You are spoon feeding us, requirement by requirement.. better to get it all listed up front ;-)


Try this
http://www.rflinkusa.com/products_AVS5811.html

Generally very solid reviews, but only stereo sound, but you can't have everything


peter
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Quote:
Originally Posted by plumeria /forum/post/0


You are spoon feeding us, requirement by requirement.. better to get it all listed up front ;-)
Click to expand...

Sorry if I wasn't clear enough up front. I thought the term "A/V extender" would be well understood, and that my mention of an HTPC would make it clear that I already know how to hook up a PC directly to a TV. I'm looking for something less direct. I thought it was pretty straightforward. *shrug*
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GreySkies
There might be more suggestions in the Home A/V Distribution & Networking forum. Although I don't think that anything exists to wirelessly send audio and HD video in the way you mean.
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If baluns are out you will typically need a streamer device at the TV end. I am unaware of any wireless baluns.


Wireless streaming of HD material is iffy at best. I haven't heard of a system other than Neosonic which is rather expensive, that works. Neosonic works IMHO because it recodes the material into a format which has a lower bitrate then extracts the encoded material at the TV end. Even though many wireless routers claim throughputs upto 56Mbs their quality of service usually isn't up to par to stream 20Mbs HD content without dropouts.


If you are not interested in HD, wireless may work but as I said at the top you would still need a streamer device at the TV end.


Another option to hardwired ethernet is Powerline ethernet such as HomeplugAV components. These components are new to the market. Don't confuse HomeplugAV with Homeplug which only had a theoretical throughput of 11Mbs compared to HomeplugAV's theoretical throughput of 200Mbs. Again you would need a streamer

at the TV end such as the TVIX or Photobridge to play the source material from the PC.
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Quote:
Sorry if I wasn't clear enough up front. I thought the term "A/V extender" would be well understood,
Click to expand...

It is, that's why you got those answers.


What you're looking for, but don't seem to know the terminology for, is an RF video transmitter, such as those crappy 2.4GHz or 900MHz devices....which, by the way, is far more 'limiting' then a data streaming device.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Targus /forum/post/0


It is, that's why you got those answers.


What you're looking for, but don't seem to know the terminology for, is an RF video transmitter, such as those crappy 2.4GHz or 900MHz devices....which, by the way, is far more 'limiting' then a data streaming device.
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I really don't want to start an argument about terminology, but you might want to check out Google results for "A/V extender" . Let me know how many of those links use the term "RF video transmitter"... (besides the 8th one down, that is
)
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Hey Crispyfish,


I know it's not wireless, but in case you hadn't seen these before, here is a link to some of the baluns that were mentioned before.

http://www.nilesaudio.com/product_de...ems&catcdID=10


Now just figure out a way to run cat5 from point A to point B. Unless your living in a situation where you can't cut into walls (renting?); there is a way to do it. It may involve cutting into drywall, drilling some holes and then patching and painting but you may find if you hire a professional, that that costs less than the device that you're looking for.


If you'd like to keep the cost down by doing it yourself and would like some feedback about running the cat5, give us a little info about your room (what's above and below...basement - attic?) and maybe together we can help you figure out how to run the cable so you can accomplish what you want to accomplish. Maybe even post some pictures of the situation. Someone here who has a lot of retrofit custom installation experience may be able to help you figure out a way to run the cable discretely? I've been selling custom installation a long time and I can tell you it is very rare when a custom installer worth hiring can't get a cable from point A to point B without it being seen, except for the ends. Probably less than 1% of the time.


Respectfully,

Kevin
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kmccarthy /forum/post/0


Unless your living in a situation where you can't cut into walls (renting?)
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Unfortunately, that's my situation (renting).



I do appreciate the suggestions though.
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