Wireless Media Center help needed

Steelshivan · 04-29-2008, 08:25 PM

I want to make a wireless media center setup for my home. I will have a PC (with needed tv tuner, video card) in my bedroom, which is also my main pc (and only pc). My tv (typical flat-screen analog) is in the living room. I want to connect the two so I can do all of the usual media center stuff WITHOUT running any cabling from one room to the other. I plan on using MythTV in linux for this, not mce or any other OS.

I realize I need some sort of "extender" such as an Xbox 360, etc to make it a wireless connection so I don't need to run cables or have a pc in my living room. I do not plan on going with an Xbox 360, and am looking for a cheaper solution. I have looked online for maybe a couple hrs to no avail...for some reason it seems to be a fairly uncommon setup.

Please let me know if you have a cheap (or the cheapest known solutions) way to do this and what my options are if I have more than one. As a btw, I have a wireless adapter for my pc already, could one of those be used at all in this setup? Thanks.

Steelshivan · 05-08-2008, 09:37 AM

Essentially, I am looking for the cheapest setup possible that will still work well to have a media center pc.

If someone knows of a good way to have a wired connection from my bedroom (where my pc will be) to the tv, I would also be interested in that. The distance is approximately 33ft, or 45ft if i kept my pc where it is now. I could make do with a wired connection that way so I didn't have to buy a media center extender, at least until cheaper wireless extenders come on the market. What type of cable would I need to do this, and would using that cable for this use be effective for my needs, at those above distances? Thanks.

Black6 · 05-08-2008, 04:05 PM

One problem with that setup is the fact that the remote with your tuner will probably not work with the computer in another room. What I would do is pick up a cheap P4 on eBay since you won't need that much CPU power anyway and build up a dedicated machine that can sit next to the TV. If you want to network it with the other computers in the house, you could use your wireless card. Besides, I couldn't sleep with the noise of the fans in my bedroom all night while it was recording.

04-29-2008, 08:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
Steelshivan Gold Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 264	Wireless Media Center help needed I want to make a wireless media center setup for my home. I will have a PC (with needed tv tuner, video card) in my bedroom, which is also my main pc (and only pc). My tv (typical flat-screen analog) is in the living room. I want to connect the two so I can do all of the usual media center stuff WITHOUT running any cabling from one room to the other. I plan on using MythTV in linux for this, not mce or any other OS. I realize I need some sort of "extender" such as an Xbox 360, etc to make it a wireless connection so I don't need to run cables or have a pc in my living room. I do not plan on going with an Xbox 360, and am looking for a cheaper solution. I have looked online for maybe a couple hrs to no avail...for some reason it seems to be a fairly uncommon setup. Please let me know if you have a cheap (or the cheapest known solutions) way to do this and what my options are if I have more than one. As a btw, I have a wireless adapter for my pc already, could one of those be used at all in this setup? Thanks.

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05-08-2008, 09:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
Steelshivan Gold Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 264	Essentially, I am looking for the cheapest setup possible that will still work well to have a media center pc. If someone knows of a good way to have a wired connection from my bedroom (where my pc will be) to the tv, I would also be interested in that. The distance is approximately 33ft, or 45ft if i kept my pc where it is now. I could make do with a wired connection that way so I didn't have to buy a media center extender, at least until cheaper wireless extenders come on the market. What type of cable would I need to do this, and would using that cable for this use be effective for my needs, at those above distances? Thanks.

05-08-2008, 04:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Black6 Bronze Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 35	One problem with that setup is the fact that the remote with your tuner will probably not work with the computer in another room. What I would do is pick up a cheap P4 on eBay since you won't need that much CPU power anyway and build up a dedicated machine that can sit next to the TV. If you want to network it with the other computers in the house, you could use your wireless card. Besides, I couldn't sleep with the noise of the fans in my bedroom all night while it was recording.