PC for TV
Keeping Danny in Sandwiches
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PC for TV
I am interested in getting a Windows pc in the lounge to download internet TV. Obviously I would prefer not to have a fan buzzing away.
At the present time I have been using my 3 year old netbook but it is clearly inadequate for the job as its graphics and RAM aren't up to speed.
Any suggestions as to what I can get to do the job at a reasonable price; I don't need a monitor?
At the present time I have been using my 3 year old netbook but it is clearly inadequate for the job as its graphics and RAM aren't up to speed.
Any suggestions as to what I can get to do the job at a reasonable price; I don't need a monitor?
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just internet TV? Or any TV?
If just the internet almost any PC with fast enough graphics and a big drive would do. The network connection is really the limiting factor
Or do you intend to use tuners as well? If so, satellite or terrestrial?
If just the internet almost any PC with fast enough graphics and a big drive would do. The network connection is really the limiting factor
Or do you intend to use tuners as well? If so, satellite or terrestrial?
Keeping Danny in Sandwiches
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I am looking to download Internet TV onto my TV in the lounge and get a decent picture. With the netbook the picture keeps buffering and breaking up when ther is fast movement.
I presume that a decent graphics card and memory is a must.
I presume that a decent graphics card and memory is a must.
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"the picture keeps buffering and breaking up"
Thats more likely to be network speed issues
How do you connect to the internet? How fast is the broadband feed and how fast is your local network? Wireless or wired?
Can you output a video file from your hard drive without buffering? If so then the problem really is with the network
Thats more likely to be network speed issues
How do you connect to the internet? How fast is the broadband feed and how fast is your local network? Wireless or wired?
Can you output a video file from your hard drive without buffering? If so then the problem really is with the network
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Acer Aspire Revo R3700 Nettop - Revo Nettops | Ebuyer.com
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XBMC
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MEDIAPORTAL - a HTPC Media Center for free!
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BlackGold - BlackGold offers a range of software components for licence and turnkey products are available for immediate manufacture. We specialise in providing OEM design and consultancy solutions, including turnkey DVB-T, DVB-S, Freeview, Freesat a
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Netgear ProSafe GS108 8-port Gigabit Metal Desktop Switch | Ebuyer.com
There you go - now you can stick your movies on your old PC, stick a TV card in it, and MediaPortal backend, and stream it to a PVR-equipped build of XBMC running on an Acer Revo delivering content silently via HDMI to your TV etc.
Alternatively, if you only want internet TV then just buy the Acer Revo and get a better internet connection.
+
XBMC
+
MEDIAPORTAL - a HTPC Media Center for free!
+
BlackGold - BlackGold offers a range of software components for licence and turnkey products are available for immediate manufacture. We specialise in providing OEM design and consultancy solutions, including turnkey DVB-T, DVB-S, Freeview, Freesat a
+
Netgear ProSafe GS108 8-port Gigabit Metal Desktop Switch | Ebuyer.com
There you go - now you can stick your movies on your old PC, stick a TV card in it, and MediaPortal backend, and stream it to a PVR-equipped build of XBMC running on an Acer Revo delivering content silently via HDMI to your TV etc.
Alternatively, if you only want internet TV then just buy the Acer Revo and get a better internet connection.
Keeping Danny in Sandwiches
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Milo,
The issue shouldn't be internet speed as I am with Virgin on fibre with 10mb.
My feeling is that it is more to do with the graphics card on a cheap netbooks processor.
The issue shouldn't be internet speed as I am with Virgin on fibre with 10mb.
My feeling is that it is more to do with the graphics card on a cheap netbooks processor.
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The issue shouldn't be internet speed as I am with Virgin on fibre with 10mb.
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Frankly, "Virgin Fibre with 10mb" means diddly squat when you don't know the entire route the data is taking to get to your laptop. For instance, the person providing the uplink of data might just be on a broadband link shared with their family, etc.
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Saw a box on sale in LeRoy Merlin (F) last week which plugs into your TV (SCART or HDMI) and connects via wifi to the internet. Box contains a hard drive, runs on Android and once set up you can download films and everything else off the internet and play them on the TV. No need for a local PC, you can even set your router up over the box.
If everyone else knows about this already don't flame me !
OFSO
If everyone else knows about this already don't flame me !
OFSO
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"The issue shouldn't be internet speed as I am with Virgin on fibre with 10mb. "
So what? Whats the bitrate and definition of the files you are trying to stream?
And what else is running on the local network? Whats the source of these 'net TV channels. Most of the ones I've seen have been severely bandwidth restricted, often using peer-to-peer networks
You don't need much in the way of hardware to stream video. We could do it 12 years ago using 8Mb ATi Rage Pro chips and AMD K6-II CPUs. The processing power of even a basic modern machine such as a Notepad with Intel Atom guts is far more powerful than that.
So what? Whats the bitrate and definition of the files you are trying to stream?
And what else is running on the local network? Whats the source of these 'net TV channels. Most of the ones I've seen have been severely bandwidth restricted, often using peer-to-peer networks
You don't need much in the way of hardware to stream video. We could do it 12 years ago using 8Mb ATi Rage Pro chips and AMD K6-II CPUs. The processing power of even a basic modern machine such as a Notepad with Intel Atom guts is far more powerful than that.
Keeping Danny in Sandwiches
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I am downloading sky go to my second TV (as my wife doesn't football) using the Notebook. I have an 30m ethernet cable between my study where my virgin media Netware gateway comes in to a Linksys WRT160N in the bedroom where there is a decent TV. I then have taken a 2m ethernet from that to the notebook outputting the notebook via a monitor cable to the TV.
I have done a speedtest on the notebook in the location and got 9.26 Mnps download and .98 Mnps upload. I have a smartphone in the house that is connected by the WRTWiFi but isn't used at the time.
I have done a speedtest on the notebook in the location and got 9.26 Mnps download and .98 Mnps upload. I have a smartphone in the house that is connected by the WRTWiFi but isn't used at the time.
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
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Originally Posted by sky9
I am with Virgin on fibre with 10mb.
Keeping Danny in Sandwiches
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No, I'm definitely on fibre that's all I pay for at the present, they are upgrading to 20Mnps in June. Unlike others you get the download speed that you pay for with Virgin.
I won't tell you what I pay for the package otherwise you will get jealous.
I won't tell you what I pay for the package otherwise you will get jealous.
Spoon PPRuNerist & Mad Inistrator
Virgin's 10Mb service that's being upgraded to 20Mb is most likely cable (co-ax). It's certainly not ADSL, and unlikely to be fibre-optic to the house.
Our Virgin cable domestic service has recently been upgraded to 20Mb from 10, and I'm getting 17-19Mb on one wired PC and one wifi PC, but 2 wifi PCs further from the WAP are getting between 8 and 12Mb (802.11g). One was only getting 2-4 until I replaced the antenna on the NIC with an external antenna further from the PC.
Wireless throughput does drop off rapidly as signal strength decreases.
SD
Our Virgin cable domestic service has recently been upgraded to 20Mb from 10, and I'm getting 17-19Mb on one wired PC and one wifi PC, but 2 wifi PCs further from the WAP are getting between 8 and 12Mb (802.11g). One was only getting 2-4 until I replaced the antenna on the NIC with an external antenna further from the PC.
Wireless throughput does drop off rapidly as signal strength decreases.
SD
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
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Yes, I was thinking co-ax too. Out of interest, what is the expected top speed on co-ax?
PS Chi is on BT's list for NGA (not sure whether to congratulate or commiserate
)
PS Chi is on BT's list for NGA (not sure whether to congratulate or commiserate
)
Keeping Danny in Sandwiches
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No it's not fibre optic to the house it's fibre optic in the street and the usual telephone wire to the house.
But then I'm only paying £29 for broadband, line rental and unlimited phone calls 24/7 other than 0870 and 0845 and I can get around that. I could pay more but frankly don't need it.
Now why is Sky Go buffering and not particularly good; any thoughts?
But then I'm only paying £29 for broadband, line rental and unlimited phone calls 24/7 other than 0870 and 0845 and I can get around that. I could pay more but frankly don't need it.
Now why is Sky Go buffering and not particularly good; any thoughts?