I'm looking for a way to stream digital media.
I have a basic setup - no HD/Home theatre crap, just a plain old TV and a small Hi-Fi, but lots of digital music and video, so I do not really care about HDMI etc.
Has anyone here used any media streamer type hardware? I've been looking at these next ones, but would like some personal reviews and ideas, or possibly some alternatives:
http://www.playonhd.com/en/#info
http://www.comprousa.com/en/product/t1000w/t1000w.html
http://www.popcornhour.com/onlinestore/index.php?pluginoption=productinfo&item_id=20
At the moment the Playon!HD in the lead as it just seems very well rounded and a decent price.
check around Amazon.com for comparisons and review.
also, try to get one with capture so you can save to hard drive like with a TiVo.
boxes were $100+ without capture and $180+ with capture last spring, when i was looking. but haven't tried it yet.
or just get a capture card for your PC, and splice it between your TV and your cable box.
i've got two HP media center computers so i'm thinking to just set one up for capture. maybe add a bootable partition for MythTV.
Originally posted by zeeblebotalso check this site: http://www.videohelp.com/
check around Amazon.com for comparisons and review.
also, try to get one with capture so you can save to hard drive like with a TiVo.
boxes were $100+ without capture and $180+ with capture last spring, when i was looking. but haven't tried it yet.
or just get a capture card for your PC, and splice it between your TV and your cable box.
i've ...[text shortened]... s so i'm thinking to just set one up for capture. maybe add a bootable partition for MythTV.
Originally posted by zeeblebotCapture is not really a big deal for us.
also, try to get one with capture so you can save to hard drive like with a TiVo.
boxes were $100+ without capture and $180+ with capture last spring, when i was looking. but haven't tried it yet.
or just get a capture card for your PC, and splice it between your TV and your cable box.
The problem with the DVR types now is they are all DVB-T which SA has not officially adopted, plus now there are DVB-T2 trials being run by some broadcasters here in anticipation of an official government adoption, and the DVB-T decoders will not be able to use DVB-T2 inputs.
No cable boxes here. We have digital satellite, which we personally don't have because we don't really watch enough TV to justify the cost - it's relatively expensive here - plus we have enough digital content that we really WANT to watch to keep us busy enough.
The DVR units are also all more than double the price, so not really worth it.
Originally posted by Daemon SinBoth. Mostly getting media off HDD and the LAN, but streaming from the web would be a BIG plus.
Are you talking in terms of getting media from your PC/portable harddrive displaying on your TV, or streaming media content from the web on your TV?
The only real requirement is composite video and audio as I haven't got snazzy HD gear.
Originally posted by zeeblebotLinks to products?
some blu-ray players now come with this stuff built-in.
I don't give a damn about Blu-ray now, but if I can have future proofing at similar costs of these media streamer products, then I'll do it. If these players are more than $300 then it's a no.
This is probably going to sound stupid, but have you tried just getting a PC with an S-video or TV-out card and then using VLC or something to stream to a bog standard TV?
I found a PCI S-video output card in PC world for about 15 squid.
I am probably missing the point though with that suggestion.
Here's an expensive way of doing it.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223833
Originally posted by WoodgieFine suggestion, but I don't have a PC at home, except a crappy laptop that is actually supposed to be a work laptop. So this would mean the cost of a decent PC, which is much more than these units cost.
This is probably going to sound stupid, but have you tried just getting a PC with an S-video or TV-out card and then using VLC or something to stream to a bog standard TV?
I found a PCI S-video output card in PC world for about 15 squid.
I am probably missing the point though with that suggestion.
Here's an expensive way of doing it.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223833
I looked at an Intel Atom setup with XBMC on, but that would mean a bunch of tinkering and about $150, as I have no parts lying around I can use.
The awesome AC Ryan Playon!HD is only $200. No contest really, and I ill be ordering one of these next week.
Originally posted by Crowleyfroogle "bluray player with usb ethernet":
Links to products?
I don't give a damn about Blu-ray now, but if I can have future proofing at similar costs of these media streamer products, then I'll do it. If these players are more than $300 then it's a no.
http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&q=bluray+player+with+usb+ethernet&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wf
Originally posted by CrowleyStupid question...why don't you just get winavi and make dvds of what you want to watch?
Both. Mostly getting media off HDD and the LAN, but streaming from the web would be a BIG plus.
The only real requirement is composite video and audio as I haven't got snazzy HD gear.