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Best way to share content across 3-4 TV's?

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DarkManX

Diamond Member
Im trying to figure out the best way to share content across 3 TV's in my house. preferably having 1 device record stuff and being able to play it back from other TV's. I know the simplest way would probably be with HTPC's but I dont want to have 3 extra PC's just for this task. Right now im useing a comcast PVR and and planning on switching to something better. I used to have the original Dishnetwork PVR and loved it, I know they have the new dual tunner/dual room PVR's but I dont want to run RCA wires across the house.
 
if its not HD a few hacked xboxs running XBMC would do the trick, with a HTPC doing the recording. I also think there is a way to stream off a tivo also
 
the linksys extended goes for 250$ and an xbox 360 is what like 400$? I have an original xbox can i use it? or is there any cheaper extenders?
 
Originally posted by: DarkManX
the linksys extended goes for 250$ and an xbox 360 is what like 400$? I have an original xbox can i use it? or is there any cheaper extenders?
Click to expand...
Yes, you can buy the extender software for the original XBox, but it kind of sucks (have to keep extender disc in the XBox whenever you want to use it). You could also hack a couple XBoxes and use BeyondTV or something to record to a network share on your main box and play the content on the hacked XBox.

The beauty of MCE + Extenders though is that you can centralize your recording center on one MCE box with multiple tuners & STBs or HD cards, then use quiet and simple extenders on your TVs to stream everything, Live TV, recorded TV, music, photos, videos, no dvds though unless you rip them to wmv on your mce box.

It's not going to be a "cheap" project, no matter how you slice it. I'd consider $250 per TV cheap compared to home video distribution products of the past (just 5 years ago, doing something like this was limited to those with MAJOR $$$).
 
Coaxial Modulator + RF remote could work. Image quality wouldn't be great and you'd only get mono sound... but it'd be cheap~ $35 for a multisource modulator.
 
can tivo's share content over a network?
my house is wired with CAT5 and Coax cable so that will make linking devices easier.
 
Originally posted by: DarkManX
can tivo's share content over a network?
my house is wired with CAT5 and Coax cable so that will make linking devices easier.
Click to expand...
Yes, but you'd be paying $13/mo for the first Tivo and $7/mo for each additional.
My experience with sharing content between Tivos is that it's pretty clunky, but I was doing it over B wireless.
 
Originally posted by: loup garou
Originally posted by: DarkManX
can tivo's share content over a network?
my house is wired with CAT5 and Coax cable so that will make linking devices easier.
Click to expand...
Yes, but you'd be paying $13/mo for the first Tivo and $7/mo for each additional.
My experience with sharing content between Tivos is that it's pretty clunky, but I was doing it over B wireless.
Click to expand...


true but comcast is charging me 10$ for 1 box, whichever i decided to use as my provider (Dishnetwork or directtv) would also charge me per box.. but paying for tivo montly would have the lowest startup cost. the only disadvantage of a standalone tivo is that the quality wont be as good as a Dish receiver with built in tivo.
 
Originally posted by: DarkManX
Originally posted by: loup garou
Originally posted by: DarkManX
can tivo's share content over a network?
my house is wired with CAT5 and Coax cable so that will make linking devices easier.
Click to expand...
Yes, but you'd be paying $13/mo for the first Tivo and $7/mo for each additional.
My experience with sharing content between Tivos is that it's pretty clunky, but I was doing it over B wireless.
Click to expand...


true but comcast is charging me 10$ for 1 box, whichever i decided to use as my provider (Dishnetwork or directtv) would also charge me per box.. but paying for tivo montly would have the lowest startup cost. the only disadvantage of a standalone tivo is that the quality wont be as good as a Dish receiver with built in tivo.
Click to expand...
Another thing to consider is that Tivos are cheap or free because of rebates...don't know how many rebates you can get on multiple units.
 
beyondtv has another program called beyondtv link which does the whole networked computer thing. i don't know much about it but they have forums there and i've seen people use one central computer to store the shows and watch on other computers/tv's.

http://www.snapstream.com/
 
Just get a Coax Modulator. Then you can take the ouput from one box, intot eh Modulator.. Set it to mimic a cable channel that isn't used and then splice that back into your cable feed.

Then any TV just turns on the right channel and can see it.
 
Originally posted by: DarkManX
Originally posted by: loup garou
Originally posted by: DarkManX
can tivo's share content over a network?
my house is wired with CAT5 and Coax cable so that will make linking devices easier.
Click to expand...
Yes, but you'd be paying $13/mo for the first Tivo and $7/mo for each additional.
My experience with sharing content between Tivos is that it's pretty clunky, but I was doing it over B wireless.
Click to expand...


true but comcast is charging me 10$ for 1 box, whichever i decided to use as my provider (Dishnetwork or directtv) would also charge me per box.. but paying for tivo montly would have the lowest startup cost. the only disadvantage of a standalone tivo is that the quality wont be as good as a Dish receiver with built in tivo.
Click to expand...

DirecTV have receiver with built in TiVos which you can hack to network them. It would be pretty cheap as I think you can get the Tivo for free with a contract and they only charge $5 per Tivo, compared to the usual $12.
 
Originally posted by: DeviousTrap
Originally posted by: DarkManX
Originally posted by: loup garou
Originally posted by: DarkManX
can tivo's share content over a network?
my house is wired with CAT5 and Coax cable so that will make linking devices easier.
Click to expand...
Yes, but you'd be paying $13/mo for the first Tivo and $7/mo for each additional.
My experience with sharing content between Tivos is that it's pretty clunky, but I was doing it over B wireless.
Click to expand...


true but comcast is charging me 10$ for 1 box, whichever i decided to use as my provider (Dishnetwork or directtv) would also charge me per box.. but paying for tivo montly would have the lowest startup cost. the only disadvantage of a standalone tivo is that the quality wont be as good as a Dish receiver with built in tivo.
Click to expand...

DirecTV have receiver with built in TiVos which you can hack to network them. It would be pretty cheap as I think you can get the Tivo for free with a contract and they only charge $5 per Tivo, compared to the usual $12.
Click to expand...


The problem with this is that DTV is ending it's relationship with TiVo, it's going to be a huge mess especially with the HD DVR's.
 
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Originally posted by: DeviousTrap
Originally posted by: DarkManX
Originally posted by: loup garou
Originally posted by: DarkManX
can tivo's share content over a network?
my house is wired with CAT5 and Coax cable so that will make linking devices easier.
Click to expand...
Yes, but you'd be paying $13/mo for the first Tivo and $7/mo for each additional.
My experience with sharing content between Tivos is that it's pretty clunky, but I was doing it over B wireless.
Click to expand...


true but comcast is charging me 10$ for 1 box, whichever i decided to use as my provider (Dishnetwork or directtv) would also charge me per box.. but paying for tivo montly would have the lowest startup cost. the only disadvantage of a standalone tivo is that the quality wont be as good as a Dish receiver with built in tivo.
Click to expand...

DirecTV have receiver with built in TiVos which you can hack to network them. It would be pretty cheap as I think you can get the Tivo for free with a contract and they only charge $5 per Tivo, compared to the usual $12.
Click to expand...


The problem with this is that DTV is ending it's relationship with TiVo, it's going to be a huge mess especially with the HD DVR's.
Click to expand...

It will probably be a mess with HD DVRs, but I can't imagine them stopping the support of all their current Tivos, unless they want to supply everybody new boxes for free.
 
THPC Noob Here.

I have dual Dish in 2 rooms for $5 a month. Seems like that is the simplest, cheapest set up if I am happy with only being able to playback "(TIVO but not tivo)" one program at a time in 2 rooms?

With regards to coax mod... does the new "cable" channel have stereo sound? This seems like the only option for me and possibly an easy way of getting satellite music piped into most rooms?

Thanks

Long Live Franky's bunny......

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(='.'=)This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your
(")_(")signature to help him gain world domination.
 
Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Just get a Coax Modulator. Then you can take the ouput from one box, intot eh Modulator.. Set it to mimic a cable channel that isn't used and then splice that back into your cable feed.

Then any TV just turns on the right channel and can see it.
Click to expand...

Yup. Have this setup at my house, and works like a charm.

Linky

Of course, I will have to overhaul this soon due to my new HDTV, but for SD stuff you can't beat this setup.
 
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