Best way to stream Netflix to a TV wirelessly?

[SithSolo1]

For example:

<Modem>--<Router>----<Air>----<Insert Device Here>---<TV>

42" 1080i Plasma w/ hdmi, no HT setup

This is for my parents.
So far on the short list:

PS3
360 w/ wireless adapter
ION Netbook/Laptop
?

Leaning toward the netbook/laptop but I'm no sure which would be ideal while not breaking the bank.

 

[JohnAn2112]

The Roku box is probably the least expensive solution. $79 for the base model.

http://shop.roku.com/Roku-Digital-Video-Player-Options-W5.aspx

 

[0roo0roo]

hd streaming on ly for certain devices. so look closely

 

[kalrith]

hd streaming on ly for certain devices. so look closely

Yeah, and I'm pretty sure the PC isn't one of those devices.

 

[Fox5]

The Roku box looks interesting, though you'd want to get at lesat RokuHD I think (if you have an hdtv). The yet to be released Boxee box should also do netflix, and I think has a bit nicer software package.

However, samsung sells blu-ray players in the same price range that come with built in netflix, and then you can either buy their wifi adapter, or get an ethernet to wifi bridge device.
But if you already own a device, you may as well just repurpose that.

 

[alyarb]

i'd probably get a nice samsung player. they can do bluray, dvd, youtube, netflix, and stream videos from a windows machine in the same workgroup (802.3 and .11) they can also play mpeg4 videos over USB (including NTFS) and on burned optical media (including mkv).

if you do not need any optical media support, then an ION nettop would be more reliable, more feature rich and more robust. you will need a cool remote (dinovo mini/dinovo edge/ipod touch/iphone/harmony) though.

 

[greenwar]

I would recommend an LG BD player like BD 390 over a Samsung player. I have both a Samsung and an LG BD player and I like my LG tons better. User interface is much better and netflix seems to stream better as well. Both players are on wired connection for me however.

 

[s44]

LG build quality definitely seems better than Samsung's.

Nettop (or any PC-based solution) = no HD

I'd get the PS3 (Blu-Ray, Netflix, DNLA streaming of everything from your PC), except its built-in 802.11g isn't fast enough for wireless HD.

There's also the HDTivo to integrate DVR functions as well, but again you'll need a fast wireless bridge (or powerline network or something).

 

[kalrith]

I'd get the PS3 (Blu-Ray, Netflix, DNLA streaming of everything from your PC), except its built-in 802.11g isn't fast enough for wireless HD.

Some avsforum members reporting using this with the PS3 to achieve wireless N. It's $36 + shipping refurbed on ecost or about $80 new. Another option would be powerline networking, but that might be a little too steep of an option.

 

[simonizor]

Is there any reason that you absolutely have to go wireless? For streaming video, wireless (regardless of the type) would more than likely stutter, buffer a lot, etc.

100ft of ethernet cable is only $10 on newegg.com
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812105312

For the device to use, I would use a PS3. I use mine for netflix, streaming videos from the PC, and copying them from my PC to the PS3's hard drive (you cannot do this with a 360), and playing blu rays.

 

[Modelworks]

If you are only going to use netflix then roku box is the way to go.

If you want an all around solution for netflix + other stuff I would wait for the next release of set top media player boxes. The incoming flood is about to start and they all are below $200 or so and have a ton of features.

 

[Fox5]

There's blu-ray players with amazon on-demand, if you're open to trying other services as well. (I guess the roku box also has both of them, but no blu-ray)

 

[s44]

This powerline set doesn't look expensive.

 

[Binky]

When parents are the users, simplicity is often key. The Roku box looks perfect for this use.

Check out the amazon link for the HD version ($99 shipped). It's got exactly NINE buttons on the remote. Even grandma can figure that out.
http://www.amazon.com/Roku-N1100-HD-.../dp/B001PIBE8I

If you buy a Samsung HDTV, you can get the Roku for free. Buy the TV and blame your parents.

 

[sivart]

This powerline set doesn't look expensive.

I found with powerline adapters that if you aren't on the same circuit you don't get any better than wireless. Plus if the house is more than 15 years old, results may be worse or not even work across circuits.

 

[alyarb]

yeah powerline is a bit sketchy, especially from ASUS with no reviews. there is always a more elegant way to use CAT5e and i'm afraid some people just don't want to do the work to do it right.

no matter what you choose, you will eventually encounter buffering if you are doing HD over the internet over 802.11. For $100 the Roku box is extremely poor in features. The LG Blu-ray player will run circles around it with BD/DVD/USB/youtube/netflix/LAN streaming support. The LG is an embedded RISC HTPC while the Roku is a $100 netflix client and nothing more.

There are plenty of $200 ION nettops that come with a 160GB hard drive. It's enough for basic web/productivity/media player front ends while your media library is stored elsewhere. but for god's sake, it doesn't make sense to spend any money at all if you expect a really good wireless streaming experience.

 

[SithSolo1]

but for god's sake, it doesn't make sense to spend any money at all if you expect a really good wireless streaming experience.

The tv is housed in an alcove in a brick wall boxed in on two sides by fire places. It was pre-wired for power and cable when the house was built back in the 70s. To get an ethernet cable to the tv I'd have to drill a hole in the wall at the computer, run the cable under the house, crawl down there, and then try to figure a way to feed it up to the alcove. Buffering or not, it can't be worse than what Charter is giving them now.

Also I should have been more clear with breaking the bank. Trying to keep it at $400 or less.

 

[sivart]

Look at something like this http://www.tomshardware.com/news/dlink-wifi-coax-ethernet,7587.html

 

[kalrith]

The tv is housed in an alcove in a brick wall boxed in on two sides by fire places. It was pre-wired for power and cable when the house was built back in the 70s. To get an ethernet cable to the tv I'd have to drill a hole in the wall at the computer, run the cable under the house, crawl down there, and then try to figure a way to feed it up to the alcove. Buffering or not, it can't be worse than what Charter is giving them now.

Also I should have been more clear with breaking the bank. Trying to keep it at $400 or less.

That's exactly what I would do assuming you can do it without damaging the alcove. I'll be running coax under my house to connect an ethernet cable to my gaming PC. I've been using wireless, because I haven't gotten around to running the ethernet under the house, but it's getting incredibly annoying to transfer files between it and the HTPC (which is wired), and I don't even bother trying to watch HD on the gaming PC. I just bought a 32" TV as my computer monitor, so I plan on using it as a second media room, and wired ethernet is pretty much required for that IMO.

 

[Muadib]

Since you mentioned that they were wired for coax, have you looked into a MoCa solution? I love my powerline setup, but if I didn't, I'd try MoCa. It's relatively new, but there are quite a few products out now.

 

[SithSolo1]

That Dlink MoCa device looks pretty interesting, I had no idea stuff like that existed.

 

[Muadib]

That Dlink MoCa device looks pretty interesting, I had no idea stuff like that existed.

Neither did I until I got Fios last fall. I'm amazed at how many products have come out since then. Don't rule out powerline until you try it either. As long as they have one breaker box in the house it should work well.