Cheapest/Easiest to stream DVDs to multiple PCs

[daveyd]

Here's my goal...I want each of my TVs in my house (5 total) to all be able to stream DVDs from my server. What would be the easiest/cheapest way to acomplish that?

Would I have to have a PC or a modded Xbox hooked up to each TV?

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: daveyd
Here's my goal...I want each of my TVs in my house (5 total) to all be able to stream DVDs from my server. What would be the easiest/cheapest way to acomplish that?

Would I have to have a PC or a modded Xbox hooked up to each TV?

...if you want to have *different* things showing on each one, yes. They wouldn't have to be very powerful, though.

If you want to stream the same thing to all the TVs, then there are potentially other ways you could go about it. For instance, you could send the video output from one PC to all the TVs wirelessly or on an unused cable channel, then use a wireless RF remote so you can play different files from anywhere.

 

[daveyd]

Yea, I wanted the ability to stream different movies to each TV...not because standalone players are soooo expensive...lol...I just think it would be cool to do

I would like to stream HD content as well...eventually

 

[Kaido]

1. Old computer
2. FreeNAS
3. Profit!

 

[daveyd]

Basically some type of device, albeit a PC or a modded xbox has to be hooked up to each TV?

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: daveyd
Basically some type of device, albeit a PC or a modded xbox has to be hooked up to each TV?

Pretty much. You need something that can tell the server what to send, and can interpret the video stream and turn it into something that can be displayed on the TV.

 

[APE992]

I'd recommend the XBox route. Very painless, even more convienent than most options available. Or if you wanted something cheaper there are Toshiba DVD players at ~$40 a pop that do everything the XBox does for a least $40 less.

 

[daveyd]

A networkable TV would be nice

 

[piasabird]

It would be cheaper just to COPY the DVD'S. SOMEONE probably just makes a device to do this. Read DVD copy to image and then stream on a channel. I wonder if you can just do this over existing TV cable.

Check this link out:
Streaming Media over TV Cable.
http://broadband.motorola.com/whms/whm_how.html