wireless networking - Streaming Games from PC to TV
2014-07
JimmyK
Currently my PC (Running Windows 7) is in my bedroom, while my TV is in my living room. I was wondering if there was a way to play my Steam games on my TV? Some of the more obvious solutions are one very long HDMI cable or moving my computer to the living room, which are two roads I don't want to go down.
Other viable options are buying a Steam Machine. The issue however is not all my Steam Games are compatible with the SteamOS or Linux. Not to mention that I will then have two systems (The Steam Machine and my PC) to worry about upgrading once their hardware eventually becomes out dated. I've scoured the web and found a few things I can connect directly into my TV's HDMI port which allows it to wirelessly pick up on the game my PC streams to it, however further reading tells me that such things are prone to lag.
Is there any technology that will allow me to stream and play my Steam games on my TV without lag or lengthy wires that are tripping hazards?
allquixotic
without lag
If you're referring to Miracast adapters, you are right that -- depending on the network conditions and the quality of the adapter -- these can sometimes experience lag and frame drops. Ideally you would have a Miracast or WiDi setup that you've carefully configured so that it doesn't interfere with other wireless in your house (bluetooth, WiFi, etc). since it operates on the same frequency bands. There may also be Miracast adapters that advertise a longer than average operating range, or have a directional antenna that you could tune to point right at your PC.
lengthy wires that are tripping hazards
Run the cable(s) under the carpet or along the side of the wall and tie them down; problem solved :) But seriously this is the more fool-proof way to go about it with as many restrictions as you're placing on this setup (can't move PC, can't have HTPC, can't have SteamBox, etc.)
Also, no matter what you do, you'll need to have some kind of WiFi based keyboard and mouse... Logitech Unifying stuff, for example. Do not try to use bluetooth equipment because it will not be able to handle the distance between your living room and the bedroom, especially if there isn't a line of sight (walls/floor between them).
My recommendation would be:
Try (hard!) to work out the logistics of getting your cables installed neatly, either under carpet, in the wall, or something other than just laying it in the walkway.
Failing that, buy a bunch of Miracast adapters from a store that has a good return policy, and keep returning them until you find one that works.
If you aren't willing to go down either of these routes, then the answer to your question is no, there is no way to do this, you are completely stuck and will be unable to resolve your problem in any way, shape, or form.
ChoccyButton
Can anyone suggest a good solution for sharing media resources in the home environment for a family of 5. Hardware currently in the home includes -
- Windows Home Server
- 4 Laptops
- 1 desktop
- 3 xbox 360's
- 3 mobiles
Network connections include a 40Mb (getting 37Mb) FTTC internet connection.
The hardware is spread across -
- Living Room, TV and 360
- Conservatory, TV and 360
- Dining Room, Nothing, need something to stream to here
- Main bedroom, TV (need something to stream to here)
- 13 yo Daughters bedroom, TV (need something to stream to here)
- 10 yo sons bedroom, TV, 360
- 4 yo sons bedroom, TV (need something to stream to here)
- Office, desktop PC, need to be able to stream to here
What I'm looking for is a way to get all the music and dvd's onto the Windows Home Server, which I've already found software to do. Then I want to be able to share all the music and dvd's across all the devices. In addition I would like to be able to make use of streaming media services to the tv's (eg youtube, iplayer, etc).
Requirements include being able to watch the media on the tv's (currently acheived through xbox 360's but I need to add the ability to 3 more rooms which at the moment is looking like needing the purchase of 3 more 360's + something for the dining room ). Also be able to watch on the laptops and download to the phones for use on the go. Each user should be able to have their own favourites, playlists and ratings independently of each other.
Ideally looking for a consistent user experience across the devices as the user's aren't all overly tech savvy, especially my wife.
I've searched the internet and specifically searched SuperUser, but can't find any good suggestions that meet all the requirements. My current thought is using Zune on the 360's and laptops, with the addition of swapping current phones for windows phones to use zune on them as well. This would require adding more 360's though as mentioned earlier and also Zune Pass seems to support only 3 pc's and 3 devices, I'll need alot more than that. Whilst I like the 360's, having 6 in the house sounds excessive especially when they are for media streaming.
Hope that all makes sense, and if it does, any thoughts? Main thing I'm struggling with is the independent favourites etc and consistent ui experience.
GAThrawn
For starters, you already know that with the Windows Home Server, you get built-in media sharing and streaming via the built-in Windows Media Connect software. I'm guessing you already know this as it sounds like you're already using it to stream media to some of your TVs via your XBox 360. Hopefully you're taking advantage of this by filling the server's built-in Music share with your home's music collection, and putting all your films on the Video share.
You can take further advantage of that by buying cheaper media streamer boxes to attach to your other TVs, these will still allow you to watch films, etc that are on saved on your WHS but without the expense of having everything else that the Xbox does. Here's a few pages with reviews of dedicated media streaming devices that can plug straight into your TV: Media Streamer reviews, or Which streaming media device is right for you?
You don't say quite what media you want to stream into some rooms, but if you only want to stream music into a room, say the dining room, which I notice you don't have a TV in yet, then something like a Logitech Squeezebox music streaming device might be a good idea? They have a (free) Windows Home Server add-in that sits on your WHS finds all the music and indexes it with a nice web interface, there are then Squeezebox devices that you can put out in your house, each can play its own playlist of music from the server, they can either be stand-alone devices like the Squeezebox Boom or Radio, or plug into an existing hifi and speakers like the Squeezebox Touch or Duet.
As for your other PCs/laptops (presuming that they're running WIndows) when you install the Windows Home Server connector software onto them they should add your WHS Music and Video shares into the library in Windows Media Player for you. So all you have to do is go into Library and you should be able to find all the media on your server in there already, and everyone can create their own playlists, etc.
studiohack
Did you know the Zune Software supports streaming music/video/pictures to Xbox 360's?
have personally never tried this, since I don't own an Xbox...Knowing Zune and Microsoft though, I'm sure this would work pretty well with tight integration...
Mark Baker
I have been using a very robust Home Media Sharing solution for sometime now and it works a treat for me. Here is what I have:
1 x Windows Home Server 2011 (4 x 2TB Drives for TV & Video, Music, Pictures and Generic Docs/Data etc..) 1 x Paperback sized PC (Sits behind a 46" TV in the Living Room) Windows 7 installed 1 x Paperback sized PC (Sits upstairs in Master Bedroom behind 32" TV) Windows 7 installed 1 x Paperback sized PC (Sits in Guest Bedroom behind 32" TV mounted on the wall) Windows 7 installed 1 x HP Touchsmart PC (Sits in the corner of my living room as main control centre and Work PC) Windows 7 installed 1 x Samsung Slate 10" Tablet (Used for wireless control of all devices) Windows 7 installed 1 x Samsung Omnia 7 Windows 7.5 Phone (Used for smaller version of tablet and of course my phone)
All the Paperback PC's are asus pc's with HDMI Ports and are either wireless or wired depending on their location. All other devices are wireless except for the Home Server which is wired at 1GB throughout my home network.
All my media is installed on one of the Home Server Drives, each users settings are configured to have their libraries in Windows 7 point to the Home Server, so they each pick up all the same media across all devices, the users can set their own favourites due to it being their own user account. The one in the Guest room is a generic account with restricted access to folders on the home server and all other devices on the network. Each PC also has Zune installed, so if any new music, videos etc... are downloaded, they go onto the Home Server drive and thus are available to everyone, this works really well for me. My home PC also has 2 HD USB Receivers installed which records my favourite TV programmes through media centre, so I can watch and record at the same time, these recorded programmes are then stored on the Home Server too, which all the devices can see in their Windows Media Player library, but I actually use the new Zune client because its looks much more fluid and clean.
My Windows Phone also has Zune installed and this connects to my Home Server Drives and a SkyDrive account which has a connector on the Home Server to sync it from the Cloud and visa versa, so when I am away from Home, I still have access to my music, pictures and videos.
I think you pretty much have what I have except for the xBox, as they are Microsoft Products, they will also connect to both the Home Server and any other PC that happens to be sharing its media across the Microsoft Connect Protocol, so you have that covered as well.
madmaze
Have you looked into mythbuntu?
A friend of mine is using it for his setup, though to be noted it is slightly smaller in scale.
Machado
Have you tried XBox Media Center as PC/Notebook client, along with PS3 Media Server as a server ?
This set is doing very well for me nowadays.