basic question

[shawn_d2007]

Will the Media Extender allow content to go from a DVR to another TV? I mean a TV that is not directly connected to the DVR. Or is that something else entirely?
I see teh Extender goes from computer -> TV. And that Slingbox thing goes from TV -> computer. But what about TV -> TV?

Thanks

[stanger89]

The Extenders pull content off the PC server (what you refer to as DVR I assume?) and play that on the TV they are connected to.

[shawn_d2007]

no I mean a DVR like a Tivo or in my case a comcast DVR which is hooked up to a TV in the living room. I wanna watch shows on that on another TV.

[shawn_d2007]

can I "pull content" off of the DVR in the living rom?

[autoboy]

Originally Posted by shawn_d2007

can I "pull content" off of the DVR in the living rom?

No. The Comcast DVR is a closed system and you cannot pull content off that DVR and watch it on another TV. After talking with friend who leads a department at a company that builds the cable boxes, they ARE working towards shared content on DVRs using the existing cable network as the network, but there is no word on when or if that will make it to the market. This kind of tech is pretty easy to do, and it is the legal hassles that hold it back.

The way SageTV is set up is that you can have a single "server" computer with multiple TV tuners. That server records all the TV you want in your house. The Client (either extender or PC client) can then play any of that content from your server on any TV with an extender. Setting up SageTV takes a certain amount of PC knowledge. You have to build your server and home network and maintain it. It is not as easy to set up as a Comcast DVR but is ultimately way more powerful, if a little restricted on what HD content you can record at this time.

[shawn_d2007]

but the Slingbox can pull content from a DVR and let you watch it on a computer right? or maybe not pull content, but display it somewhere else.

yes i know this is not a slingbox forum

[stanger89]

Slingbox basically has the logic to a) control the box, and b) record the output of the box and stream it over the network/internet.

No, a SageTV Extender does not do that. SageTV would replace your DVR* and the Extender would play that content on a remote TV.

*With the limitations of recording HD that are widely discussed.

[shawn_d2007]

do you know of anything that has the "logic to a) control the box, and b) record the output of the box and stream it over the network/internet" and let you display it on another TV in the house?

Thanks

[stanger89]

Not off hand, well....

Since you're in the same structure, the highest quality and most traditional way to do it would be with an IR repeater and distributing the video to other rooms.

Easiest way to distribute it would be to hook the RF output of the box into some RG6 and run that to the other TVs, just tune them to ch3 and then control the box via the IR repeater.

Another way would be to use a component/S-Video/composite audio/video distribution system. eg:
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...0AVDA3&tp=2415

Looks like this system would work:
http://www.channelplus.com/product_d...p?productId=77

Though you'd want to run a separate cat-5 that your ethernet line I think.

[Djc208]

Originally Posted by autoboy

After talking with friend who leads a department at a company that builds the cable boxes, they ARE working towards shared content on DVRs using the existing cable network as the network, but there is no word on when or if that will make it to the market. This kind of tech is pretty easy to do, and it is the legal hassles that hold it back.

Saw this one in Popular Science. Basically does what you described, supposed to have a very good interface.

[shawn_d2007]

Thanks for all the responses. I saw this - Niles C5-HDDA - at Crutchfield and I think it would do the trick. Although I think for 2 TV's I would need 3 of them?

[stanger89]

Yeah, I think so.