Computer to TV Wireless setup?

[timsta007]

So I'm getting ready to set up my home theater system in the living room of my house and I've come across a bit of a logistical problem. I want to use my main Desktop PC to download and store movies and TV shows as needed, and watch them on the TV, but the issue is that I'd like to set up the Desktop in a permanent location upstairs and have the TV setup downstairs. I'd like to avoid punching holes in the walls for hard wiring this setup as I may sell the TV so I'm looking for some solution that would work wirelessly. I considered buying and using an Xbox360 but can that device do what I'd like as far as connecting to a shared folder on the network and bringing the signal of various media on the computer to the TV w audio and vidio? Can I run the use the xbox media extender feature on it despite still using winXP as my operating system?

Are there any other ideas to solve this problem? I suppose one solution that I don't really like is using my laptop as the extender, but I'd prefer not to have to go that route.

Thanks for the comments/insight.

[Quads]

Desktop PC, upstairs. Running Windows media Center.
XBOX downstairs where the TV is.

Network connect the PC to the XBOX and push / share the media / content to the XB. THe XB then becomes a media server pulling media from the PC upstairs.

A dive buddy of mine down in Rancho does it, and I can find out more details from him if you wish. (or you can head over there with me one night and look at how he has it set up)

[timsta007]

Is media center a stand alone program? I was looking at the Microsoft page about it and it looks like its a Vista only application. I'm not sure if I'm willing to make the change to vista for this, especially if there is another way.

[Hemps]

ps3 is easier to setup as a media center (or so I've heard and this coming from an xbox guy) can stream wireless or plug is a usb stick to get your media to the ps3.

[dermaestro]

Is media center a stand alone program? I was looking at the Microsoft page about it and it looks like its a Vista only application. I'm not sure if I'm willing to make the change to vista for this, especially if there is another way.

Media Center made it's debut on XP.

[Quads]

You can run it from either. It's built into Vista.
There are other "media center servers" out there as well that are windows based that you can run and push / pull the XB. As said by Hemps though, you can do it with the PS3 as well. I'v'e never seen it with the PS3, but can be done.

[timsta007]

Ok sounds doable. I guess I'll have to decide what I want to do per the consoles. Obv. PS3 has bluray which is big, but is about twice as much. I'll chat with you further Q next time we talk on the phone.

[Happy Hazard]

If you want a audio/video/picture hosting program that is standalone check out www.tversity.com

Its a server that runs and hosts files located on your PC. Pretty good, I use it to stream over my network through my ps3 ( you can use x360 as well).

[CRAW]

What would one use if a PS3 or Xbox wasn't an option? Could it still be done?

[Happy Hazard]

Another computer would work just fine.

[fubar32]

I use TVersity with a D-Link DSM-520 media streamer (http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=438). Works quite nicely.

For other device options, see http://tversity.com/support/devices/.

-mike

[guitfiddler]

Check these 2 out one works with your PC

http://www.galaxymetalgear.com/products/3500_iptv.html

or this one is a stand alone unit you can connect without a PC

http://www.galaxymetalgear.com/products/3500_tvisto_sata.html

[guitfiddler]

Just ran across this one as well...

http://dealnews.com/Linksys-Wireless-HD-Media-Receiver-DVD-Player-for-170-free-shipping/249504.html

[Happy Hazard]

I use TVersity with a D-Link DSM-520 media streamer (http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=438). Works quite nicely.

For other device options, see http://tversity.com/support/devices/.

-mike

Yea, what he said ^^

[mikeyinsd]

I did mine with 2 macs if you're interested let me know. I have a macbook pro laptop which can control my mac mini used as a media server. ;)