connecting to multiple tvs (1 Viewer)

[thepope]

Hi there,

I want to connect a 3 tv's to be able to access a media server independently (ie: each tv can watch its own recording or music etc independent of what the other tv's are doing)

So i understand the general concept that you can setup a tv Server and then install a HTPC at each TV with Meidaportal client on each one to access the tv Server. Only downside with this is that I will need to come up with the cost of 3xHTPC + extra power consumption and noise in the household.

So the question is this. Is there any other way to connect up Medial portal to several tv's without the need to purchase multiple HTPC's?

cheers
Popester

 

[riksmith]

The answer is no.

 

[Drukkie]

Even if you could(anything is possible ) how would you get the picture to the other tv's?
HDMI and other cables all have restrictions wrt lenght, and even if you use other methods the quality would not be worth it...(wireless av etc)

 

[thepope]

Thanks for your responses guys.
Maybe I'll split the signal to the 3 tvs either continuously or using a switch setup to select any one of the 3 tvs to output the signal to.

With regard to quality, I know there are some AV to cat 5 converters out there to carry the signal over cat 5. Dont know how the quality is with sending the signal to cat 5 and back again.
Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[jsimo01]

Zotac manufacture itx based PC's that can be mounted behind an LCD/Plasma easily and are 1080p capable for around £250 (inc. 160GB HDD & 2GB Memory) which is fairly reasonable for a client PC. These are fairly quiet and energy efficient as far as I can see, will probably get one in the next couple of months myself.

Alternatively it is possible to send 1080p video via HDMI over Cat5 with the proper baluns, then you'll need a GPU capable of supporting the extra monitors. Quality is hardware dependant to a certain degree (i.e. quality of cable/baluns) and distance is restricted, within the average sized 3 Bed Semi or Bungalow it is perfectly workable, AFAIK you should be OK up to 30-50m in cable length.