Has anyone tried Placeshifter with a Netbook + Verizon/Sprint Wireless Internet card?

[mkanet]

It seems everyone's getting a netbook now. I'm curious if anyone has tried placeshifter on one of these; and, perhaps with a high speed wireless internet card.

[TechJunkie]

I have done it. Have a tablet PC with a built in mobile card and use Verizon Wireless with it. It works but the picture is not very clear. HD channels not watchable.

[mkanet]

Thanks, hmm... so the limitation is with the CPU decoding the video I wonder? I dont see where else the bottleneck would be. Maybe there's a minimum requirement for CPU for placeshifter..

Originally Posted by TechJunkie

I have done it. Have a tablet PC with a built in mobile card and use Verizon Wireless with it. It works but the picture is not very clear. HD channels not watchable.

[TechJunkie]

I do agree the problem is with the CPU but not where PLaceshifter is install. I believe it is with the server trying to shrink it enough for the limited bandwidth.

[mkanet]

Yeah, it would be good to know... since that would mean you "can" have a good working netbook streaming movies even if they are HD... limited to bandwidth and the server CPU. I was just hoping for someone to have tried it with more than enough resources... except for an Atom CPU on the client side..

Originally Posted by TechJunkie

I do agree the problem is with the CPU but not where PLaceshifter is install. I believe it is with the server trying to shrink it enough for the limited bandwidth.

[TechJunkie]

What would work better not sure if its a fit for you , but to transcode the movies or tv shows to a smaller size and stream those.

[mkanet]

With the popularity of netbooks now, I'm sure its a matter of time before someone tries placeshifter using adequate resources using a typical/standard netbook (ie 1.6GHz Atom CPU, etc). I'm not sure how much CPU power is needed to playback a (352x198) 30fps video stream. I'm guessing 352x198 is the resolution for a 16x9 transcoded video stream when placeshifter is set to CIF video res. This isnt too bad on a 10" screen under optimal conditions; even on an old laptop.

[thatdude90210]

I have an Eee 1000HE (the latest with the 280 atom cpu) but don't have a high speed internet card.

Just playing around with placeshifter over lan. Settings are 1000 kbps, CIF 252x240/288, 30fps. Server is amd x2 5400 playing HD video from HDhomerun.

The placeshifter video is great and smooth. It's not really taxing the atom cpu much, just ~20% cpu. The load on the server is ~20-30% for 720p, and 35-50% cpu for 1080i videos.

For no-transcoding performance, I also have SageClient installed on this 1000HE, 720p videos plays fine, 1080i a few stutters here and there. Could be just the limits of my wireless G because the cpu is only at about 70-80%.

[mkanet]

This is great.. and what I was hoping..

Originally Posted by thatdude90210

I have an Eee 1000HE (the latest with the 280 atom cpu) but don't have a high speed internet card.

Just playing around with placeshifter over lan. Settings are 1000 kbps, CIF 252x240/288, 30fps. Server is amd x2 5400 playing HD video from HDhomerun.

The placeshifter video is great and smooth. It's not really taxing the atom cpu much, just ~20% cpu. The load on the server is ~20-30% for 720p, and 35-50% cpu for 1080i videos.

For no-transcoding performance, I also have SageClient installed on this 1000HE, 720p videos plays fine, 1080i a few stutters here and there. Could be just the limits of my wireless G because the cpu is only at about 70-80%.

[briands]

Don't forget that your upstream bandwidth will be a limiting factor as well...

[mkanet]

Yeah. For me, upstream is comfortably faster than any 3G downstream available to me today. 2mbit/sec up (for sageTV server)... ~1400Kbps down for placeshifter.

Originally Posted by briands

Don't forget that your upstream bandwidth will be a limiting factor as well...

[btrcp2000]

I have borrowed a 1000HE from a friend and will be installing client tonight. I have 802.11n, hoping to stream stuff wirelessly from the hdpvr and r5000.

[mkanet]

Cool let us know how it goes...

Originally Posted by btrcp2000

I have borrowed a 1000HE from a friend and will be installing client tonight. I have 802.11n, hoping to stream stuff wirelessly from the hdpvr and r5000.

[TechJunkie]

I have recently unlocked my phone and how I can use Windows Internet sharing app. Now verizon software just WindowsXP to Windows Mobile to the Internet and the speed is incredibile. Watch a HD Homerun tuned channel using Placeshifter is better then using the builtin air card. No extra fees to use the phone as a modem either.

[btrcp2000]

Okay, I have to return this tomorrow, but I was able to try a few things. I have a dir655 dlink router, 802.11n, sageclient. 1000HE was very watchable with a basketball game recorded in hd from my hdpvr. Live HD was a little stuttered, but tolerable. My dish r5000s were very watchable as well.

Seems like we're almost there, maybe another generation of netbooks will get it done.

[thatdude90210]

The 1000HE has something called "Super hybrid engine (set it via a tray app)" that adjusts the performance. Make sure it's in the "Super performance mode" when you're playing the most demanding videos. Most people just leave it on "auto," but it may not always give you the best performance when needed.

[btrcp2000]

thatdude is right. It actually wasn't very functional until I switched to super performance. To add a final thought, while it did work with tolerable dropped frames on the highest res stuff I have (hdpvr), the CPU was pegged and it probably wouldn't take much of a hiccup to rattle things. Let's just say you definitely wouldn't be watching a blu ray rip and designing a nuclear submarine in cad/cam simultaneously.

[reidfo]

btrcp2000, were you using placeshifter or the SageTV client? I'm thinking about doing this myself but under Linux with Placeshifter.

[mkanet]

I'm still getting daily enjoyment my netbook (Win7 64bit) on the road (literally at times) and even the restroom . As long as there's no ipad/iphone support for placeshifter, my investment will continue to hold its value for me. Due to bandwith constraints; I keep the standard STV.. with only one mod.. to start "Live TV" as soon as placeshifter turns on.

[PeteCress]

Originally Posted by mkanet

It seems everyone's getting a netbook now. I'm curious if anyone has tried placeshifter on one of these; and, perhaps with a high speed wireless internet card.

I've been running PlaceShifter and Client on an Asus 901 (1.1 ghz Atom) for over a year now - connecting via WiFi-N.

For HD and 720, I have to do Settings | Streaming | Manually Specify.... | Video Rez= 350x420. With that setting, motion is fluid albeit with a less that crisp pic... but it's 100% watchable.

If I know something is 420, I'll use Client and get the full rez. Probably could do the same with 'shifter, but I'm too lazy to change the Streaming setting.

Oops.... I see that this is a *really* old thread... Oh well...