Share Tv . . .

[hobojester]

I'm looking for an application that will allow me to take my TV-Wonder and broadcast to my LAN whatever is currently playing on TV. From what I can tell Sage will only allow you to broadcast previously recorded shows. Here's another kicker, I'd like to broadcast it wirelessly over a 11mb. Can anyone help or offer suggestions of where to go next? Thanks!

[mlbdude]

Sage will allow you to stream anything (LiveTV or pre-recorded) but it will only work with hardware encoders. Also, 11mb wireless is not going to cut it unless you do a really low bit-rate.

I would look at BTV with that hardware, however, even those users will tell you to upgrade to a hardware encoder for quality. But if quality is not an issue, you should be good with that.

[JUC]

Just curious, will I be able to stream to the client over a wireless G network?
JUC

[kny3twalker]

not very well from my experience although some say it works great
others say it works marginally ok( probably using low bit rates)

I use really high bit rates in my recording a lot of times 8 MB/sec and higher
you would definitely want the router close and to use probably half for recording quality if not less for any where near good resolutes

wireless can only maintain about 20 MB for the first 25 ft and that is some of the best routers

Cnet has an awesome comparsion chart of speeds and distance for both wireless g and b and a I think
http://reviews.cnet.com/Netgear_WGR6...5.html?tag=top
there are some graphs

forget it with wireless b unless you are going to record at SVCD or VCD bit rates rather than DVD bit rates

[thatdude90210]

I have a different experience with wireless g, it works very well in any recording rate anywhere in my house. I watch using my laptop in bed all the time.

About the original question, for the ATI tv wonder, you can use Windows media encoder to broadcast, and use windows media player 9 to receive. You can't change channels unless you use pc-anywhere (or another program like it) to do it. It's acceptable over wireless b, and I did that before I started using Sage (which will not work with the TV wonder, btw).

[kny3twalker]

well apparently your router can defy the graph in the review cause mine can't
(I just do not know what to say to that other then the above and my experience)
or your home is not bigger than 50 ft from router in any direction because that was the fartherest that any of the wireless g router could maintain over 12 MB/sec consistently
which is the highest default recording quality from Sage

[gplasky]

Keep in mind if you have other active wireless devices within range and it's B and it connects to your wireless LAN your router will slow down to the lowest common denominator. This would reduce your G thruput to around 7MBps. And it might not be your device connecting, it may be your neighbor's device. Unless you set up WEP and know it's only your devices.

Gerry

[Deadbolt]

I think I have been the exception...but a Centrino 1.4 Ghz laptop I was using over 802.11b never skipped a beat using 2.5 GB/hr encoded rate. This was using Sage Client and also watching via PowerDVD through a network share. This was through a floor and on the opposite end of the house. Also, this was with 128 bit WEP.

Maybe I was lucky. Looks like most people need 802.11A or 802.11G to ensure adequate bandwidth.

[kny3twalker]

well I configured my router for wireless g only
so no the neighbor could not be causing the problem
and I am using a Centrino 1.5 and connecting via wireless g
I could try setting the router to 54 MB/sec only but I am scared I would limit the range even though I live in an apartment

[Brett]

Try turning encryption off, it slows it down. I had encryption on it was just dragging the network. Instead I hae my SSID hidden, its not perfect, but it keeps the neighbors off my network.

That Random Guy

[willgill]

@That Guy
If you turn off encryption and SSID, then just enable MAC filtering. Hopefully your wireless router has MAC filtering. Linksys models have it.

Just specify only your computer's MAC address to be able to connect. Your neighbors won't be able to get on and you'll still maintain speed.

[DougTea]

Guess I'm also an exception to the rule, Wireless G works excellently for me anywhere in and also out of the house (deck, garage). I stream Sage TV live and recordings as well as ripped DVDs with no problems!

[TakeFlight]

I'd just like to chime in as well on this subject for those that are or will be trying to use Sage on a wireless network. I had 802.11b and as expected, it didn't work. I was able to run the Sage client and get the video to stream but even at the lowest recording level it would still not playback smoothly. But, this was totally expected on a B network. So, I upgraded to a netgear 802.11g router and a netgear PCI 802.11g card in the SageTV computer. I also have a Motorola 802.11g pcmcia card in my laptop. Last night I had the SageTV client running on the laptop viewing live TV. I then picked the laptop up and walked all around my house (just to note that the wireless router is in the living room on the first floor). I went down to the basement and I went upstairs to the second floor and into all the bedrooms (even the bathroom) and not only did it work, but the live TV stream never missed a beat! I couldn't find a place in my house where it didn't work.

In addition, I have a MediaMVP hooked up to my living room TV. It's plugged directly into the wireless router. The SageTV computer is in another room. I'm able to stream recorded shows (3GB/hour Best quality) to the MediaMVP without a problem. I've watched several shows all the way through and it never has a problem. In addition to this, I've been able to play a show recorded in the 3GB/hour Best quality on both the MediaMVP and the SageTV client on my laptop at the same time over wireless G without a problem!

And did I mention my wireless network is using 128bit WEP encryption during all these tests?

So, in summary, it's totally possible to stream video from SageTV over a wireless G network. Obviously the router placement and layout of your house will affect the results. My house is about 1700-1800 square feet and is a very open contemporary layout (which I assume helps).

[nielm]

Originally posted by willgill
@That Guy
If you turn off encryption and SSID, then just enable MAC filtering. Hopefully your wireless router has MAC filtering. Linksys models have it.
Just specify only your computer's MAC address to be able to connect. Your neighbors won't be able to get on and you'll still maintain speed.

(offtopic) but surely they will be able to see what MAC addresses are allowed from sniffing the wireless network... They will certainly be able to read your emails with encryption disabled...

[willgill]

True, a persistent hacker could sniff your MAC address and spoof it. However, with SSID off and MAC filtering enabled, I'm guessing most potential hackers will pass you by. MAC address filtering is just another safeguard but not really and ultimate solution. I guess it depends on your environment as to what level of security you're comfortable with.

I feel fine with 64bit WEP, NAT+WinXP SP2 firewall but others wouldn't. I think cyber security is pretty much the same as physical security, it's all about enviroment. At my Mother's house in Kansas she can leave the front door wide open without worry. I don't try that in Dallas.

[turak]

Originally posted by kny3twalker
not very well from my experience although some say it works great
others say it works marginally ok( probably using low bit rates)

I use really high bit rates in my recording a lot of times 8 MB/sec and higher
you would definitely want the router close and to use probably half for recording quality if not less for any where near good resolutes

wireless can only maintain about 20 MB for the first 25 ft and that is some of the best routers

Cnet has an awesome comparsion chart of speeds and distance for both wireless g and b and a I think
http://reviews.cnet.com/Netgear_WGR6...5.html?tag=top
there are some graphs

forget it with wireless b unless you are going to record at SVCD or VCD bit rates rather than DVD bit rates

I record everything at DVD Standard rate and I have no problems with my laptop using a d-link extreme g router and the internal dell mobility wireless card.

[::brainproxy]

Using all DLink equipment 802.11g with full WPA encryption, I can watch live TV recorded at 3 GB rate. No issues.

[cgrey]

No problems here over wireless g either. Netgear stuff here - frequently streaming 2 separate streams to 2 separate laptops at 3GB/hour quality. This is standard procedure for my wife and me - almost every night we each stream shows down to our laptops, we've done this 50+ times in the past few months, and neither of us have ever experienced a problem.

[Spies]

I use 'b' here and record in DVD Long Play, works ok mostly, just the odd breakup.

[trevorst]

Several messages here point to the real problem with not being able to stream with 11g. It is the equipment..
Linksys is known for having lousy range on their routers, netgear on the other hand is known for having great range and signal strength. I always had problems with my Linksys so I upgraded to Netgear and never have any issues now.