I'm looking to use my primary home theater's TiVo Premiere to play back video on a second TV set downstairs in the bedroom, and I've got hard ethernet, coax, and power as means of transit.
Originally I was just looking alternatives to the TiVo Preview (which, knowing TiVo, probably won't be available to consumers until sometime later in 2012 -- if we're really lucky) and TiVo MRV (I don't really want to pay for a second TiVo, plus service), but at the end of the day it's probably easier to just broaden the scope of the question since the problem applies to anyone who wants to use their DVR, Apple TV, or any other kind of set top box from another room.
So, if I want to move component + optical or HDMI (and don't forget IR) what are the best options? (And while we're on the topic, any known caveats with multiple simultaneous video out on newer TiVos?)
Question about
What's the best way to use your DVR (or other home theater devices) from another room?
top answers
ryan's pick
This is not exactly what we do at our house. We run a matrix with HDMI runs but even my wife thinks it is easy to use and works great.
For just the one device…..
I would get a splitter like the Monoprice 1x2 HDMI Amplifier Splitter
www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&am...
$35
Since you don’t have an HDMI run or 2 cat5 so you can use the cheep HDMI extenders. Maybe one of those ireless HDMI that the HT guys are always talking about.
www.brite-view.com/air_synchd.php
Review
www.htguys.com/podcasts/2010/10/1/podcast-445-brit...
$200
For the IR I use.
Universal remote for the TV and TiVo.
This is an fr20 and a base station pre paired and emitting IR and RF all ready to go.
www.universalremote.com/products/retail/bundles/ur...
I mapped stop to 30 sec skip and +10 to repeat
Review
www.audioholics.com/reviews/remote-controls/univer...
$60 if you look around
For just the one device…..
I would get a splitter like the Monoprice 1x2 HDMI Amplifier Splitter
www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&am...
$35
Since you don’t have an HDMI run or 2 cat5 so you can use the cheep HDMI extenders. Maybe one of those ireless HDMI that the HT guys are always talking about.
www.brite-view.com/air_synchd.php
Review
www.htguys.com/podcasts/2010/10/1/podcast-445-brit...
$200
For the IR I use.
Universal remote for the TV and TiVo.
This is an fr20 and a base station pre paired and emitting IR and RF all ready to go.
www.universalremote.com/products/retail/bundles/ur...
I mapped stop to 30 sec skip and +10 to repeat
Review
www.audioholics.com/reviews/remote-controls/univer...
$60 if you look around
mark as good answer
4 people like this answer
Clicking the mark as good answer button helps us highlight the best answers.
ryan's pick
I went the second TiVo route -- indeed, it just arrived on Friday.
I have a slingbox attached to the living room TiVo, so when I'm sitting outside or in another room I use the slingbox app on my iPad,. But for the bedroom TV (which will this week be replaced by the living room TV we'll be moving upstairs when my new birthday present TV arrives) I decided a second TiVo (connected via WiFi to my home network and to the other TiVo) was the best solution. The $15 a month extra is not ideal, but I really wanted what is, in effect, a second cable box in the bedroom. The Cablecard from Comcast has no monthly fee, and it's a free self-install and the card itself is free. I didn't want the entertainment experience in one room to be tied to (or put another way, controlled by) the entertainment experience in a second room. I got a refurb TiVo direct from them, and a refurb WiFi dongle, so the equipment was pretty reasonable.
I have a slingbox attached to the living room TiVo, so when I'm sitting outside or in another room I use the slingbox app on my iPad,. But for the bedroom TV (which will this week be replaced by the living room TV we'll be moving upstairs when my new birthday present TV arrives) I decided a second TiVo (connected via WiFi to my home network and to the other TiVo) was the best solution. The $15 a month extra is not ideal, but I really wanted what is, in effect, a second cable box in the bedroom. The Cablecard from Comcast has no monthly fee, and it's a free self-install and the card itself is free. I didn't want the entertainment experience in one room to be tied to (or put another way, controlled by) the entertainment experience in a second room. I got a refurb TiVo direct from them, and a refurb WiFi dongle, so the equipment was pretty reasonable.
mark as good answer
3 people like this answer
ryan's pick
It seems most people want to suggest an IP based solution. I have used a SlingBox and SlingCatcher as a solution to this problem, however the latency is unbearable during regular use (you push menu button and wait almost 1-1.5 seconds for a response). Aside from the SlingCatcher no longer being sold new (which disappoints me because I wanted to put another one in a remote location), the latency issue would be a big deal breaker.
Instead of IP, I would suggest HDMI line baluns. If you have your house wired in a star config, it should be fairly trivial to find / make a single piece of cat5e cable between the two points (or potentially install a new drop). I would suggest something like this:
www.markertek.com/Home-Theater/HDMI-Over-IP-Routin...
I can't vouch for this particular model, but I do have a similar one installed in an office for remote locating a cable box in a closet and it works very well.
I know using the network is tempting, but in my experience it is just not there yet, as much as I would like it to be. Home theater products pretty much have this problem solved.
Hope this helps,
PC
EDIT: Forgot to mention that this unit also sends IR signaling through the balun, and you would need to add an HDMI splitter at the TiVo you want to view downstairs.
PC
Instead of IP, I would suggest HDMI line baluns. If you have your house wired in a star config, it should be fairly trivial to find / make a single piece of cat5e cable between the two points (or potentially install a new drop). I would suggest something like this:
www.markertek.com/Home-Theater/HDMI-Over-IP-Routin...
I can't vouch for this particular model, but I do have a similar one installed in an office for remote locating a cable box in a closet and it works very well.
I know using the network is tempting, but in my experience it is just not there yet, as much as I would like it to be. Home theater products pretty much have this problem solved.
Hope this helps,
PC
EDIT: Forgot to mention that this unit also sends IR signaling through the balun, and you would need to add an HDMI splitter at the TiVo you want to view downstairs.
PC
mark as good answer
3 people like this answer
ryan's pick
As with most options these days it depends on how much time you want to put into it. With a TiVo there are limited options and dotEvan's recommendation of a SlingBox being the easiest.
From our TiVo I use Roxio Toast 10 and the TiVo Transfer application to get files to my Mac. For stuff that I want to keep I then can edit out the commercials and export for the Apple TV. With the Elgato turbo.264 HD most HD items export quickly at 960x540. (Although the app says it will only do 640x480). When not saving things I can watch them on my second monitor right on my iMac. I have not checked to see if these files can be accessed via FrontRow or if they have to be in the Toast Player because I am using Lion now. But if you have a Mac connected in the other room it may work for you.
The Toast Application suite also includes Mac2Tivo for publishing your videos to the TiVo.
I also use 2x Elgato EyeTV Hybrid on the iMac for the same method and purpose with over the air content.
From our TiVo I use Roxio Toast 10 and the TiVo Transfer application to get files to my Mac. For stuff that I want to keep I then can edit out the commercials and export for the Apple TV. With the Elgato turbo.264 HD most HD items export quickly at 960x540. (Although the app says it will only do 640x480). When not saving things I can watch them on my second monitor right on my iMac. I have not checked to see if these files can be accessed via FrontRow or if they have to be in the Toast Player because I am using Lion now. But if you have a Mac connected in the other room it may work for you.
The Toast Application suite also includes Mac2Tivo for publishing your videos to the TiVo.
I also use 2x Elgato EyeTV Hybrid on the iMac for the same method and purpose with over the air content.
mark as good answer
2 people like this answer
ryan's pick
I'd look to see if Sling Media can provide a solution. Although it may be expensive, a SlingBox (gdgt.com/sling-media/slingbox/pro-hd/) and a SlingCatcher (gdgt.com/sling-media/slingcatcher/) may be the best, hassle free way to get that up and running. I've never used a Slingcatcher before, so I don't know if there are any catches to that. (See what I did there?) I do, however, own a Slingbox Pro-HD, and that works really well with my TiVo HD.
mark as good answer
2 people like this answer
ryan's pick
HDMI over coax baluns are now available and will also carry IR Control.
I am based in the UK so these are the ones used by a lot of Installers over here -
www.habitech.co.uk/VisionHD/baluns/vision_hd_EX010...
Obviously you are limited to viewing whatever the TiVo is displaying and will require an HDMI splitter as specified in another answer.
I am based in the UK so these are the ones used by a lot of Installers over here -
www.habitech.co.uk/VisionHD/baluns/vision_hd_EX010...
Obviously you are limited to viewing whatever the TiVo is displaying and will require an HDMI splitter as specified in another answer.
mark as good answer
1 person likes this answer
community pick
I would have to suggest going with Windows Media Center + Xbox 360.
With a Windows Media Center PC in the living room combined with a Ceton tuner with cable card support your an record up to 4 channels at the same time. If that isn't enough buy another card and you have 8 tuners. If that isn't enough then maybe there is too much TV on at the same time :)
Next get the base model xbox 360 to put in "the other room". Run the media Center Extender set up now any recorded tv on your media center is available on the xbox. It can also spit out live tv to the xbox. The interface is the same as in the main room with the ability to manage your recording schedules etc. And the best part is that you are not stuck with having to watch the same thing in both rooms.
I have used other extenders and at one point I had my entire house on the same video output in every room but none of that was very family friendly. Now my wife and my son (9 y/o) can work the tv without needing a masters degree in EE to figure out how to get what they want on the screen.
With a Windows Media Center PC in the living room combined with a Ceton tuner with cable card support your an record up to 4 channels at the same time. If that isn't enough buy another card and you have 8 tuners. If that isn't enough then maybe there is too much TV on at the same time :)
Next get the base model xbox 360 to put in "the other room". Run the media Center Extender set up now any recorded tv on your media center is available on the xbox. It can also spit out live tv to the xbox. The interface is the same as in the main room with the ability to manage your recording schedules etc. And the best part is that you are not stuck with having to watch the same thing in both rooms.
I have used other extenders and at one point I had my entire house on the same video output in every room but none of that was very family friendly. Now my wife and my son (9 y/o) can work the tv without needing a masters degree in EE to figure out how to get what they want on the screen.
mark as good answer
5 people like this answer
A Slingbox means no one can use the TiVo premiere. If that's OK it's probably the best option. But, if you just want to watch the shows already recorded on your TiVo, then you can easily use something like iTiVo code.google.com/p/itivo/ or TiVoplaylist tivoplaylist.dyndns.org/ to copy/encode all the recordings to a spare PC/Mac hooked up to the bedroom TV. You can set up auto-transfers of shows when their done recording on the TiVo. Then just run FrontRow/Plex/XBMC on the bedroom PC/Mac and watch. Only issue is the transfers/encodes can take a while, but other than that the process is fairly automated.
mark as good answer
2 people like this answer
If you just want to view your same box on another tv depending on the distance you could just run a long hdmi cable and put it on a hdmi switch to select which output tv you want
mark as good answer
1 person likes this answer
My house has coax going to several of my rooms from my cable box. I simply took my coax output from my DVR, ran it to my cable box, and used a splitter to send it to a couple of my other rooms where I have TVs. Fortunately, my DVR works via IR and RF and I have one IR and one RF remote. I just use the RF remote to control my DVR from any of the other rooms where I have the coax signal from my DVR. However, it would be a simple matter to use an IR extender, if you do not have the RF option. Simple and inexpensive.
mark as good answer
1 person likes this answer
I loved my tivo but really want to use Directv, and the series 2 was the last model that allowed for that. I went with DirecTV's whole home dvr and love it. One dvr but I can access it from any TV in any room that has a directv receiver. I have given up hope that a directv / tivo box will ever come out again...and i love this new setup. I can also watch anything from my dvr on my PC as long as it is in the home.
mark as good answer
1 person likes this answer
I'd go the nerdy way and setup a custom media server with some sort of linux and write a script that gets the files for tivo and converts them to whatever format I want. Then i'd use a hacked 360 or similar device to stream it to the tv i wanted. This is not anywhere near practical and would end up costing a lot of time and effort, more than it's worth it, but would be a fun DIY project.
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
Sorry, I really don't have much of a suggestion. Plus, most alternatives would mean that Veronica wouldn't be able to watch Tivo in the first room at the same time :)
Tivo really needs to release that Preview box ASAP. I hope they realize that I would pick up a Premiere Elite and one Preview box the second they were out, and I'd probably set my mother up with an Elite and at least four Preview boxes.
I wish they'd at least come out and give solid announcements. The Elite was announced to so little fanfare...
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
I'd recommend a similar setup as ChrisMcGrath. It just depends on how far you have to run the HDMI. Check out FireFold.com for some pretty decent lengths. Just remember you need an HDMI DA (splitter) to get beyond something like 25 - 50ft.... (can't remember the exact distance the signal degrades). But this also allows you to send one signal to the main TV and then your second signal downstairs. Lastly for remote control - I'd say two options, one would be using the Logitech IR Extender and running a wired signal over XLR (following the path of the HDMI cable) - or using the TiVo app on the iPad for remote control - I've never tried the app so not sure how 'speedy' it is.
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
I use Tivo Desktop software to transfer and ave shows to a PC (and reformat them as well for ipod/ipad) then watch them with my Xbox 360
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
I use a long HDMI Cable from monoprice and an old school x10 IR repeater. Works perfect
www.amazon.com/X10-POWERMID-Control-Extender-PM590...
www.amazon.com/X10-POWERMID-Control-Extender-PM590...
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
Slingbox is a viable option if you have a PC/Mac Client, Sling Catcher, etc. hooked up to your bedroom TV. There are wireless HDMI/IR transmitters, but they generally need line of sight to work properly. Another option is to use HDMI over Cat 5e/6 with IR ,which is good up to 30m. The folks at Monoprice sell one for $25 with wall plates. Note it also has an optional 5VDC power supply to amplify the signal if needed (like if you do 3D) if the voltage drops below 4.75VDC you don't get a signal.
www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&am...
If you want more inputs all you need to do is hook up a Matrix HDMI Switch.
www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&am...
If you want more inputs all you need to do is hook up a Matrix HDMI Switch.
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
This answer has been removed.
We went through the same decision process (except we do not have TV) and the long HDMI plus splitter, remote-operable switch and RF-enabled remote won in a walk -- cheap, simple and elegant. Only downside is that you have to run the HDMI between floors, but if you don't like to wall-fish (I do NOT) and Patrick Norton is not in town, you can hire it out for under $100 and it's still the cheapest solution.
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
follow this question
share:
Products mentioned
35 users following this question, including:
This question has been viewed 1907 times.
Last activity .