Community Newsletter: Q&A: 9/22/06 Solution for sending MP3s through wireless network to stereo
- 10/2/06 4:31 PM
long wires may be a bad solution
by malbeau - 9/22/06 3:28 PM In reply to: Tight-fisted solution best! by vwmarkFor short distances, wire connection is absolutely the way to go. Unfortunately, for long distances, your copper wires may have severe drawbacks. If you choose a digital SPIF connection, then cost and installation hassles are your only worries. If you use an analog audio connection, then performance relies on how much you spend for shielded, low resistance, low impedance cables. I opted for the Apple Airport Express, and i love it.
PC to Stereo connection
by winnapaug - 9/22/06 11:49 AM In reply to: The Scottish Connection by stevenamkoongI did the same thing as the Scottish Connection, except that I also used a Radio Shack AF amplifier (cost about $45) to boost the signal to stereo.
Works fine, except I only get(excellent)mono rather than stereo sound, since I had to take two plugs from stereo and merge it through a connector plug that converts stereo lines into single small black plug to insert into black audio outlet in back of computer. That was only way it would work (perhaps I missed something to deliver stereo?).
Overall, an effective, economical outcome.
Winnapaug
So Much For "Not About Retail"....Where's the Answer?
by tnhiker865 - 9/22/06 3:30 AM In reply to: 9/22/06 Solution for sending MP3s through wireless network to stereo by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Joshua's featured reply promised (indirectly) that we'd be treated to a way to WiFi our music without using a ready-out-of-the-box retail product for this purpose. What Joshua provided was just the opposite.
Where's the promised method to hack a do-it-yourself solution to the WiFi networking of MP3's at less than half the cost of a retail solution?
Al
More like a product review than an answer
by fangorn - 9/22/06 4:48 AM In reply to: So Much For "Not About Retail"....Where's the Answer? by tnhiker865I started reading the answer with great expectations of a novel "do it yourself" approach.
What I got was one mans review of a bunch of commercial products.
The person who posed the question really wanted a homebrew solution- not a sales pitch.
Do it yourself
by wayne541 - 9/22/06 4:59 AM In reply to: So Much For "Not About Retail"....Where's the Answer? by tnhiker865I tried several ways to send music to my stereo. What I ended up with was a surplus pc running xp pro connected to my tv and stereo. I control this by remote desktop from my laptop or any other computer on my home network.
Exactly
by Alucard_Bravo - 9/22/06 6:10 PM In reply to: Do it yourself by wayne541That is exctly what i did, except my comp is an xp home, but it still works just as well.
The most sensible solution
by Wheeda - 9/27/06 1:26 AM In reply to: Exactly by Alucard_BravoI agree fully with the replies in this thread. The winning answer is too bad and defies the spirit of this forum. Please select more creative answers rather than sales pitches.
The solution of connecting a spare (who does not have one ?) desktop or laptop to your stereo, playing MP3 files from either the local disc or from a network drive on your wireless network, is the most practical.
Controlling this PC remotely from another laptop or PC adds convenience. This PC based in your living room can additionally be used for:
1. Tuning to internet radio stations through your wireless network.
2. Internet telephone like Skype through your wireless network.
3. Chat through Skype, Messenger, etc from your living room, sending messages to other PC 's in your home ("Honey , dinner is ready"), I agree somewhat extravagant.
4. Instant access to Google during dinner parties etc, to back up your point, contest, or find the name of that famous actor whode name nobody can remember, the age of Tina Turner, etc etc.
Leo.
Forget the PC , get an old Xbox
by Blasturd - 9/27/06 6:45 AM In reply to: The most sensible solution by WheedaHas anyone here ever seen a modded Xbox in action with the free XBMC running?
It's exactly what this guy wants.
It can be wireless and it can play almost every kind of media there is, video or audio.
I can browse files over SMB (and many other) networks, and can be controlled remotely from a web browser.
There's a ton of them on ebay for cheap.
I highly recommend it.
How Old Of an Xbox will work
by rarbar - 10/4/06 8:42 PM In reply to: Forget the PC , get an old Xbox by BlasturdSounds like a good idea. But what generation Ibox will work? Also Older Xboxes come with ethernet connectivity? Is hard drive required? What is XBMC Could Wireless router be placed physically near XBOX to eliminate cost of wireless adapter for xbox?
Sorry for all the questions but perhaps you could provide a bit more detail.
Thanks
modded xbox
by Blasturd - 10/5/06 6:49 AM In reply to: How Old Of an Xbox will work by rarbarI think any generation Xbox will work. But, I think people stay away from Ver1.0 and Ver6.0 (the first and last model). Just have to make sure the mod chip installed is compatible with whatever version you get (have to check motherboard or serial number table). I think the versions run from 1.0 to 6.0. Some mod chips are no-soldering and some require soldering. If you go the soldering route, be sure you have some soldering skill, as it is not an easy solder job. But, most current mod chips are easily installed without soldering now.
All Xbox's come with ethernet connectivity, and yes, you can put a wireless router near the xbox and use an ethernet cable to the xbox.
XBMC is Xbox Media Center, it's a free Media Center application for the xbox. It's functions are very similiar to every other media center application on the market now. You can view videos, play music, playlists, run scripts that are available for free, view current weather, internet radio/video feeds, etc.. The list is huge. There is also a web server installed in XBMC so you can run the media player remotely from any network connected PC.
There is usually a 10gig harddrive in all xboxs. If you are not storing alot of media on the xbox, this is an ok size, especially if you store all of your media on your PC and have the xbox connected to the network. The xbox can connect to windows shares (SMB), and a variety of other sources such as internet radio feeds. If you decide to store alot of media on the xbox, then perhaps a larger drive is in order. Especially if you decide to copy all your games to the harddrive for playing without the cd. Most xbox games run from 1gig to 4gig.
The best place to check for info on this is www.xbox-scene.com. Their focus is on the xbox360 now, but a ton of info on the old Xbox is still available. There is also a ton of info on the internet waiting for a google search. I also see Ebay has some pre-modded xboxs for sale, just make sure its not fake (ebay is not what it used to be or what it will ever be again).
Some people are overwhelmed with FTP software, flashing bioses, installing the mod chip, running unsighned code on the xbox, but after some research, anyone should be able to mod an xbox. And, if need be, just buy a premodded one on the internet somewhere.
Keep in mind there is soft-mods and hard-mods. Soft mod being a software modification to the xbox that is often very easy, and the Hard-mod is installing a mod-chip. The mod-chip provides much more functionality, but may not be needed in some cases.
I'm not sure about all the legal aspects of a modded xbox. I take no responsibility for what others decide to do with an xbox, but if you are worried about it, then do some research before continuing. You lose your warranty immediately. And its almost impossible to play games on xbox live with a modded xbox, but the alternative Kai network exists, and works very well.
One thing is for sure, do some research before trying to mod one yourself. A live chat with someone with experience in an IRC chatroom would be nice.
There are cheaper options.
by TreknologyNet - 9/22/06 5:07 AM In reply to: So Much For "Not About Retail"....Where's the Answer? by tnhiker865I ignored this question, because (like others) I expected an IT based solution, not a list of products. Most people have some device in their stereo setup which caters for an extra input--unused inputs on VCR, DVD, the TV itself etc., so I would use a very cheap product to solve the problem: a Video Extender.
You connect the computer's sound card to the transmitter, and hook the receiver into the unused input as mentioned above. Most of these units are around $60.00 and cater for Video, Left and Right.
The means it meets the original question of using ANY software to play ANY file format, and if there's a video output on the computer, you get a bonus ability to play non-DVD formats on the TV.
Mic
I like this solution Mic
by tommygunn - 9/22/06 5:23 AM In reply to: There are cheaper options. by TreknologyNetHey Mic this works for me and sounds simple enough to hook up. Like you say "This means it meets the original question of using ANY software to play ANY file format, and if there's a video output on the computer, you get a bonus ability to play non-DVD formats on the TV.
Not only that, if you are a gamer which I am not, and have the luxury of having a 60" LCD or platinum tv to boot then you can play all you computer games on the BIG SCREEN.
You got my vote on this one Mic
Tommy
control
by djujecmaoseoionnn - 9/22/06 2:24 PM In reply to: I like this solution Mic by tommygunnHow will you control the audio and vid on the computer if its in another area with this setup? I thought that was part of the question.
Video extender? ....try again
by m1553 - 9/22/06 6:40 AM In reply to: There are cheaper options. by TreknologyNetI have tried the video extender solution (two different models) and I can tell you that for $60 (or even as much as $100) you will get a low power RF signal that SUCKS. I got popping, clicking, scratchy noises no matter where I put the devices or what channel they are on.
I do not recommend RF devices in the normal frequency bands. They are subject to FCC regulations that limit the power (and hence the quality) of the received signals.
HOWEVER, if you can find a digital one (good luck) you might be on to something.
excellent point
by Robocoastie - 9/22/06 5:21 AM In reply to: So Much For "Not About Retail"....Where's the Answer? by tnhiker865excellent point, the answer was nothing more than product reviews (expensive ones at that).
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
