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bthylafh
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Cheap streaming video setup

Mon Sep 06, 2010 7:48 pm

OK, so my wife wants a second streaming-video receiver to be in our bedroom. I'm not wanting to spend $200 for another Wii (we've got Netflix) plus replacing the crappy TV[1] we've got in there now.

My thought was to take an old computer monitor and mate it with a Slingbox, Apple TV, or the like, connect them with a composite (or component) to VGA converter, and Bob would hopefully be my uncle. These things come with their own remotes, don't they? Does this sound like a workable plan?



[1] The display has severe white-balance problems and its only input is CATV. Movies look awful on it.
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ludi
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Re: Cheap streaming video setup

Mon Sep 06, 2010 11:32 pm

How 'bout a Roku box?
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stoydgen
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Re: Cheap streaming video setup

Mon Sep 06, 2010 11:58 pm

I'd run with something like the WDTV Live. Works a charm, and better format support (and 1080p in case you use it on a decent tv) than the apple TV
 
bthylafh
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Re: Cheap streaming video setup

Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:45 am

Right, so I take it that [streambox]->[composite2vga]->[computer monitor] is a workable thing, since y'all are criticizing my random choices of streambox instead?
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bthylafh
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Re: Cheap streaming video setup

Tue Sep 07, 2010 12:37 pm

Anyone? Is that connector setup going to work, or will I really be stuck using a TV instead?
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UltimateImperative
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Re: Cheap streaming video setup

Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:03 pm

Component/Composite->VGA converters tend to be fairly expensive. Do you already have one? The best solution might be to get a monitor with a DVI input and connect it to the HDMI output of the streaming box using an adapter.
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Usacomp2k3
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Re: Cheap streaming video setup

Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:30 pm

I second the Roku.
 
potatochobit
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Re: Cheap streaming video setup

Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:54 pm

when you say old computer monitor I sure hope you are not talking about a 15" CRT

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