TV / Streaming Help
 

Okay guys...
I really don't know much about what's out there in TV's these days, or how I can make my TV part of the wireless network at my salon.

What I want to do is hang a TV or two on the wall of my salon and have the ability to stream videos and DVD's from my computer to the TV's over my wireless network.

Do new TV's just have this ability inherently, or is there some piece of equipment that I need to add?
I don't "need" to watch broadcast television, but I'm not opposed to having that ability if something like Google Chromecast is required.
Would I need one of those for each TV if I got more than one TV in the salon?

Any recommendations on which TV's I should look at?
Resolution and picture don't have to be top of the line; I'm not gaming or watching movies or HD. Just want moving pictures that stimulate people in my environment.

Thanks in advance! :tup:

Sub'd to see what ppl come up with. It would be nice to be able to stream A/V stuff from my computer to a TV but not high enough on my list to do any research. heehee

Mac or PC?

PC.

mac

Thanks for the useless kool-aid drinker response.
This is exactly why I hate Apple people.

Anyone else have some actual guidance or help?

dude...i was hoppin' on your equipment-type as opposed to mine so that i might get the info i need...chill out, hater...geez...

I'm not a hater.
All my Apple friends are haters, always telling me why their device is better and I need to switch... as they beg me for an outlet to plug their phone in and ask for my contact information again because the latest update wiped out their contacts. But their device is better, always. ;)
Sorry, I misunderstood your one word response. You didn't give me much to work with.

'ppreciate your apology, bro'...actually, i edited my "mac" reply to include a "go lions" inclusion to the inquirer of our systems but it didn't show...sigh...

if'n it makes you feel any better: yes, i have two beautiful macs but i'm so 'puter illiterate (63 yrs. old an' don't even know how to type) that this, or any machine, is way beyond my means---so, i wasn't bragging...that's why i, too, need help fingering out how to do very basic things...

How far apart are the tvs going to be from each other and is the volume going to be loud-ish? I am worried that being over wireless there is going to be some lag in video/audio and could cause an echo type situation that would drive everyone in ear shot of the two tvs mad in about 10 seconds lol.

Maybe look into 2 wireless hdmi adapters that plug into the monitors/tvs usb port and then clone the desktop to them. Again I am not sure about audio/video lag.

Getting ready to snatch up some Cyber Monday deals.
Looks like Chromecast may be the way to go, but I'll probably have to rip DVD's onto my computer first in order to send them to the TV.
If I do get two TV's, they'll be in separate rooms, quite far away from each other. Sound will not be on 99% of the time. Just moving pictures: hair show videos, promos, runway stuff. Stimulating images.

Chromecast may not be your best bet. If I understood what I read, when you stream from your computer, the stream is sent to one of Google's servers and then to the TV. If you play a 1 GB movie, you use 2 GB of data; 1 GB out + 1 GB in. Ie, Chromecast was designed to stream video from the 'Net. But I'm just going by what I've read.

If I'm just moving things across my existing WiFi network, how does that affect my data consumption? Assuming you're talking about data on my mobile plan here?

I have chromecast and love it and use it at home to stream from a whs server which contains my entire library. So one thing you need to be aware of is that chromecast natively only streams mp4 and mkv and one other newer format NATIVELY from your own files. If you plan to rip your own dvd and stream you will need something to transcode avi, etc on the fly or make sure you to burn to mkv or mp4 initially. also your chromecast and your device your streaming from must be on the same wi-fi network.

From your scenario i think LEAF antenna to receive over the air channels in hd is your best and simplest option. That way you select a channel and leave it. That would be my choice. You'll need one per tv.

If you go chromecast or roku and you want to stream netflix, hulu, crackle, etc you can do that without having to worry about format of your own library however you are starting and stoping manually. In the environment for your saloon this would get old fast.

Unless you've a huge library via torrenting forget streaming your own stuff. If you want to though i use bubbleupnp software with their Free bubbleupnp server (small 20 sec install) that can on-fly transcode non supported chromecast files and stream them. I use this in conjunction with serviio free media server. Bubble is 5 bucks from playsore if you ho this route. Holler if like more explanation.

Also, most smart tv already support netflix and hulu streaming without needing any additional hardware. Just check which streaming services are built in.