Place Shifting DVR Content

[slinky]

I have a DirecTivo series II SD DVR. This DVR has a USB port on the rear that has not been activated. I am planning to purchase an HD display and sign up for DTV HD and get an HD DVR. So, I will have the Series II up in the bedroom and the new rig down in the den. I'd like to be able to move content from one to the other. Actually watching the content in real time is preferable. I can do without moving HD content. Is there already a good discussion on this topic on the forum?
I have 2 RG6 lines running from the distribution amplifier (yeah, I know it's not called that...I can't remember the proper nomenclature) to each display. I also have CAT 5 in both places. I can easily fish other conductor types.

I'd like a discussion of the different paths that I can follow along with pros and cons. I would like for the 2 DVRs to comunnicate, or would consider a Media Server of some sort but would prefer to stay away from MS Media Center.
Thank you for your help.

 

[Brewer4]

I am just the man to talk about this. I have a very complex configuration where I have Windows Vista Media Center with the H20 connected to it and 3 Xbox 360's that get video from it. I also have 1 HR10-250 and 2 HR20's all of which are in the basement but feed 4 rooms in my house. Here are the different configurations I tried and currently use.

I love the Media Center as it is a nice menu and speed is great. It does OTA HD but is limited by HD capturing from Directv. It can only get video in via S-Video. Forget 2 Directv tuners too. So while it is a great DVR with tons of configuration options, its not a full HD multiroom DVR. So while I love its ease to setup a room with TV via a networked Xbox, it is HD limited.

So being an HD nut, I have it spread through my house via CAT5 wiring using balun converters, 2 HDMI feeds in the wall, and one component HD feed. I use matrix switchers that are next to the units to switch the video feed to the rooms. Its done via wireless remote extenders in each room.

See my list of stuff here. http://www.satelliteguys.us/living-edge/101519-whats-your-setup.html#post957928

I recommend an all house serving configuration. You cant really get 2 receivers to talk to each other unless you go with the newer non-Directv Tivos. So you can setup a matrix configuration by having the units in one room but also feed the other room. Use either the CAT5 and component baluns or you can use CAT5 with even S-Video if going non-HD.

Just get a scenario where a matrix switcher or splitter to dole out the video to the 2 rooms. Then you can use a remote wireless extender.

Is this too confusing? I can stop and let you ask questions first.

 

[slinky]

I am just the man to talk about this. I have a very complex configuration where I have Windows Vista Media Center with the H20 connected to it and 3 Xbox 360's that get video from it. I also have 1 HR10-250 and 2 HR20's all of which are in the basement but feed 4 rooms in my house. Here are the different configurations I tried and currently use.

I love the Media Center as it is a nice menu and speed is great. It does OTA HD but is limited by HD capturing from Directv. It can only get video in via S-Video. Forget 2 Directv tuners too. So while it is a great DVR with tons of configuration options, its not a full HD multiroom DVR. So while I love its ease to setup a room with TV via a networked Xbox, it is HD limited.

So being an HD nut, I have it spread through my house via CAT5 wiring using balun converters, 2 HDMI feeds in the wall, and one component HD feed. I use matrix switchers that are next to the units to switch the video feed to the rooms. Its done via wireless remote extenders in each room.

See my list of stuff here. http://www.satelliteguys.us/living-edge/101519-whats-your-setup.html#post957928

I recommend an all house serving configuration. You cant really get 2 receivers to talk to each other unless you go with the newer non-Directv Tivos. So you can setup a matrix configuration by having the units in one room but also feed the other room. Use either the CAT5 and component baluns or you can use CAT5 with even S-Video if going non-HD.

Just get a scenario where a matrix switcher or splitter to dole out the video to the 2 rooms. Then you can use a remote wireless extender.

Is this too confusing? I can stop and let you ask questions first.

Wow. Confused....yes but there's hope.I'm going out of town in the morning so I'll pick up when i get back. One thing i can say now though is that i want a simple system and i do not want to use media center. I also don't need to shift HD programming. I believe that the new HD DVR from DirecTV are non-Tivo and was hoping that they would talk to each other. If not, maybe one of the media extenders that are available or maybe even the Slingbox.

 

[Brewer4]

You could just simply pipe your Directv Tivo box to be viewed in 2 rooms and use an RF remote or wireless remote extender. Since its non-HD, you can use CAT5 line but need baluns or just slink an RF coax line down to the next room. Slingboxes are great but if you just want TV in 2 rooms from one receiver, its actually not very complex at all.

 

[FlyingJ]

I thought to myself that this thread sounds interesting. So I get a cup of coffee and sit down to read about Brewer's "set up". Being that I have an HR10-250, a HD receiver, 3 SD receivers and a SD TivoII, and that I have a HR20 and another new HD receiver to be installed next Thursday replacing the older HD units, I assumed that this could really be a configuration that may help me.

I then realized that I have absolutely no idea what the hell you guys are talking about. So my question is...
With 5 sets connected to D* (3 HD) and a playstation 3, and a desk top PC, and a lap top , is there something that I should be doing that I am not?

 

[Brewer4]

The first question I ask is how many concurrent boxes do you want to feed how many rooms? Meaning, you could have 5 sources, but only want 2 of them at the same time. If thats the case, you can get the units in one room, pump them to a matrix switch that feeds 2 rooms. So the switcher has output A and B. Room 1 is A and Room 2 is B. So Room 1 watches HR20 and Room 2 watches Playstation. With remote extenders and centralizing these things, you can have an almost unlimited configuration of rooms and sources. The limits will be cost, how many you want HDMI and your wiring.

With component you can feed 5 rooms. HDMI you can but it will cost you alot. So I would have a hybrid configuration. Primary room and secondary you can make HDMI and other rooms component. You also dont have to do this all at once. Here are the pros.

1. Centralizing units allows control in one location
2. Centralizing units allows you to reduce you number of needed receivers
3. Centralizing gives you multi-room viewing. Meaning you can watch in one room, pause it, go to another room, and start watching it.
4. Centralizing allows you to feed any number of rooms throughout the house

The issues/limitations are

1. Cost. Matrix switchers do cost. I have a good HDMI one that actually is affordable. 3 inputs, 2 rooms. $250 or so. Component ones are cheaper and have more options. They can also be daisy chained.
2. Wiring. If you dont have the right wiring and dont want to, then its not for you.
3. Distant limitations. As long as you are around 100 feet away from the source, no issues with running wires or signal. Beyond 100 feet can cause problems and sometimes requires relays.
4. All this is possible with wireless remote controllers but Harmony remotes tie this all together with a push of a button. By programming it, I can hit a button on the harmony and it flips the switcher, turns TV on, turns receiver on, and knows what to control from central point. Works great but you better know what the heck you are doing.

The key is to think of your objectives, define a budget, do it incrementally, and ask yourself how many rooms and concurrent watchers. Let me know if more interested and I can put together a diagram for your house.

 

[slinky]

Place Shifting

I am just the man to talk about this. I have a very complex configuration where I have Windows Vista Media Center with the H20 connected to it and 3 Xbox 360's that get video from it. I also have 1 HR10-250 and 2 HR20's all of which are in the basement but feed 4 rooms in my house. Here are the different configurations I tried and currently use.

I love the Media Center as it is a nice menu and speed is great. It does OTA HD but is limited by HD capturing from Directv. It can only get video in via S-Video. Forget 2 Directv tuners too. So while it is a great DVR with tons of configuration options, its not a full HD multiroom DVR. So while I love its ease to setup a room with TV via a networked Xbox, it is HD limited.

So being an HD nut, I have it spread through my house via CAT5 wiring using balun converters, 2 HDMI feeds in the wall, and one component HD feed. I use matrix switchers that are next to the units to switch the video feed to the rooms. Its done via wireless remote extenders in each room.

See my list of stuff here. http://www.satelliteguys.us/living-edge/101519-whats-your-setup.html#post957928

I recommend an all house serving configuration. You cant really get 2 receivers to talk to each other unless you go with the newer non-Directv Tivos. So you can setup a matrix configuration by having the units in one room but also feed the other room. Use either the CAT5 and component baluns or you can use CAT5 with even S-Video if going non-HD.

Just get a scenario where a matrix switcher or splitter to dole out the video to the 2 rooms. Then you can use a remote wireless extender.

Is this too confusing? I can stop and let you ask questions first.

Hello Brewer,
I'm back. Life got in the way of this project but I'm ready to get educated. First, let me thank you for your help. This stuff is way too hard to do without guidance.
Here goes....

>>I recommend an all house serving configuration. You cant really get 2 receivers to talk to each other unless you go with the newer non-Directv Tivos. <<

I'd consider both options. I have not purchased a new DVR yet.
I figure that your other option (whole house serving) shold be quite a bit less expensive unless the price of Non-DTV Tivos has come down quiter a bit. I'll check but....will they(non DTV Tivo do a good job of ordering the DTV receivers around?

>>So you can setup a matrix configuration by having the units in one room but also feed the other room. Use either the CAT5 and component baluns or you can use CAT5 with even S-Video if going non-HD.<<

Ooh, this sounds good.
Will I be able to run 2 DVR's and watch different programming on each of 2 displays? Can one DVR be SD?


Also....The smaller HDTV has 2 RG6 lines going to it as well as a Cat5. The (future) larger HDTV has the same but also happens to be in fairly close proximity to the DTV Multi-Switch which is what is splitting the signal to my different displays.