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EvilOzzmess · 25 Nov 2010

Are there any tutorials anywhere on how to network a HDTV, HDTV-DVR and a BD-DVD Player?

I would like to tie these three devices into our WNDR37AV (also tied to one Desktop PC via LAN and also two Notebooks on WiFi) networks but I’m not quite sure how this would work.

Do I need to buy another piece of over-priced hardware to handle the streaming between the HDTV DVR and HDTV, or would Media Center on Win 7 handle that by itself on my PC?

I’ve spent a while researching this, but turn up nothing tangible on actually HOW to do it – I just get “you need this, buy that and blah blah blah” but no “here’s how to actually do it” stuff.

So if anyone knows please let me know!

TV is a Samsung 630 @ 55”, BD-DVD Player is a Samsung BD-P1600 and the HDTV DVR is going to be a Motorola-something from Mediacom (which I *THINK* will have an Ethernet port and support Networking, according to the manual’s pictures of the back panel).

I am going to be forgoing "WiFi" on this portion of the network because I don't agree with the completely crazy $80 for the little USB dongles (ARE THEY NUTS?!) and will instead be using cheap CAT6 LAN. Just FYI, but I won't be ordering these until I know without doubt that this is going to work and without the necessity of another very expensive piece of hardware.

As always, thank you in advance!

Edit: Mixed up "BD" with "DB", sorry lol.

WindowsStar · 29 Nov 2010

I hope I understand this correctly:

Here is what I did. I have 3 HDTV (none have networking) I added a small fast computer with a good Video Card to each TV via HDMI. All the computers are on the network (CAT6). I have a server; however you could use one of the machines as a server and store Videos. I download my DVR to my server and then can play any video on any TV in any room. I can have all 3 TVs watching different videos at the same time.

As far as the BluRay Player I only have it connected to one HDTV in the main living area. Typically we just watch BluRay Disc in that room only. You can run HDMI over Ethernet but it requires expensive equipment and 2 CAT6 wires for each device. Not really worth it. If I really need to watch a BluRay movie somewhere else I normally plan ahead and RIP the BluRay to my Server then I can watch it in the other rooms. (Note: This is a BluRay I own, not rented, or borrowed)

Hope that helps -WS

EvilOzzmess · 30 Nov 2010

Thanks for the ideas. It turns out that Mediacom lied about several of their services, they said their STB DVR could be networked, but when the guy came over and we asked about what we were told we were getting, he claimed they were incorrect and it wasn't possible. So we told him to take a hike because we weren't paying them for services they said we were getting but actually wouldn't (only Fl and a few other states get what was advertised to us - HDTV, On-Demand, free Premium Channels, AV networking etc).

I think we are just going to get Netflix and if so, I only need to run one CAT6 cable through the wall to the TV or Blue Ray player and into our router. Doesn't solve me not being able to watch TV on my laptop through the DVR without having to run several cables through the wall via S-Video and Composite Audio but I suppose I will figure something else out.

On the other hand, if we went for TiVo (still trying to convince my mom it's better and for the same price Verizon is charging for renting their POS) I could patch that DVR-STB to my Router and stream it to the computers that way and still get TV without another expensive DVR-STB and use our networked EHDD as the media server and get another one for other backup etc. files.