How do I watch Internet TV on a TV in a separate room from my computer?

[admin_exported]

I would like to be able to watch Freeview on my TV. I live in an area with no digital TV capability through the aerial and am not able to mount a satelite dish. There is no cable TV available. My TV is in a sitting room. My computer is in another room and connected to broadband. I run the broadband round the house using a Comtrend Powerline so can push the broadband to the sitting room. But is there an easy way to access the internet so I can watch BBC 4, ITV 2, etc without having to buy another computer to connect the TV to the internet? I have looked at Apple TV, but this appears not to be able to operate outside of iTunes.

 

[John Duncan]

Tricky. Firstly, any broadband TV that you get might look ok on your PC, but on a reasonably sized telly it's not going to look fantastic. Bearing this in mind are you able to run cables from your PC to the TV - that would be the easiest way. Other than that, you might look at a games console (PS3, Wii, XBox) with browser capability.

TBH though, I'd buy a small, cheap second hand PC.....

 

[Dave_]

You could look at something like linksys DMA 2100 media extender, see here for detail's. Or slingcatcher see here and i'm pretty sure there's plenty more devices that'll suit your requirements with a bit of research

 

[John Duncan]

Yeah thought of those but don't think either will do it. Slingcatcher needs a slingbox (I think), which needs a TV source, which the OP hasn't got. And the media extender will only play downloaded content or stream TV if the PC has a TV tuner. Like I said, tricky...

And a s/h PC could be picked up for 100 quid...

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you both for your advice. I will look at the slingcatcher and then scope relative value next to a second hand PC. Media Centre PCs look quite pricey too for a quick fix for the short term. Shame Apple haven't extened Apple TV to allow it to work a separate internet portal as well.

 

[John Duncan]

Yes indeed. Stick a freeview tuner in it and I'd chuck away cable......

Any Windows PC will do the job you're looking for, if it's just internet connectivity. But a quick look on a well known auction site shows you can get a Dell desktop for 65 quid. If you stuck 2gig of RAM and Vista on it (more expense, admittedly), you'd have an instant Media Centre.

 

[Anonymous]

julianfree:I have looked at Apple TV, but this appears not to be able to operate outside of iTunes.

Hi, I'm using a new product, guess I was one of the first to buy it. It can plays contents from your PC, the internet, takes on TV online service like YouTube and Facebook, has bittorrent and podcasts...
I'm new here, if it's allowed, I can post the name of the product and the link. I also have a blog about it, can I post the link? (need moderator help).
Thank you!

 

[Andrew Everard]

Michele87:Hi, I'm using a new product, guess I was one of the first to buy it. It can plays contents from your PC, the internet, takes on TV online service like YouTube and Facebook, has bittorrent and podcasts...

I'm new here, if it's allowed, I can post the name of the product and the link. I also have a blog about it, can I post the link? (need moderator help).
Thank you!

Having a 'hmmmm' about this one...

 

[Cofnchtr]

Andrew Everard:Michele87:Hi, I'm using a new product, guess I was one of the first to buy it. It can plays contents from your PC, the internet, takes on TV online service like YouTube and Facebook, has bittorrent and podcasts...

I'm new here, if it's allowed, I can post the name of the product and the link. I also have a blog about it, can I post the link? (need moderator help).
Thank you!

Having a 'hmmmm' about this one...

Hi,

A 24 hour 'hmmmm'....surely nothing wrong with naming the product but not a link to said product? Apple TV already mentioned...

Cheers,

Cofnchtr.

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:
Having a 'hmmmm' about this one...

Thank you for your answer, Andrew, can I send you
an email to show you the product and my blog, so you will suggest me what's best
to do?

 

[Anonymous]

Cofnchtr: A 24 hour 'hmmmm'....surely nothing wrong with naming the product but not a link to said product? Apple TV already mentioned...

Ok, I'll try: BLOBbox.

 

[Dave_]

Looks interesting!

 

[Cofnchtr]

Hi,

Different - although some features finding there way to other manufacturers hardware - YouTube on Panasonics etc.

Was expecting toilet humour jokes but nobody's dropped one yet...

Cheers,

Cofnchtr.