Basically i need to build a pc (im based in uk) which will be used purely for media storage and playback. im looking at a failrly copmpact case on the lines of a shuttle or htpc possibly. Please can anyone advise on which hardware to use and of what sort of level. I have built a few pc's but for different uses and this one is for a client. He basically wants to stream media playback and browse the web only.
My next issue is deciding on how to stream the media playback to several tv's around his massive 7 bed house! we have opted for internet ready tv's but now he has decided he wants to have full use of pc via wireless keyboard, mouse and tv screen as monitor in any room. this will allow desktop veiwing, internet browsing and full pc functionality basically. All the ceilings have been pulled down and im not familier with any hardware to use barring 20m vga and sound cables in ceiling voids which will then connect to tv's.
The next issue is wireless keyboard and mouse. I have used active usb extenders in the past which i can get and link up to 5 together giving 25m runs. How is it possible to to connect several of the usb extenders to pc? usb hub? its to allow an extender in each room as although the last microsoft key and mouse i used stated 30 foot RF, it was rubbish. 10 foot and no wall or just through one wall and it lost it! any other options?
Sounds like quite a complex arrangement. While I can't say I have experience with running systems in that many locations or using long-range extension cables (When i have used USB and VGA extensions they tend to stop working beyond a distance far shorter than 25 metres)
If you're looking at controlling a remote PC from several locations, you would be better off using separate systems with remote desktop, or rather, having a few separate PCs linked to a couple of rooms each.
For example, a pair, or perhaps trio of rooms that adjoin could use one system, other rooms another, and so on.
Originally posted by sammorris: Sounds like quite a complex arrangement. While I can't say I have experience with running systems in that many locations or using long-range extension cables (When i have used USB and VGA extensions they tend to stop working beyond a distance far shorter than 25 metres)
If you're looking at controlling a remote PC from several locations, you would be better off using separate systems with remote desktop, or rather, having a few separate PCs linked to a couple of rooms each.
For example, a pair, or perhaps trio of rooms that adjoin could use one system, other rooms another, and so on.
Thanks for that. Ok so i think my options are seperate sound and vga through ceiling voids to all LCD tv's however, my issue is the KVM setup. Basically i need to be able to control/access one pc only in several rooms. If i used KVM extenders etc then my issue is how many keyboards and mice can i have connected at once? there will only be 1 user at any one time. I have thought if RF or bluetooth keyboards but my issue is the possible loss of connectivity through the possibilty of two walls. Wired devices wouldnt be an issue but how do i connect 4 keyboards and mice into one system?
Kindest regards and big thanks in advance.
Oh and the active usb can be linked together to give 25m (5x5) as confirmed by manufacturer and maplin stores. My concern is having a few wireless keyboards connected at once via wireless dongles on the end of each usb active extension. Any thoughts please? the usb extenders have no software required and OS will be W7
You can extend video and sound relatively easily. Input control is more difficult. If you've got 25 metre wired keyboard and mouse extensions working in the past, you've had far more luck than me. The signal integrity of USB begins to decay at 3 metres, such that it will not detect high bandwidth devices. At 25 metres, I'd be amazed if anything works. I assume the extensions must be some form of powered relay.
There is in theory no limit to how many keyboards and mice you can attach to a system. They will all of course control the same cursor, so having two people use them at once would be rather 'interesting', but you can use several keyboards and mice on the same system without incident, assuming you have a means of attaching them.
Wireless peripherals are near useless, ultimately, since the signal of them is usually sufficiently bad that using them even in the same room can be sometimes frustrating, let alone in another room. Both RF and Infra-Red wireless peripherals are completely flummoxed by walls. You would, however, in theory be able to use Bluetooth mice and keyboards, since bluetooth signals are far more resiliant to obstructions. Bluetooth uses a similar system to wireless networking, so if you can get wireless access, you can probably get bluetooth working. However, the tricky part here is that I'm not sure if you can use multiple bluetooth devices at once without horrific interference. You would likely have to run each mouse/keyboard pair on a separate channel, meaning you'd need to use a separate dongle for each mouse/keyboard. It's a lot of USB ports, but assuming there are enough channels available to use, it might work. However, as I stated before, this isn't like anything I've tried in the past, so while I'd be interested to hear how it turns out, I have no idea how good or bad it may be.
Would'nt it be easier to use a laptop connected wireless to the pc server & use that as keyboard & mouse or connect a USB mouse to lappy in place of that stupid pad thing they use
