Understanding getting the best quality streams/ TV signals and best way to send them around the house

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Understanding getting the best quality streams/ TV signals and best way to send them around the house

xena7051

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#222464 12-Aug-2017 22:28

Currently I have Sky which I have the Sky Basic Package and Sport. I have mysky plus ...the ability to record, record series and to remotely record are the feature I really like. Signal comes via a Sky supplied satellite dish.

I have Samsung F6400 55"..which I have LightBox through SPARK and use Plex to stream movies from my PC to the main TV....(they store on drive on PC)

I would like to move to Freeview and have ability to stream other channels from overseas....e.g. news channels, documentaries...sports would be a real bonus

I have a Spotify account for Music.

I have a Sony STR-DN-1060 Amp.

I have two additional old TV's in bedrooms both don't have free view(Pretty old and need replacing) ..

So what is the best setup which will give me the best picture that will allow me to send/transmit the signal around the house

1) I am after guidance on a good 32" TV for at least one bedroom. low cost but with, great picture that I can stream to.....(currently I have old coxial cable wired to each room to allow SKY to the bedrooms) ...on the replacement system can I use WIFI? If the new TV is "Smart" ...then I could run Plex and Light Box on it as well....so then only need a way to send the Freeview/ internet channles signal from a central point...this would take away the need for the old coaxial sky cable..which I could remove from the house. But would I lose quality if using WiFi? On a 32 " TV may not matter that much....but would appreciate your view.

2) Receiving the signal....what would give me the best high definition quality?

* Get a new FM Aerial (suggestions on which type appreciated) ..I hear a good quality FM Aerial can give me true HD quality? Any suggestions on good aerials.

* Use the Sky Satellite Dish. If so could I then distribute the signals through the house via existing coxial cable,,,but I believe the Dish doesn't deliver true HD? only 720? is that true?

* Via the internet. I have Fibre 100 so to me the best idea is to get the signal via the Internet and stream to the signal to each TV...if so what is best media/HTPC unit to receive the signals, be able to stream different signals to different devices (TV's in true HD ....) ideally able to be controlled by an app, able to record including series ...I will need to be able receive and stream to the TV's all Freeview channels....as well as overseas channels that I can receive via the Internet.....also will be able to stream Lightbox .. and using Plex to stream movies....to both my TV in the lounge and bedrooms. Now ideally this TV would have a great menu system which I could build a list of all my TV channels (favourites)

3) Futures..where is the next direction.....is there better solutions...... what is the cost effective...and affordable competitor to Sky using the Internet....that gives great HD quality...

Appreciate any ideas

Many thanks

elpenguino

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#1845722 13-Aug-2017 09:19

You can re-use the coax to each room.

You could use a satellite set top box at each room depending on the cable layout. Yes, freeview satellite is 720.

You could also use a terrestrial set top box for each room - this would give up to 1080 HD on those channels that support it. You just need a generic decent quality terrestrial aerial - I suggest you keep the satellite dish in case you want to use both later on.

You can also have some kind of IP set top box for your streaming needs. I use Kodi on Raspberry Pi for example but there are many others. You just need an ethernet cable from your server to each room - Wifi would also work but ethernet is more reliable.

You can also use your PC to record = there's a few recorder software packages . You need to buy a TV card for your PC to do this - also need hard drive space. Then you can serve it out to your rooms over the IP system.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

Dunnersfella

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#1845728 13-Aug-2017 09:33

A digital modulator is the easiest way to get Sky around the house.

Double check how well it works with remote controls (some can be slow to process the remote input signals, so you may struggle to change channels) and you're away. They will happily sit at 720p / 1080i, many feature HDMI loop outs also.

I have a Freeview recorder upstairs (Panasonic) that allows me to stream any Free-to-air show I've recorded to DLNA clients. So I watch something I recorded on the box upstairs, downstairs on a psuedo-smart TV. The downside? Fast forwarding and the inability to watch something while something is being recorded upstairs.

But, to be fair, it's Freeview so there's not much I watch anyway.

I have Plex running via a MacMini, Hulu + Netflix + HBO via my VPN - with a PS4 Pro, XBox One and Apple TV 2 as clients - all are hard wired.

Spyware

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#1845756 13-Aug-2017 10:31

elpenguino:

You could use a satellite set top box at each room depending on the cable layout. Yes, freeview satellite is 720.

Incorrect, Freeview DVB-S mpeg2 transmissions are standard definition, i.e., 576 interlaced, the same resolution as the original TV transmissions introduced in 1960. These transmissions are highly compressed and therefore substandard quality.

Spark Max Fibre using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+, CRS125-24G-1S, Unifi UAP, U6-Pro, UAP-AC-M-Pro, Apple TV 4K (2022), Apple TV 4K (2017), iPad Air 1st gen, iPad Air 4th gen, iPhone 13, SkyNZ3151 (the white box). If it doesn't move then it's data cabled.

richms

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#1845757 13-Aug-2017 10:35

Spyware:

elpenguino:

You could use a satellite set top box at each room depending on the cable layout. Yes, freeview satellite is 720.

Incorrect, Freeview DVB-S mpeg2 transmissions are standard definition, i.e., 576 interlaced, the same standard as the original TV transmissions introduced in 1960.

At least there isnt dot crawl, just replaced with IMO more offensive giant blocking on anything moving. So still a downgrade from the 70's standards.

One big gotcha about HDMI modulators is that they introduce signifigant latency, as do the processing in the TV which is really bad if you can hear more than one TV. Even with 2 TVs using their inbuilt tuner off FTA broadcasts I would often get 2-300ms varience between them which would change when I changed channel and back again.

If the coax is in good condition, and is a single run you can get to both ends of a quite effective way to push "uncompressed" HDMI video over them is 3GSDI adapters. They take a BNC plug and I had some luck with F to BNC adapters on them to use some existing cables. "uncompressed" because they only transfer one of the YUV colorspaces so fine for video sourced stuff but really suck if you want to put PC video over them.

Richard rich.ms

elpenguino

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#1845761 13-Aug-2017 10:41

Spyware:

elpenguino:

You could use a satellite set top box at each room depending on the cable layout. Yes, freeview satellite is 720.

Incorrect, Freeview DVB-S mpeg2 transmissions are standard definition, i.e., 576 interlaced, the same resolution as the original TV transmissions introduced in 1960. These transmissions are highly compressed and therefore substandard quality.

Ahh, thanks for that.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

B1GGLZ

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#1845790 13-Aug-2017 13:15

xena7051:

* Get a new FM Aerial (suggestions on which type appreciated) ..I hear a good quality FM Aerial can give me true HD quality? Any suggestions on good aerials.

A FM (88mhz - 108mhz) antenna isn't any use for UHF. You need a UHF antenna. And it's not the antenna that gives true HD quality but the received signal. As long as the UHF signal reaches the tuner you'll get HD no matter what sort of antenna you use. The quality of the antenna only affects the signal strength delivered to the tuner. The type of UHF antenna you need will depend on your location.

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Lastman

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#1845816 13-Aug-2017 14:37

It may not suit you but I have HDMI cables that run to the screens in my house from a central hub. Then my source is a PS3 for all the digital services but you could use any source/s. It is simple but effective. The PS3s (or XBOX etc) wireless controller means you can use in any room.

You can watch a program in the lounge and go to bed and watch the finish in bed etc

I just use an HDMI 4x splitter or you can matrix. These devices and the cables are cheap as chips nowadays.

sfrasernz

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#1846982 15-Aug-2017 12:20

Lastman: It may not suit you but I have HDMI cables that run to the screens in my house from a central hub. Then my source is a PS3 for all the digital services but you could use any source/s. It is simple but effective. The PS3s (or XBOX etc) wireless controller means you can use in any room.

You can watch a program in the lounge and go to bed and watch the finish in bed etc

I just use an HDMI 4x splitter or you can matrix. These devices and the cables are cheap as chips nowadays.

What is the length of your longest HDMI run?

Lastman

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#1846998 15-Aug-2017 12:38

sfrasernz:
Lastman: It may not suit you but I have HDMI cables that run to the screens in my house from a central hub. Then my source is a PS3 for all the digital services but you could use any source/s. It is simple but effective. The PS3s (or XBOX etc) wireless controller means you can use in any room.

You can watch a program in the lounge and go to bed and watch the finish in bed etc

I just use an HDMI 4x splitter or you can matrix. These devices and the cables are cheap as chips nowadays.

What is the length of your longest HDMI run?

10m for several of them. Splitter is in a central location. 3 TVs and receiver/projector.

Helps to have an old bones house that you can run cables around easily.