Streaming from computer to TV

[fstopphoto]

I want to stream in HD from computer to my TV. I tried using WiFi but it did work for me. I now have HDMI going from my computer to my TV, but the picture is unstable. I have heard that I can use ROKU make run better and more stable. How would I do that? Would a HDMI splitter work?

 

[azaran]

If you're getting a bad signal by going directly from your computer to your TV, adding a roku isn't going to help matters. Have you tried using a different HDMI cable? How long is your HDMI cable?

 

[jsmithepa]

I now have HDMI going from my computer to my TV, but the picture is unstable.

If this is the case, either bad cable, or computer haven't got enough juice to playback.

 

[fstopphoto]

My HDMI cable is 35 ft. I only have 1 cable that is 35 ft long. My streaming video looks like smudges or pixel blocks and only when people are moving fast.

 

[fstopphoto]

I now have HDMI going from my computer to my TV, but the picture is unstable.

If this is the case, either bad cable, or computer haven't got enough juice to playback.

My connection speed is any where between 4 and 5 Megs

 

[fstopphoto]

If you're getting a bad signal by going directly from your computer to your TV, adding a roku isn't going to help matters. Have you tried using a different HDMI cable? How long is your HDMI cable?

HDMI cable is 35 ft long and no I don't have a another one to substitute.

 

[jsmithepa]

My HDMI cable is 35 ft.

Ya. THAT would be a problem. HDMI connections are suppose to be like right next to the box, not across the room.

I have seems to come across ACTIVE HDMI cables. Am not absolutely sure if what I think is correct and/or whether they really works, but it sounds as if they got electronics inside that re-gen the signal so it can go farther.

There are also HDMI over CAT5, for distance, and again I dunno how well they work.

 

[azaran]

In theory you can get 50ft out of an HDMI before you have to worry about attenuation/signal degradation and have to go for an active power solution. My guess is your cable is not up to the task of pushing a good signal. I've tried running that same kind of setup and ran in to the same imaging problems at around the 30ft mark. Get a shorter cable and see if you're hitting the same problems. You can get them for like $5 for a 6ft cable from amazon. If it comes up clean, it was the cable. If it comes up with the same issues, then you may have a faulty port on your video card.

If you're needing to be over 30ft away from your computer, you may want to look in to one of the NUC or small form factor computer and just set it up as an HTPC. You can get them for like $300 for an i3 or $500 for an i5 setup straight from big box stores like Bestbuy.

 

[fstopphoto]

I now have HDMI going from my computer to my TV, but the picture is unstable.

If this is the case, either bad cable, or computer haven't got enough juice to playback.

I concluded that long HDMI cable was NOT the problem.....one needs to have 8megs of computer speed to stream video off the net. I don't. 4 or 5 Megs is all I have here in the mountains. To get more, I would have spend a lot more. Being on a fixed income and retired makes it hard to keep up with people still working.

Thanks for all the Help.

 

[fstopphoto]

In theory you can get 50ft out of an HDMI before you have to worry about attenuation/signal degradation and have to go for an active power solution. My guess is your cable is not up to the task of pushing a good signal. I've tried running that same kind of setup and ran in to the same imaging problems at around the 30ft mark. Get a shorter cable and see if you're hitting the same problems. You can get them for like $5 for a 6ft cable from amazon. If it comes up clean, it was the cable. If it comes up with the same issues, then you may have a faulty port on your video card.

If you're needing to be over 30ft away from your computer, you may want to look in to one of the NUC or small form factor computer and just set it up as an HTPC. You can get them for like $300 for an i3 or $500 for an i5 setup straight from big box stores like Bestbuy.

I concluded the cable was not the problem...I need 8Meg to stream. I costs more to to have higher speed. I live in the mountains and being retired and fixed income is hard.

Thanks for your help.