Media streaming solution

easyrider · 30 Oct 2013 at 17:59

bledd. said:
easyrider, which varient do you use? are you running from Sdcard or USB?

I tested on all 3 XBMC derivatives and found the menu's to be painfully slow. (using the card that came with it)

Are you talking about the pi's?

StevieP · 30 Oct 2013 at 19:33

FerretBoy said:
For XBMC use cec if your tv supports it. most now do, but under many different names. Check out pulseeight cec usb.

This man knows what he's talking about!!!!!

The CEC adaptor is fantastic - works out of the box and does everything you need!!!

bledd · 30 Oct 2013 at 20:37

easyrider said:
Are you talking about the pi's?

Yup

kidloco · 31 Oct 2013 at 00:34

FerretBoy said:
For XBMC use cec if your tv supports it. most now do, but under many different names. Check out pulseeight cec usb.

Yep this works great. So does Flirc which I use now. It's a synch to map the buttons on your existing remote to xbmc buttons.

Flirc

TheDean · 31 Oct 2013 at 09:40

I pretty much need to get my entire xbmc in order. I am having terrible trouble at the minute as for some reason my Synology won't let my xbmc in even though I've given it the rights

Kappa · 31 Oct 2013 at 09:45

easyrider said:
How does that help him streaming MKV to his TV?

It is a rhetorical question btw

Doesn't Plex convert it or you can choose for it to convert the stream?

edit : just read up that it either doesn't or it sucks at doing so. Scrap that recommendation!

TheDean · 31 Oct 2013 at 09:47

Kappa said:
Doesn't Plex convert it or you can choose for it to convert the stream?

Not a rhetorical question! I actually don't know...

Well the server / NAS hosts it, xbmc will 'stream' it. i.e. access it and display it.

The notion of 'streaming' is a bit silly, as you just need something which can host the file and something which can read and display the file as required

easyrider · 31 Oct 2013 at 15:39

bledd. said:
Yup

SD Card class 10

Make sure you have the latest build.

shadow_boxer · 31 Oct 2013 at 15:44

StevieP said:
This man knows what he's talking about!!!!!

The CEC adaptor is fantastic - works out of the box and does everything you need!!!

Totally agree. Amazing stuff. Works out of the box with my bedroom Samsung TV which is a good few years old and very basic model and works with my Logitech Harmony One.

Streams everything from my living room htpc/server.

Addicted · 31 Oct 2013 at 15:45

div0 said:
When running XMBC (on RaspPI, or whatever) - what do you use as a controller? Surely needs some sort of custom remote control and sensor to be set up?

This has always been one of the main reasons I've opted for the simplicity of something like a WDTV Live.

You can use an app on your phone, or there's a web interface you can use (also on a phone, or other device), or via bluetooth etc

booyaka · 31 Oct 2013 at 15:47

cheap home server (E8200, 4gb ram and Ati 5450 card) does the job for me. Running XMBC via hdmi to my amp and tv.

5 hard drives in the case, all tucked away in the garage.

Does everything I need (xbmc/backups/hosting etc) and cost me next to nothing buying the bits 2nd hand. Only major cost if the drives themselves.

XeNoN89 · 31 Oct 2013 at 15:48

I'm also looking for a way to stream media now after the news PS4 won't be doing it. Currently I use my PS3 and stream MKV via PS3 media Server. Whats the easiest thing to replace this without paying out too much money?

Addicted · 31 Oct 2013 at 15:49

XeNoN89 said:
I'm also looking for a way to stream media now after the news PS4 won't be doing it. Currently I use my PS3 and stream MKV via PS3 media Server. Whats the easiest thing to replace this without paying out too much money?

Raspberry Pi with Raspbmc installed (a Linux OS with XMBC installed).

It's not the quickest, but it works and plays 1080p fine.

NotAGolf · 31 Oct 2013 at 15:59

airwave99 said:
This is the setup I'm using. I find it to be reliable, and the user interface is much simpler than an XBMC setup I used previously. The WDTV box has no moving parts so runs silently, always nice not to have a whirring fan in the background. My pet annoyance with WDTV is that there's no "go forwards 10 minutes" button, so you need to use fast-forward if you don't want to watch something from the start.

I'm not sure if this works on all models, but try pressing the skip button whilst fast-forwarding. That skips 10mins at a time on my WDTV Live.

IvanDobskey · 1 Nov 2013 at 10:44

I currently use my ps3 but will be trading that for a ps4 shortly which doesn't support streaming

so I'm also wondering what I can use for streaming my media? Is the WDTV live any good?

airwave99 · 4 Nov 2013 at 19:38

mpledge52 said:
I'm not sure if this works on all models, but try pressing the skip button whilst fast-forwarding. That skips 10mins at a time on my WDTV Live.

Just tried that, works on mine too. Had the unit for three years and never knew that, cheers the advice.

Conanius · 6 Nov 2013 at 07:53

I've gone for putting everything into my iTunes library, and having an ATV3 in the bedroom.

Plus point is, I make use of all the hard work Apple have done for integration that just works and doesn't ever get complicated for any reason. I can then easily put films onto our iPhones/iPad if we are going out.

Sure, its 'boring' as its an out the box solution, but I've never had consistent, reliable success with these XMBC or whatever options.

It also looks lovely and neat, as the library is on a 2TB disk inside our mac mini under the TV in the lounge.

easyrider · 6 Nov 2013 at 09:08

Conanius said:
I've gone for putting everything into my iTunes library, and having an ATV3 in the bedroom.

Plus point is, I make use of all the hard work Apple have done for integration that just works and doesn't ever get complicated for any reason. I can then easily put films onto our iPhones/iPad if we are going out.

Sure, its 'boring' as its an out the box solution, but I've never had consistent, reliable success with these XMBC or whatever options.

It also looks lovely and neat, as the library is on a 2TB disk inside our mac mini under the TV in the lounge.

get out!

The IPB · 6 Nov 2013 at 09:24

I have a Boxee, does the job for me.

All my files are on my laptop upstairs, it streams 1080p wirelessly without a hitch.

Addicted · 6 Nov 2013 at 09:26

If you want something more powerful than a RPi, also check out an ODroid, they're pretty damn good small boards.