Cavey
Member
Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: Derby
User status: Offline
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Hey guys,
I've personally asked a few times, but can't search, and after different info now anyway.
I'm looking at streaming HD to the playstation, the cheapest way would be Cat5. But I don't want to run a cable through the house.
So, has anyone got experience of using 200mb Homeplugs to stream 1080 content to a playstation?
OR
Given the choice, would you rather have a dedicated box for HD content, e.g. http://www.envizage.com/products/home-entertainment-players/mkve---1000-wifi-cyclone-wireless-1000gb-1tb-mkv--lan--hdmi--wifi-media-player.html
I need a new hard drive anyway, so trying to decide whether I should buy a 1tb HD for the pc, and the homeplugs, or plump for the Cyclone box and move it upstairs when I need to transfer data, then back down stairs when I want to play stuff.
The cost of each option is around £140
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ashleh
Member
Registered: 23rd Dec 08
Location: Nottingham
User status: Offline
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I think noshua has a popcorn hour which does the equivilant of the cyclone, you can plug external hard drives into it as well I believe.
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Cavey
Member
Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: Derby
User status: Offline
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I know quite a lot of people recommend the popcorn hour, think Ash had one as well.
But it was more expensive than the cyclone for what seems to do the same thing.
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ashleh
Member
Registered: 23rd Dec 08
Location: Nottingham
User status: Offline
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Have a look on avforums classified bit, he picked it up 2nd hand for around £140 (which was when it was first released) so may have dropped a little now?
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Cavey
Member
Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: Derby
User status: Offline
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Didn't think about the classifieds, good thinking.
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noshua
Member
Registered: 19th Nov 08
User status: Offline
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Do you need a media tank that has the option for an internal hard drive? I.e. if you have external USB drives then there's no point ripping one of open. If this is the case then WDTV is probably the better and cheaper option.
As you said, you're thinking of buying a new 1TB HD so you could buy an external one along with WDTV or similar. Then, instead of moving the media tank about you would only have to move the external hard drive - saves faffing about with all the wires and what not.
Given the option, media tank over home plugs and PS3. Reason being media tanks play a whole lot more file types in comparison to PS3. Don't forget it's easier to move about as well as being less power hungry.
AVForums are selling second hand A110's for around the £110 mark 
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Cavey
Member
Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: Derby
User status: Offline
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That would be a sensible option I guess, the external drive...
They're the same price as internal by the look of it anyway, so would just need a device to use that and stream HD. I'll have a look at the WDTV stuff
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Cavey
Member
Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: Derby
User status: Offline
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http://www.ebuyer.com/product/188647
and
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/174844
Would do the trick nicely methinks....seems to be the cheapest mkv streamer, the WDTV mini was £45 and doesn't do HD by the look of it
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ashleh
Member
Registered: 23rd Dec 08
Location: Nottingham
User status: Offline
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Look good, read a couple reviews about them (avforums is always good!) beforehand to find any niggles with them.
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Cavey
Member
Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: Derby
User status: Offline
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Yeah, have had a look, definitely getting the HDD for now, will leave the box for a while see if they come down in price a bit.
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noshua
Member
Registered: 19th Nov 08
User status: Offline
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HD looks fine pal, £60 is about the going rate for a 1TB USB.
Xtreamer is supposed to be alright, as is the HDX series.
Take a look at the comparison chart here;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Networked_Media_Tank
Then search on AVForums for the reviews about them
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baz2003uk
Member
Registered: 6th Sep 03
Location: Wiltshire
User status: Offline
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i stuck a 2tb in my main pc (near off full with media) and got a acer revo to stick behind the tv the revo runs win 7 and XBMC all media is streamed wireless from main pc to revo all play fine may cost a little more but well worth it
and XBMC handles media and is a sweet layout
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Chris
Premium Member
Registered: 21st Sep 99
User status: Offline
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You will struggle to stream a hd movie over 200mb, best is a 1 gb cross over to the stream server.
Bandwidth of about 35mbs is required for blu ray mkv rip, so max bandwidth for 200mb would be 24mps.
Will work but be choppy.
Other option is put a large drive in and copy over then watch direct from ps3 drive.
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noshua
Member
Registered: 19th Nov 08
User status: Offline
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Completely forgot about the Acer Revo for some reason, definitely worth a look at.
For my situation, I'd rather have the Revo - automatic downloading from WOL and RSS feeds, saving me leaving the laptop plugged in as well as having to transfer the stuff over manually. If you're in the same situation, look into the Acer Revo
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Toby
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Nov 05
User status: Offline
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homeplugs are cheaper, however had my PCH a110 for 18 months now with a 2tb internal HDD and it hasnt missed a beat. If your looking for 1080p playback,
If you can afford it i would look at the PCH A200 far better than any of the new media players.
I would be shocked if the one you posted can play half the files 1080p, and even if it can it would most likely be in a .ts file
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Cavey
Member
Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: Derby
User status: Offline
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Says it plays .mkv files, and has good reviews from everywhere i've seen.
Until I get my internet sorted there's not too much point in me getting 1080p content anyway, I can only get a 3mb connection because we're 5k from the exchange.
Took me a few days to download Zombieland in 1080 
Have just ordered a wireless N router becuase problems in the phone sockets around the house mean I'm gonna have to move the router downstairs straight into the test socket otherwise i'll be stuck on 1mb forever.
So for now i'll hold fire on the media player, thanks for the advice though guys
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Cavey
Member
Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: Derby
User status: Offline
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Had a quick look at the Revo, and it would probably be my choice over the other options, would prefer more versatility having a mini pc there instead of a pure media player
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Toby
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Nov 05
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Cavey
Had a quick look at the Revo, and it would probably be my choice over the other options, would prefer more versatility having a mini pc there instead of a pure media player
Just remeber that it takes a lot more ram to play with a software player than a hardware player
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noshua
Member
Registered: 19th Nov 08
User status: Offline
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Any model of the Acer Revo can play most, if not all, 1080p RIPS flawlessly.
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baz2003uk
Member
Registered: 6th Sep 03
Location: Wiltshire
User status: Offline
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to be fair i stuck 4 GB ram in my revo as standard 2gb was not always perfect for full HD
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