I think I just need a long hdmi cable, what are the alternatives?

[GeorgeStorm]

Hi,
I'm building my family a media pc, I want to connect it to a projector and tv, they are in different rooms.
At the moment the plan is to use a dvi cable and plain audio in (from the basic speakers we've currently got) for the projector, with the box sitting underneath it, then have a long (10-15m) hdmi cable going to the TV.
Will that work without too many issues? From what I know/have read it should.
Are there better alternatives?

At the moment it will just be used to play DVD/BRs, iplayer etc on either screen, and maybe play some media on the pc itself.
In the future I wouldn't mind using it to potentially record TV and replace the hifi systems, just having different speakers set up so the music from the media pc could then be streamed around the house to speakers/phones etc?

Thanks

[deejayburnout]

The ideal solution would be a Chrome cast however these are not avaliable in the UK yet.

Cable seems your best option.

[GeorgeStorm]

The ideal solution would be a Chrome cast however these are not avaliable in the UK yet.

Cable seems your best option.

Not sure how the wireless would cope with 1080p content, also I forgot to mention but it will also be used for some games.

Was looking at just getting a generic scan cable, don't really see any reasons not to unless they're known for poor build quality?

[Agent]

This isn't a job for Chrome cast.

You just want a long DVI / HDMI cable really, it's a very simple setup. DVI will need the usual sound considerations, but otherwise, it's an easy one.

No special cable needed, so the Scan one should be fine. If it's not, it's faulty and you can send it back. The beauty of digital

edit - one small thing. Make sure your DVI port can handle HDCP over it. Most can these days, but older ones can't. If it can't you'll have issues with protected content (if played through a PC) like Blu-rays.

[GeorgeStorm]

This isn't a job for Chrome cast.

You just want a long DVI / HDMI cable really, it's a very simple setup. DVI will need the usual sound considerations, but otherwise, it's an easy one.

No special cable needed, so the Scan one should be fine. If it's not, it's faulty and you can send it back. The beauty of digital

edit - one small thing. Make sure your DVI port can handle HDCP over it. Most can these days, but older ones can't. If it can't you'll have issues with protected content (if played through a PC) like Blu-rays.

Yeah that's what I thought.
I'll have to do some looking into it about the HDCP thing. Is that on the projector or on the PC?

Looking at the long hdmi rather than DVI since the hdmi is a single cable, whereas I would need both the DVI and an audio extender of some sort for the speakers which I don't think my parents would be as keen on.

[watercooled]

HDCP needs support at both ends.

DisplayPort would be yet another option if your equipment supports it, although I suspect a long HDMI cable will be cheaper (could be wrong).

Chromecast or other remote display solutions necessitate compressing the source video (Although some, like Chromecast, can pull content directly from the web, negating the need to re-compress, but it doesn't solve the problems for local media of course), likely lowering quality and increasing latency - the former may not be noticeable sitting on the desktop, but when a lot is happening on screen, the codec will likely start to struggle to fit it in to the set bitrate, and you start to get blocking etc. Latency generally isn't a problem for streaming media, provided the audio is still in sync, but it can be bad for things like gaming obviously.

[g8ina]

George, I have a 15 or 20m HDMI cable somewhere. You can have it for postage.

[GeorgeStorm]

HDCP needs support at both ends.

DisplayPort would be yet another option if your equipment supports it, although I suspect a long HDMI cable will be cheaper (could be wrong).

Chromecast or other remote display solutions necessitate compressing the source video (Although some, like Chromecast, can pull content directly from the web, negating the need to re-compress, but it doesn't solve the problems for local media of course), likely lowering quality and increasing latency - the former may not be noticeable sitting on the desktop, but when a lot is happening on screen, the codec will likely start to struggle to fit it in to the set bitrate, and you start to get blocking etc. Latency generally isn't a problem for streaming media, provided the audio is still in sync, but it can be bad for things like gaming obviously.

Ok, well the projector isn't very new so that may be an issue. Don't think they've both got DP support (pc and tv)

George, I have a 15 or 20m HDMI cable somewhere. You can have it for postage.

That would be very nice, when could you get it posted? I'm only at home for the rest of the week and would need it setup and tested before leaving so would want it ASAP

[watercooled]

You could probably test HDCP support now - just see if you can get a BD to play on the projector.

[g8ina]

Ill look in loft tomorrow and let you know.

[GeorgeStorm]

You could probably test HDCP support now - just see if you can get a BD to play on the projector.

Yeah I'll do that tomorrow

Ill look in loft tomorrow and let you know.

Thanks I'll make sure to check here.

[Agent]

You could probably test HDCP support now - just see if you can get a BD to play on the projector.

By the looks of it, HDCP support is a requirement of HDMI on consumer equipment, so if he uses HDMI there shouldn't be any worry

[1stRaven]

There is also the option of a WD live box. It can use the network and windows file shares to play your media on the TV, without the requirement for the cable etc. Just another option.

[GeorgeStorm]

By the looks of it, HDCP support is a requirement of HDMI on consumer equipment, so if he uses HDMI there shouldn't be any worry

I'll be using DVI for the projector, hdmi will only be for the TV.

There is also the option of a WD live box. It can use the network and windows file shares to play your media on the TV, without the requirement for the cable etc. Just another option.

Does that do normal browsing, youtube, iplayer etc?
Even if it does all of the above I highly doubt it can play games which is partially what this is for, especially in the long run (replacing my brother's ps3)

[g8ina]

George, sorry mate I not had chance to look today, will deffo look tomoz.

[GeorgeStorm]

George, sorry mate I not had chance to look today, will deffo look tomoz.

What kind of time would you be able to look/let me know/post it by?
If it wouldn't be by the end of the day then I may have to decline your kind offer as I'm wanting to get it as soon as I can.