My living room tv wall is the same wall but opposite sides as my master bedroom tv wall. Is there a way I can seamlessly be able to watch my movies and use plex between both tv's and be able to just carry the wireless keyboard from room to room?
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Hook Mini HTPC to two TV's?
- Thread starter HE15MAN
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I can only forsee 3 problems, each have fixes:
1) You won't be able to watch different content on each TV, as long as that will never be an issue (ie your spouse/child/significant other in the living room and you in the bedroom simultaneously)
2) If you don't own the property (ie renting) you'll have to get permission to drill the wall to run the appropriate cables
3) The wireless keyboard may not be strong enough to travel through the wall with any reliability. If it does, awesome, if it doesn't I'd suggest using a iPod Touch or iPhone if you have them as you can download remote control software and use it via Wifi which should be accessable throughout the house.
Have fun! Let us know what happens!
Oh and PS, regarding the splitter, I would consider buying a HDMI/Audio Joiner (so out from the dvi or mini-display port and out from the audio either via the usb or optical) and then into the splitter.
1) You won't be able to watch different content on each TV, as long as that will never be an issue (ie your spouse/child/significant other in the living room and you in the bedroom simultaneously)
2) If you don't own the property (ie renting) you'll have to get permission to drill the wall to run the appropriate cables
3) The wireless keyboard may not be strong enough to travel through the wall with any reliability. If it does, awesome, if it doesn't I'd suggest using a iPod Touch or iPhone if you have them as you can download remote control software and use it via Wifi which should be accessable throughout the house.
Have fun! Let us know what happens!
Oh and PS, regarding the splitter, I would consider buying a HDMI/Audio Joiner (so out from the dvi or mini-display port and out from the audio either via the usb or optical) and then into the splitter.
# 1 isn't an issue and I am aware of that. There are only two of us in the house.
#2 I own the house so that is not an issue
#3, I am using an Apple bluetooth keyboard.
Are those splitters available on Monoprice?
I was considering something like this on a bigger scale. More dreaming than actually getting around to it for now
What if the TV's are on both sides of the house?(assuming out of range for bluetooth)
What if you did want to watch content on both TV's simultaneously? Would another video card solve this?
My answer was a base Mac Pro with an extra video card (would also use as home computer, kind of silly to spend so much $ just on a HTPC).
This project for me is maybe 2 years ahead, but may be relevant to anyone else considering something like this.
What if the TV's are on both sides of the house?(assuming out of range for bluetooth)
What if you did want to watch content on both TV's simultaneously? Would another video card solve this?
My answer was a base Mac Pro with an extra video card (would also use as home computer, kind of silly to spend so much $ just on a HTPC).
This project for me is maybe 2 years ahead, but may be relevant to anyone else considering something like this.
In two years HDMI wireless technology will be old school, so you'll be able to easily send those movies anywhere in the house on wifi that you want to from one source.
Technology rules!
Success! The apple keyboard works from both rooms. SO I will be able to leave the mini the living room!
Now I just have to figure out the wiring.
I guess I need an HDMI Splitter and just have one end going to each tv?
Now I just have to figure out the wiring.
I guess I need an HDMI Splitter and just have one end going to each tv?
What version Mini? Is it a newer one with mini-DVI and mini-DP? If so, just run the TV's as dual monitors.
It's a short run (opposite sides of the wall) so any HDMI cable will probably do fine. Alternatively, there are HDMI over ethernet options that support 200+ feet.
Audio might be the bigger challenge. I haven't fooled with it, but how many audio-out devices can be active at the same time? If you do the mini-plug out to a splitter, you can get analog audio to each location, but digital audio might be harder.
I just bought the Mini about 4 months ago. 2.0 GHz Mac Mini.
Was thinking about this
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10113&cs_id=1011303&p_id=2522&seq=1&format=2
And this for the audio
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...&cs_id=1042301&p_id=966&seq=1&format=2&style=
Was thinking about this
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10113&cs_id=1011303&p_id=2522&seq=1&format=2
And this for the audio
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...&cs_id=1042301&p_id=966&seq=1&format=2&style=
Bump for a second opinion on the HDMI and optical splitters!
The AV guy at the college I work at does not think the HDMI splitter will work. He says it will have "handshake" issues.
I need to get these ordered today though!
The AV guy at the college I work at does not think the HDMI splitter will work. He says it will have "handshake" issues.
I need to get these ordered today though!
I'm no expert on what you're trying to do, but I'm tempted to agree with the college guy who said you might have "handshaking" issues with multiple HDMI connections sourcing a single output. I guess in theory so long as only one display is awake and available for the HDCP tunnel then everything might still work, but it still seems like a potential problem to me.
Hey, wondering if you could follow up on this thread? I'm in the same situation as the thread starter. I'd like to use one mini for two TV's. I know they would be mirrored, but i'm not likely to be using both tvs at once.
Did the hdmi splitter work properly? any problems?
What HDMI splitter did you end up going with.
Thanks
Did the hdmi splitter work properly? any problems?
What HDMI splitter did you end up going with.
Thanks
I have an hdmi splitter on one of my ATV2's going to 2 tv's that are about 10 feet apart and have no issues.
it does act a little quirky if you do not have either tv on and use airplay to send audio to a stereo receiver optically.
I just unplug the hdmi cable from it and its fine.
it does act a little quirky if you do not have either tv on and use airplay to send audio to a stereo receiver optically.
I just unplug the hdmi cable from it and its fine.
I got one from meritline, it was like less than 30 bucks....and picked up the hdmi cables from there too, total was less than 60 bucks....
I have it setup so my son can watch netflix on one tv in our rec room while I play ps3 on the other side....or if I have a party, and for example, I recorded the barrett jackson auction, I can play it thru my ATV2 on both tv's. or if we are having a GT5 gathering, we can sit over by the other tv while the main tv is used for the driver...if that made sense.