Help:TV shows without Cable/Satellite?

I need some suggestions. My current set-up consists of two HDTVs, one in the living room and one in the bedroom. I have a DVR cable box in each room. For Christmas, I got GoogleTV, which is cool. GoogleTV is connected to my cable box in the living room.

What I would like to do is ditch cable and get all of my TV content from the web. I am thinking about getting two HD antennas for local broadcasting. But, I am at a loss for figuring out how to get the internet up to my TV in the bedroom. I don't want to run any cables from downstairs to the TV upstairs. BTW, neither of my TVs have built in WiFi.

GoogleTV doesn't have a way currently to connect multiple TVs. I'm sure that I could use an HDMI splitter or something, but again, I don't want to string an HDMI cable throughout the house. Could I set-up a wireless network? How would I do that and what would I need? Ideally, I would like to have GoogleTV connected to both TVs.

Also, has anyone used XBox live for online TV?

I think what might work is to get a router that will hook into your cable downstairs and then buy a wireless bridge to put in the bedroom. Haven't done that before so we'll see what others say. You might not need a bridge

I use Playon for my Xbox, which is a program you run on your PC that connects you to a bunch of network sites, Hulu, etc. Doesn't have as good a selection compared to renting stuff on the Zune, but its only ~$40 a year.

PlayOn Digital Media Server | PlayOn

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Originally Posted by fjuanl

I think what might work is to get a router that will hook into your cable downstairs and then buy a wireless bridge to put in the bedroom. Haven't done that before so we'll see what others say. You might not need a bridge

I use Playon for my Xbox, which is a program you run on your PC that connects you to a bunch of network sites, Hulu, etc. Doesn't have as good a selection compared to renting stuff on the Zune, but its only ~$40 a year.

PlayOn Digital Media Server | PlayOn

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I'll have to look into that. My concern so far is having multiple ways to get TV content through the internet. It would be great to have just one method. After purchasing GTV, I wish that it would provide a capability for a connection to both TVs. GTV gives me full internet access on my TV, which is nice. It also has DLNA capability which should be useful. I might just breakdown and buy another one. Then I'll purchase two HD antennas and get rid of the cable boxes. Although, GTV is pretty young. Knowing Google, there's probably a lot of additions coming. The App Store will change a lot of things.

I don't get it, can you watch TV using google tv? Do you pay a monthly subscription? Is it just a replacement for cable?

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Originally Posted by boost

I don't get it, can you watch TV using google tv? Do you pay a monthly subscription? Is it just a replacement for cable?

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no you run some cable from your comcast box (or fios or w/e you have) and you also plug an ethernet cord into the back of it (internet connection ldo)....

then you can like search through the channels like normal, or you can search for a show you want and itll provide you with the channels that have it playing and youtube videos or w/e as well..if you are watching a movie and wanna figure out who that actor is you can quickly google and go back to your movie fairly seemlessly. the remote is some cool(ish) controller thang with a thumb mouse sensor thing that lets you control whats going on...not sure if im making sense at this point.

tbh idk if its worth the price tag (it comes with some new tv's but for just the bluray player (oh yea it is also a blu ray player) its like 400 buck or something like that (maybe 500 idr)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fjuanl

I think what might work is to get a router that will hook into your cable downstairs and then buy a wireless bridge to put in the bedroom. Haven't done that before so we'll see what others say. You might not need a bridge

I use Playon for my Xbox, which is a program you run on your PC that connects you to a bunch of network sites, Hulu, etc. Doesn't have as good a selection compared to renting stuff on the Zune, but its only ~$40 a year.

PlayOn Digital Media Server | PlayOn

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Yeah, from what I've read, you either do this with the wireless router/bridge, or you can buy a USB thumb drive for TVs - they typically run around $100 for what I've seen if your TV has a USB drive. I've got a Samsung 46" on the way along with a Samsung blu ray home theater that includes the wireless USB stick, so I'll be screwing around with everything later this week.

edit: you obv can't just use a regular cheap wireless USB key like you can for a laptop or PC, cuz they require drivers...

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I don't get it, can you watch TV using google tv? Do you pay a monthly subscription? Is it just a replacement for cable?

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GTV gives me full internet access via wifi. Not selected access like some blue rays or boxee. You can surf the internet with via chrome. Since it is connected to your cable box, you can search for current and future shows on it. For example, I can search for football, and it will give me a list of current and future football shows on cable and on the internet. This is why I wish that there was a way to connect two TVs to it. When they add the app store and release the source code, GTV will be the best device out there.

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Yeah, from what I've read, you either do this with the wireless router/bridge, or you can buy a USB thumb drive for TVs - they typically run around $100 for what I've seen if your TV has a USB drive. I've got a Samsung 46" on the way along with a Samsung blu ray home theater that includes the wireless USB stick, so I'll be screwing around with everything later this week.

edit: you obv can't just use a regular cheap wireless USB key like you can for a laptop or PC, cuz they require drivers...

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I've been looking at those. I'm going to do some more research. My wife won't let me make the switch unless I can guarantee that she can still record Days of Our Lives.

Sorry to derail again, but I also need a little help on understanding it. So, if our TV does not have WiFi, to use GoogleTV we have to buy the Logitech Revue, right?

It seems like a good thing, but I'm still not completely sure I get it. On the website it seems like it works as a DVR, but only if you are a dish network subscriber.

Google TV is much like other Google devices. Google supplies the OS (android in this case) and another company supplies the hardware (Logitech and Sony currently). All GTV does is it integrates all of your devices. It will search all of the shows on your cable or satellite box and everything on the internet. It also provides a few apps out of the box. Think of Boxee. Not as good for content just yet as Boxee, but the web interface is much better.

Google has a deal going with Dish Network. GTV works in tandem with Dish Network's DVR. If you have a DVR through another provider, you can still save shows to it, however GTV doesn't work seamlessly with it.

GTV will also see other storage devices on your home wireless network through DLNA. So ideally, you should be able to stream your own videos, music, and pictures.

ah, seems pretty cool. But like someone (you?) said upthread, doesn't really seem worth the price tag, but would def weigh into which TV to buy if one had it and one didn't.

Sony has it built in to one of their TVs. I think that GTV will be a hit in a few months after they release the source code and open up the apps store for people to create apps. In addition, it will be a great device when they put some agreements in place with some of the channel providers.

For me, it would be ideal if I could get the majority of my channels through it but over the internet. Right now Hulu is blocking their content and so are ABC, NBC, and Fox. But you can get Netflix and Amazon VOD.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do if I drop cable because my TV in the bedroom doesn't have an ethernet connection which would make things a lot easier. I might buy another GTV and connect it to it. Or get a Boxee Box and connect via HDMI. I will still need to come up with a solution for video storage for both TVs.

When I move I doubt I'll get cable/sat tv again. Internet + netflix is just fine for me. Shows on torrent sites are generally available within an hour or two of their air time.

well, i kinda/sorta have everything up and running - mostly half assed tho so far. no google tv, but everyhting else is pretty slick. the streaming netflix is beyond awesome, especially for $10/ month. hulu, vudu, pandora, and a bunch of other apps are free. fb and twitter are both on here along with a bunch of dumb games and stuff for free also. i don't think i'll be giving up my HiDef cable and cable internet just yet tho.

as for the wireless question, like i said - my home theater came with the wireless USB adatpter and it was probably the simplest thing i've ever connected. can either plug a regular USB thumb drive to the home theater receiver to watch/listen to movies or music or you can stream from a hard drive you have connected to the network either via the router or from a server.

for whoever was asking about the logitech revue... i think you can get a dlink boxee to do just a little bit more for less $$.

If Google doesn't fix somethings, I'm going to go with a Roku XDS for each TV. Cheaper and it has most of wheat I'm looking for. Roku Player Products | Roku HD Player, Roku XD Player and Roku XDS Player