Accessing PC from another reception room

H

HotStuff

Member
I have two reception rooms in my house. The PC is in the smaller one connected to a VGA monitor/mouse/keyboard.

I would like to also connect the PC to my large LCD tv in my large reception room via HDMI (graphics card has HDMI output) when I require, so will need another mouse and keyboard. It's about 15m of cabling required. I would also still like the option of using the PC in my smaller room as required so would like to leave the current VGA monitor/mouse/keyboard in the smaller room.

I know there must be several ways of doing this. May I call on the experts out there to suggest some? Links to peripherals/cables would be most welcome.
 
Kasatka

Kasatka

Active Member
Re: Accessing PC from another recpetion room

You would need to run a long HDMI cable from your PCs second output to the tv in the other room, this would suffice though not best price http://www.amazon.co.uk/LogiLink-HDMI-Male-Speed-Cable/dp/B0078ZY1B4/ref=sr_1_125?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1337035433&sr=1-125

Then you would need a keyboard/mouse set. I'd suggest something wireless to save having cables going everywhere. I use a Logitech pair that works quite well, but you'd need to shop around for good range enough for you. This is a cheap set http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-920-002997-MK260-Wireless-Desktop/dp/B004MEXYLM/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1337035669&sr=1-2

Finally you need to be able to switch between controllers. Now i have heard of hardware to do this, which obviously costs, but during my search for a link i came across this article that may be of some interest to you http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/teamplayer-use-multiple-keyboard-and-mice-on-one-system/

Hope that was some help!
 
thatbloke

thatbloke

Junior Administrator
Re: Accessing PC from another recpetion room

yea, wireless HDMI plus a wireless KB/mouse set would have been my suggestion here too.
 
VibroAxe

VibroAxe

Junior Administrator
Re: Accessing PC from another recpetion room

Kasatka said:
Finally you need to be able to switch between controllers. Now i have heard of hardware to do this, which obviously costs, but during my search for a link i came across this article that may be of some interest to you http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/teamplayer-use-multiple-keyboard-and-mice-on-one-system/
Click to expand...

Quite a fun piece of software, but in this case I would argue that there is no need to run anything to context switch between the keyboard/mouse as you are only going to be running in one place at one time (I assume) so just plug both into the same system and ensure you aren't using the mouse in the lounge whilst mrs hotstuff is using the mouse in the dining room!
 
H

HotStuff

Member
Re: Accessing PC from another recpetion room

Thanks guys this has moved the project forward leaps and bounds already. To answer a question, there will only be one person using the computer at a time whether that is in one room or the other.

I would rather not go wireless HDMI, a bit too expensive. I already have 3 cables running between the two rooms, so don't mind adding a couple more.

I would like to ask some more questions, be sure though this will unlikely to be the last set of questions.:(

1) Kasatka suggested a cable at £36, would this one at £19 be ok?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/KanaaN-High...ND6M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1337105198&sr=8-3

2) This is my GTX 560 1GB graphics card:

http://www.palit.biz/enews/event/worldwide/GTX560/20110517_GTX560_Newsletter-en_palit.php

will there be any issues with a VGA and an HDMI connected at the same time to the card? I only plan to have one screen switched on at a time.

3) The logitech MK260 wireless keyboard suggested by Kasatka looks good. I am now planning to use an extension USB cable from the PC base unit to the larger room with the big screen tv and plug the USB mini wireless into that. I am assuming this will ensure good reception so the keyboard and mouse will work better. Does this sound OK?

4) I will only be using one set of keyboard/mouse at a time. Will this cause any conflict with the computer, the fact there is a wired Mouse/keyboard as well as a wireless Mouse/keyboard connected? will the computer happily default to the mouse/keyboard being used at the time?

5) Probably the most silly question, what about sound?, does this go through the HDMI cable? If not, I can easily take the optical output from my sound card to my AV amplifier in the big room - in fact that is probably a better option, will get full 5.1 sound that way.
 
Traxata

Traxata

Junior Administrator
Re: Accessing PC from another recpetion room

Firstly any PC will run 2 displays without any issues.

Secondly USB is only 5v remember that you will get a voltage drop over a distance which will reduce the power (and inherently it's radio power in a USB receiver)

I would suggest having the desktop cloned on both monitors however this is only possible if your desktop monitor is 1920x1080 as well.

Number of mice and keyboards connected won't bugger up the computer understand.

HDMI does carry sound however depending on the GPU and/ or soundcard will determine if it actually outputs sound over HDMI or not.
 
H

HotStuff

Member
Re: Accessing PC from another recpetion room

Thanks Traxata,

Unfortunately I use a CRT VGA with 1280x1080 resolution, but yes my large TV is standard 1920x1080. Can I have different resolutions for each monitor on same graphics card? Also my CRT is 85Hz, I presume HDMI has a standard timing/frequency that all tvs understand.

As for the USB extension cable, thanks for that. I also realise I only need 10m not 15m as it's wireless so doesn't need to stretch round to TV, as long as dongo is in room. Was thinking of getting this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Extension-Active-Repeater-Please-receieve/dp/B002MMO5EQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

Which reboosts the signal after 5m of usb cable, the reviews look good.

As for the sound, I guess I will just need to see if it works, if not and happy to lay a fibre optic cable from sound card easy as that!
 
H

HotStuff

Member
Re: Accessing PC from another recpetion room

HotStuff said:
Unfortunately I use a CRT VGA with 1280x1080 resolution, but yes my large TV is standard 1920x1080. Can I have different resolutions for each monitor on same graphics card?
Click to expand...

Tried a 15m HDMI cable. The answer to the above question is NO. The display that you select as your main display simply gets cloned to the second display. The ability to alter the resolution for the 2nd display is greyed out.

The 1280x1080 resolution comes up ok on the LCD tv but the size of an old 4:3 standard monitor, with vertical black bars on the left and right.

PC sound comes through the tv via the HDMI cable.

The size/thickness of the HDMI cable makes it ugly going along the floor from one room to the next. I think wireless HDMI would be a sensible option.

Whilist this is only preliminary findings, I kinda realised that despite having a 55" tv and sitting a couple of metres away on the sofa, I think it may be easier on the eyes having a 21" monitor in front of your face. Anyone found this?
 
thatbloke

thatbloke

Junior Administrator
Re: Accessing PC from another recpetion room

HotStuff said:
Tried a 15m HDMI cable. The answer to the above question is NO. The display that you select as your main display simply gets cloned to the second display. The ability to alter the resolution for the 2nd display is greyed out.

The 1280x1080 resolution comes up ok on the LCD tv but the size of an old 4:3 standard monitor, with vertical black bars on the left and right.

PC sound comes through the tv via the HDMI cable.

The size/thickness of the HDMI cable makes it ugly going along the floor from one room to the next. I think wireless HDMI would be a sensible option.

Whilist this is only preliminary findings, I kinda realised that despite having a 55" tv and sitting a couple of metres away on the sofa, I think it may be easier on the eyes having a 21" monitor in front of your face. Anyone found this?
Click to expand...

There's a setting in the Display options that you need to set - you need to tell it to extend the desktop onto the 2nd monitor, not clone it. then you get your second monitor
 
H

HotStuff

Member
I got a wireless HDMI transmitter(thatbloke's suggestion) and a wireless microsoft M/K.

I have to say I am well impressed! There is only 1ms of delay with the wireless HDMI according to the specs - have to say it looks like they are telling the truth - you wouldn't think it was wireless - bloody amazing technology!

I can use both the 21" CRT and 55" LCD tv at anytime or even at the same time. There is no issue at all in having two sets of mouse and keyboard connected. The PC accepts instructions from both without complaint.

The Sound comes through the tv as well, albeit not DD 5.1. You have options to have sound coming any of the speakers connected. With me it's my 5.1 surround or the tv.

I am now going to get a 15m toslink cable to connect PC to my main hi-fi in the big room. The place will be thundering with quality sound.
 
Ronin Storm

Ronin Storm

Administrator
Staff member
I've not got an immediate need for such a set up, but would you mind linking the wireless HDMI you're using?
 
H

HotStuff

Member
It's this device:

http://www.ebuyer.com/257588-xenta-wireless-hdmi-kit-whdi-hdmi-transmitter-and-receiver-ws-av511wh

The device you referred to SgtFury is connected via USB and is software dependant. If you read the reviews you'll see there are enough issues with it to affect quality/reliability/robustness.

The more expensive Xenta device is wireless HDMI in the true sense. It simply takes input from a HDMI plug and transmits it to a reciever. The reciever has an HDMI output which you connect to your TV. You can use this device with any HDMI connected device, eg PS3, Sky etc.

In my nvidia control panel, my PC even gave the name of the TV it was connected too! So the PC appears to be 'ignorant' to the Xenta device - that for me is the sign of quality.

I am sure the q-wave device would have worked and it is 1/3 of the price of the Xenta. I guess it comes down to how much you are willing to spend versus the percieved comprimise in quality, reliability and robustness.
 
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