I don't even know what to ask!!

[Bexiesbruv]

I have a TV. Its an LG and has 2 HDMI inputs, some component A/V inputs and an optical input.
I have a PC running windows 7 64bit very close to the TV. The PC is connected by wireless, to the internet.
I would like to access some live streaming sports from the internet (Ironman world championships comes to mind as one). I have managed to reconfigure the pc to "send" the stream (for ironman) to the TV, but had to use the PC speakers for sound. The picture quality was poor as the TV would only show it in a low resolution.
I saw some advertisement for Apple TV (never new such a thing existed until today) and that got me on a trail that has led me here.
I am in Canada.
I do not own a Blu Ray player but think I might benefit from having one, along with the ability to stream "stuff" from the internet, such as Netflix and youtube.
My concern is the quality of the picture (on the TV). What can I expect? Where do I start? I really dont want more subscriptions unless I can downgrade my Bell TV (satellite) service.
What CAN I get from the internet without subscription, that I currently pay for with Bell? I did read that some US networks block Canada from the programming and so I would need a US Based IP address.
If you have read this far you will no doubt be feeling my confusion. I feel I am onto something "life changing" here but I am not sure how to go about it.
Also, if I downgrade my TV service, I need to ensure I can also stream "stuff" my kids watch to their rooms.
There, that just about covers it!

Thanks in advance for any information and wisdom anyone might offer.

Bex.

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum, Bex!

I live in the U.S., so I can't speak specifically to what is available in Canada. I'll just throw out what I use, and some of the general categories might work for you, too.

I view video on the internet using:

• Network websites, such as abc.com (on my PC/Mac)
• Hulu (on my PC/Mac)
• Hulu Plus (on my PS3)
• Netflix (on my PC/Mac/PS3)
• Amazon Video on Demand (on my PC/TV)

[fuzz092888]

I live in the US as well. As far as I know things like apple tv, roku, amazon streaming, netflix all offer a wide variety of tv shows and movies, however you will not be able to stream internet content through them. Many network programs that aren't regularly broadcast shows aren't available through any of these services, and streaming only gets you so far.

I stream movies and a few tv shows from places like amazon on demand, and the video quality is ok (about 720p), but as of now that's about all you're going to get from a streaming source. Sound is not so bad if you are streaming from a source like amazon or netflix, from my experience, when you have the tv running sound to a receiver and then to your speakers. You can always divert sound from the tv speakers to something else by means of an optical out, rca plugs, or what have you.

It really depends on what you watch, and what your needs are. I think you need to narrow down what you watch most often, if a streaming service can meet those needs (in terms of available programming), and if the price of whatever subscriptions this entails is less than just adding it to your existing Bell service.

In my own experience the more "stuff" you you and the wider your tastes in programming the less useful streaming is. This is starting to become less true, but there are still plenty of items that are not available for good quality streaming.

I'm sorry for the slightly rambling answer, but I'm a bit unsure what I'm answering just like you are a bit unsure what you're asking

[Bexiesbruv]

Do I actually need an Apple TV or other similar device between the TV and Internet? Can I use my existing PC? I suppose I should play with it and see.
I have downloaded and played around with a coup[le of the server/system programs like Plex and XBMC to see where I am going with making this as easy as possible to use, after all its not just me that will need to understand whats going on (quite important if I want to continue my 30+ year relationship with my wife:-)
I have found that I can use an IP address that masks the Canadian one on my PC and that now enables me to view the US content from Netflix and the others you mention, so that opens up the field quite a bit. Its amazing what we cannot view up here.
I already established that one of my kids already does this, wouldn't you just know it!

The really big issue is football/soccer. Being English I need my weekly fix of English premier league and now MLS games and I see no alternative but to subscribe (or keep them as part of a lower cost package from Bell.
But I will keep looking. Once I figure out what I can do, then I can start to figure out what to buy/build.

Thanks folks!

Bex

[fuzz092888]

You don't really, but many times an external device can support better resolution and audio formats than streaming from the internet. I know that if I have a choice between streaming from amazon on demand to my PC then transferring the signal to my tv, or just streaming straight to my tv (which supports amazon video on demand by itself) I choose the tv.

Free Live Football, streams, watch live streaming TV, Premier League

something else to try. I haven't tried it myself, but its supposed to give you most matches for free, streaming over the internet.

Most of the external devices will give you better resolution and a more stable, direct connection than going from internet to PC to tv, at least this has been my experience. I know if I were going to move away from my provider I would want a separate device to handle all of my streaming needs, but that is just a personal preference.

At this point no single streaming device, or even multiple devices gives me what I can get from my provider. If a persons needs aren't as wide as mine, they can easily get away with streaming, at a much lower cost than through a provider. From the sounds of it though, you will need to keep doing what you are doing or upgrade with your provider. Just a guess.

[psbfan9]

Hi Bex,

I just did something similar. I looked at 'streaming devices', roku, boxee box, and Apple tv. To me they didn't offer enough freedom to chose the content I wanted. My wife, and congratulations to you on 30 years of marriage, said no way could I put a pc in the living room. My solution was this;

Apple - Mac mini - Even more powerful. Even more affordable.

It's what I'm using now. It gives me complete internet via HDMI while using my LG tv as a monitor.
I got my Mac mini at huge discount thanks to a price match by the retailer and I sold my pc to also help defray the cost of the 'mini'.

If your pc has an HDMI or DVI you can hook it directly to the tv.

Welcome to the forum and good luck.

[Lordhumungus]

Hi,

I think the first place to start is to figure out exactly what hardware you do have to see if it is workable for what you are ultimately trying to achieve.

I'd like you to provide the following information if at all possible with as much detail as possible (e.g. when I say TV model, LG isn't enough info, I need the exact model of the TV):

TV Model
PC Make/Model (if custom built, I'll need to ask a few questions about specs)
Any sort of Home Theater Receiver for Audio? If so, Make/Model.
Any additional devices (i.e. PS3, Xbox 360)?

All of this will help give us an idea of what you can do right now vs what you might need to upgrade to do.

Last, but not least, welcome to the forum. I'm fairly new here myself, so that feels weird to say, but true nonetheless

[Bexiesbruv]

So, my wife just asked me how we record these games that sometimes we are unable to watch live, such as the Chelsea match today?
Do I need a separate PVR between the PC and TV? By the way, I just tried the HDMI cable from the PC to the TV and it works fine, I dont know why it hasn't in the past. Bizarre.

TV is LG 42LG55-UE
PC Is custom, 3gb RAM
Couple of internal hard drives and a large external (750 GB)
Video card is NVidia GEforce 210.
Processor is dual core AMD (dont know the speed, control panel has 3.2 by its name)
I have a Sony STR DE 545 amp not connected to anything right now
the speakers that came with the Sony, 2 small rear and a single box center speaker.
Some older Monitor audio speakers and a pair of Celeston Ditton audio speakers
I will be buying a Blu ray player, likely LG as long as I can find one that operates off the WI FI
We also have a couple of xbox 360 and a PS3 but best of luck having me pry those off the kids. I think my son did something to the OS on the PS3 and I am not sure it even works anymore.

Bex

[Bexiesbruv]

Having now watched the soccer from Bell against what I can stream, I have to stay with Bell for this. The only other place to look at is a stream off the EPL or Champions League direct. Quality or stream and substantial pop up issues would be the reasons for not doing this.
I have installed a temp IP mask and been able to watch a couple of US streams of TV shows and they were fine.
My issue right now is the syncing of the PC and TV resolutions that give both optimal viewing resolutions. They default to a res that looks no better than OK on each and I have to clone the screens (I think) to get the picture on the TV.
So, for me, some kind of separate, dedicated box between the internet and the TV looks like being required.

[GranteedEV]

I have a TV. Its an LG and has 2 HDMI inputs, some component A/V inputs and an optical input.
I have a PC running windows 7 64bit very close to the TV. The PC is connected by wireless, to the internet.I would like to access some live streaming sports from the internet (Ironman world championships comes to mind as one). I have managed to reconfigure the pc to "send" the stream (for ironman) to the TV, but had to use the PC speakers for sound. The picture quality was poor as the TV would only show it in a low resolution.

Okay, let's start with adding a video card with an HDMI output.

My concern is the quality of the picture (on the TV). What can I expect? Where do I start? I really dont want more subscriptions unless I can downgrade my Bell TV (satellite) service.

Via HDMI, the only restriction to picture/sound quality is the source you're watching, (and yes, youtube/netflix will be mediocre at best in this regards; blu ray is still superior. The next restriction becomes the PQ of the TV and the SQ of the receiver/speakers/room