streaming ?

Bj · 01-03-2001, 09:06 AM

Ok, this is nearly off topic, but here goes...

I am putting wireless ethernet in my wheels, and I want to stream video/audio via my server machine in the house to my car. So any machine on my home network including the car, could see a streaming video from my capture card in my server. Is this possible? That way what ever in showing on my lounge room tv, (via composite video lead) could be shown over my home network?

Has anyone done something like this, cause I'm not sure where to start

Thanks

Bj

**thumper_svx** · 01-03-2001, 10:40 AM

Oh, it's POSSIBLE alright... whether you'd want to or not is another matter altogether.

For a start, you'd need some software to stream it over your network.

Secondly... and this is actually the big problem... wireless Ethernet is still very much in its infancy compared to "hard" ethernet. Wireless is prone to BIG variations in bandwidth... not to mention RF interference that can come from a whole host of sources. You're probably realistically only going to be able to pump about 15fps down that pipe, perhaps less depending on the quality of the feed.

Besides, wireless ethernet degrades quickly with range.

As for your hard-ethernet nodes (home PC's), you might consider making sure you get a GOOD and RELIABLE 100Mbps connection. If you're running a cheap hub, DISABLE ALL DUPLEXING!! A badly duplexing 100 card does about 3Mbps bandwidth in bursts... it sucks. Even then, you still need the software for the server to stream the video over your network. Certainly possible... but do you have the time, inclination and money it might require?

**jjohnson** · 01-03-2001, 03:03 PM

Actually the 802.11b wireless ethernet is quite good now. This is the 11Mbps stuff developed originally by lucent. It has variable data rate (11/5.5/3/2/1Mbps) depending on signal strength and has an open-air range of about 1/4 mile.

This is NOT the same as the cheap 1.6Mbps wireless networking you can buy at FRY's and other stores.

You will need an access point which has a web interface for configuration and plugs right into your wired LAN's hub. These typically run about $230.00 and can be found online. I use an Addtron unit personally at home and it works great!

You will also need card(s) for the other end. These come in a PCMCIA card for laptops or a PCI card with a PCMCIA carrier (and the PCMCIA card pre-installed in it!) for desktops. The PCMCIA cards are around $100.00 and the PCI versions are higher, around $150-200.

For development and testing purposes for my own in-vehicle PC project, I have set up a wireless LAN at home, with an access point connected to our wired LAN and a wireless PCMCIA card in my wife's laptop. She can sit on the couch and surf the web using our DSL! She can stream audio and video from our other PC's on the wired LAN. It works great! Plus the PCMCIA card comes with an app that runs in the Windows tray and displays signal strength and link quality in real-time.

I haven't tried streaming video over the link, but audio works great. The only interference I have experienced is actually FROM the PCMCIA card to the TV in our living room (slight static on the screen when there is heavy wireless network activity).

[This message has been edited by jjohnson (edited 01-07-2001).]

**Weston** · 01-04-2001, 12:02 AM

Okay, I won't question why you would want to watch TV in your car (on a 7" screen) right outside your own house, but it should be possible.

Go with the new 11MB wireless as others have said, but remember, the bandwidth drops off with distance. So unless your car is pretty close to the wireless receiver inside your house, you may or may not have enough bandwidth to show streaming video.

Bj · 01-04-2001, 04:50 AM

the wireless ethernet I have does do 11mbps quite happily. Basically I am wondering what software I need to do it. My wired ethernet is what I mainly want it for, but out to the car is just "because it can be done

" I guess I'm just asking it here, because there are some great inivative minds on this board, and I'm hoping someone has tried this...

Any ideas of shareware or freeware software that is a streaming server?

Thanks

**Aaron Cake** · 01-04-2001, 09:05 AM

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by jjohnson:
Actually the 802.11b wireless ethernet is quite good now. This is the 11Mbps stuff developed originally by lucent. It has variable data rate (11/5.5/3/2/1Mbps) depending on signal strength and has an open-air range of about 1/4 mile.....

<excess trimmed>
</font>

Oh my God, I want this. For the car, for my palmtop (this thing has CE driers, right?) and for my laptop(s). I'll add it to the list of things to buy after getting the car oil guarded, buying new speakers, new printer, new HD for the server, new intake, spark plugs, wires, ignition computer, food, rent, beer, etc....

------------------
Aaron Cake
London, Ontario, Canada

Player: Cyrix 200, 32MB RAM, 10.2Gig Quantum HD, Onboard EtherNet/Sound/Video, Custom Lexan Case, Arise DC-DC, Win95 Kernal w/Custom Player
Car: '86 Mazda RX-7 w/Basic Performance Upgrades

**Fosgate** · 01-04-2001, 06:47 PM

Bj i want to ask you a question ...
where did you get your wireless network cards and how much did they cost you ?

------------------

Fosgate

Bj · 01-04-2001, 09:01 PM

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Fosgate:
Bj i want to ask you a question ...
where did you get your wireless network cards and how much did they cost you ?

</font>

I got a 1x PCMCIA card, and a PCI adapter to shove it in a normal PC, and 1x access point (a wireless box that plugs into your existing network) from www.mgram.com.au microgram computers. I also got my wireless keyboard from here. They are over east, which is probably closer to you anyway

So has anyone found and software that streams yet? I'm still looking, but I can't find anything yet

**Fosgate** · 01-05-2001, 03:12 AM

BJ mate ...why dont you use NetMeeting
you can stream video and audio over the network be it an internet or a LAN ...
Isnt this what you want ?

------------------

Fosgate

Bj · 01-05-2001, 10:41 AM

sort of, what I want is basically a program that allows me to take my composite video captured from my TV set and have it served up as a web site (if you like) or ip address so I can go to the address of the server (via ethernet and a browser) and see what is being streamed from my lounge. Is this possible?

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