Assist with setup - local screen / TV

[jmflower]

I have Beyond TV installed on my main computer in my family room. My daugther has Beyond TV link installed on her machine in her room. So far we have both been using the products to record and view the shows on our local screens. We and other members of my family also use these machines to surf the web and acces our emails.

Since acquiring Beyond TV I have researched the forum on how to connect the machines to the TV's that are in each of the rooms. I have seen quite a few postings on this but I dont undertand all the steps. I know I will have to setup a connection from the video card (svideo) / audio card to the TV. What settings are required for the video card ? Once this is done I would like to continue to use the machines to surf and email while I watch the shows on the TVs ??

Can someone assist me with the setup and step by step instructions on how to do this.

Primary computer - Dell, Windows XP Home Edition, NVIDIA GeForce2 MX, Creative SB Live with stereo speakers and sub-woofer.

Secondary comptuer - IBM, Windows XP Pro, Radeon 9250, onboard audio.

Thx

PS. It would be nice if snapstream would document this on their site to save people having to ask how to do this over and over again.

[wes]

There are 2 options.
#1 = a scan converter (easier and less intrusive to the computer)
this will plug between your monitor and the computer and will have plugs coming off for your TV.

**The scan converter you buy will depend on what kind of inputs you have on your TV. (Composite, S-video, or Component)
**You will want to make sure it has VGA out also so you can still use your monitor.
**You will also want to make sure it can handle the resolution at which you normally use your monitor.
**all settings should be handled by the box. so the video card setting stay the same, and any minor tweaking that needs to be done will be done by the scan converter.


#2 - A new video card with TV out. - this will require opening of the computer and some basic computer trouble shooting skills..
The upsides of this are that you will have no "extra box" sitting around and the TV will plug right into the computer.

as far as audio.
you can get a 1/8" to RCA adapter from any electronics store. and ideally come out of the line out jack on your current sound card ( you can use the headphone jack if you don't have a line out).
if you wish to continue to use your current speakers you will have to get a splitter to continue to use both, but then the audio will still come out of both locations.


This all assumes that your TV has line in jacks. if the don't probably the easiest thing to do would be to use one of the methods i described above and then use a VCR with a line-in to get the signal into your TV.

here is a link to amazon listing several scan converters.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...195879-7800135

My setups both have video out on the computer so i don't have to deal with this. as far as brands or a particular unit, maybe someone else can give some suggestions.

[wes]

Or option #3 buy a new TV with VGA in, most of the new HI-Def sets have them. but this option costs a couple bucks more.

[btvfreak]

If you video cards have s-video out, and your TV's have s-video in, then you can just connection them with a single s-video cable. To watch TV on your TV and do email/Web surfing on your PC your video card must support extended desktop. This will allow you to place BTV on your TV screen and all else on your PC monitor.

The ATI 9250 should be able to do what I described above, but not sure about that old geForce.

It would help to know what TV's you have and the inputs on each.