Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

I know a lot of you guys are doing the live streaming of races, and like many have said, it seems to be the direction everything is going - so it's time for me to get onboard and try it myself.  Guess I'll try it out with the Tulsa Shootout (if they offer it) or the Chili Bowl.  I need some advice please if some one can help....

What I have currently: Wireless internet in my home, HD-capable TV, Sound Bar w/subwoofer

What I'm getting ready to buy:  a laptop, connecting wires to TV and Sound Bar

Most importantly, what "level" of laptop do I need to buy (what features, i.e., memory, video/sound capability, etc) to get good, uninterrupted streaming?  I'm not looking to get anything fancy, just something I can stream races on, surf the internet, and ITunes with.

Is there a special HDMI cable to go from the laptop to my TV, or is it a standard HDMI cable?  What type of cable for the sound?

Any other tips/do's/don'ts would be apreciated.  Thanks in advance

Jeff

internet speed is most important u need to check ur speed if not fast enoughi will not be a steady stream http://www.speedtest.net/

hdmi cable is all u need it will do both sound and video to ur tv and the sound bar hooks to tv so should work

if buy new laptop just about any one should work

u could just buy smart tv and not have to use laptop

hope this helps

Bob

I use an AppleTV ($99) connected to my big screen TV. I wirelessly Airplay the video from an iPhone or iPad to it. Works great!

Totally agree with the AppleTV, works flawlessly. 

You can get a Refurbished AppleTV directly from Apple for $75 ... http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipod/apple_tv

There are several differant ways to go as far as getting the signal to your TV, using wires is no doubt the biggest hassle and a waste of money.

To use your current computer:

If you have a Windows PC, get a program called AirParrot ($10) to stream to your AppleTV.

If you have a newer Mac, you can stream already to your AppleTV or if you have an older Mac, get AirParrot.

So basically, you can get your current computer streaming to your TV for under $100. This would also allow you to view everything that is in iTunes on your computer on your TV via AppleTV (both music and video)

I have Apple TV, a MAC lap top and about 4 iPads , and a couple I phones around this house and haven't tried that yet. Guess I better get my son to set it up lol. 

We need more sprint car racing at our home track.

Google Chromecast is the easiest and cheapest way.  $35.00 and you can use your desktop computer or phone or tablet. 

I don't think Google Chromecast will let him play his iTunes content from his computer, which he wanted.

Also, AppleTV has many more built in apps and lets you play saved files from your devices. Chromcast is very limited.

Original poster didnt mention iTunes content and was just asking about streaming.  Handsdown for Streaming is to use Chromecast for it's ease of use and setup.  Yes there are other options out there but this is CHEAP and works great.

He said ... "just something I can stream races on, surf the internet, and ITunes with."

Streaming iTunes content (audio and video) is a pretty big benefit ... to go on the cheap, just get on amazon and buy a cable for a couple bucks since he will only use it ocassionally.

I just purchased a Vizio CO Star streaming player 69.00 at Best Buy it comes with the Google Chrome web browser, it's working great

Thanks to all who responded.  Luckliy, my internet speed is good, so hoping that won't be a problem.  Sounds like I don't need a laptop to make this work.  The reason I was thinking a cheap laptop, was to have something I can use to watch the races with, download ITunes and burn some CDs, travel with, etc.  I just don't want to dump big bucks into a laptop with a bunch of features I'll never use.

Bottom line is it's time for me to get onborad and stop missing these great races that I'd giving anyting to see in person, but can't: Trophy Cup, Short Track Nationals, etc.

Thanks again for all of your help.  I envy your technical knowledge!

This is by far the most painless method. The big plus is you can easily travel with these items. You can also Airplay from most Macs made in the past 2-3 years.

I bought a laptop at Costco last year for I think $400 and its just fine. I've learned to just try and find a cheap laptop and they last me a long time. Laptop I paid the most for quite a few years ago broke within 2 years so since that I've just bought a couple of cheaper ones and they've lasted me a long time. Make sure you get 1 that has an HDMI port, which I think most all new ones now do, but then you can rent your pay per view and hook up the HDMI to your TV and watch. I got 1 at Best Buy once that was an open box item and a good buy, I think $400, but be careful going into Best Buy and trying to have an associate help you, usually by the end of the conversation they have you looking at $1200 laptops that are completely unessecary. I've had good luck with the ACER brand.

http://gph.is/XMLGff

you have got that right about best buy wont go back in there nomore

with all this info on streaming i have tossed around the idea of purchasing a projector to watch live streaming in the shop  to entertain with, what are the do's and donts when i go to purchase a projector, i dont nessessarly need the latest and greatest, i see the sky is the limit it seems with no budget (much like racing), im just looking for something to get me in the ballpark and be happy with the video, i currently stream from my laptop to my flatscreen with a hdmi cable and seems to work well. just looking to display a larger screen with more peeps in atttendance..  the race is on somewhere let the beer flow here.  thanks much!

side note, my first shot at this  I purchased a expensive HDMI cable,  it was short and kinda pricey,( i think it was like 12' 50-70 bucks it didnt reach the flatscreen from my brothers pc at his place, thus i went to the local computor store and purchased a $20   25' hdmi cable, I havent noticed one bit of differeance between the two, the salesman at Best Buy must get kickback on products sold, not sure it really makes sence to kick out the added  dough?   just a fyi..

Ya, I saw a 10 ft laptop to TV HDMI cable at Walmart last night for 30-some bucks!! Damn! I haven't looked yet, but I'll bet I can find one a lot longer than 10 ft online, and a lot cheaper! 

I like the idea of a projector for the races and having friends over - that sounds like a blast.  Hope you can make that work!

I try to avoid Best Buy.  They screwed me over on the one and only attempt I've ever made at shopping there on a Black Friday....never, ever again (for Best Buy or Black Friday).  That is nuts man!

I have found Amazon.com the cheapest for a HDMI cable.

I agree Jackson, I've bought quite a few items off of Amazon for probably half the price local stores like Best Buy or WalMart want for it, ebay is good for this too and you don't always have to bid, alot of small items they are just selling as Buy it Now. I bought a new door opening key faub for my Tahoe the other day off ebay for under $20, I was in Napa later in the day and they had a display of different faubs so I asked how much mine would cost there and it was something like $120 at Napa, maybe the one I got isn't as good of quality but whatever, I can buy 6 new cheap ones before I spend as much as the 1 and odds are my wife will lose it or break it before it actually wears out

As far as HDMI cables go, I don't think unless you have a big 65" 3D TV and and your playing a 3D blu-ray, those expensive HDMI are not necessary. What I understand is the more expensive ones send the information faster through the cable but on a normal sized TV your just not going to notice any difference in the picture, its those large TV's recieving lots of data from the Blu-Ray player that the faster speed gets the crispest picture possible.

http://gph.is/XMLGff

I've heard before that Best Buy is so pushy with the accessories and the warranty plans cause that is where they actually make the most profit. For me, if I do buy something there, its cause its a good deal and I buy the accessories elsewhere. I always check out there open box items cause you can get pretty good deals on that stuff at times.The other thing that bugs me there is the DirectTv guy that approaches you like he works there and is going to help you and then starts in on his speal about the great deals DirectTV has.

http://gph.is/XMLGff