Convert Sat network cabling to online streaming

[bdatabill]

Have house wired with Cat6 and (2) RG6 coax cables to every room. Using a GB switch. Would like to stream/download and watch from any location. TV's have HDMI inputs. What do I need? A Roku for every TV? Seems overkill.

 

[boosted1g]

What content are you trying to stream? Netflix, local content, you tube??

Are the TVs smart TVs with wifi or ethernet?

 

[bdatabill]

Netflix, Huluplus and Couchtuner

 

[bdatabill]

TV's not smart. Only have HDMI's inputs.

 

[bdatabill]

I can set up a PC as a server and use Plex but how to I access from 5 rooms?

 

[boosted1g]

Then yes, you need a streaming box per TV. Roku and Chromecast are the cheapest options, chromecast requires android device to strame from though while roku is standalone.

You could use your cat to extend the hdmi from one streambox to multiple TVs, but this probably more costly then just buying stream boxes, and you would only be able to stream one thing to all the TVs

 

[boosted1g]

With Plex you still need some stream device, like a Roku. You need some device to take the data from the video stream over ethernet, and convert it to audio/video for the TV.

 

[bdatabill]

I was looking at ROKU 3 so I could use the ethernet but that seems so much like overkill. I was kinda hoping that there was a software solution that allow the media server to allow select-able access but you are correct.

 

[boosted1g]

Ethernet option is best, you can check into putting plex on a raspberry pi, but by the time you get the Pi, a case and a flash memory card you are up to $60-70 and you will have to install linux and set it all up.

 

[hang-the-9]

I was looking at ROKU 3 so I could use the ethernet but that seems so much like overkill. I was kinda hoping that there was a software solution that allow the media server to allow select-able access but you are correct.

If your TVs are not network capable how are you going to send the data to them?

You can setup a high-quality HDMI switchbox and run HDMI cables to the rooms with the TVs from a single device . Of course that would be quite a bit more than a low end Roku box for each TV although more elegant.