SnapStream Blog

This review is the fifth in a series of product reviews written by the SnapStream community members. This review is of the Crossbar Media MediaCaster written by Dave, aurigus0 in the forums.

Here is the problem: you have a DVR/HTPC hooked up to your TV downstairs, but you have other televisions in your house you wish to use to access the HTPC. How do you distribute the Audio/Video signal to these other television sets?

One solution to this problem is using the Crossbar MediaCaster, which was kindly provided to me for review by SnapStream Media.

The basic idea of this hardware is that you are creating a “private access channel” AKA Avcast® entertainment network, which is provided content from any device that outputs an RCA signal.

In the box:

• 1 x CableCaster – Establishes the Avcast entertainment network
• 1 x MediaCaster – Provides the content for the Avcast network
• 1 x IRcaster – sends IR signal over the Avcast network
• 1 x IRdetector – receives IR signal
• 1 x Notch filter – filters a channel range to allow Avcast network to utilize a channel
• 2 x Coax Cable – to connect MediaCaster/CableCaster to coax network
• 1 x RCA Cable set – to connect HTPC to MediaCaster

The setup of the system is rather complicated and requires that you both have access to, and know the setup of your home coax system which is already built into the majority of homes constructed in the past 30 years. If you have cable television, then you most likely have this internal network already set up.

Step 1:

Locate where the cable comes into your house. You need to intercept it where it splits off to go into separate ends of the house.

The CableCaster unit plugs in here. Also you will need A/C power. There is a plug for input – the input cable from your cable provider. Also in between the cable provider and the CableCaster goes the Notch Filter. This device blocks a channel range, so that the CableCaster can broadcast on this channel.

Step 2:

The MediaCaster is then plugged into your cable network near or at your HTPC. You will need to have access to the coax network in your home if you don’t already have this near your HTPC. You will also need A/C power.

Step 3:

Plug your Audio/Video device (in this case, a DVR running SnapStream BeyondTV). This means you will need to output the video and audio in RCA format – so make sure you have the necessary cables/converters to do this.

Step 4 (optional):

At the remote end, connect the IR Caster and IR Receiver to the coax network. This will allow you to use an IR remote control in a remote location relative to the IR receiver. The signal will be broadcast over the Avcast network to the MediaCaster unit.

In my case, I used the BTC Wireless Remote and Firefly remote, which were both able to reach to my upstairs room and control my PC.

Now that everything is set up, you can see my remote TV with my HTPC desktop running!

I must admit, it was very cool to be operating my HTPC from another room while seeing the content broadcast over a CATV channel. This signal is now available from anywhere in my house – allowing me to enjoy my recorded content over any cable-equipped television set.

There are two drawbacks or flaws to using this system.

- First, the HTPC must output in 1.33:1 ratio format whereas I had it set up to output to my HDTV in widescreen format (16:9). I had to make sure my aspect ratio stayed in Standard format.

- Secondly, the notch filter also seemed to filter out content which it should not be filtering. Specifically, my Motorola set top box became useless. On Demand stopped working, as well as HDTV signal quality dropped dramatically – causes dropouts in signal.

These drawbacks really limit how you are able to use this system. In my case, my wife really relies on the OnDemand service from Comcast – so this is a deal breaker for me. If your cable TV provider is not Comcast, then you might not have this same problem. Also the system is fairly complicated to set up, so it is for advanced users only.

Final verdict:

Recommended
Recommended to those with advanced knowledge of cable/HTPC workings and specific requirements

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 3rd, 2007 at 2:38 pm by Tom and is filed under Beyond TV, General, HDTV, SnapStream Store. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.