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midwinter · May 7, 2003, 07:13 PM

Hi all.

Can someone with AE let me know if it's fast enough to log into another computer and play a video file over the network? I'm trying to make video on my G4 available to every computer in the house, and while my 100BT ethernetted comps play it fine, my old airport just isn't fast enough. I'm hopeful that AE will do the trick.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers
Scott

ghporter · May 7, 2003, 09:07 PM

I'd give you a qualified "yes." It's qualified because I don't know what video file formats you're using, nor what software you're using to view the files.

The theoretical maximum data rate of the AE system is 54Mbps, but that includes all the overhead-and there is more overhead in the 802.11g specification than there is in the 11Mbps 802.11b spec. On the other hand, with a little reasonable care, a good AE link should work for just about any data sharing. The trick comes with establishing that "good AE link," as a lot of people have reported that they have some serious range problems with the Extreme hardware.

midwinter · May 7, 2003, 09:16 PM

Sorry about not being more specific. I'm talking about mpeg-1 video captured by Eye TV. Some of my video is in mpeg-4. But most is in mpeg-1. On my Macs, I'm using QT to view the files; on my PCs, I'm using WMP.

Cadaver · May 10, 2003, 10:07 AM

Just make sure your AirPorted computers are Extreme compatibe... otherwise it'll run at the same speeds as 802.11b.

midwinter · May 10, 2003, 03:07 PM

Originally posted by Cadaver:
Just make sure your AirPorted computers are Extreme compatibe... otherwise it'll run at the same speeds as 802.11b.

Sure. I'm thinking down the road for when I replace my iBook 500 with a 15" powerbook. I'd just like to be able to sit in another room in the house and watch some of the video I have housed on my G4 desktop.

mrogers1 · May 10, 2003, 04:26 PM

I too am very interested in wireless transmission of videos at home. Is it possible to rip DVDs, store them, and watch&listen to them wirelessly from remote Mac's? If so, what apps should I be looking for to copy DVD movies (Hollywood type, not home type)?

I have audio working well and am now wanting to do video. I realize I will need humongo disk to house the movies but disk are getting cheaper everyday.

Has anyone go this working? I'd love to know the setup.

--MR

midwinter · May 10, 2003, 07:45 PM

Originally posted by mrogers1:
I too am very interested in wireless transmission of videos at home. Is it possible to rip DVDs, store them, and watch&listen to them wirelessly from remote Mac's? If so, what apps should I be looking for to copy DVD movies (Hollywood type, not home type)?

I have audio working well and am now wanting to do video. I realize I will need humongo disk to house the movies but disk are getting cheaper everyday.

Has anyone go this working? I'd love to know the setup.

--MR

Well, ripping DVDs is a bit of a pain. The DVDs I've ripped (and recompressed to mpeg-4) looked VERY good. And you don't need big disk space if you re-compress them. My ripped copy of Alien is 846 meg, and it looks GREAT.

Capt Shane · May 10, 2003, 09:21 PM

Originally posted by midwinter:
Well, ripping DVDs is a bit of a pain. The DVDs I've ripped (and recompressed to mpeg-4) looked VERY good. And you don't need big disk space if you re-compress them. My ripped copy of Alien is 846 meg, and it looks GREAT.

So still what program did you use? if you wouldn't mine tell

midwinter · May 10, 2003, 09:35 PM

Originally posted by Capt Shane:
So still what program did you use? if you wouldn't mine tell

1) I use OSex to rip the contents of the DVD into a VOB file, which is playable as-is in something like VLC.

2) I use MacMPEG2decoder to yank the video out of the VOB file, resize it, and compress it into mpeg-4. This takes some time (I have a G4/533 and I just start it before I go to bed).

3) I use mAC3dec to get the audio out of the VOB file and turn it into an AIFF.

4) I use QT Pro to export the audio into mpeg-4.

5) I use QT Pro to join the video and audio back together.

If I'm lucky, there's no audio sync problems. I am rarely lucky.

Capt Shane · May 10, 2003, 09:40 PM

i wonder if it is possible to stream live cable tv .. i guess i would have to buy the QT streaming server and thats no good

midwinter · May 10, 2003, 09:42 PM

Originally posted by Capt Shane:
i wonder if it is possible to stream live cable tv .. i guess i would have to buy the QT streaming server and thats no good

QTSS is a free download. You can stream TV over network via the QT broadcaster.

Capt Shane · May 10, 2003, 09:46 PM

Originally posted by midwinter:
QTSS is a free download. You can stream TV over network via the QT broadcaster.

wow realy? i own QT pro let me hit up the apple website :-) now i am excited I have a new project!

edit: oh by the way can i get the stream from another computer thats not a mac and feed it to my mac for broadcast? Like my pc that has the cable card in it?

midwinter · May 10, 2003, 09:57 PM

Originally posted by Capt Shane:
wow realy? i own QT pro let me hit up the apple website :-) now i am excited I have a new project!

edit: oh by the way can i get the stream from another computer thats not a mac and feed it to my mac for broadcast? Like my pc that has the cable card in it?

no idea. not sure why you'd want to, either.

Capt Shane · May 10, 2003, 10:01 PM

sat night what should i be doing haha

midwinter · May 10, 2003, 10:07 PM

Originally posted by Capt Shane:
sat night what should i be doing haha

Dunno. Maybe read a book?