controlling entertainment center via laptop - no wires?

September 15, 2008 3:55 PM

control TV, radio, everything with laptop - all wireless?

I would like to setup an entertainment system where a laptop controls everything - using as no cable or wires that connect to the laptop. Is this possible? If not, what is the closest thing possible? I'd like to be able to for example use the laptop for normal things such as playing itunes - but connect wirelessly to the big speakers? Also I would like to use the laptop to switch on the TV mode on the the flatscreen and use it as a controller, again all wirelessly. etc etc etc.

Any ideas as to how to approach this? Is there any essential hardware or software to get this to work?

posted by figTree to computers & internet (8 comments total)

A wireless network, a chipped xbox with xbmc and the web interface enabled will go a fair way toward this. I can change music or video playing at home from anywhere with wifi. Doesn't help for broadcast tv, but then I'm usually right in front of the TV if that's an issue...
posted by pompomtom at 4:06 PM on September 15, 2008

Are you using the laptop as a video source?
posted by mr_roboto at 4:07 PM on September 15, 2008

Closest you will get to controlling a TV with a laptop is with a Slingbox coupled with a wireless bridge.
posted by Yoshi Ayarane at 4:17 PM on September 15, 2008

An Airport express will let you use iTunes to stream music to your A/V receiver wirelessly.

If your laptop has IR built in, you can probably control your A/V devices. If not, a USB IR dongle might help.
posted by wongcorgi at 4:30 PM on September 15, 2008

MythTV (and the wireless thing-a-ma-jigs)?
posted by notyou at 4:33 PM on September 15, 2008

Looks like MythTV will let you play music on your TV/Stereo set-up. I like my Squeezebox (which I control wirelessly via Nokia N800).
posted by notyou at 4:36 PM on September 15, 2008

Also I would like to use the laptop to switch on the TV mode on the the flatscreen and use it as a controller, again all wirelessly. etc etc etc.

You left out some important detail where you typed "etc etc etc." For instance, I have to guess what "switch on the TV mode on the the flatscreen and use it as a controller" means, which seems to be around 2/3 of your question.

To use your laptop as a TV remote it is going to need an IR transmitter, and a strong one at that. Most of the IR on laptops is not strong.

For the iTunes stuff, get an Airport Express and plug it into your stereo with a cable with 1/8" (3.5mm) Walkman-style plug on one end and RCA (the tubey red and white connectors) on the other. Use any input on your receiver besides Phono. iTunes will get an extra button in the lower right corner that will let you select your stereo as a set of speakers for iTunes to use.
posted by rhizome at 4:40 PM on September 15, 2008

my advice would be to get a home theater pc w/ a tv card, and control that from the laptop via vnc/remote desktop. unless you want hd video it wouldn't need to be anything too fancy, and it's by far the least frustrating convergence method.
If you absolutely cannot have a remote control, you should check out the lirc project, which simplifies sending IR from a computer. rhizome's right, and you'll probably need an external IR transmitter which = at least 1 wire.
You should also check out avsforum. People there coach each other through stuff like this all the time.
posted by kickback at 6:14 PM on September 15, 2008