Watching DVR in a different room to the DVR box

April 28, 2008 10:59 AM

DVR watching in a different room. Our DirectTV DVR is in the basement family room, but I would like to watch shows that I've recorded late at night while I'm laying in bed on the second floor.

Is there a simple/sensible way to do this (with the emphasis on simple) when moving the DVR is not an option?

I seem to recall years ago some kind of gadget you could hook up to a VCR so you could watch tapes in different rooms. The master unit connected to the VCR and sent the signal to a receiver attached to a TV in another room. I think it was called the Rabbit or something like that (because it multiplied your VCR signal?). Anything out there like this for DVR boxes?

I don't have HD, Media Servers, slingboxes or anything along those lines, just regular boring TV sets and DirectTV receivers and we prefer to watch TV on a TV, not a computer.

posted by worker_bee to Technology (4 answers total)

You can get a wireless A/V sender with an IR extender.
posted by jaimev at 11:09 AM on April 28, 2008

I use a simple splitter and run a coax line to the 2nd TV. In my case I use Dish Network, and the remote is IR and UHF, so i got a 2nd remote. You may need to use a pyramid IR sender and receiver if your remote is not UHF.
posted by Gungho at 11:24 AM on April 28, 2008

Note the reviews on that page if you're going from a basement (concrete block) to the 2nd floor it may not work perfectly for you.
posted by bitdamaged at 2:16 PM on April 28, 2008

Also note that some of these devices run on the 2.4GHz band, which has the potential to interfere with your WiFi if you have it. Possibly better to do as Gungho suggests, and run a coax cable, although it most likely means you won't be able to change channels upstairs!

Ha! I remember the adverts for the Rabbit. Very 1980's feel to them, if I remember rightly
posted by ranglin at 7:13 PM on April 28, 2008