Cheapest way to hear pc in other rooms?

Titus_frogsbutt

Acehole wrote: »

pick the pc up and carry it with you, very cheap option

Yeah, very helpful suggestion.

jimbob_3

Hi,

Thanks for these -

just checking if i understand it right, i can plug the fm transmitter into the pc and tune any radio into the 'right' frequency and the sound will come out of the radio? Do i only need to buy one of these and it will work on all the radios at the same time? how do i find the 'right frequency?

I like the idea of the soundbridge - but i guess it needs one per room? and does it connect to all types of stereo - mine are all diff and fairly old? (i havent got wi fi - does that mean i cant use it)

thanks

isofa

Just one FM transmitter will transmit and be picked up by any radios in range. You set a frequency on the transmitter which isn't used by any radio stations locally (find one by tuning your radio until you get total noise, with not a shred of a station to be heard. Then turn all your radios into this frequency.

However, the sound quality won't be very good; the range, especially indoors is likely to be poor; and various electrical devices will cause interference.

I'd say the Soundbridge or Squeezebox would be much better options, but not as cheap as an FM transmitter.

The Soundbridge has an analogue audio out (3.5mm), a digital audio out (coax S/PDIF) and an optical output (Toslink) - so just have a cable to connect one of these to an Aux in on your hi-fi.

Marty999

Yes Jimbob you do need one Soundbridge per room, or per set of speakers. My FM transmitter did give fair quality throughout the house. I don't use it any more as I prefer the Soundbridge, so can send it to you if you like?

bob_a_builder

I also bought a Pinnacle Soundbridge and it's brilliant, but £40+

Doesn anyone know where they are still available for that sort of money.

Marty999

bob_a_builder wrote: »

Doesn anyone know where they are still available for that sort of money.

Novatech and Firebox still have some.

Mike_J

Currys are clearing a "bathroom radio" which can alos be tuned to MP3. The MP3 is plugged into atransmitter so in theory if you plugged one of these into laptop it would tranmit to the radio unit. Showing on their website at reduced to £15 but I picked one up in store for £7.50.

bob_a_builder

Novatech and Firebox still have some.

Thanks,
But I see these are the new 'homemusic" version - not sure how that compares
I thought the others might have been refering to the earlier version ( did it have a bigger dispay?) , which seemed to be on clearout just after xmas - or maybe they were just have a big push on the new one.

Seems to be quite small display on this new one ?

How about music selection ?- how does that work
Anyone confirm that you have to have previously set up playlists

edit: more questions
blub, says works with Window Media Play 11 - trouble is WMP is just Soooooo sloooooowww on my machine - ok when watching video/dvd etc - but once start fiddleing with mp3 and libray the user interface just grinds so slow - almost ususable
So not going to be a good experience with soundbridge ?

mr_flibble

You could always try apples airport express which runs with itunes if wmp 11 is slowing up your system. It is £65 though but it also works as a printer server.

I use it on my imac and for my windows laptop. Output is optical as well as standard analogue too if that sort of thing appeals.

Worth considering.

Kel.

Marty999

bob_a_builder wrote: »

Thanks,
But I see these are the new 'homemusic" version - not sure how that compares
I thought the others might have been refering to the earlier version ( did it have a bigger dispay?) , which seemed to be on clearout just after xmas - or maybe they were just have a big push on the new one.

Seems to be quite small display on this new one ?

How about music selection ?- how does that work
Anyone confirm that you have to have previously set up playlists

edit: more questions
blub, says works with Window Media Play 11 - trouble is WMP is just Soooooo sloooooowww on my machine - ok when watching video/dvd etc - but once start fiddleing with mp3 and libray the user interface just grinds so slow - almost ususable
So not going to be a good experience with soundbridge ?

Yes this is the Homemusic version (the cheap one). This is the better one but it's more expensive. Yes the display on my model is smallish but it's adequate.

As for the music, you can choose to listen to any one of more than 6000 internet stations, or browse to the music stored on your computer. You can play it according to playlists you have created but you don't have to. It won't play copy-protected music though, or the main BBC Radio stations. But it will play MP3s direct from an SD memory card.

It connects to your wireless router with WEP encryption, not WPA. I think it's one of the best purchases I have made.

Sorry don't know about WMP, I use iTunes. But the music you play via the Soundbridge is totally independent from the music that is playing on your computer - so you have different music in each room.