- Move the PC
- HDBaseT (zero-lag video, audio, usb, and power over Ethernet)
- HDMI and USB extensions
- Wired streaming devices
The real issue is if you need HDMI 2.1 support.
Long HDMI 2.1 cables that can actually do 48 gbps are going to be difficult to find, thick and unwieldy, and
expensive.
Fiber cables which avoid some of those issues are going to be
even more expensive.
If you have Ethernet wired up between the two locations, I would recommend HDBaseT rather than purchasing a streaming device. It's a
far higher quality, and more convenient solution.
I use an HDBaseT adapter to connect to my 1080p120 projector over a thin, flat, white Ethernet cable which is easy to hide, and the experience has been identical to if I had moved the PC into that room and connected it directly via HDMI.
I haven't seen HDBaseT solutions for anything more than 18gbps yet though.
And I can't say that it's been perfect, as the USB hub on mine died on me last night - it's started resetting USB devices every few minutes which makes it unusable for playing games (but still fine for watching movies).
I've probably just been unlucky though, and was offered a refund since it's less than a year old.
I'm a little bit hesitant about buying a replacement of the same model though, as it is not a solution which will extend beyond 1080p120/4K60 - and there are now 4K120 TVs and 1080p240 projectors available.
Streaming devices add latency and noticeably reduce the quality - even if you increase the bit-rates.
It's great for mobile devices like tablets, phones, or laptops, but not something I'd want to use with a TV/home theater setup.
The latency is not a lot, but can be noticeable if you're sensitive to it. For me, it's the loss of image quality that had me seeking alternatives (HDBaseT).
It also eats some of your performance, and is another potential headache if the client doesn't want to work right - so you have to go through to the PC and reset something to make it work. Or sometimes the streaming will be choppy for no apparent reason, because that one game doesn't play nice with it.
HDBaseT just acts like another display connected directly to the PC, and I used keyboard shortcusts in DisplayFusion to switch between the desktop and projector setups (switches monitors, sets them to the correct resolution, and changes sound devices) - so it's one less thing to go wrong, outside of a hardware failure.
I also ran into the problem where Steam Link originally worked at 120 FPS on the iPad Pro, but then some update broke that and it's been 60 FPS ever since. I'm not sure whether that's been fixed yet - haven't tested it in a while.
Yup, fiber HDMI eliminates the short length limitations of copper HDMI and it doesn't cost that much, and streaming tech currently cannot compete with a wired HDMI connection. I bought a 50ft cable for 60 bucks a couple months ago. Grab a wireless KB+M and/or a wireless controller and you are set.
Most of the affordable "fiber HDMI" cables are copper with four fiber cables for sync, rather than true fiber cables.
That means they're just as bulky and inflexible as any other low gauge copper HDMI cable - and they're all black too - so they're not easy to hide away.
Wonder how everyone here deals with the ergonomics of wireless kb/m on the couch? Where you putting your mouse pad? What's supporting your elbows/arms?
Corsair K63 lapboard paired with a Logitech mouse.
It's the only wireless solution I could find that had a reasonable size mousing area.
Most other products on the market seem to use a long USB cable, and I did not want that. I wanted something I could put away in a drawer and not have to deal with any cable setup.
The only wireless alternative I found was the Razer Turret. The v1 was a much slicker solution with a laptop keyboard and a folding design, but the mousing area was far too small. The v2 has a mechanical keyboard with a slide-out tray for the mouse, which is still small, and flimsy.
