Current setup is split into 2 computers...

Dell running Windows XP Home, with an Autumnwave GT USB ATSC/NTSC tuner. I have a CM4221 antenna IN MY LIVING ROOM (yes!) and it MUST be stationed near the bay window for reception reasons, which ties down the location of that system.
A whitebox PC running linux in the den, which is located at the opposite end of my condo suite.


Rather than running back and forth between rooms, I'd like to buy a 22" widescreen LCD for my linux PC in the den, and occasionally watch HDTV on it. That's where a KVM switch and a long run of cable comes in. Is it feasable?

For those of you wondering, I had originally intended to replace the spare 17" CRT in the living room with a real HDTV by now. However, after an initial flurry following my discovery of HDTV, I'm down to maybe 2 or 3 hours a week watching TV. Spending $2,000 for an HDTV is pointless. I spend a lot more time in front of my PC, and a 22 inch LCD for the PC is a higher priority.

Just thinking out loud here but instead of using your switch could you run a USB line to your 22" monitor [my Dell does this]. From your monitor you can plug in your mouse and keyboard. Of course you'll also have to run a DVI and audio cable too. Don't forget to get an HDCP monitor.

I doubt USB will work at that distance. KVM may also be a problem. HDMI and audio should be Ok but will be expensive at that length. A couple of other options...

1. Use video playback software that has a client/server built in. VLC is free and supports this, as do others. This probably won't work "live" with the tuner though. Accessing files on the remote system with a local player should also be Ok with a wired LAN.

2. RF keyboard and mouse. The problem will be finding ones that work at that distance. More than one USB mouse and keyboard can be used at the same time so there is no need for a switch. Some claim to work at 50' or more but walls will cut down on the usable distance.

3. RF remote and RF video sender (or RG6) to send the video/audio signal to a cheap video capture card in the Linux PC. The main problems here are range and video quality.

1. Use video playback software that has a client/server built in. VLC is free and supports this, as do others. This probably won't work "live" with the tuner though. Accessing files on the remote system with a local player should also be Ok with a wired LAN.
How could I miss something so obvious. Better one cat5 cable than multiple different cables (keyboard and video and mouse and audio). OTA HDTV runs at 19 megabits/sec, which should be easy on a 100 megabit connection. My options are...

Does XP Home allow sharing out the hard drive? If so, mount the share from the linux machine via samba. Play the remote file via mplayer.
If I want to get fancy and push cpus to their limits, I could put a Windows VNC server on the Dell, and run a linux VNC client in the den. Then run the Windows playback software that came with the tuner.

1. WinXP does allow file sharing with other Windows PCs and Linux.

2. I think you will find that VNC does not support video playback. All other screen elements display Ok but video playback gives me a blank/black display for video.