Using a desktop computer from another room.
Posted by Forgotten_Stranger@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 32 comments
Hopefully I am in the right place, I apologize if I am not. (I also apologize for my lack of PC knowledge including any misuse of terms...) And in case it is important for sub rules, yes the main PC was built by me. (It's basic, but it was built from scratch.)
For a few weeks I have been trying to figure out a good way to transfer files between two rooms. (Updated from both.) After semi giving up, I happened upon a wireless HDMI "ad" by pure chance. (Wasn't even aware it was a thing.) This gave me an idea and went out searching only to find mixed opinions, including on this sub. So I thought I would ask with my specific situation.
Desktop is located in a room about 50 feet away from it's second use spot. As a whole it is best left where it is as moving it to the other location would be challenging and long term may be damaging to the PC. (With one major issue being increased humidity.) While a very long HDMI could potentially work it would require an abnormally long cable to avoid a tripping hazard. (Likely mounted above doorways.) Ideally, I simply bring one of my spare monitors into the room and continue as normal. (A second full computer to cast too isn't really an option. If it were at that point keeping the files on USB would solve the problem.)
The use for the second spot is just two things. Text based internet usage (no video or music I have another source for those) and access to a variety of spreadsheets. (Both work and non work related.) I only need two things, to be able to see the desktop computer's output and to control it with a mouse and keyboard, no sound, no other components. Since it is all basic usage, wireless HDMI latency should not be a significant issue. (But random outages of signal would be.)
So really I am hoping for 3 things, a mouse and keyboard recommendation with a good (above average?) wireless range and some method to send the output of the main PC to another monitor about 50 feet away. If a wireless HDMI is acceptable perhaps a recommendation of a quality one. (I've seen up to $300-400 but that seems like a lot, but $20-30 sounds like junk.)
Thank you, and again sorry if I am in the wrong place.
AstarothSquirrel@reddit
HDMI generally can't go beyond 15m (10m is generally the real limit) You may be better off getting a kvm over ethernet. something like https://amzn.eu/d/0gQ6lNtE but you might want to pay more for 4k capability. You can get wireless versions but you will find that reliability and low latency comes at a premium price.
westward_man@reddit
This is only true of passive copper HDMI. Active copper HDMI can go up to 30m, and active fiber optic HDMI can go up to 100m.
You can also extend HDMI over Ethernet.
SkyWest1218@reddit
Easiest option is probably to get yourself one of these: https://www.amazon.com/OREI-Ethernet-Extender-Balun-Cable/dp/B0BPVX4VYT/
It's basically just a box that extends your HDMI and USB over a regular CAT6 ethernet cable, no additional software needed. Just gotta plug stuff in and it'll work. USB speeds won't be the fastest, but if you're just hooking up a keyboard and mouse or a controller of some sort, then it'll be sufficient. I have the 4x switch version of this and it works well enough.
ParticularGiraffe174@reddit
I have a fibre optic HDMI cable that cost me about £50 and an active usb 3 extension that I was able to put under the floor which has worked flawlessly. Other options include streaming using steam to a mini pc or Nvidia shield or something similar, another streaming option is sunlight and moonlight.
iApolloDusk@reddit
OP is struggling with the concept of using AnyDesk or some other remote access software. Setting up Sunrise and Moonlight is probably going to be a tad out of their depth lol. That being said, Sunlight and Moonlight are dope as hell and will send you down a network improvement rabbit hole if you haven't already.
Forgotten_Stranger@reddit (OP)
You aren't wrong... The initial issue was I was hoping to just go directly to an existing monitor without the need to purchase a Raspberry Pi, Laptop, Tablet, Etc. But, that was also before I learned that for my uses just about any device would work including some very cheap ones. (I'm not gaming or anything complicated.) So much so that the wireless HDMI regardless of how well they work may actually be more expensive.
Issue two came when I was suggested to use native Windows remote access only to learn, lucky me, Windows Home doesn't allow it. (At least not as a sender) Remote assistance will do what I want at the price of reinviting for each session. (But should be completely secure, down to the fact I can carry the invite by USB.) Alternatively I have been suggested an HDMI to CAT6 transmitter/receiver which is basically just a wired version of what I wanted wirelessly. (Which is fine, CAT6 I'm told can be run much farther than an HDMI otherwise could be. So long as it can't be tripped on it can be as long as it needs to be.)
I'm not against the use of third party remote access, (I looked at a few of the suggestions already) but some of the suggestions I looked at seem to have subscription fees which is far more than this project is worth. The second issue is unlike the other options I then get concerns about security. What do the companies have access to, if the service uses the internet can anyone gain access, can I turn access on and off easily, etc. Those were things I was hoping to avoid as it is definitely way out of my league. (Any suggestions I would be taking entirely on good faith.)
Blackcat_84@reddit
Likewise, optical HDMI has worked perfectly. Oddly, my usb extender worked better plugged into USB 2 port, as opposed to USB 3. Something to do with CPU resources, cant remember. Main thing was to put the extension into a powered hub at the other end.
ParticularGiraffe174@reddit
My usb extension cable has been able to provide power with a non powered hub but I consider that luck rather than the norm
NINJ4A1@reddit
Localsend wifi file transfer or a better way rustdesk (remotely connect both pcs, and use both pc at the same time)
rubiaal@reddit
I wonder if you could just use a tablet for remote connection, with bluetooth mouse and keyboard. Or is that too small of a screen? Monitor + dongle/hardware for remote connection. Wifi should be good enough.
Anacra@reddit
Just use Moonlight.
Llit2@reddit
Sunshine/Moonlight
marcoNLD@reddit
Can u run a CAT6a cable from the pc to the spot you need the hdmi and kb/mouse? If yes. Get a KVM extender over CAT6. It is not ip based. Just uses a cat cable in between the two points. KVM OVER CAT6 aliexpress
Forgotten_Stranger@reddit (OP)
This could be worth looking into. After some of the other suggestions I found out I have Windows Home on my main (sending) PC. So the simple built in remote access won't work. (Thanks Windows...) There is a work around though which I could use. But this looks like it is all local, no internet or anything like that so zero chance of security issues. (The other method should be safe too, also built into windows just a tiny bit annoying as I would need to reset permissions daily. Better than alternatives though.) Basically just a big cable for all three items from the other room. And unlike HDMI, CAT6 can run all over the place with few downsides. (As is I am hardwired into the internet which itself is fairly far away, another set back of simply moving the PC.)
Tball2@reddit
Have you considered just a raspberry pi rather than a full second computer or casting? Would be plenty for what you want to do and if you really wanted to you could install windows 11 on it.
Forgotten_Stranger@reddit (OP)
Sadly, I have little to no experience with raspberry pi's. (other than engineering content creators and even then they look frankensteined together.) I wouldn't know the first thing to do with them. But, I hadn't considered that so I will look into it and see what I can find, but I think it may be too complex for me.
Tball2@reddit
You can get it completely set up and ready to go out of the box. Then you just plug in keyboard + mouse + monitor and you are done.
Forgotten_Stranger@reddit (OP)
Oh... I always see them as just blank chips that usually have soldering and stuff done to them before being put into a cardboard box. (That could very well be part of the joke going over my head.) They always seemed so complicated. I will give it a look, it sounds like a receiving device of some kind is preferable to the HDMI/long distance mouse and keyboard. But I am not in a significant rush so maybe I can get it figured out.
snmnky9490@reddit
There are many types of pis, from $5 gumstick sized devices to bigger systems that can act as full computers.
They usually seem really complicated because of of the rains people get them is because they make it easy to connect to homemade sensors and DIY projects. You don't have to do any of that if you don't have a need for it and then there won't be some crazy mess of wires and bread boards
Yuji_Ide_Best@reddit
Parsec? You can literally remote into your PC via the phone even, let alone a small dedicated windows computer.
You download parsec on both the PC & whatever mobile device you have, then simply run parsec on both & remote in.
I was literally sat in the park the other day some 1mile away from my computer & still had it on my phone & playing FM26 with the tiniest, barely noticeable latency.
apoetofnowords@reddit
Idk, using long cables sounds too messy. Also, passive cables won't work, you'll need more expensive active optical HDME. I'd go with any used/dumpster PC and remote desktop via LAN. I have a NAS doubling as a Minecraft server. I use my old laptop to play from anywhere in the house, don't notice any latency. I can even watch youtube via RDP (not that it's needed).
aragorn18@reddit
I feel like a cheap laptop with a Remote Desktop connection back to the main PC would be much simpler.
Forgotten_Stranger@reddit (OP)
I suppose it depends. I'm not terribly familiar with the process, is that effectively just using the laptop as the display, mouse and keyboard of the other PC or is it a different PC with access to the main PC's files? (I'm aware that both possibilities exist but I am not sure what the difference is.)
The first would in theory be fine especially if it is less than the wireless HDMI. The second one would require getting a new license for all the software would it not? (Laptop with software to access main PC's files.)
aragorn18@reddit
Using Remote Desktop to connect back to the main PC would basically be using the laptop as the keyboard, video, and mouse. You don't need an extra license.
Forgotten_Stranger@reddit (OP)
That would work. Would you or anyone else happen to have a good link for me to look at for how to get that set up? (I can worry about laptop types and prices later. Maybe I can figure out the Raspberry Pi suggestion.)
aragorn18@reddit
https://youtu.be/RHGYx921Q9I
Forgotten_Stranger@reddit (OP)
Thank you so much.
Evesgallion@reddit
I would suggest checking up cheap NUC computers. Or a SFFPC. You can get them for under $100. Basically a rasp pi but it's windows
chsn2000@reddit
If you have decent wifi, just getting a cheap laptop/PC and running Moonlight would be the easiest remote desktop solution.
But if you're literally only needing to access files, then Windows should be more than capable of sharing over a local network and would throw all the latency concerns out the window. You can quite easily share a folder or drive to other computers on your network
MonkeySkulls@reddit
you could set moonlight. basically this streams one computer to the other. pwilw use this to stream games to a differ computer. I have used it to stream access to my beefy computer to my wimpy laptop upstairs. fir my situation I had both hooked up to an Ethernet cable. and had zero issues. this set up is basically a remote screen. niuse and keyboard. the 2 computers basically stream to the other. so the files stay in the gist, but you can see them. usr them. manipulate them from the 2nd computer. you would not know you are even doing this if you say at my laptop. you would just think everything is operating like normal
Anitapoop@reddit
I have my pc set up back to back with my living room. I used USB extensions with a 100ft HDMI. It's fine for web browsing and what not. Under 60 bucks for the cables. I've since drilled a hole and made the runs a bunch shorter but solely so game play doesn't suck as bad.
Forgotten_Stranger@reddit (OP)
Unfortunately it is a point A to point B situation and not a matter of going around objects/walls. (Outside the keep it off the floor part.) So drilling a hole anywhere wouldn't make it significantly shorter.