Second TV? (2 Viewers)

MrCatPants

MrCatPants

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So, a while back i solved my "get tournament clock on multiple devices in multiple rooms" problem through Google Chromecasts on each TV and casting separate browser tab from a single device to each, and controlling the tournament software from my mobile.

For cash games, we will usually put something on the TV and I've been getting comments over the years about getting a mirrored TV mounted on the other wall (left in picture, would replace the art. Now thinking about it, but dont have a plug on the wall, just on the floor.

Have any of you set up a second mirrored TV? Dos and donts? Things i should think through? (Roku box on the current tv if that is relevant)

20240826_125527.jpg
 
I’m working on my basement now. I have 4 TV’s. I’m planning on getting a roku box run to an HDMI 1 x 4 management box and split to the 4 TV’s. I stream my tv, so this will stop any delay and can get all the same game. And if I want, I can use the smart tv to watch different stations on all 4 if I want.
 
Littleluck55 said:
I’m working on my basement now. I have 4 TV’s. I’m planning on getting a roku box run to an HDMI 1 x 4 management box and split to the 4 TV’s. I stream my tv, so this will stop any delay and can get all the same game. And if I want, I can use the smart tv to watch different stations on all 4 if I want.
Click to expand...
I just did this and needed a 4 way video port. It was a bit tricky but accomplished it.
 
Littleluck55 said:
I’m working on my basement now. I have 4 TV’s. I’m planning on getting a roku box run to an HDMI 1 x 4 management box and split to the 4 TV’s. I stream my tv, so this will stop any delay and can get all the same game. And if I want, I can use the smart tv to watch different stations on all 4 if I want.
Click to expand...
How did you run all the wires? Through the walls or ceiling?
 
MrCatPants said:
How did you run all the wires? Through the walls or ceiling?
Click to expand...

I have an open ceiling right now. Ran it along the duct work in the ceiling to two of them. And two of them just a utility room behind them so they were easy to get to. That being said, I’m just running the cables/cords right now, so haven’t tested it out yet. Lol

Before I did this, I thought I could just turn the tv’s to the same station on different Roku’s and watch the same game. What I found out, they are not synced and it was extremely annoying.
 
Littleluck55 said:
I have an open ceiling right now. Ran it along the duct work in the ceiling to two of them. And two of them just a utility wall behind them so they were easy to get to. That being said, I’m just running the cables/cords right now, so haven’t tested it out yet. Lol

Before I did this, I thought I could just turn the tv’s to the same station on different Roku’s and watch the same game. What I found out, they are not synced and it was extremely annoying.
Click to expand...
What management box did you buy? For me to accomplish 4 way video, audio and 4k it was costly.

I also added a universal remote.

I too had a problem w same game never being streamed at the same time hence this stupid decision.

I miss direct tv.
 
I just did the exact same.
I have had 2 tv's for years and when I switched to streaming it was a PITA having a game on both tv's because they were never in sync. If you are streaming, plug it in and away you go as long as you don't want them to be on the same sporting event.

I added a 3rd tv and couldn't live with 3 of them being out of sync.
Here is what I just went through this weekend -

Easiest way is wireless. I have this set up in my office at work to mirror my monitor to a big screen tv. It works great. Flawless, so it was my first go-to.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWZ71H6W?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1
It worked, but wasn't 100% smooth and the audio wasn't 100% matching some of the time. It was almost doable since you aren't really watching football that close while playing poker, but not good enough for me to keep it.

Hard Wire is what I ended up with.
I Bought this
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06W586L2H?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
and a cheap laptop from Walmart to run it and it works GREAT. 100% sync on audio & video.

So unless you can't run HDMI lines to split the signal, I haven't found anything that works wirelessly to keep them in sync.
 
If you want to run HDMI cables from the HDMI splitter, just use cat5 or cat6 cable and use an ethernet to HDMI converter. Super easy to use and running cat5 or cat6 is so much easier to do, and cheaper than running long hdmi cables.

This it what I use.

avedio links 196ft/60m HDMI Extender Over Cat 5e/6/7, 1080P HDMI Ethernet Extender Balun Adapter with Single POC Power Supply, Support 3D, EDID, Deep Color, Compatible with DVD, Fire Stick, Roku, PS5 https://a.co/d/4MBXA6X
 
Littleluck55 said:
@Goldfish has two TV’s on opposite walls in his renovated room, maybe he can chime in how he did his.
Click to expand...
I has Best Buy come out and I said I want TVs here, here, and here. And presto the TVs were on the wall. I did stress that I wanted all wires hidden and the two mirrored TVs to be aligned. These two have a hole cut up high behind the TV and a hole down lo by the base board. The wires run through the top hole and come out the bottom to the power strip. Best Buy does it this way because they are not electricians.
IMG_3941.jpeg

The third TV (this one has a plug installed by an electrician high up on the wall behind the TV).
IMG_3945.jpeg
 
bsdunbar1 said:
I just did the exact same.
I have had 2 tv's for years and when I switched to streaming it was a PITA having a game on both tv's because they were never in sync. If you are streaming, plug it in and away you go as long as you don't want them to be on the same sporting event.

I added a 3rd tv and couldn't live with 3 of them being out of sync.
Here is what I just went through this weekend -

Easiest way is wireless. I have this set up in my office at work to mirror my monitor to a big screen tv. It works great. Flawless, so it was my first go-to.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWZ71H6W?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1
It worked, but wasn't 100% smooth and the audio wasn't 100% matching some of the time. It was almost doable since you aren't really watching football that close while playing poker, but not good enough for me to keep it.

Hard Wire is what I ended up with.
I Bought this
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06W586L2H?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
and a cheap laptop from Walmart to run it and it works GREAT. 100% sync on audio & video.

So unless you can't run HDMI lines to split the signal, I haven't found anything that works wirelessly to keep them in sync.
Click to expand...

That’s exactly the splitter I bought
 
Goldfish said:
I has Best Buy come out and I said I want TVs here, here, and here. And presto the TVs were on the wall. I did stress that I wanted all wires hidden and the two mirrored TVs to be aligned. These two have a hole cut up high behind the TV and a hole down lo by the base board. The wires run through the top hole and come out the bottom to the power strip. Best Buy does it this way because they are not electricians.
View attachment 1379415
The third TV (this one has a plug installed by an electrician high up on the wall behind the TV).
View attachment 1379414
Click to expand...
How do you have the mirroring set up? Splitter? Wireless solution?
 
I just grabbed a splitter and mirror the image from ours. Only thing to keep mind of is you need to figure out sound. One TV or a sound bar. If you do both, they will be just a hint off and make it unbearable.
 
i have 3 roku Tvs and steaming only like YouTube Tv ... we only play sound from 1 TV but snyc video sucks and then goes out of sync shortly after anyway. Following to see what people are doing.
 
Nice job, looks very good. I also had this same question for a long time, and our group likes to have sports on while we play, so I went a different route. 3 Fire tablets hanging together above the center of the table. Nobody asks what the blinds are anymore! All the tablets login to blindvalet.com to show the same thing.
IMG_20240920_104419382_MF_PORTRAIT.jpg
 
Thinking about a second TV on opposite end of the room.

That said I absolutely hate the TV. Such a distraction.

Who remembers that session a couple years ago when the Jags played the Chargers in the playoffs? At The Godfather Club the poker game was in the muck almost immediately. The booze flowed like water and the session ground to a halt. I had a dedicated dealer at the time (not me) he was hammered and we were pounding out like 7 hands an hour.

And I was super stuck.

Needless to say, I fired the dealer the next day and developed a super angst for anythjng that increases the likelihood we have to tell people it’s their turn to act.

I get it. I haven’t banned TV yet but will spread a Saturday session and bill it as “Kill Your TV” or something a little more clever.

So nice to when 100% of the focus is on the game and the players.

There. I’m finished.
 
merkong said:
Thinking about a second TV on opposite end of the room.

That said I absolutely hate the TV. Such a distraction.

Who remembers that session a couple years ago when the Jags played the Chargers in the playoffs? At The Godfather Club the poker game was in the muck almost immediately. The booze flowed like water and the session ground to a halt. I had a dedicated dealer at the time (not me) he was hammered and we were pounding out like 7 hands an hour.

And I was super stuck.

Needless to say, I fired the dealer the next day and developed a super angst for anythjng that increases the likelihood we have to tell people it’s their turn to act.

I get it. I haven’t banned TV yet but will spread a Saturday session and bill it as “Kill Your TV” or something a little more clever.

So nice to when 100% of the focus is on the game and the players.

There. I’m finished.
Click to expand...
Yeah, everyone is different in what they are looking for out of their poker night. Just make sure your players agree with your view. I enjoy the social part of the night just as much as the poker. I wouldn't be happy at a game that was focused on no distractions.
 
Jake14mw said:
Yeah, everyone is different in what they are looking for out of their poker night. Just make sure your players agree with your view. I enjoy the social part of the night just as much as the poker. I wouldn't be happy at a game that was focused on no distractions.
Click to expand...
Totally agree. Part of hosting is finding that intersection between what the crew wants and what I, as owner of the game and the one who sweats and bleeds for it, wants.

Couldn’t agree more.

Now, I’m not talking like lockdown grinding don’t sing to the jukebox, tell stories and jokes, and have five different conversations going… That’s poker. It’s when someone is more involved in the game on TV than the game at the table. And it happens.

But again, I agree. For over 500 sessions I’ve looked for, and typically found that balance and I’m sure I’ll find it related to this. And I’m also sure it’ll involve a second idiot box.

They know I put them first which is why they put my game first.

Great insight though. Thanks.
 
Still no great solution for this yet it seems. I may have to give the wireless method a try since it is super annoying especially now that effin Amazon has Thurs night football and only let's you play the same content on 2 TVs even though you can steam on 3 at same time. An extra wrinkle is that since all Roku Tvs for me I would have to add a source like a laptop or whatever to distribute to the 3 Tvs. This is all BS and Roku should have a watch party feature and amazon can go to hell, they suck at football. OK rant off.
 
ChipTalker said:
Still no great solution for this yet it seems. I may have to give the wireless method a try since it is super annoying especially now that effin Amazon has Thurs night football and only let's you play the same content on 2 TVs even though you can steam on 3 at same time. An extra wrinkle is that since all Roku Tvs for me I would have to add a source like a laptop or whatever to distribute to the 3 Tvs. This is all BS and Roku should have a watch party feature and amazon can go to hell, they suck at football. OK rant off.
Click to expand...
I have this same issue now. Two Roku boxes, but just show different stuff on each TV as my solution.
 
And I am not sold on the wireless technology either, I know @bsdunbar1 said he had some success above with work monitor but that is diff than a live football game. I only hear of problems with wireless HDMI and never a real TV success story first hand for sports.

That just leaves a laptop, a splitter, running cables to 3 tvs and controlling from central source. In a world where we are being pushed to streaming they just need to have better solutions than this. You need Sonos for video.
 

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