I am considering purchasing a Raspberry Pi solely for the purpose of sending video to my basement. I have a device with composite video out in the living room and I'd like the same content to be viewable in the basement.
I believe that Rasbmc/XBMC can handle video streams, but I'm not sure how to send the video to it from a live video source. The house is wired with Ethernet all around and I have enough ports available. Can I use two Raspberry Pis or some other device to send video?
Any ideas?
You don't need a Raspberry Pi device (or in this case, 2 devices), with all the inherent software issues you would face, plus power-packs, just to send composite video downstairs.
Search online for Composite Video Baluns. These are passive transformers that can be used to send audio and video up to 300 feet over standard CAT5 wiring. You can even get them in wall mounted forms, for a switchplate installation in both rooms and wiring through the wall.
You can also get active baluns that include amplification and signal conditioning, if you needed to reach the farthest edges of your house, but the likely shorter distance from your living room to your basement only needs passive baluns.
Whilst the Pi is good at outputting video, it is virtually incapable of 'recieving' video - and it has no built in WiFi anyway.
What you need is a stand-alone video transmitter / reciever pair = see, for example, here http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Wireless-A-V-Transmitters-Receivers/ci/2505/N/4041617491
Such things are also used extensivly by the CCTV industry, however you will have to hunt for 'domestic' / 'consumer' version - anything that's 'commercial' CCTV is 'premium' (i.e. rif-off) priced
