What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Using Plasma TV/Media Center PC as Draft board (1 Viewer)

I

I'm Rick James

Footballguy
Before, I've used draft boards and had people put the little stickers on the board as they select their player.

Now, I'd like to do the draft thru my PC on my TV. However, I'd like to do something besides them just typing into an Excel spreadsheet. I'm sure there's a way to have the players listed and color-coded thru Excel, but I'm a novice user.

The other option could be using the Draft Dominator and put in "mediocore" data. Although, then I'm giving everyone the advantage of the software. I'd rather not do this as I use Draft Dominator for my big money league. This is more a friendly, local league where people all gather at one location for the draft.

In the past, I've provided one page cheatsheets for this league as many of them are new to the game. However, the cheatsheet I provided wasn't the best. Just something where they could see all the players and easily check it off so there wouldn't be a lot of: "he was drafted two rounds ago, moron."

I use Yahoo for this league, but it doesn't look like it would work as we'll all be working off one computer.

Any ideas on how to best use this format of drafting in one location, having a draft person click something to pick a player, and the list being updated as players are selected?

:popcorn:

 
I searched for some software on yahoo, and I found this website: http://www.fandraft.com/index.html

You can download a demo which runs for one league, and it looks nice. It is $29.95 for the download, and $14.95 for an update. I was going to give out draft sheets for my league, but if I can get this software on a big screen or projector, then I'm going to get it. I have a few rookies in my league, and I think this software would help keep them on track, and plus it gives it more of a professional feel to the draft. The software even has a scrolling tracker at the bottom of the screen.

 
jswalker1981 said:
I searched for some software on yahoo, and I found this website: http://www.fandraft.com/index.html

You can download a demo which runs for one league, and it looks nice. It is $29.95 for the download, and $14.95 for an update. I was going to give out draft sheets for my league, but if I can get this software on a big screen or projector, then I'm going to get it. I have a few rookies in my league, and I think this software would help keep them on track, and plus it gives it more of a professional feel to the draft. The software even has a scrolling tracker at the bottom of the screen.
Click to expand...
thanks js,I just tried the demo and it is sweet! The scrolling ticker is f'n cool. It's like ESPN style. Tells you who's on the clock. Has timer, which is really nice.

Great find bro!

 
I said:
jswalker1981 said:
I searched for some software on yahoo, and I found this website: http://www.fandraft.com/index.html

You can download a demo which runs for one league, and it looks nice. It is $29.95 for the download, and $14.95 for an update. I was going to give out draft sheets for my league, but if I can get this software on a big screen or projector, then I'm going to get it. I have a few rookies in my league, and I think this software would help keep them on track, and plus it gives it more of a professional feel to the draft. The software even has a scrolling tracker at the bottom of the screen.
Click to expand...
thanks js,I just tried the demo and it is sweet! The scrolling ticker is f'n cool. It's like ESPN style. Tells you who's on the clock. Has timer, which is really nice.

Great find bro!
Click to expand...
Hey I posted, in another thread about this very thing, that my league has been using this for a couple of years and we love it. Last year we had it on several flatscreen monitors and then projected on a wall. Very cool. If you get it you might as well download it, when you order the CD it doesn't even come with a box. Kind of cheesy delivery but definitely legit software.
 
Chreesto said:
I said:
jswalker1981 said:
I searched for some software on yahoo, and I found this website: http://www.fandraft.com/index.html

You can download a demo which runs for one league, and it looks nice. It is $29.95 for the download, and $14.95 for an update. I was going to give out draft sheets for my league, but if I can get this software on a big screen or projector, then I'm going to get it. I have a few rookies in my league, and I think this software would help keep them on track, and plus it gives it more of a professional feel to the draft. The software even has a scrolling tracker at the bottom of the screen.
Click to expand...
thanks js,I just tried the demo and it is sweet! The scrolling ticker is f'n cool. It's like ESPN style. Tells you who's on the clock. Has timer, which is really nice.

Great find bro!
Click to expand...
Hey I posted, in another thread about this very thing, that my league has been using this for a couple of years and we love it. Last year we had it on several flatscreen monitors and then projected on a wall. Very cool. If you get it you might as well download it, when you order the CD it doesn't even come with a box. Kind of cheesy delivery but definitely legit software.
Click to expand...
We use a website that runs a live draft (RtSports) but how can we project this onto the wall or television?? Is it as simple as running a usb cable to the television??


 
Last edited by a moderator:
hotboyz said:


We use a website that runs a live draft (RtSports) but how can we project this onto the wall or television?? Is it as simple as running a usb cable to the television??
Click to expand...
If you want to put it on a tv, you will probably need a video card with a tv output, I think some have s-video on them. If you want to use a projector, it is very simple. Most computers have monitor output (the same port you use to hook a monitor up to a desktop). I know my laptop has one, and most should have one. Just get a monitor cable, and hook it up to the projector. But the real catch is finding a projector, because they aren't really that cheap to get just to have a draft. I know my church has one, so I'm thinking of borrowing it, or getting a bigger LCD monitor and placing it on TV with all the league members around. And I will just look at my laptop while the draft is going on, since my screen will be on the monitor. Hope that helps.
 
FFLM is decent too. It's not as slick looking as what FanDraft looks though. But one cool feature is they have audio packs that you can download and when each pick is made they'll announce the name of the player.

(And it's free)

 
Last edited by a moderator:
jswalker1981 said:
hotboyz said:


We use a website that runs a live draft (RtSports) but how can we project this onto the wall or television?? Is it as simple as running a usb cable to the television??
Click to expand...
If you want to put it on a tv, you will probably need a video card with a tv output, I think some have s-video on them. If you want to use a projector, it is very simple. Most computers have monitor output (the same port you use to hook a monitor up to a desktop). I know my laptop has one, and most should have one. Just get a monitor cable, and hook it up to the projector. But the real catch is finding a projector, because they aren't really that cheap to get just to have a draft. I know my church has one, so I'm thinking of borrowing it, or getting a bigger LCD monitor and placing it on TV with all the league members around. And I will just look at my laptop while the draft is going on, since my screen will be on the monitor. Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
Do you have a link for FFLM version? I'd like to at least check it out.
 
hotboyz said:
Chreesto said:
I said:
jswalker1981 said:
I searched for some software on yahoo, and I found this website: http://www.fandraft.com/index.html

You can download a demo which runs for one league, and it looks nice. It is $29.95 for the download, and $14.95 for an update. I was going to give out draft sheets for my league, but if I can get this software on a big screen or projector, then I'm going to get it. I have a few rookies in my league, and I think this software would help keep them on track, and plus it gives it more of a professional feel to the draft. The software even has a scrolling tracker at the bottom of the screen.
Click to expand...
thanks js,I just tried the demo and it is sweet! The scrolling ticker is f'n cool. It's like ESPN style. Tells you who's on the clock. Has timer, which is really nice.

Great find bro!
Click to expand...
Hey I posted, in another thread about this very thing, that my league has been using this for a couple of years and we love it. Last year we had it on several flatscreen monitors and then projected on a wall. Very cool. If you get it you might as well download it, when you order the CD it doesn't even come with a box. Kind of cheesy delivery but definitely legit software.
Click to expand...
We use a website that runs a live draft (RtSports) but how can we project this onto the wall or television?? Is it as simple as running a usb cable to the television??

Click to expand...
My TV has a "PC" Input, so I just use that. Otherwise, it depends on your video card outputs and your TV inputs. NVidia and ATI have different graphics cards with HDMI, DVI, and S-Video outputs.A lot of companies have projectors that sales reps. or marketing people use to give presentations. They hook the projectors right into their laptops. So maybe you can try and borrow one from them for your draft day.

 
I found the FanDraft software to be lackluster. We used it in conjunction with the normal draft board, but , we were fed up with it mid way through the draft due to glitches and trying to keep up....

 
tarznatz said:
I found the FanDraft software to be lackluster. We used it in conjunction with the normal draft board, but , we were fed up with it mid way through the draft due to glitches and trying to keep up....
Click to expand...
What kind of glitches? What version of the software? I just tried FFLM and the interface seems much more difficult than FanDraft. FanDraft's was very easy to setup.
 
Last year we did this with MFL.com... they have a live draft mode, the commish can login and enter picks for anyone that didn't bring a laptop, and anyone who brought a laptop could enter their own pick... it was AWESOME

NOTE: my house has a wireless network which made it easier for the other league owners, but if you don't have wireless and they have a cell account, they can logon via that to draft as they need.

 
switz said:
Last year we did this with MFL.com... they have a live draft mode, the commish can login and enter picks for anyone that didn't bring a laptop, and anyone who brought a laptop could enter their own pick... it was AWESOMENOTE: my house has a wireless network which made it easier for the other league owners, but if you don't have wireless and they have a cell account, they can logon via that to draft as they need.
Click to expand...
Switz,I have my league on MFL, would you suggest hooking a lap top up to a 55 inch tv and trying it that way ?
 
switz said:
Last year we did this with MFL.com... they have a live draft mode, the commish can login and enter picks for anyone that didn't bring a laptop, and anyone who brought a laptop could enter their own pick... it was AWESOMENOTE: my house has a wireless network which made it easier for the other league owners, but if you don't have wireless and they have a cell account, they can logon via that to draft as they need.
Click to expand...
Thanks Switz. That's a slick setup.I have WiFi, but this a local fun/semi-newbie league, where I just want to use software/TV as a Draft Board to select picks and then manually enter it into my Yahoo league later. My main objective for this league is to make it fun, simple as possible, and fast moving.
 
Buddy Ball 2K3 said:
switz said:
Last year we did this with MFL.com... they have a live draft mode, the commish can login and enter picks for anyone that didn't bring a laptop, and anyone who brought a laptop could enter their own pick... it was AWESOMENOTE: my house has a wireless network which made it easier for the other league owners, but if you don't have wireless and they have a cell account, they can logon via that to draft as they need.
Click to expand...
Switz,I have my league on MFL, would you suggest hooking a lap top up to a 55 inch tv and trying it that way ?
Click to expand...
Yeah, you can do it that way for sure... if you have the equipment (s-video out & in), or they have projectors that hook up easily to laptops and you can project it on a wall, usually you can find a place to rent them, pretty reasonably...
 
I said:
switz said:
Last year we did this with MFL.com... they have a live draft mode, the commish can login and enter picks for anyone that didn't bring a laptop, and anyone who brought a laptop could enter their own pick... it was AWESOMENOTE: my house has a wireless network which made it easier for the other league owners, but if you don't have wireless and they have a cell account, they can logon via that to draft as they need.
Click to expand...
Thanks Switz. That's a slick setup.I have WiFi, but this a local fun/semi-newbie league, where I just want to use software/TV as a Draft Board to select picks and then manually enter it into my Yahoo league later. My main objective for this league is to make it fun, simple as possible, and fast moving.
Click to expand...
I've never used Yahoo, bu if they have a Live Draft feature, wouldn't that be simpler?
 
switz said:
I said:
switz said:
Last year we did this with MFL.com... they have a live draft mode, the commish can login and enter picks for anyone that didn't bring a laptop, and anyone who brought a laptop could enter their own pick... it was AWESOME

NOTE: my house has a wireless network which made it easier for the other league owners, but if you don't have wireless and they have a cell account, they can logon via that to draft as they need.
Click to expand...
Thanks Switz. That's a slick setup.I have WiFi, but this a local fun/semi-newbie league, where I just want to use software/TV as a Draft Board to select picks and then manually enter it into my Yahoo league later. My main objective for this league is to make it fun, simple as possible, and fast moving.
Click to expand...
I've never used Yahoo, bu if they have a Live Draft feature, wouldn't that be simpler?
Click to expand...
For live draft on Yahoo it seems like everyone has to be logged in separately and pick that way. Although, I'm not sure. Any Yahoo "Live Draft" users out there? Can you do "Live Draft" from 1 computer with a timer?I'm kind of enamored with the look of FanDraft as a "draft board" with timer functionality. I've been hooked since I tried their demo. It has an ESPN draft feel. Shows who's on deck.

For my main league, we use CBS Sportsline, which has a timer, but everyone drafts online since our fantasy crew has migrated to many different states. And because people started having kids/other priorities -- which killed our drafting in Vegas tradition. Ah, Vegas.

 
I said:
switz said:
I said:
switz said:
Last year we did this with MFL.com... they have a live draft mode, the commish can login and enter picks for anyone that didn't bring a laptop, and anyone who brought a laptop could enter their own pick... it was AWESOME

NOTE: my house has a wireless network which made it easier for the other league owners, but if you don't have wireless and they have a cell account, they can logon via that to draft as they need.
Click to expand...
Thanks Switz. That's a slick setup.I have WiFi, but this a local fun/semi-newbie league, where I just want to use software/TV as a Draft Board to select picks and then manually enter it into my Yahoo league later. My main objective for this league is to make it fun, simple as possible, and fast moving.
Click to expand...
I've never used Yahoo, bu if they have a Live Draft feature, wouldn't that be simpler?
Click to expand...
For live draft on Yahoo it seems like everyone has to be logged in separately and pick that way. Although, I'm not sure. Any Yahoo "Live Draft" users out there? Can you do "Live Draft" from 1 computer with a timer?
Click to expand...
That is correct, its been a few years since I used them for football but you will need a computer for each person in the league for it to work the way you want.
 
I said:
tarznatz said:
I found the FanDraft software to be lackluster. We used it in conjunction with the normal draft board, but , we were fed up with it mid way through the draft due to glitches and trying to keep up....
Click to expand...
What kind of glitches? What version of the software? I just tried FFLM and the interface seems much more difficult than FanDraft. FanDraft's was very easy to setup.
Click to expand...
I should clarify this... it was the version from two years ago. I did not have wireless at the time so I had to hook up a desktop that wasn't performing at its peak. Even though we had someone helping out to enter the pics in the program as we went, their lack of knowledge of the software caused some issues, like missed picks, thus forcing us to waste time to back up and correct a bunch of picks. The software at the time forced you to toggle back and forth looking for the player picked, as I recall, and this started to beome time consuming as the pace of the draft quickened. All in all, it was a lot of frustration to basically have a glorified timer and the pick announced audibly. By the 10th round we canned it. I would probably give it a try again one day though as the technology improves...and once i get a REALLY big tv....this year, I may consider hooking up the tv to my laptop as I run the draft through MFL's live draft. I have two owners who won;t be able to be there in person, and was considering using Skype to either teleconference and or video conference the draft. the absent owners can log in and draft through mfl's live draft board, while I input the other owners picks as we go along, using my commissioner privelage. The only problem will be finding another laptop to conference them in with Skype. Not sure my dad or brother in law wil want to give their up!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Like Switz, we use MFL.com and their live draft feature...and we have a draft mistress who runs the main computer with a video cable run to my television projecting the results for everyone to see...

 
Hey,

i just checked out Fandraft's site and it looks like they have done extensive upgrades to their software since I last used and saw it. I would definitely give this a shot if its something that you would think could work for your league, especially if you have wireless at your draft location and an easy PC to TV input capability. The only thing I would make sure of is that the person inputting the picks is familiar with the software, so that you do not have to interupt your own personal draft to fix the thing if something goes wrong.

Heck, i'll probably download the trial version and see if its something we might want to try again.

 
downloaded the fandraft demo and it looks pretty slick. Only improvement IMO if a voice announce the words "Current Selection"

 
You could use the base version of draft dominator. It has a timer and shows who's left. You can also set it for auctions and have it keep track of the money.

 
tarznatz said:
I said:
tarznatz said:
I found the FanDraft software to be lackluster. We used it in conjunction with the normal draft board, but , we were fed up with it mid way through the draft due to glitches and trying to keep up....
Click to expand...
What kind of glitches? What version of the software? I just tried FFLM and the interface seems much more difficult than FanDraft. FanDraft's was very easy to setup.
Click to expand...
I should clarify this... it was the version from two years ago. I did not have wireless at the time so I had to hook up a desktop that wasn't performing at its peak. Even though we had someone helping out to enter the pics in the program as we went, their lack of knowledge of the software caused some issues, like missed picks, thus forcing us to waste time to back up and correct a bunch of picks. The software at the time forced you to toggle back and forth looking for the player picked, as I recall, and this started to beome time consuming as the pace of the draft quickened. All in all, it was a lot of frustration to basically have a glorified timer and the pick announced audibly. By the 10th round we canned it. I would probably give it a try again one day though as the technology improves...and once i get a REALLY big tv....this year, I may consider hooking up the tv to my laptop as I run the draft through MFL's live draft. I have two owners who won;t be able to be there in person, and was considering using Skype to either teleconference and or video conference the draft. the absent owners can log in and draft through mfl's live draft board, while I input the other owners picks as we go along, using my commissioner privelage. The only problem will be finding another laptop to conference them in with Skype. Not sure my dad or brother in law wil want to give their up!
Click to expand...
My league used FanDraft last year and had no problems with it. Everyone involved though it was a big upgrade from using a paper draft board. We will be using it again this year. :popcorn:
 
Billy1x said:
You could use the base version of draft dominator. It has a timer and shows who's left. You can also set it for auctions and have it keep track of the money.
Click to expand...
This is what we used. I set up the various windows to hide things like the VBD info and the auction values and whatever. Ran without a hitch.
 
I've used Fandraft in the past for our league and very much liked it.

However, last year, we used our league host site's (Fanball) draft room. We designate a guy (non-league member who is there for beer and pizza) to login as the commish and click the players that are being selected. You'd see the screen that you would see if you were doing the draft online.

If your league supports this, it might be a good idea. You might save your league $30...

 
I said:
switz said:
I said:
switz said:
Last year we did this with MFL.com... they have a live draft mode, the commish can login and enter picks for anyone that didn't bring a laptop, and anyone who brought a laptop could enter their own pick... it was AWESOME

NOTE: my house has a wireless network which made it easier for the other league owners, but if you don't have wireless and they have a cell account, they can logon via that to draft as they need.
Click to expand...
Thanks Switz. That's a slick setup.I have WiFi, but this a local fun/semi-newbie league, where I just want to use software/TV as a Draft Board to select picks and then manually enter it into my Yahoo league later. My main objective for this league is to make it fun, simple as possible, and fast moving.
Click to expand...
I've never used Yahoo, bu if they have a Live Draft feature, wouldn't that be simpler?
Click to expand...
For live draft on Yahoo it seems like everyone has to be logged in separately and pick that way. Although, I'm not sure. Any Yahoo "Live Draft" users out there? Can you do "Live Draft" from 1 computer with a timer?I'm kind of enamored with the look of FanDraft as a "draft board" with timer functionality. I've been hooked since I tried their demo. It has an ESPN draft feel. Shows who's on deck.

For my main league, we use CBS Sportsline, which has a timer, but everyone drafts online since our fantasy crew has migrated to many different states. And because people started having kids/other priorities -- which killed our drafting in Vegas tradition. Ah, Vegas.
Click to expand...
In Yahoo you would have to do an "offline draft" where you as the commissioner are entering in all the picks as teams say them. It wouldn't have a timer, but it would be a live draft that you could project on to the TV and you wouldn't have to enter the picks later. The "Live Draft" feature does need everyone on separate computers or else Yahoo will autopick for all the teams except yours.

 
Use the Draft Dominator, hook it up to a projector or T.V., set your lappy as Presenter View by using the dual mode. Don't allow anyone to see your lappy, and all the other owners only see what you want them to see (players on the board).

Works like a charm. :lmao: :thumbup:

 
jswalker1981 said:
I searched for some software on yahoo, and I found this website: http://www.fandraft.com/index.html

You can download a demo which runs for one league, and it looks nice. It is $29.95 for the download, and $14.95 for an update. I was going to give out draft sheets for my league, but if I can get this software on a big screen or projector, then I'm going to get it. I have a few rookies in my league, and I think this software would help keep them on track, and plus it gives it more of a professional feel to the draft. The software even has a scrolling tracker at the bottom of the screen.
Click to expand...
I downloaded the demo. for this and tried it out on the 52 in. DLP. :lmao: My question is: Wasn't there a $5 discount for Footballguys in the email updates? Does anyone know the coupon code?

Thanks

 
BigTex said:
Use the Draft Dominator, hook it up to a projector or T.V., set your lappy as Presenter View by using the dual mode. Don't allow anyone to see your lappy, and all the other owners only see what you want them to see (players on the board).

Works like a charm. :unsure: :shrug:
Click to expand...
Can you explain this to me like I'm 8?
 
I believe he's talking about holding down the function key then pressing F8 on the laptop. That will switch screen modes. One is laptop screen on, one is projector on, one is both on. Just keep hitting it until you get both.

 
I've always wondered why Madden hasn't gone with this option in their yearly games. They could have a pretty slick setup....with little highlight reels for the first couple of rounders and stuff like that.

 
NEUPJ said:
I believe he's talking about holding down the function key then pressing F8 on the laptop. That will switch screen modes. One is laptop screen on, one is projector on, one is both on. Just keep hitting it until you get both.
Click to expand...
It's not always F8, but the rest is correct. My laptop has an icon that looks something like this: |O| on the F-Key that switches through the screen modes.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Joe Bryant
Would You Be Interested In The Draft Dominator Live Synching Picks As They're Made?
2 3
Replies
102
Views
5K
Joe Bryant
Joe Bryant
Scoresman
  • Poll Poll
Shark Pool Player Rankings Contest - Interest Check
Replies
48
Views
720
Scoresman
Scoresman
rick6668
  • Locked
Draft Dominator in Browser crashed twice during draft
Replies
4
Views
801
Joe Bryant
Joe Bryant

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top