RF Modulator question (1 Viewer)

[Evan Mann]

I am hooking up some equipment for a friend of a friend in their kitchen. The kitchen was remodelled and there is a TV in a center island on a lift. The source components are across the kitchen in another area.

For some reason, the only connection between the center island TV and the source components is a single coaxial cable. THe center island TV has composite and component inputs, as well as a coaxial antenna input

The source components are a BD player and a DTV HD DVR. I need to be able to get both of those sources to display on the center island TV. The only option I have found thus far is a multiple source modulator. Terk has a 4 input modular with IR remote control capability, which looks like it will do the job nicely. I can use RCA A/V output from the BD player and the DTV HD DVR into the modular, and then the modulator to the TV.

I realize the quality of signal going to the center island TV will likely be standard DVD quality, if that, but that's fine.

What I'm not sure about with using an RF modulator, is this: With the modulator work if I only connect RCA based sources to the inputs on the RF modulator, and then coaxial out from the modulator to the TV?

It's unclear to me if the modulator will work without having a coaxial based antenna input the modulator.

Outside of using a modulator for this particular environment, if anyone has other suggestions, I'm open. Wireless transmission is the only one I've come up with, but all the wireless transmitters at reasonable prices only accept 1 RCA A/V input, and I'd need to get two into the transmitter some how.

 

[Robert_J]

The modulator will work fine without the antenna connected. I use a Sony MRD-D1 (same as the ChannelPlus 3025) modulator. Both will relay IR remote commands back to the modulator from a target mounted at the TV.

As the the quality being "DVD quality". Not even close. At least with DVD, you can use s-video or component video. RF is barely VCR quality in my opinion.

-Robert

 

[Evan Mann]

Thanks. I'm trying to find an RF Modulator that is also a video input switcher. I'd liek to feed 2 sources into the modulator and have it output to the same channel on the TV (so the TV does not need to be adjusted).

I'd also like the Modulator/Switcher itself to be IR controlled, so someone doesn't need to manually select the inputs. So far I've only found the TERK VS4-MOD+, which is discontinued. I've found a few places that have it in stock, but I'm wondering if there is something else.

The Sony/ChannelPlus option might work as well. This would mean needing to change the channel on the island TV, but that might just be a necessary evil for this setup.

Can you elaborate a little more on how the IR relay on the Sony/ChannelPlus unit works?

 

[Robert_J]

Parts Express has all of the equipment with pictures.

The IR target sits at the TV. It's about 3/4" tall and 3" wide. I have one on top of my TV and it isn't noticable. I've had a lot of people ask how I control my equipment in another room so I point to the target. No one noticed it before I pointed it out. The IR signal is carried over the coax back to the modulator where it is sent out the IR ports to IR emitters which are placed in front of the equipment to be controlled. Compared to wireless IR extenders, these things work 99.9% of the time where wireless is about 70%. Nothing worse than having to press the channel up button a dozen times to change it once.

-Robert

 

[Evan Mann]

So it's basically a coaxial(wire) based IR extender. That could definitely be useful in this particular setup, as I may have a need for IR extender because the source components are down low and not in direct line of sight.

However, this does not eliminate the need to chnage the channel # on the TV itself for source A and source B to come in over the RF modulator,, so that may just need to be something I train the end user on. The only way I can see to work around that is to get an actual wireless IR extender and place it in the same location as the IR extender from the Sony MRD-D1, and that way when an activity is chosen on the Harmony remote, it can be pointed at once place and it could trigger the set in the center island to change channels.

 

[Robert_J]

Like you said, each source would be assigned to a channel. You can put the appropriate TV channel into the Harmony activity. Changing the TV channel would be as simple as pressing "Watch DVD" or "Watch TV" on the remote.

You should find the person who designed/built the TV cabinet with only 1 coax run to it. They should be given a stern lecture on basics of video wiring at minimum. I would beat them severly with flexible conduit in the hopes that they would use it next time.

-Robert