Re: Digibox choice / UHF distribution

["paul gordon" <paul_gordon@xxxxxxx>]

Whilst on the subject of UHF distribution, does anybody know af any decent
low-loss combiners? - I really don't want to use those "Y"
splitters in
reverse...

Basically, I have a 6 output distribution amplifier to feed the UHF network
to each room, but typically for these devices, it only has 1 input. Now, I
have several UHF devices that feed back directly to the amplifier in Node 0
(door camera, PC with TV tuner card,) in addition to all the AV kit in the
living room which is daisy-chained to each other in the usual way.

This means that at the amplifier, I basically have 3 or 4 inputs, all of
which I want to feed into the amplifier for distribution. In the past when
I
have used "Y" splitters/combiners I have usually seen an
immediate
noticeable degredation in picture quality, so I want to avoid them if
possible.

Further to this (it gets a little bit more complicated!) I want the
combiner
to provide me with TWO outputs, as I want to put the PC with TV card
between
the combiner and distribution amplifier. The reason for this being that the
PC TV card has a preview mode which allows simultaneous display of up to 16
UHF channels, which I also want to be able to distribute:

Something like the follwing: (sorry for the crude graphics)

Door Cam ----> \            /----     ------------\                  /
TV Aerial ---> --> Combiner   2 outputs           
->combiner--> Amp -
Satellite ---> /            \----     ---> PC TV--/                 
\
A.N. other -->/

I don't think it would be sufficient to just take a single combined feed
into the PC TV card and out again, as the PC TV only outputs on one UHF
channel, so all I would get then would be the preview channel.

This will (I think) give me the ability to view on every TV in the house:
TV Channel 1 through 5: BBC1.... CH5 etc off air via the main aerial
TV Channel 6: Satellite TV, now via the shiny new digibox
TV Channel 7: the front door camera
TV Channel 8: a preview screen with a screen split into 8 showing ALL of
the
above in a separate window (which uses 7, leaving one spare...)

The only hard part to all this, is combining all those different UHF feeds
together without totally ballsing up the picture quality...
Oh, and being able to find full range tuners to ensure sufficient channel
seperation to avoid co-channel inteference of course! (Nice to see the
Digibox uses UHF channel 68...)

(If I had a pound for every hotel I've stayed in that had crap TV
distribution....)

Regards.

Paul G.


>From: Williams Christopher C <CCWILLIAMS@xxxxxxx>
>Reply-To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
>To: "'ukha_d@xxxxxxx'" <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
>Subject: [ukha_d] Re: Digibox choice
>Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 15:55:41 -0000
>
>
>I've found it!
>
>The device I was talking about is called Handylink Remote Control
>Extender.  It is made by Labgear (www.labgear.co.uk).
>There are 2 versions:
>
>Infra-red remote control extender kit - Handylink (MRX120)  RRP £60
>   This gives you all you need to control 2 devices (expandable to 4)
>from 1 other TV, expandable to 2 with the Extra Room Extender kit
>(MRX110) RRP £30
>
>Distribution and infra-red remote control extender kit - Handylink PRO
>(MRX270) RRP £70
>   This gives you control of 2 devices (expandable to 4) from 1 other
TV,
>expandable to 4 with 3 more MRX110s
>   This kit also includes a 4 way coax distribution amp, power by the
>main unit behind the TV.
>
>For more details see the following links:
>
>www.labgear.co.uk/online/product/section1/sc1pd15htm
>
>www.labgear.co.uk/online/product/section1/sc1pd16htm
>
>www.labgear.co.uk/online/product/section1/sc1pd17htm
>
>www.labgear.co.uk/online/product/section1/sc1pd18htm
>
>Labgear do not supply direct so you will need to find a distributor.
>
>Maplin do the 2-way Handylink unit for £59.99 Order code: NA07H
>
>Hope this is of help to someone!
>
>Cheers,
>
>Chris Williams
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:	Williams Christopher C [SMTP:CCWILLIAMS@xxxxxxx]
> > Sent:	Tuesday, January 18, 2000 3:10 PM
> > To:	'ukha_d@xxxxxxx'
> > Subject:	[ukha_d] Re: Digibox choice
> >
> > I have just been looking at this site (www.tvlink.co.uk), very
> > interesting.
> >
> > You mentioned the need for a direct coax connection, they do a
device
> > to
> > bypass other manufacturers amps.
> >
> > There is another device on the market that works the same way,
i.e.
> > sending IR info back down the coax, but it has a separate box at
the
> > source end with IR emitters on flying leads.  This way you can
control
> > the VCR and DVD as well as the Digibox, from any room with a TV
point.
> > Again you need to bypass the amp or use their amp/splitter. 
Can't
> > remember the name for life of me.  I know Maplin do it but I
can't
> > find
> > it on their web page.  Problem is it is expensive about £100 is
with 2
> > IR mice I think?
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Chris Williams
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From:	paul gordon [SMTP:paul_gordon@xxxxxxx]
> > > Sent:	Tuesday, January 18, 2000 10:53 AM
> > > To:	ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> > > Subject:	[ukha_d] Re: Digibox choice
> > >
> > > You're right, they've hardly gone out of the way to
advertise it!!
> > > (but typically, now that I've got one, I have spotted a few
> > carefully
> > > hidden
> > > ad's in some of the Sky literature, and even on the Sky
information
> > > channel)
> > >
> > > As it happened, before I had the installer in, I bought a
copy of
> > > "What
> > > Satellite" and noticed it advertised in there quite a
lot, including
> > > an ad
> > > for my local Hi-Fi supplier, so I just went up to the shop
and
> > bought
> > > one.... - You can get them by mail order off the pages of
the
> > > aforementioned
> > > mag, OR, I'm now led to understand that Sky will both supply
and fit
> > > them,
> > > if you have it done at the same time as your digibox
installation.
> > > (too late
> > > if you've already had your box installed! they won't send
someone
> > out
> > > just
> > > to install a TV Link.) - I didn't realize that last point
until long
> > > after
> > > my installation, so I'll be fitting it myself this
weekend...
> > >
> > > You can also order it direct from the manufacturers website:
> > >
> > > www.tvlink.co.uk
> > >
> > > Bear in mind that the IR control signals require a direct
unbroken
> > > coax link
> > > back to UHF-Out-2 on the digibox, with no splitters or UHF
> > amplifiers
> > > in the
> > > path, (especialy the amplifiers), as these alledgedly filter
out the
> > > IR
> > > signal. If you must have a distribution amplifier in the
signal
> > path,
> > > then
> > > you must get one from the same manufacturer (Global
Communications)
> > > which
> > > have been designed not to block the IR signal data. 2, 4,
and 7-way
> > > amps are
> > > also available off the website.
> > >
> > > Regards.
> > >
> > > Paul G.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > >From: "Alex Durkin" <alexpd@xxxxxxx>
> > > >Reply-To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> > > >To: <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
> > > >Subject: [ukha_d] Re: Digibox choice
> > > >Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 17:44:03 -0000
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >Hi there,
> > > >
> > > >How did you get the Sky TV Link? I have not come across
this.
> > > >
> > > >Regards
> > > >
> > > >Alex
> > > >-----Original Message-----
> > > >From: paul gordon <paul_gordon@xxxxxxx>
> > > >To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
> > > >Date: 17 January 2000 16:11
> > > >Subject: [ukha_d] Re: Digibox choice
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >Well, I ended up with the Grundig, and so far, I've
been
> > perfectly
> > > happy
> > > > >with it. Picture quality is certainly noticably
superior to
> > > analogue
> > > > >satellite, and I have yet to notice any digital
artifacting. (but
> > I
> > > don't
> > > > >watch a lot of sports!)
> > > > >
> > > > >I've also just purchased the Sky TV-Link to feed
the master
> > bedroom
> > > TV
> > > >via
> > > > >UHF (yes I know I could just plug the UHF out into
my whole-house
> > > UHF
> > > > >distribution cabling, which in fact is exactly what
I will do
> > with
> > > the
> > > > >UHF-OUT "1" on the digibox), but this
sends IR control back to
> > the
> > > >digibox
> > > > >as well from the remote location, but rather than
use radio
> > (which
> > > I have
> > > > >had several bad experiences with), it sends it back
down the coax
> > > cable
> > > > >straight into the digibox's UHF "2"
socket.. so, for a mere £35
> > > pounds I
> > > >get
> > > > >a 2nd Sky digital remote, an IR "mouse"
receiver, and the
> > connector
> > > block
> > > >to
> > > > >plug it into the coax cable. And I get guaranteed
trouble-free
> > > remote
> > > > >control from the bedroom!! (at last!)
> > > > >
> > > > >It'll satisfy my requirements for the short-term at
least....
> > > > >
> > > > >Paul G.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >>From: "Dr John Tankard"
<jtankard@xxxxxxx>
> > > > >>Reply-To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> > > > >>To: <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
> > > > >>Subject: [ukha_d] Re: Digibox choice
> > > > >>Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 11:50:47 -0000
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>Mine is a Grundig, and it works well, I also
have discrete IR
> > > codes for
> > > >it
> > > > >>(or at least commands which allow discrete IR
control). I would
> > > strongly
> > > > >>recommend that if you are "into Home
Automation" consider
> > > carefully the
> > > > >>availability of discrete codes before making a
purchase of any
> > > product.
> > > > >>
> > > > >>I have a Technics HiFi system which I have had
for about 8
> > years,
> > > cost
> > > > >>about
> > > > >>£1,000 and I have (despite a lot of effort)
been unable to
> > locate
> > > the
> > > > >>discrete codes for it forming a weak link in my
set-up.
> > > > >>
> > > > >>John
> > > > >>jtankard@xxxxxxx
> > > > >>
> > > > >>PS if anyone has the discrete codes I need
(STX902L) please let
> > me
> > > know.
> > > > >>
> > > > >>Building Links Page http://www.tankard.com/links.htm
> > > > >>Extra links to hotlinks@xxxxxxx please
> > > > >>
> > > > >> > Does anyone have any recommendations as
to which Sky
> > Digiboxes
> > > are
> > > >any
> > > > >> > better than others?
> > > > >> >
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > >
> > >
> >
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