Multi-input RF Modulator: where can I get one?

[yukichigai]

I'm looking to find something that will take multiple inputs and output them on different channels, basically an RF Modulator of doom. I know they're out there since hotels and whatnot use them, but I'm hoping there's some that can be purchased for less than astronomical prices. I have no clue where to look though, none at all. Does anybody have any ideas?

 

[xtknight]

No idea. I'm curious though what you'd do with it? Setting up your own hotel? You sure what you need is a modulator? I'm not quite grasping what you're describing. Speaking of that what use would hotels have of them? Don't they just have a regular coax signal or no?

From Wikipedia: The RF Modulator takes the internal RGB, YUV, or composite video signal from a video-circuit inside the machine and generates a PAL or NTSC broadcast signal that can be fed into the television aerial socket.

Oh, you mean you wanna setup your own TV service (kind of like a mini local Time Warner or Comcast) of which each 6 MHz channel is an input of your choice (probably from a non-RF source?) Making me really curious now.

 

[yukichigai]

Technically I'm looking for a transmitter or rebroadcaster, but RF Modulator is a term most people will recognize and understand.

As far as what I'm setting up, just the home television setup for the folks' place. They're way out in the boonies and they can only get satellite, but sometimes they want to watch different things and would rather not be tied to some certain TV in order to do it. I've tried running the one receiver output on 3 and the other on 4, then combining the two but there's interference in the two channels then. It's obvious in order to do what I'm suggesting I need something designed to do it... unless there's some other kind of design insight that someone can offer. But yeah, I don't need like 30 different inputs, just 4 or so.

 

[xtknight]

Your best bet is to just get 4 modulators because I think there will be less interference anyway than if all that signal was going in one modulator box. Not that I know anything about signals...

I have never seen such a device and have absolutely no idea what to search for in that case.

Wait a minute...can you even set the conventional RF modulators to anything other than ch3 or ch4? Here inlies a problem...(if you need more than 2 channels)

 

[Ig]

http://www.smarthome.com/prodindex.asp?catid=298
http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage.cfm...O=2&&DID=7&CATID=55&ObjectGroup_ID=530

More features will cost more. True stereo, controlling a remote stb, svideo, etc.

 

[yukichigai]

Conventional RF Modulators, no, you can't set 'em to anything but 3 and 4 save for very old ones, which can only be set to 2 and 3. This is where the little doodad I'm talking about comes in.

 

[xtknight]

I'll ask my dad tomorrow in the morning...he knows this stuff like the back of his hand but I'm afraid he'll say it'' run you $1000+. The transmitting compaines aren't afraid to pay crazy premiums for this stuff and frankly that sucks for consumers like us who just wanna have a little fun. Oh and BTW there is no reason at all it should cost so much. They are probably making $990 in profit. You might consider building one yourself...you can find a way to modify one to change it to ch5 or ch6 I'm pretty sure. That's still within VHF range.

Originally posted by: Ig
http://www.smarthome.com/prodindex.asp?catid=298
http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage.cfm...O=2&&DID=7&CATID=55&ObjectGroup_ID=530

More features will cost more. True stereo, controlling a remote stb, svideo, etc.

Those are just 4 inputs->one channel I think.