Cabling for 3rd TV with 2 receivers

[Bardman]

I hope all the gurus on this site can answer this question, but first a little background:

--I have 2 HDVR2s (#1 in Family Room, #2 in Master BDR)
--I ran all new RG6 home runs for my DTV setup (installed myself.. grounding is outside the wall)
--I am trying to use the existing cable in the house to send signal from both the DTivos to my son's room for his little TV

I have DTivo #1 set to Channel 3 on the RF output and #2 set to Channel 4. I've then cabled from the RF out, to the original walljack (formerly cable source) where it goes back to my "head end" pictured here. You can see the 1-2 splitter next to my multiswitch, the 2 "outputs" are connected to the DTivos, and the 1 "input" goes to my son's room. (ignore the larger splitter, that's my TWC Roadrunner service coming into the house)

The problem is that on my son's TV, channel 4 drowns out channel 3. When I unhook the "channel 4 Tivo" from the splitter, channel 3 (the other Tivo) comes in clear as a bell, but when both are hooked, channel 4 looks fine and channel 3 looks like hell.

So, do I have this all hooked up right? or do I need a different "splitter" (this is a 2Ghz splitter that I'm using now... tried about 4 different ones I have lying around and all netted the same results)

Let me know your thoughts..... Thanks!!!

[scooper]

Your problem is the built in channel 3 /4 modulators on your DTivos. They are, to be blunt, POS. The frequency ranges are close enough that they cause these problems. You MIGHT be able to resolve this by using a Channel 3 or channel 4 signal combiner instead of a simple splitter/combiner. A true signal combiner has filtering builtin to minimize your problem, but they also run $15 - $30 .

Your best solution for this is to get a frequency agile UHF modulator and use this instead of one of the builtin modulators, using the ordinary splitter/combiner. You would take the RCA outputs from the DTivo into the inputs of the modulator, then take the the coax output from the UHF mod. and use the combiner with the other unit.

BTW - this problem is not specific to DTivos - it's on ALL devices with the channel 3/4 built in modulators.

[scooper]

Oh, and if you want more information on this, check www.avsforum.com in the Home Integration and Distribution Forum. I also frequent there.

[AllieVi]

I also recommend the modulator route. For a specific product, look into the Radio Shack item 15-1243. I have one and it works well. For information, go to

http://www.radioshack.com

and use the search feature for: 15-1243

Radio Shack sells this modulator for $24.99, less than its model that only outputs on channels 3 and 4.

I have quite a collection of modulators of different brands and features. The Radio Shack product is by far the least expensive and readily available. For the purpose you describe, it would be a good choice.

[ericha]

The UHF modulator idea is a good one, but an even cheaper route is to use a coax switch instead of a combiner. You can get coax A/B switches for about $5. This means you have to have access to the switch to pick which receiver you want, but that's usually not that big a deal, as you have to check which receiver is in use.

[scooper]

That would work, but if you want the control at the remote TV, you would need to run 2 cables (one from each DTivo) to accomplish the same thing. Using the modulator, you just change channel.

[Bardman]

Thanks for all your help...

Scooper is right, The "head end" you see above is in my garage, I don't want to have to go there from my son's room to switch Tivo sources for him... merely a channel change will do. Mostly this is because he goes to bed best when we start a show for him, right now, that involves crashing on the couch and me carrying him to bed....

With this setup, I can let him crash in bed... picking between two possible sources for his show (depending on which TV the wife or I are watching at the time)

Would you believe that none of the Radio Shacks near me have the 1243 in stock... lots of the 1241, but no 1243

[AllieVi]

Originally posted by Bardman
Would you believe that none of the Radio Shacks near me have the 1243 in stock... lots of the 1241, but no 1243 I first saw the 15-1243 a year or so ago and bought one at its then-current price of about $50. It's worked well, so when someone mentioned that the price was $25, I was surprised. I visited several RS stores in my area and the salespeople didn't really seem to understand that the device was different than the channel 3/4 model they sell. In most stores, they had them "in the back" because they didn't sell well. They're a good product for the price.

[scooper]

If you can't find the one at Radio shack, I KNOW you can order them from www.smarthome.com , maybe some other places as well.

[Bill D]

That's a prett nice setup for your son. My kids are still young (4,2 and newborn). But I'm thinking no TV in their rooms as they get older. Especially with satellite they'd never sleep. I can remember sitting up late at night in my room watching something on a B&W with rabbit ears, can't imagine having access to all the channels I have now. I think I would have never slept.. :)