RF Modulator for HR22

[DeweySat]

I am getting ready to purchase another HR22 to replace an aging DirecTivo. The DSR-708 DirecTivo currently feeds not only the TV in the living room (Along with an HR22,) but through the house cable system to all the bedrooms, kitchen, etc. For the other rooms I use the RF coax output on the DSR-708. I know the HR22 does not have an RF output, so I will have to use an RF Modulator. Are there some that are better than others for this purpose? Also, are there any to definitely stay away from? I haven't used an RF modulator since the Apple II days, so I'm sure they have improved a lot. Before someone asks, I will be using the HDMI output from the HR22 to feed the Sony Bravia LCD in the living room. :)

[Stuart Sweet]

Actually, they're much harder to find these days. Probably the best quality and lowest cost solution would be for you to go to your local thrift store and pick up an old VCR.

[louiss3000]

I believe Wal-Mart still has an RCA version for $16 or so. I do something similar with an HR21 that feeds HDMI to the bedroom, with the modulator feeding the back porch and a home office. Works well.

[Grentz]

If you want a high quality one, the Channel Plus modulators are great. The 5415 is perfect for modulating a single device (they also make larger ones that can modulator more devices to more channels):
http://www.channelplus.com/product_detail.php?productId=98

[DeweySat]

Actually, they're much harder to find these days. Probably the best quality and lowest cost solution would be for you to go to your local thrift store and pick up an old VCR.Interesting thought Stuart, but my entertainment center is full to the brim with eight components. I could tuck a modulator away in the back of something. Actually, I still have two VCR's, but one is in the guest bedroom, and the other is the very latest from Sony. It is a combo DVD/VCR burner/player. It has an up-converting DVD player with an HDMI output which works for both the DVD side as well as the VCR side. Alas, no RF output. Just still have too many tapes in the library to go tapeless right now.

I saw a nice looking converter at Walmart this afternoon. May have been made by Belkin. Think I will go back and take another look.

[Hophead]

You can also try your local Radio Shack. I believe that is where I got mine. Seems to work well.

[newsposter]

i've been using the one i got from walmart for about 3 years now. No issues. I guess it's rca but i forget.

[bobnielsen]

I have used a Philips modulator ($16 at Walmart) with my HR21 and it works very well for this purpose.

[Tom Robertson]

The big question is do you want stereo output? The cheap ones will get you basic mono.

Or if you have to avoid channel 3/4, you'll want a better unit.

Cheers,
Tom

[rickaren]

Harmony ONE remote Whole House with DirecTV HR 22 DVR


I too am using a old modulator on my HR22-100 to supply a signals to three other LCD TVs and my computer, but ran into another issue that I have now resolved using the new fantastic Harmony ONE remote, I purchased . You can set the HR22 DVR up to use IR or RF commands for your remotes but not both.

I had purchased from D* their RC64 RC remote that worked through the house. Well when I bought the Harmony One Remote it only uses IR commands and I had to reset the DVR back to IR from RF and used the original RC64RB to even program the new remote. Got everything working just fine and Logitech/Harmony told me I could not use their remote only as IR, but how was I to control "Whole House"?

I have a bunch of old stuff around too, and by using an old X-10 Powermid (model PM5900) I found I could use the original IR D* remote if I had transmitter in another location. WOW! Got "On-Line" and found additional transmitters (RE549) are still available, but are few and far to be had. I order two more so I can at least have the TVs covered. Could always move to computer room if needed. Something old is new again. These things look like little black pyramids that plug into a wall plug and the base receiver has an antenna on it. Anyone remember them?

Anyway I also have DISH using a VIP-622 DVR and there are no issues using them since they come with two remotes (one IR & one RF) and even an additional coax output.

I highly recommend this new Harmony ONE remote and with this old/new set up I can still control other locations.

[Grentz]

The big question is do you want stereo output? The cheap ones will get you basic mono.

Or if you have to avoid channel 3/4, you'll want a better unit.

Cheers,
Tom

Very true, if you want stereo I would recommend the CE Labs 1001ST (make sure it is the ST, not the 1001F as that one is mono!). It is one of the cheapest/best Stereo Modulators I have found at around $60.

[cover]

Very true, if you want stereo I would recommend the CE Labs 1001ST (make sure it is the ST, not the 1001F as that one is mono!). It is one of the cheapest/best Stereo Modulators I have found at around $60.

Seconded. I have used the CE Labs stereo modulators to distribute throughout the house on existing coax cable. If you also have basic cable, you should be able to use an agile modulator (lets you select the TV channel it uses) to "insert" your DirecTV receiver on an unused cable channel and still pass through the basic cable to your TVs. You may also need a filter to do this. I've had pretty good luck finding the necessary equipment on Amazon.

[BkwSoft]

For those of you who are interested and have deeper pockets than myself, Blonder Tongue has come out with a new modulator that takes an HDMI input and outputs a QAM channel of your choice.

The video is encoded in MPEG-2 and it passes the AC3 audio into the output stream.

I havn't looked into the price yet (If you have to ask you probably can't aford it).

The modle number is HDE-QAM

[mdavej]

Harmony ONE remote Whole House with DirecTV HR 22 DVR

I too am using a old modulator on my HR22-100 to supply a signals to three other LCD TVs and my computer, but ran into another issue that I have now resolved using the new fantastic Harmony ONE remote, I purchased ...
Great solution. I also do something similar with a radio shack URC-9910 RF remote ($40). Hard to find anywhere except ebay these days, but works great. I'm also diplexing sat and rf modulated on one cable. Just had to relocate the bbc's to get it working. Got my modulator off ebay for less than $10.

[l8er]

I havn't looked into the price yet (If you have to ask you probably can't aford it). No kidding - a quick search turned up list price of $12,493.75. Ouch.