New to the site/forum—great resource, knowledgeable posters. First post/question/issue--- Installing a new video surveillance system using 8 channel DVR (network compatible—video server) with video out for TV. We also have assorted Directv receivers (including HD DVR). Ideally I would like to stack the Directv receivers allowing Directv receivers to be available to any tv in the house without the necessity of a box at each set as well as incorporate the surveillance output on a designated channel on any tv in the house. Question(s) involve: the use of video modulators; do I need to match the modulator to the number of DTV receivers (example-6 boxes 6 channel modulator plus add for surveillance output)? My experience related to modulators is limited but have used a low pass filter however was advised DTV isn’t compatible with low pass filter—I thought I had a grasp on the project at the beginning but am losing confidence—advice?
integrated surveillance and Directv to any tv in house
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You could do this. My first D* install ten years ago used a two-channel modulator and two Sony satellite receivers. Whoever said that a low-pass filter was not compatible with D* equipment was misunderstanding what you want to do. The filter will be used on an NTSC-tuner cable system you will use strictly from the surveillance system and the modulators. It will have nothing to do with the incoming satellite signal feeding your D* receivers.
Having said that, I’m not really sure this is the best solution, though. You won’t be getting HDTV via the modulators; they are strictly SD. Of course this may not be an issue for you if the modulators are feeding older SDTV’s. If this is the plan, then yes, you will need a modulator channel for each D* receiver plus the surveillance system. Of course now you’ll have the issue of remote control for each receiver. The newer D* receivers support RF remote control. The HR2x series comes with RF remotes, the H2x and R1x/R2x receivers are RF-capable, but you’ll have to buy an RF-capable D* remote (look for the FCC sticker on the back).
Honestly, I’d just give each TV its own D* receiver. If you have some HR2x DVR’s, they have Ehternet and someday should be upgraded to ad Multi-Room Viewing by sharing their recorded programs over a network. Of course you might still want the modulator for accessing the surveillance video on all TV’s.
Having said that, I’m not really sure this is the best solution, though. You won’t be getting HDTV via the modulators; they are strictly SD. Of course this may not be an issue for you if the modulators are feeding older SDTV’s. If this is the plan, then yes, you will need a modulator channel for each D* receiver plus the surveillance system. Of course now you’ll have the issue of remote control for each receiver. The newer D* receivers support RF remote control. The HR2x series comes with RF remotes, the H2x and R1x/R2x receivers are RF-capable, but you’ll have to buy an RF-capable D* remote (look for the FCC sticker on the back).
Honestly, I’d just give each TV its own D* receiver. If you have some HR2x DVR’s, they have Ehternet and someday should be upgraded to ad Multi-Room Viewing by sharing their recorded programs over a network. Of course you might still want the modulator for accessing the surveillance video on all TV’s.
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You will need an RF Modulator for each video source you wish to distribute. However there is currently no ecinomical way to encode and modulate an HD signal so if you are to put an typical RF modulator on an HD DVR or HD Receiver it will be downresed to SD.
Depending on the number of channels you are looking at distributing you will probably also need to consider commercial grade modulators which are not cheap either.
Depending on the number of channels you are looking at distributing you will probably also need to consider commercial grade modulators which are not cheap either.
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If you have a distribution system that is separate and apart from the satellite cabling, you can pretty much do whatever you want. Since you brought up the low-pass filter, I'm guessing that you're not thinking in that direction. Backfeeding the modulated signals and distributing them on the satellite cabling is probably asking too much; especially when you're talking about seven or more SD channels (you didn't say whether you would have each of the surveillance cameras separately or just the output of the DVR).mmehner said:
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Yeah, I am sneaky like that! 
As for the cost of modulators, they are in the range of $75 per channel for MTS stereo, and slightly less for monaural. I would most definitely get digital tuner models. Even so, the quality is still not as good as composite or S-video. If money is not much of an issue, you could go with a non-modulated switching system. This would even give the ability to use component cabling to carry HD signals to those TV's that support it. The switching hardware is not much more than modulators, but you do end up spending more on cabling. Like this:
http://www.smarthome.com/83587.html
As for the cost of modulators, they are in the range of $75 per channel for MTS stereo, and slightly less for monaural. I would most definitely get digital tuner models. Even so, the quality is still not as good as composite or S-video. If money is not much of an issue, you could go with a non-modulated switching system. This would even give the ability to use component cabling to carry HD signals to those TV's that support it. The switching hardware is not much more than modulators, but you do end up spending more on cabling. Like this:
http://www.smarthome.com/83587.html
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