Using modulator with directv equipment

Yes, you can use a modulator with DirecTV equipment to send a signal to a remote TV. Oh, I guess that's not exactly what you're asking is it? What are you asking exactly?

What kind of DirecTV equipment? If you're asking about using a camera attached to a DirecTV DVR, then the answer is no.

can you veiw a camera signal (thru rf mod) on current directv equipment? nope..
they all have digital only tuners..
There was 1(?) old model reciever with an analog reciever way back when..

wasn't there some discussion in installation forum about diplexing feed in through unused channels on ota?
I'll see if I can find those posts, they were approx 3 months ago I think.

David MacLeod said:

wasn't there some discussion in installation forum about diplexing feed in through unused channels on ota?
I'll see if I can find those posts, they were approx 3 months ago I think.

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You can diplex an analog signal to the unused digital OTA channels? :scratchin

Mike

MicroBeta said:

You can diplex an analog signal to the unused digital OTA channels? :scratchin

Mike

Click to expand...

I don't know, I remember reading something about it though. not sure how it was done, used modulators or converters somehow.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=137910&highlight=surveillance

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=131120&highlight=surveillance

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=73704&highlight=Digital+Modulator+for+HD

I think these were the posts, the first 2 are the 2 more pertinent ones if I remember right. it looks as if recording is not possible, but viewing might be possible. did not pay too much attention as it has no bearing on me, I just remembered it had been discussed.

To summarize, you can take the modulated SD output from a DirecTV receiver or DVR and mix it with the modulated output from modulators being fed by surveillance cameras, then send the mix to television sets that have an SD NTSC analog tuner and watch any/all by changing channels.

You cannot input a camera into your DirecTV equipment, and there is no way to record a camera on a DirecTV DVR.

Carl

I you want to record on an OTA-equipped DVR or even just view, you will need an ATSC modulator, which is very expensive (thousands of $$ and not many to choose from). The $20 modulators you can find anywhere are analog and require an NTSC tuner. DirecTV DVRs are not equipped for NTSC.

carl6 said:

To summarize, you can take the modulated SD output from a DirecTV receiver or DVR and mix it with the modulated output from modulators being fed by surveillance cameras, then send the mix to television sets that have an SD NTSC analog tuner and watch any/all by changing channels.

You cannot input a camera into your DirecTV equipment, and there is no way to record a camera on a DirecTV DVR.

Carl

Click to expand...

Specifically, what I was thinking of trying was to diplex in a feed from a front porch camera into the coax that goes into a AM-21 OTA module. Would the AM-21 take an analog signal and output that to a channel that could be displayed? I haven't seen a modulator with a digital output. I could probably put it into my AVR but for simplicity, I thought I'd let the HR-21/AM-21 handle it.

One reason I was concerned that it wouldn't work is that the HR-21/AM-21 units seem to phone home to find out what local OTA's are in your area, then it only displays those channels in the guide. I didn't know if it would scan for a signal on your coax and allow you to view signals from channels that are not in their guide.

Would the AM-21 take an analog signal ....? NO, it will not work because the AM-21 will not accept an analog signal, all other issues are moot beyond that point.

To make this work one would need an ATSC modulator. These are not yet available for the consumer market at a reasonable price and probably never will be.

With media server software like PlayOn and Tversity, it seems that it should not be much of a stretch to come up with webcam software that will work over media share.

eakes said:

To make this work one would need an ATSC modulator. These are not yet available for the consumer market at a reasonable price and probably never will be.

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Why do you think we might never see a consumer-grade ATSC modulator? That would make many whole-home solutions (READ: mine) so much simpler.

Never say never, but the market for an ATSC modulator would be fairly narrow compared to the market for (NTSC) RF modulators in the past.

I guess I'll probably be better going composite out to my AVR or to the back of the TV with the security camera. I have no desire to record, just view.

If you just want to view, you could still use a cheap analog RF modulator and just view it with the TV's built in tuner bypassing the AM-21.

Then I'd have to have another run of coax. All my coax is taken up by D*. Might as well just run a composite cable.

Neither will be a problem as I have conduit going from my wiring closet to my TV's anyway.

Stuart Sweet said:

Never say never, but the market for an ATSC modulator would be fairly narrow compared to the market for (NTSC) RF modulators in the past.

Click to expand...

Also there are issues with HDCP that would likely cause the "rights owners" to balk at it. I agree it's stupid, but they are so over-protective. I think anything outside the world of HDMI will be a no-go.

EricRobins said:

Why do you think we might never see a consumer-grade ATSC modulator?

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There may some day be such a device, but it won't be cheap. I suspect that it will be incorporated into the video source when that time comes. There is significant overhead in an ATSC signal that isn't cheap to reproduce.

Ultimately, it comes down the those who own digital content want strict controls over how it is distributed and spewing RF signals out of a modulator doesn't offer those controls.