Multiple TV's using NTL STB

[surfwizard]

I presently have Media Centre 2004 connected to Broadband and I want to connect it to my set top box. The ideal scenario would be to have an additional box so we can watch NTL in two seperate rooms on different chanels. However, I cant really justify paying £10 installation and an extra £15 and month for the pleasure of doing so.

So here's the question, is it possible to to connect two TV's (one ordinary TV and an LCD TV in a different room) to the same set top box? Could this be achieved buy buying a splitter or something similar? I know both rooms would have to watch the same chanel but at least we'd have the choice of rooms.

Would I need NTL to do this or does it amount to some easy DIY?

[gooner4life]

Originally Posted by surfwizard

I presently have Media Centre 2004 connected to Broadband and I want to connect it to my set top box. The ideal scenario would be to have an additional box so we can watch NTL in two seperate rooms on different chanels. However, I cant really justify paying £10 installation and an extra £15 and month for the pleasure of doing so.

So here's the question, is it possible to to connect two TV's (one ordinary TV and an LCD TV in a different room) to the same set top box? Could this be achieved buy buying a splitter or something similar? I know both rooms would have to watch the same chanel but at least we'd have the choice of rooms.

Would I need NTL to do this or does it amount to some easy DIY?

It can be done but be advised it is against your terms of service to use a splitter and if at any point you have a fault with pixelation/freezing pictures and the technician finds that a splitter has been used you could be charged for the engineer to repair the issue and they would disconnect your splitter.

[Tristan]

It would almost certainly be a DIY job.

The STBs output RGB and composite video, as well as an RF feed. The best way to do it would probably be to use the RGB input to your LCD TV, and then RF to the other TV.

Alternatively, for slightly better quality, you could use the composite output from the VCR Scart socket to run though to the other room.

[Tristan]

Originally Posted by gooner4life

It can be done but be advised it is against your terms of service to use a splitter and if at any point you have a fault with pixelation/freezing pictures and the technician finds that a splitter has been used you could be charged for the engineer to repair the issue and they would disconnect your splitter.

No, he's talking about using a splitter *after* the STB -- this is nothing to do with NTL whatsoever, and cannot possibly harm the box, or cause freezing pictures.

[gooner4life]

Originally Posted by Tristan

No, he's talking about using a splitter *after* the STB -- this is nothing to do with NTL whatsoever, and cannot possibly harm the box, or cause freezing pictures.

Yes it can, as noise is then sent back from the extra TV and cabling and affects the noise level that the STB is happily working on.

Believe me ive seen enough dodgy splitters cause picture quality issues to last me a life time and each one got charged for the privalege of me removing the DIY splitter and providing a service to 1 tv which they were paying for.

[altis]

You can try this:

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Don't be put off by the distribution amplifier - they're not that much more expensive than a decent splitter.

[Tristan]

Originally Posted by gooner4life

Yes it can, as noise is then sent back from the extra TV and cabling and affects the noise level that the STB is happily working on.

Believe me ive seen enough dodgy splitters cause picture quality issues to last me a life time and each one got charged for the privalege of me removing the DIY splitter and providing a service to 1 tv which they were paying for.

But the RF output of the STB is designed -- or at least, should be designed -- to cope with the "noisy" TVs you'd be connecting to the other end. I don't disagree that a bad DIY splitter job could lead to a bad picture, but it would more likely be "snowing" or some other analogue effect. Unless the STBs are spectacularly badly designed, what you connect the the RF output shouldn't be able to cause digital effects like blockiness and freezing pictures.

[newlyn70]

Originally Posted by Tristan

But the RF output of the STB is designed -- or at least, should be designed -- to cope with the "noisy" TVs you'd be connecting to the other end. I don't disagree that a bad DIY splitter job could lead to a bad picture, but it would more likely be "snowing" or some other analogue effect. Unless the STBs are spectacularly badly designed, what you connect the the RF output shouldn't be able to cause digital effects like blockiness and freezing pictures.

The noise i think he is refering to is noise put on to the catv signal on the return path, in simple terms the return path is your BB/interactive and if that has "interferance" (noise) it degrades the service, how ever it does take alot of noise to see a differance in your service. there is always ongoing maintance on the network for noise so if you are putting noise on the system thru diy splitters you may find a charge coming your way for an engineer to come around and fault find the area of the noise.

[seaneeboy]

A lot of the STBs have two scarts on the back - one for TV and one for video - would this be what you're after?

A lot also have coaxial outputs you could use... although may need a booster if you're running it over any significant length - and the qualisty isn't as good as scart.

[ikthius]

Altis,

everything to the right of and including the distribution amplifier can be omitted right, for normal set up?

great diagram, so I have given you a greeny

ik

[altis]

Gosh, have you not seen these before? Here's the normal set up with only one TV. It's carefully aranged so as to get the greatest function out of one STB. You can even record a cable channel while watching a terrestrial one or vice-versa. Note: if you have a DVD recorder instead of a VCR then, and it has an RGB pass-thru, it should be between the STB and the TV - scart-wise.

[img]Download Failed (1)[/img]

Click the pic for more info.

[nobby91]

I would just buy a 2ghz rgb+audio sender available from tescos for about £40 or even cheaper if you shop around on the net.

Nobby.

[ikthius]

Altis,

I have just set up parents tonight like above, but I am having probs with the sound, on cannels 1-5 I get static noise, but on channel 7 NTL channel I don't.

They are tuned in as best as they can, but I just think it is the TV, it is a hand me down, 28" widescreen, about 5 yr old, but the TV we had was 21" 10 yr old, so they wanted to swap.

ik

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by nobby91

I would just buy a 2ghz rgb+audio sender available from tescos for about £40 or even cheaper if you shop around on the net.

Nobby.

Aldi have one on their special offers for this Thursday (14th Dec) £24.99.

Video Sender per pair £24.99
Watch digital satellite or cable TV in any room of your home with just one set-top box/TV receiver.

Cordless transmission of audio (stereo) and video signals
Also suitable for connection to graphics or TV boards with TV output
Transmission of satellite receiver signals (TV and radio) to a second TV or audio appliance of set-top box signals, DVD or VCR signals and PC-MP3 files to your stereo equipment
Transmission frequency 2.4 GHz
Four channels to choose from 433 MHz upstream channel for existing infrared remote control
75 ohms aerial output (receiver)
Modulation FM (audio and video)
Range up to 100 metres (depending on environmental conditions)
LED power indication
Includes transmitter, receiver, two AC adaptors, audio/video cables RCA/RCA (audio L/R/video), double Scart adapter (Scart/RCA), adapter (Scart/RCA), adapter RCA /3.5mm jack connector, infrared extender
Available in silver or anthracite.

[andygrif]

I'm a bit unsure of putting too many things on 2.4gHz...I have my DECT phones, my WiFi, my microwave (!)...has anyone got any ideas as to whether they might interfere with a TV sender?