connecting extra TV's to a VM box

[kragen]

ok here's the deal I have VM in my lounge, and a TV in my bedroom. I would like to be able to watch freeview in my bedroom but I only have an indoor aerial as there are no decent outdoor aerial sockets in my house.

I don't want to try and get virgins channels - I would be happy with just the freeview but I don't know if I can do it.

A virgin engineer told me to run a cable from the RF OUT on the box to my second tv but as there is no RF signal going IN to the box, this is useless.

any ideas?

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

You dont need an RF IN to get RF OUT

[kragen]

well I ran a cable from the RF OUT on the ntl box to my second TV - all I got was static. In fact when I removed the cable from the ntl box the picture improved on the secnd tv (like it was using the cable as an aerial)

so if I can get RF out without an aerial plugged in. how does it work?

[spiderplant]

There are no Freeview signals on the VM cable. To get Freeview you must have an aerial.

An cable from the RF OUT would let you watch whatever channel the box downstairs is tuned to. As W&C says, you don't need anything connected to RF IN to do this.

---------- Post added at 23:20 ---------- Previous post was at 23:18 ----------

Originally Posted by kragen

well I ran a cable from the RF OUT on the ntl box to my second TV - all I got was static. In fact when I removed the cable from the ntl box the picture improved on the secnd tv (like it was using the cable as an aerial)

You need to retune the second TV so it picks up the output of the STB.

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

Originally Posted by kragen

so if I can get RF out without an aerial plugged in. how does it work?

The cable signal is translated to RF OUT for those that have a tv without scart or hdmi

[kragen]

so basically all the tv in my bedroom is good for is watching dvd's?

Originally Posted by kragen

so basically all the tv in my bedroom is good for is watching dvd's?

no, read spiderplant's post again, using RF out you can watch whatever program the box downstairs is displaying, you just need to retune the second telly to receive the signal.

- remember it will only be one 'channel' you pick up on the second TV, the programme you watch on that channel can only be changed using the box downstairs.

[kragen]

sorry - my bad - what I was trying to get at was I want to be able to watch something other than whats on the VM box

for instance my flatmate is watching rangers on Setanta sports - I don't want to watch it so I would retreat to my room to watch a freeview channel - but I have no signal.

There are no "working" external tv aerial sockets in the house and indoor aerials don't get enough signal

yes it would be brilliant to be able to put something on and retreat to watch in bed but thats kind of a secondary issue for me atm

---------- Post added at 15:18 ---------- Previous post was at 15:16 ----------

i don't want another virgin box and I can't afford to pay to get a new roof aerial fitted - I just want a decent terrestrial signal in my bedroom

Originally Posted by kragen

sorry - my bad - what I was trying to get at was I want to be able to watch something other than whats on the VM box

for instance my flatmate is watching rangers on Setanta sports - I don't want to watch it so I would retreat to my room to watch a freeview channel - but I have no signal.

There are no "working" external tv aerial sockets in the house and indoor aerials don't get enough signal

yes it would be brilliant to be able to put something on and retreat to watch in bed but thats kind of a secondary issue for me atm

---------- Post added at 15:18 ---------- Previous post was at 15:16 ----------

i don't want another virgin box and I can't afford to pay to get a new roof aerial fitted - I just want a decent terrestrial signal in my bedroom

ah right, I see, there is one possible extra option, in that some of the ex NTL boxes had an option for fitting a 'bypass' unit, which 'piggy backed' the 5 'terrestrial' channels onto the cable signal. This meant you could watch cable TV using the scart socket on the box on one telly, or use the RF out fitted with the bypass for watching/recording BBC1 etc on the other.

- the problem is getting hold of the bypass unit, but even if you could get one suitable for your box, they rely on the analogue terrestrial signals being transmitted via the cable - something that is due to be turned off any time soon...

<edit> Found this one suitable for Samsung boxes

http://mediacables.co.uk/shop/index....products_id=21

£28 isn't far off getting a new aerial though - and I just noticed it says 'sold out' - sorry???

[kragen]

in that case would it be possible to get another stb that receives freeview only and tap into the cable to split the signal so I get the freeview in my room and virgin in the lounge?

---------- Post added at 18:11 ---------- Previous post was at 18:06 ----------

oh and cheers for the link btw - i will keep my eye out for those 0 my box is a Samsung SMT-2100c so its an option

to be fair I could probably afford an aerial - its the installation that would be a problem cost

Originally Posted by kragen

in that case would it be possible to get another stb that receives freeview only and tap into the cable to split the signal so I get the freeview in my room and virgin in the lounge?

This wouldn't work, unfortunately, as there are no Freeview signals in the cable feed.

Also there is no telling when the analogue terrestrial signals are going to stop, so the bypass would be a short term fix, at best.

In my opinion your best bet is to save up for the aerial, or look into the possibility of a second Virgin STB ??

[the-cable-guy]

Originally Posted by kragen

ok here's the deal I have VM in my lounge, and a TV in my bedroom. I would like to be able to watch freeview in my bedroom but I only have an indoor aerial as there are no decent outdoor aerial sockets in my house.

I don't want to try and get virgins channels - I would be happy with just the freeview but I don't know if I can do it.

A virgin engineer told me to run a cable from the RF OUT on the box to my second tv but as there is no RF signal going IN to the box, this is useless.

any ideas?

Freeview is DTT so its impossible to get it thru cable. its like trying to get satellite thru cable its impossible & theres no way of ever getting it to work.

---------- Post added at 23:14 ---------- Previous post was at 23:11 ----------

Originally Posted by kragen

well I ran a cable from the RF OUT on the ntl box to my second TV - all I got was static. In fact when I removed the cable from the ntl box the picture improved on the secnd tv (like it was using the cable as an aerial)

so if I can get RF out without an aerial plugged in. how does it work?

also it depends on whether your tv can tune in cable channels, mine can but the bigger tv downstairs cant. if you can on your tv then a splitter will do the job & you just connect some satellite tv coax to your tv upstairs with an f plug at the splitter end & a rf plug at the other. have a look here for how to connect an f plug correctly, although its on about satellite tv the principle is the same: http://www.uk-satellite-tv.co.uk/tec...lp_154117.html

Originally Posted by kragen

... when I removed the cable from the ntl box the picture improved on the secnd tv (like it was using the cable as an aerial)...

then maybe just dangle it outta window

soz - couldn't resist it

.

[the-cable-guy]

lol