AV challenged

[jello_jeep]

dmills,

Most true surround sound requires digital (fiber optic cable) signals from the satellite receiver to the amplifier or surround system.

Mike K

Mike, the audio could also be carried via digital coax (single ended RCA type) as long as your receiver is capable of processing it. And if you really get fancy and have a processor that switches video as well, you could run one HDMI cable from each component (dvd, tivo, whatever) to your processor, and one HDMI cable to the display. That would handle both HD video and multiple discreet audio channels (surround) with a minimum number of cables.

For whatever reasons, most Directv HD boxes will disable component, svideo and other outputs as soon as you plug in an HDMI cable, so if someone was thinking of boosting an output through a modulator to watch it on other sets, you would have to keep that in mind.

I like your idea of a different box at each location. Do you run 4 coaxes down from the dish to a multiswitch in the back of the bus to where the distribution originally was? Are you lucky enough to have two coaxes to each location to use dual tuner tivos ?

Also, how do you get more than two weeks out of a TIVO without hooking up to a regular telephone line to get the programming signal ack'd ?

I have not had time to dig too far into AV stuff in my bus, as I am taking care of more pressing issues first, but it is on the list for sure!

Sounds like you have a nice setup for sure!

What size is you salon display?

[mike kerley]

Warren,

We have an "different" setup for the Direct TV feeds. I have the roof top dish feeding two coax runs to a multiswitch. Two outputs to rear SD Tivo which feeds a 23" LCD (Sony, S-video input) in the bedroom. Two outputs (through a pair of coax A/B switches) feed the front HD TIVO unit (located in overhead front). That TV is an 26" (Sharp) LCD. TIVO box uses an HDMI cable for video and fiber optic feeds a separate amplifier/decoder for surround sound (also in overhead front). Also have two more coax feeds from the multi switch which feed an outside SD Tivo unit for outside viewing (26" (Sharp)LCD, S-video input on this one). The second inputs on the A/B switches have cables going out the right hand side of the engine compartment, and when docked at our home #1 or #2 "camp sites", connect to a multi-sat dish which will receive (for now) all the HD channels at one time. We connect to this so that we get more than the network in HD when docked at these locations. On the road, we only receive channels 80/82 and 86(?) in HD on front TV (in motion also). Docked we throw the switch for the front TV and get all the HD channels available from Direct TV.

Two standard definition Tivo's have worked without phone connection for over a year. The HD unit needs to talk every couple of weeks or it refuses to "TIVO" programing. It doesn't care where we call from, just call. Program guides come through the satellite signal. My wife loves here TIVO units and hates watching television without them. Unfortunately, Direct TV is slowly moving them out of the picture.

Your right about HDMI cabling being the best for quality, but its the worst to move through tight areas. Its stiff, large in diameter and has large end connectors.

Are you glad you ask!

[jello_jeep]

You bet I am glad I asked!! Sounds like you have a great setup.

I have 3 TIVOS, one is the first one they came out with, the HD finally pooped out.. Then I have a two tuner sd one, and a dual tuner hd one (modded by weaknees.com with an extra drive and all).

I know the actual guide comes in via sat, but the way its explained to me, many people opt for monthly tivo payments instead of paying it lifetime up front, so it requires a telephone line to check and make sure you are up to date to use the tivo programming features.

Wish they would write some code to flag it if you pay lifetime, so I wouldn't have to try and find a telephone!!

[mike kerley]

For future use. If your doing any rewiring on your coach, include the best and latest CAT 5 shielded cabling from front to back and in between.

Many of the new systems are using Cat 5 cable to deliver everything from television (HD included) to telephone to INTERNET connectivity to control circuits from a "head in point". We will soon (?) be able to take the feed from our dishes, sent to a "hub type device" and feed the coach with everything on satellite, cable and telephone. Some of this is done with WiFi today, but bandwidth severely limits how much information you can send and video becomes a problem.

On the TiVo's, we have two units that have not called home in over a year and work just fine. No pay per view, but east/west coast feeds and all premium channels work great. Its the new HD unit that demands contact.

Mike

[Ray Davis]

Mike,

You seem to be alluding to something which I've felt was available, or will be soon. And that is some kind of device which will convert video to network, and opposite device at the other end.

Currently my bus has coax run from back to front (receivers are in the back). I'd like (if possible) to replace coax with a network cable, and then send data over network, and reconvert at the TV panel up front.

Such a device exist today?

I guess another similar option is to replace with fiber optic, instead of CAT-5. But, again same question exists. Is there such a device today?

Thanks,

[mike kerley]

Ray,

I've seen the "balum" type devices at MCM Electronics (the have a web catalog). Several different devices that will send/convert s-video and stereo audio to a cat5 cable feed to be reclaimed at the other end by a similar device. The more sophisticated devices will take HD video and full 5.1 surround audio and feed it through a hub system to as many terminals as you want. Just like having your own cable system in your home or bus. The base terminal has a hard drive storage system that allows video to be stored and called for by the hubs as needed. I'll look up some company info for you next week when I get back to the office.

The MCM devices have been around for some time and basically replace the coax with a cat5 cable for audio and video transmission. About $50 per end if I remember correctly. I've used them for audio transfer with great success. I have yet to try them for video

If you try them, let me know how it works.

Mike

[Joe Cannarozzi]

Mike, I think I've decided where to go when the time comes to Update that stuff on our 86. Does anybody know where Ranch River is?