Rethinking HD media extenders

[martint123]

I hear that in the UK, single mux DVB-T "transmitters" may start becoming affordable (driven by hotel distribution??). It would be nice to have all my sources coming down the same cable, and tuneable on all destinations.

[stu8080]

From reading the article you need only one device to pipe the HTPC content to all TV's in the house.
If thats correct, how does one user watch something different to another on different TV's? And how does the remote work, does it connect to the box wirelessly (therefore meaning there will be a range limit on the thing?)
Could each TV be tuned to a different channel to allow different content on each simultaneously, with the different remotes somehow set to control each channel?

The cost would not be so much of an issue if the layout was for one device and then an extra remote for your second, third etc TV?.

[AndyPro]

Stu: As far as I can tell (as in 99.999% sure) all it does is take your analog VGA output and convert that to a QAM digital channel. You then combine that with your alternate reception system, and the computer just becomes a channel on your television system. You must be sure that your TV/tuner can accommodate QAM tuning.

If you want to watch more than one thing, you need more than one computer, and more than one box. This isn't media extender, or client server device. It just turns your computer into a QAM broadcast station, essentially.

Each remote connects using RF to the base station doohickey that plugs into a USB port. They're claiming up to 150 feet, which as usual should mean 40-50 feet max. The remote has nothing to do with what you're watching, and cant allow you to watch anything different if you have a second remote. It's really no different than a fancied up media center remote, or a logitech harmony sort of thing.

--Andy

[stu8080]

Knew there had to be a catch! Still good to be able to broadcast anything you like to a TV somewhere. And of course not something UK users can use anyway?

[soccerdad]

The concept is cool, but I don't think the price is. I already modulate all my SD pvr stuff over my cable using a $50 modulator. Granted this is HD, it is a big diff. I expect that some of the big modulator companies like channelvision will come up with a HD modulator in the future for less bucks.

[whurlston]

Yeah, Andy is correct in his description. This is definitely overpriced for the average consumer but as I said, sub would benefit from it. Or should I say, we QAM users would benefit from sub having one.

[martint123]

The DVB-T one that I'd heard of (UK) was a full mux, so you could have multiple channels going into the cable. This is helped by current TV's being digital themselves nowadays, with old analogue ones eventually fading out.
Isn't QAM similar? multiple channels modulated onto a single frequency?

[whurlston]

The DVB-T one that I'd heard of (UK) was a full mux, so you could have multiple channels going into the cable. This is helped by current TV's being digital themselves nowadays, with old analogue ones eventually fading out.
Isn't QAM similar? multiple channels modulated onto a single frequency?

Yup. You can do up to 38.8Mbps on one QAM Channel and our HD channels are 19.2 max so you can do 2 HD or a HD/SD mix and fit even more. If this device had dual input (or more) I would jump on it.

[rmoberly]

just posted on the byopvr forum if anyone had seen or used the zeevee box before coming here and doing a search. Came across it in one of my searches. Sounds interesting. You guys are so full of information. Thank you for posting on this interesting developement. Will be interesting to watch.