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How do I watch DSS from the bedroom?
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How do I watch DSS from the bedroom?
The basics of multi-room video from
Local channels (from
antenna or basic cable)
If you are like most new DSS owners, your system
looks like this. You also probably have more than one
TV in the house. The natural question is
In this document, we
will explain the many options and tradeoffs of creating
a whole house video system.
Because this is a basic guide, we will avoid technical
jargon as much as possible. And, although we sell
many of the products we talk about, we will try to keep
our opinions under control and minimize the hype.
How come I
just spent a bundle on a satellite system, but can
only use it in
room?!?
one
Satellite tuner
Audio/video
signals
RF signals
Dish signals
Ch 3 Modulator
First, lets look inside your DSS receiver. The
are sent to the satellite
tuner. The satellite tuner selects the program of your choice and creates
. The video modulator takes the audio/video signals and creates a television type
signal that will appear on TV channel 3 or 4. We refer to this type of TV signal as
(for radio
frequency).
There is a switch in the DSS receiver. When you press the Antenna button on the front of the
DSS receiver, this switch disconnects the TV from the ch3 modulator and connects the TV to the
antenna.
The audio/video signals are available on jacks at the back of your DSS receiver. Your DSS
manual tells you how to use these signals for the highest performance on your home theater.
Finally, if you want to watch 2 DSS programs at the same time, you must have 2 receivers.
(Just like a VCR. To watch two tapes at the same time you need 2 VCRs.)
signals from the dish
audio and video
signals
RF
Inside your DSS receiver
Your DSS receiver
Switch
INTRODUCTION
A COUPLE OF BASIC CONCEPTS
Three types of signals,
the Antenna/Satellite switch
R The basics of multi-room video from
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Multi-room video option
USING A CHANNEL 3 COMBINER
RG-6 Coax
Channel 3
combiner
Splitter
WE BET YOU DIDNT KNOW:
A channel 3 combiner inserts the channel 3 RF output of the DSS receiver onto the coax that has
the local programming. To watch the DSS program, tune either TV to channel 3. No switch to
throw, the ultimate in simple operation.
But watch out! If you have local programming on channels 2, 3, 4, or 5, we do not recommend the
use of a channel 3 combiner. (Note that this eliminates anyone using Cable for their local
programming.)
EXPLANATION of the PROBLEMS:
1) If you already have a channel 3 on the antenna coax, the channel 3 combiner will not
completely eliminate it. This broadcast signal will interfere with the DSS receiver channel 3
signal. Even a very weak broadcast signal will cause some interference. (In the commercial
world, there are such things as channel deletion filters, but they are extremely expensive.)
2) The channel 3 modulator inside your DSS receiver lacks the expensive filtering of broadcast
modulators. The DSS channel 3 signal is wider than it should be and the channel 3 signal will
spill into nearby channels. Adding this signal to the coax will cause interference on channels 2,
4, and 5.
COST: $20 for the combiner
ADVANTAGES: Each television can watch the DSS program or any of the local programming,
independent of the other TV. (Yes, there are channel 4 combiners also.).
DISADVANTAGES: Works well in only a small percentage of installations. If you live in a rural
area with no VHF channels, give this a try. Otherwise, stay away.
The channel 3 output of your DSS receiver
(as are
VCRs, videodisc players, etc
that are sold in the US.). The stereo television standard used in the US (referred to as MTS)
makes stereo encoding difficult and expensive. To maximize performance of your DSS system
we recommend connecting the audio and video outputs directly to your home theater system.
The multi-room techniques we talk about here could also let you watch your VCR, videodisc
player, or front door CCTV camera from every room in your house.
all
is monaural
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Video/audio
outputs
Multi-room video option
WIRELESS VIDEO DISTRIBUTION
Multi-room video option
USING A SPLITTER
Wireless systems are the easiest to install. One unit at each end will transmit the signal from the DSS
receiver to a remote TV. These are available from several manufacturers and can be purchased from
major electronics dealers and some home centers.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Either TV can watch any local programming without affecting the other TV.
One or both TVs can watch DSS, but they must watch the same DSS program.
COST: $100-$250
ADVANTAGES: No coax cable to run
DISADVANTAGES:
Only the DSS receiver signals get transmitted to the remote TV. To watch local programming you will
need rabbit ears on the remote TV, or a separate coax.
Wireless systems are subject to interference from outside sources.
Wireless systems are subject to transmission difficulties. (Think how putting your hand near a rabbit ear
antenna affects the picture. There will be some amount of that.)
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RG-6 Coax
Splitter
A splitter divides the power of the RF signals in half. Coax cable delivers the signals to the remote
TV.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Either TV can watch any local programming without affecting the other. But,
if either TV is watching a DSS program, both TVs must watch the DSS program (The
Antenna/Satellite switch in the satellite receiver will control both TVs).
COST: $5 for the splitter, $0.25 per foot for RG-6 coax
ADVANTAGES: Cheap
DISADVANTAGES:
Not versatile
Every time you split the coax, you are reducing the signal strength. A long length of coax will
also reduce the signal strength,. (Yes, you can add an RF amplifier to increase the signal
strength, but this is a
guide and things become much more complicated when you add
amps and more splitters. Caveat emptor.)
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basic
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Wireless
transmitter
Wireless
receiver
Remote TV
Remote TV The basics of multi-room video from
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Multi-room video option
USING AN EXTERNAL MODULATOR
RG-6 Coax
combiner
Splitter
Why not create an out-of-the-way channel instead of using channel 3? Stand-alone video
modulators exist for just this purpose.
These modulators are also referred to as agile since you can select what number channel they
create. The combiner shown in the diagram is actually a splitter that is used backwards (do
not use a channel 3 combiner).
COST: Cheap modulators are available for $40. (These will give you headaches by drifting off
frequency.) Good modulators start at around $100 and go up to $800 for multiple modulator
channels, MTS stereo and other features.
ADVANTAGES: Each TV can watch the DSS program or any of the local channels, independent
of the other TV.
DISADVANTAGES:
Hard to find. These devices are sold by satellite specialists and professional satellite
installers.
Combining modulator signals to an antenna has the potential to broadcast interference to your
neighbors. Using an amplifier on the antenna feed will block the modulator signals from the
antenna.
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Agile modulators are used by professional installers to distribute signals from DSS receivers ,
VCRs, videodisc players and closed circuit cameras to all TVs in a home. (Creating this type
of elaborate system could be beyond the abilities of the home hobbyist. Professional
installers have thousands of dollars of test equipment and years of experience designing and
installing this type of system. Be aware, RF distribution can be tough!)
Video and audio
DSS program shows up as channel 60
Tuned to channel 60
Modulator
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HOME RUN WIRING and PRE-WIRING A NEW HOME
In residential systems, the highest reliability and highest performance wiring scheme is to use
home runs. Every TV coax should be run all of the way back to a central point, or home. This
wiring style is also referred to as a star topology because all coaxes radiate from this central
point. Home run wiring allows you to have all of your splitters, combiners and amplifiers at one
location.
If you are building a new home, be sure to home run coaxes from all potential TV locations to the
central distribution point. If the central point is not where the CATV enters your house, you will
have to provide a coax from this central point to the cable entry location. In addition, run two
extra coaxs from the central point to where you will locate your video equipment and two coaxs
to the dish location. These cables will service the DSS dish and a video modulator . Even if you
do n