Combining outputs from two TiVos
 

If I set one TiVo to output through RF Channel 3, and the other to output
through RF channel 4, is there any way to mix the two modulated outputs into
a single coax, so that I can choose which TiVo to watch via the TV's channel
selection? (Sort of the reverse of a splitter -- an inexpensive RF mixer).

- David

Once upon a time, David D. said:
If I set one TiVo to output through RF Channel 3, and the other to output
through RF channel 4, is there any way to mix the two modulated outputs into
a single coax, so that I can choose which TiVo to watch via the TV's channel
selection? (Sort of the reverse of a splitter -- an inexpensive RF mixer).

It is called a "combiner", and you can usually find them at Radio Shack
for not too much more than a standard splitter.

However, many RF modulators (especially those built-in to things like
TiVos) don't put out "clean" signals. They'll bleed over into near-by
channels, so you usually can't combine channels 3 and 4. You can try it
(there's not much to lose), but you'll probably need to get an RF
modulator that can put out to a different channel. I've used a UHF
modulator (on channel 14) combined with a channel 3 output without
interference.
--
Chris Adams
Systems and Network Administrator - HiWAAY Internet Services
I don't speak for anybody but myself - that's enough trouble.

Thanks, Chris.

- David

"Chris Adams" wrote in message
...

It is called a "combiner", and you can usually find them at Radio Shack
for not too much more than a standard splitter.
--
Chris Adams
Systems and Network Administrator - HiWAAY Internet Services

In article , daviddiamond.remove-if-
says...
If I set one TiVo to output through RF Channel 3, and the other to output
through RF channel 4, is there any way to mix the two modulated outputs into
a single coax, so that I can choose which TiVo to watch via the TV's channel
selection? (Sort of the reverse of a splitter -- an inexpensive RF mixer).

- David






I don't think that would work since they'd both be on at the same time.
What would work is to plug one tivo into the rca jacks and one in the
coax. Then you could easily switch back and forth.

"David D." wrote in message
...
If I set one TiVo to output through RF Channel 3, and the other to output
through RF channel 4, is there any way to mix the two modulated outputs
into
a single coax, so that I can choose which TiVo to watch via the TV's
channel
selection? (Sort of the reverse of a splitter -- an inexpensive RF
mixer).

The quality of the RF modulators in most devices is not good enough to make
it work reliably. They just overlap too much to make either of them
viewable.

Your alternatives are to watch one on RF and the other s-video (or
composite) or to add a second RF modulator. I've done the latter. I run
other devices on their own RF channels via a Channel Plus RF modulator.
That way every TV in the house can see the Tivo on ch.3 and the other
devices on their own channels. Works great.

Bear in mind, however, that I'm not running any external RF channels into
the system (no outside analog cable or OTA signals). If you need to 'mix
in' external RF channels they you'd need to get into adding various notch
filters to allow your internal channels to run instead of the external ones.

The problem is that my TV inputs are maxed out. Primary RF for cable in.
Aux RF for TiVo in. One analog input for DVD. The other analog input for
VHS. Nothing is left.

The VCR inputs are also maxed out. RF from cable. Analog 1 for TiVo
archiving. Analog 2 is a front panel port, for cameras & video, and would
be unsightly to hook up permanently to a TiVo (also, I might get
degredation from cascading).

I hate the thought of using manual switches.

- David



"wkearney99" wrote in message
...
"David D." wrote in message
...
If I set one TiVo to output through RF Channel 3, and the other to
output
through RF channel 4, is there any way to mix the two modulated outputs
into
a single coax, so that I can choose which TiVo to watch via the TV's
channel
selection? (Sort of the reverse of a splitter -- an inexpensive RF
mixer).

The quality of the RF modulators in most devices is not good enough to
make
it work reliably. They just overlap too much to make either of them
viewable.

Your alternatives are to watch one on RF and the other s-video (or
composite) or to add a second RF modulator. I've done the latter. I run
other devices on their own RF channels via a Channel Plus RF modulator.
That way every TV in the house can see the Tivo on ch.3 and the other
devices on their own channels. Works great.

Bear in mind, however, that I'm not running any external RF channels into
the system (no outside analog cable or OTA signals). If you need to 'mix
in' external RF channels they you'd need to get into adding various notch
filters to allow your internal channels to run instead of the external
ones.

In message - "David D."
Fri, 1 Apr 2005 20:20:33 -0500
writes:
:
:The problem is that my TV inputs are maxed out. Primary RF for cable in.
:Aux RF for TiVo in. One analog input for DVD. The other analog input for
:VHS. Nothing is left.
:
:The VCR inputs are also maxed out. RF from cable. Analog 1 for TiVo
:archiving. Analog 2 is a front panel port, for cameras & video, and would
:be unsightly to hook up permanently to a TiVo (also, I might get
:degredation from cascading).
:
:I hate the thought of using manual switches.
:
:- David


Several years ago I bought a Video Source Selector, RCA VH920. It has 6 inputs
that can be either composite (RCA cables) or S-video. It doesn't have a
remote, but can be programmed to respond to signals from any remote.

It was around $100.

Thanks, Keith.

I will tuck that option away for consideration. For the moment, I don't
want to spend that much on a switch. But it is good to know that the option
is out there.

- David


"Keith E. Moe" wrote in message
m...
In message - "David D."
Fri, 1 Apr 2005
20:20:33 -0500
writes:
:
:The problem is that my TV inputs are maxed out. Primary RF for cable
in.
:Aux RF for TiVo in. One analog input for DVD. The other analog input
for
:VHS. Nothing is left.
:
:The VCR inputs are also maxed out. RF from cable. Analog 1 for TiVo
:archiving. Analog 2 is a front panel port, for cameras & video, and
would
:be unsightly to hook up permanently to a TiVo (also, I might get
:degredation from cascading).
:
:I hate the thought of using manual switches.
:
:- David


Several years ago I bought a Video Source Selector, RCA VH920. It has 6
inputs
that can be either composite (RCA cables) or S-video. It doesn't have a
remote, but can be programmed to respond to signals from any remote.

It was around $100.

The problem is that my TV inputs are maxed out. Primary RF for cable in.
Aux RF for TiVo in. One analog input for DVD. The other analog input
for
VHS. Nothing is left.

The VCR inputs are also maxed out. RF from cable. Analog 1 for TiVo
archiving. Analog 2 is a front panel port, for cameras & video, and would
be unsightly to hook up permanently to a TiVo (also, I might get
degredation from cascading).

I hate the thought of using manual switches.

Then get an IR controllable video switch. SIMA makes a nice one, I've had
one for years.

Push the video (or, ideally, s-video) from each source into the switch.
Then feed the switched s-video to your main TV. For anything else in the
house you could split the video to an RF modulator and let them see the
signal on channel 3.

David D. wrote:
If I set one TiVo to output through RF Channel 3, and the other to output
through RF channel 4, is there any way to mix the two modulated outputs into
a single coax, so that I can choose which TiVo to watch via the TV's channel
selection? (Sort of the reverse of a splitter -- an inexpensive RF mixer).

The simple and cheap RF mixer is to use a splitter in reverse.
(Using a splitter this in this fashion is the standard way of combining
signals from a UHF antenna and a VHF antenna onto a single coax.)

If both devices output good clean signals on their RF outputs, then
yes, you can mix channel 3 with channel 4. I don't know how good
TiVo is in no spilling over into adjacent channels.
-Joe