How to broadcast TV around house?

I originally posted this in uk.d-i-y yesterday but have been advised
that its probably more appropriate to post here.

I'm currently having an extension built to my house which will mean that
I will have to relocate my existing roof tv aerial. As I have Sky, I
don't actually use this aerial. So, this all got me thinking that maybe
I should get a new aerial and somehow get tv pumped around the rooms in
the new extension.

The extension will consist of three rooms. I'm only investigating things
at this moment and haven't really thought whether I should go analogue
or digial. Eitherway, I do need to decide pretty quickly as the
extension is reaching the first floor imminently! I think it would make
sense to go digital as it will be more future proof?

My current thinking is to have a new aerial that can cope with digital
freeview fitted. I then have 3 feeds from this aerial going into each of
the rooms. In each room, there will be 3 freeview decoders. This all
sounds straightforward, but I'm open to suggestions from you experienced
people!

What sort of equipment do I need. I did think about having one freeview
box and having that signal pumped around the house. This seems to be the
easiest option (and tidier as it will require less space). However, this
is bound to breed arguments with people being forced to watch the same
channel.

The loft will be boarded so I can have some equipment located there
(obviously, this might not be a good idea due to weather conditions and
moisture/condensation perhaps?..etc).

For info, two rooms are for the kiddies and the other is a kitchen.

So, any advice will be gratefully received.

Thanks for your time.

"z3" wrote in message
...
I originally posted this in uk.d-i-y yesterday but have been advised that
its probably more appropriate to post here.

I'm currently having an extension built to my house which will mean that I
will have to relocate my existing roof tv aerial. As I have Sky, I don't
actually use this aerial. So, this all got me thinking that maybe I should
get a new aerial and somehow get tv pumped around the rooms in the new
extension.

The extension will consist of three rooms. I'm only investigating things
at this moment and haven't really thought whether I should go analogue or
digial. Eitherway, I do need to decide pretty quickly as the extension is
reaching the first floor imminently! I think it would make sense to go
digital as it will be more future proof?

My current thinking is to have a new aerial that can cope with digital
freeview fitted. I then have 3 feeds from this aerial going into each of
the rooms. In each room, there will be 3 freeview decoders. This all
sounds straightforward, but I'm open to suggestions from you experienced
people!

What sort of equipment do I need. I did think about having one freeview
box and having that signal pumped around the house. This seems to be the
easiest option (and tidier as it will require less space). However, this
is bound to breed arguments with people being forced to watch the same
channel.

The loft will be boarded so I can have some equipment located there
(obviously, this might not be a good idea due to weather conditions and
moisture/condensation perhaps?..etc).

For info, two rooms are for the kiddies and the other is a kitchen.


You mention future proof, also you say bad idea to have same programme on
all tv sets.
I think therefore you really have got the answer yourself in that best to
have a good aerial and good coax cable and a feed to each of these 3 new
rooms. Maybe all rooms, present lounge at least, to cover for the future,
then buy and use Freeview boxes as required.
--
Regards
David

Please reply to News Group

On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 09:13:26 GMT, z3 wrote:

| I originally posted this in uk.d-i-y yesterday but have been advised
| that its probably more appropriate to post here.
|
| I'm currently having an extension built to my house which will mean that
| I will have to relocate my existing roof tv aerial. As I have Sky, I
| don't actually use this aerial. So, this all got me thinking that maybe
| I should get a new aerial and somehow get tv pumped around the rooms in
| the new extension.
|
| The extension will consist of three rooms. I'm only investigating things
| at this moment and haven't really thought whether I should go analogue
| or digial. Eitherway, I do need to decide pretty quickly as the
| extension is reaching the first floor imminently! I think it would make
| sense to go digital as it will be more future proof?
|
| My current thinking is to have a new aerial that can cope with digital
| freeview fitted. I then have 3 feeds from this aerial going into each of
| the rooms. In each room, there will be 3 freeview decoders. This all
| sounds straightforward, but I'm open to suggestions from you experienced
| people!
|
| What sort of equipment do I need. I did think about having one freeview
| box and having that signal pumped around the house. This seems to be the
| easiest option (and tidier as it will require less space). However, this
| is bound to breed arguments with people being forced to watch the same
| channel.
|
| The loft will be boarded so I can have some equipment located there
| (obviously, this might not be a good idea due to weather conditions and
| moisture/condensation perhaps?..etc).
|
| For info, two rooms are for the kiddies and the other is a kitchen.

There are many alternatives. Look on the satcure site
http://www.satcure.co.uk/ which has lots of good ideas.
Then decide what you want to watch and where, then add some.

Remember that the satellite TV/radio market is changing, with freesat
and freesatfromsky. See sig. Analogue switch off is on the horizon
especially if you are in the Borders region.

I have an aerial which goes to the $ky box, and a coax which goes from
$ky RF2 to a distributor in the loft F120 which distributes whatever
$ky is receiving and analogue to all the bedrooms, each of which have
a freeview box, which are cheap and getting cheaper.

Before anyone else says it. Use CT100 coax, and F connectors.
I used cheap coax and had to replace it.

--
Dave Fawthrop dave hyphenologist co uk Sat Ch4, Ch5, only GBP20
http://www.freesatfromsky.com - "what is freesat?" - "view T&C" -
What will I receive "£20 ... one Viewing Card". You will also need
$ky box and dish. List of Channels at
http://www.wickonline.com/fta.htm
All BBC & ITV Channels are now FTA and do not need this card.

"David" wrote in message
...


I think therefore you really have got the answer yourself in that best to
have a good aerial and good coax cable and a feed to each of these 3 new
rooms.

Thats what I am about to start doing today.
The aerial is huge compared to the last one.
I have never seen as big a reflector on a receiving aerial before.
I am expecting great things from it given that we get a very good analogue
signal with an indoor set top antenna.
It may turn out to be overkill or overload!

"z3" wrote in message
...
I originally posted this in uk.d-i-y yesterday but have been advised that
its probably more appropriate to post here.

I'm currently having an extension built to my house which will mean that I
will have to relocate my existing roof tv aerial. As I have Sky, I don't
actually use this aerial. So, this all got me thinking that maybe I should
get a new aerial and somehow get tv pumped around the rooms in the new
extension.

The extension will consist of three rooms. I'm only investigating things
at this moment and haven't really thought whether I should go analogue or
digial. Eitherway, I do need to decide pretty quickly as the extension is
reaching the first floor imminently! I think it would make sense to go
digital as it will be more future proof?

My current thinking is to have a new aerial that can cope with digital
freeview fitted. I then have 3 feeds from this aerial going into each of
the rooms. In each room, there will be 3 freeview decoders. This all
sounds straightforward, but I'm open to suggestions from you experienced
people!

Why have three decoders in each room? Have I misunderstood you? Anyway,
leaving that aside, I suggest you do something along the following lines:
Fix aerial outside. Check that it covers all the channels in use in your
area. Run CT100 or equivalent cable to the amplifier position. (Avoid
multi-output masthead amps if possible.) Amp will normally be in the loft.
Separate cables from amp to each outlet.

Bill

Bill Wright wrote:
"z3" wrote in message
...

I originally posted this in uk.d-i-y yesterday but have been advised that
its probably more appropriate to post here.

I'm currently having an extension built to my house which will mean that I
will have to relocate my existing roof tv aerial. As I have Sky, I don't
actually use this aerial. So, this all got me thinking that maybe I should
get a new aerial and somehow get tv pumped around the rooms in the new
extension.

The extension will consist of three rooms. I'm only investigating things
at this moment and haven't really thought whether I should go analogue or
digial. Eitherway, I do need to decide pretty quickly as the extension is
reaching the first floor imminently! I think it would make sense to go
digital as it will be more future proof?

My current thinking is to have a new aerial that can cope with digital
freeview fitted. I then have 3 feeds from this aerial going into each of
the rooms. In each room, there will be 3 freeview decoders. This all
sounds straightforward, but I'm open to suggestions from you experienced
people!


Why have three decoders in each room? Have I misunderstood you? Anyway,
leaving that aside, I suggest you do something along the following lines:
Fix aerial outside. Check that it covers all the channels in use in your
area. Run CT100 or equivalent cable to the amplifier position. (Avoid
multi-output masthead amps if possible.) Amp will normally be in the loft.
Separate cables from amp to each outlet.

Bill



Sorry, meant one decoder in each room to stop people arguing over what
to watch!

Can you explain what this 'amp' is and what it does? I'm guessing it
amplifies the aerial signal? Any recommendation or sites that I can
visit to have a look at to gain more info?

Someone on my other thread in uk.d-i-y has pointed out that I should get
a distribution system box. I can them feed in all my various sources
into that box and then send out feeds from it to the rooms. I'm thinking
I will need something else to 'split' the output from the distribution
into three signals and perhaps something to boost the signal?


Thanks.

"z3" wrote in message
...
Bill Wright wrote:
"z3" wrote in message
...

Can you explain what this 'amp' is and what it does? I'm guessing it
amplifies the aerial signal?
Yes

Any recommendation or sites that I can
visit to have a look at to gain more info?
Maxview, Labgear, CPC, Blake, Global, Antiference


Someone on my other thread in uk.d-i-y has pointed out that I should get a
distribution system box.
A distribution amp. That's what I meant above.

I can them feed in all my various sources
into that box
Beware. These amps with multiple UHF inputs don't have any means of channel
filtering, so you can get interference. It's no better than simply
connecting the aerial into the Skybox (eg) and then feeding the output into
the dist amp. It can work OK though, if you find clear channels.

and then send out feeds from it to the rooms. I'm thinking I will need
something else to 'split' the output from the distribution into three
signals
No, you buy an amp with x number of output sockets.

and perhaps something to boost the signal?
The amp does that.

This is all a lot easier than you might think. Until you get snags of
course, but that isn't likely.

Bill

Bill Wright wrote:

Beware. These amps with multiple UHF inputs don't have any means of channel
filtering, so you can get interference. It's no better than simply
connecting the aerial into the Skybox (eg) and then feeding the output into
the dist amp. It can work OK though, if you find clear channels.

I use a distribution amp (Maxview IIRC) to pipe an RF signal from
'mission control' in the living room through to the kids' TV in the
playroom, plus two upstairs bedrooms - this signal includes the output
of the VCR and NTL cable box in the living room to provide
(unswitchable) cable TV in the other rooms. I know there are more
elegant solutions but this is adequate for the purpose; the only thing
is that the secondary TVs show a slight interference pattern of
horizontal lines overlaying the picture. I've never really bothered
abouyt investigating it, but I'm now just wondering, is this obviously
symptomatic of any particular problem?

David

"Lobster" wrote in message
...
Bill Wright wrote:

Beware. These amps with multiple UHF inputs don't have any means of
channel filtering, so you can get interference. It's no better than
simply connecting the aerial into the Skybox (eg) and then feeding the
output into the dist amp. It can work OK though, if you find clear
channels.

I use a distribution amp (Maxview IIRC) to pipe an RF signal from 'mission
control' in the living room through to the kids' TV in the playroom, plus
two upstairs bedrooms - this signal includes the output of the VCR and NTL
cable box in the living room to provide (unswitchable) cable TV in the
other rooms. I know there are more elegant solutions but this is adequate
for the purpose; the only thing is that the secondary TVs show a slight
interference pattern of horizontal lines overlaying the picture. I've
never really bothered abouyt investigating it, but I'm now just wondering,
is this obviously symptomatic of any particular problem?



Depends on varring factors but if the TV programme being watched in the
lounge late evening how does one control the childrens viewing?
With seperate boxes I think one would set limits, of course I do not know if
fool proof.
--
Regards
David

Please reply to News Group

"Lobster" wrote in message
...
Bill Wright wrote:

Beware. These amps with multiple UHF inputs don't have any means of
channel filtering, so you can get interference. It's no better than
simply connecting the aerial into the Skybox (eg) and then feeding the
output into the dist amp. It can work OK though, if you find clear
channels.

I use a distribution amp (Maxview IIRC) to pipe an RF signal from 'mission
control' in the living room through to the kids' TV in the playroom, plus
two upstairs bedrooms - this signal includes the output of the VCR and NTL
cable box in the living room to provide (unswitchable) cable TV in the
other rooms. I know there are more elegant solutions but this is adequate
for the purpose; the only thing is that the secondary TVs show a slight
interference pattern of horizontal lines overlaying the picture. I've
never really bothered abouyt investigating it, but I'm now just wondering,
is this obviously symptomatic of any particular problem?

Is the fault present on every channel?

Bill