Re: FIOS Digital Converters and my Channel Plus 4 Ch Modulator in Verizon FIOS TV http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r21689490 en Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:05:41 EDT Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:05:41 EDT Re: FIOS Digital Converters and my Channel Plus 4 Ch Modulator http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21698384 Rattler :
said by roveer See Profile :

The DCT700's don't have user selectable IR codes so when someone changed a channel using the DCT remote on 1 TV it would change the channel on all 4 DCT700's That's pretty much the only flaw I see in this setup.
That is a commonality to ALL V's STBs: DCT-700, QIP-2500, QIP-6200 and QIP-6416 (don't know about the 7xxx series but my guess is yes), if you put them all within range of a single remote, they will all respond alike to the remote's entries. The advanced STBs do not have the capability to change code sets either.

For that matter, the DCT-700s come with the older Motorola remote and the QIPs usually come with the Philips, these days, and the encoding is the same.

My wife has the DCT-700 in the kitchen and, depending on where she is located, when she changes a channel on hers, the QIP-6416 sometimes responds in the family room - somewhat annoying.
--
Never raise your hands to your kids. It leaves your groin unprotected. -- Red Buttons]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21698384 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:38:41 EDT Re: FIOS Digital Converters and my Channel Plus 4 Ch Modulator http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21697983 roveer : This would have worked except I found one glitch.

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The DCT700's don't have user selectable IR codes so when someone changed a channel using the DCT remote on 1 TV it would change the channel on all 4 DCT700's That's pretty much the only flaw I see in this setup.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21697983 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:31:16 EDT Re: FIOS Digital Converters and my Channel Plus 4 Ch Modulator http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21692206 PJL : If the modulator has 4 inputs on the RCA jacks, then one could be the FiOS STB since it has a composite output (RCA jack). Perhaps I'm missing something, but I don't understand why you need a modulated output from the FiOS box. It would behave just like the Tivo except it would have all of the FiOS digital channels rather than just the modulated channels 2-80 you are getting from your CATV system. And if you get the DVR version, it would record as does the Tivo. If you're tyring to get each TV to see different channels provided by FiOS at the same time, then in the digital age I don't think this is really possible, unless they have QAM tuners and then they can see the locals and a couple of other channels by directly using the FiOS COAX feed.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21692206 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:30:37 EDT Re: FIOS Digital Converters and my Channel Plus 4 Ch Modulator http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21689869 roveer : Here's my setup.

Analog CATV (channels 2-80) comes into the house, splits off for cable modem and the other line goes straight to my Channel Plus Modulator. Just before it goes into the modulator It runs through a notch filter which filters out channels 90-105 (may not be exact but close). From the modulator it goes to a distribution block where each TV gets a home run.

The modulator has 4 inputs on RCA jacks. 1=VHR, 2=Tivo, 3=DVD & 4=Media streamer.

The modulated channels are 91, 93, 101 & 103 respective to the devices above.

In addition there are IR senders at the TV's which just go in-line with the coax. At the modulator there are IR transmitters which go over the source equpment (VCR,DVD,Tivo & Streamer). This allows control of this equipment from every room.

The Tivo gets a coax in from the modulator so it can see channels 2-80 so it can record shows.

Each TV uses its own tuner and tunes 2-80 Plus 91, 93, 101 & 103 which are the modulated devices (VCR, DVD, Tivo & Streamer). Most of the TV's have a TV remote, & Tivo remote at their locations. VCR remote and DVD remote are not needed, we just put in the tape or DVD an it plays.

This allows all TV's in the house (7 of them) to get full CATV (2-80) plus use of VCR,DVD,Tivo & Streamer. This has been a wonderful thing over the years especially being able to put on Tivo shows where ever mom has put the kids. Got a sick kid, they get Dora in their bedroom. Want to watch a DVD, kids get it in the Den, or basement, or bedrooms wherever. Just tune to the corresponding channel for the device you want and off you go.

This is really a poor mans matrix switching setup and it cost me 600 bucks back when I put it in.

My problem is, if I keep the existing system in place I can not go to digital cable because trying to put STB's at the TV's will not allow me to view my modulated 91,93,101&103. The STB's will also likely not work becuse I'm filtering the signal at 90-104 AND there would be no analog to go to the TV's because FIOS has all digital.

Can't see a way around this one. Digital Cable with my 4 devices modulated. I could go to matrix switching but if I bought composite matrix switching I'd be wasting money at this point and would have go buy a fairly big switch 6+inputs by 7 outputs probably an (8x8). That would be expensive and use old technology.

If I went with component level matrix switching I'd have to buy a pretty big switch 6+ x 7 (which would probably be 8x8 and that would ge a good investment (although pricey). Problem is, it would want all component inputs and all component outputs. This would mean that all of my older source equipment would have to have expensive composite to component adapters (300 bucks), AND all my TV's would have to be component which right now, only 1 is. So, component switching is for new (component capable source equipment), and new TV's (component capable) otherwise you end up buying a lot of expensive converters. This doesn't seem to work for me.

I'm starting to think I'm SOOL. And once the cable co gets rid of analog all together (later this year or next), I'll be facing this for real!.

Roveer]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21689869 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:02:07 EDT Re: FIOS Digital Converters and my Channel Plus 4 Ch Modulator http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21689490 ramslt8 : Ok,couple quick ?'s
1 - do you currently have stb's at all the tv's or are you just running right off the cable ?

2 - if you are just running off the cable then you are using the tivo for everyone ?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21689490 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:00:37 EDT Re: FIOS Digital Converters and my Channel Plus 4 Ch Modulator http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21689356 roveer : So what you did here was to modulate the FIOS STB correct? Unfortunatly I do not have enough modulated channels on my Channel+ unit. I've only got 4 and they are all in use. In addition, with FIOS having no analog the only thing I'd be able to watch are the modulated devices. Even if I put a STB on the modulator then everyone in the house who wanted to watch TV would fight over the single STB. I guess if I upgraded to an 8 port modulator I could modulate my 4 devices (VCR, DVD, TIVO, Video Streamer, and also Modulate 4 STB's. Of course this gets a little cumbersome as to what channel each TV would tune to to then control it's own STB. Not terribly family friendly and picture quality is not as good on Modulated channels (svideo might be better).

Still stuck on this one. Might have to stay with an analog provider until the very end.

Roveer]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21689356 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:31:32 EDT Re: FIOS Digital Converters and my Channel Plus 4 Ch Modulator http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21687109 securitybill : I used to be a Cablevision customer (LI,NY) There are only two of us in the house and being a somewhat frugal Norwegian, I could not justify having a Verizon STB for each one of our 8 TV's. (yes I watch TV in the laundry whilst folding clothes) I imagine your incoming CATV input at your distribution amp (or splitter array), like mine has a notch filter to clear your channel range supplied by your 4 ch modulator. When I converted to FIOS I simply left all of the TV's analog, fed from my 8 port channel plus distribution amp. I disconnected the CATV input completely as Verizon's MOCA scheme doesn't play well. I then fed each of the 2 new Verizon STB's directly from Verizon's splitter array, 1 STB is to to accommodate my older Tivo series 2 and one for "direct" input into the analog network. It works well. My 4 channel modulator accepts Svideo inputs and carries full MTS stereo and as a complete system works well. Either one of can watch FIOS TV through the Tivo/STB combo or the Verizon STB that is dedicated to the analog network, or we can view the DVD player or the front door cam.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21687109 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:02:40 EDT Re: FIOS Digital Converters and my Channel Plus 4 Ch Modulator http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21685974 roveer : I could most certinly modulate a STB and control it over the distributed IR. Source Inputs to the Channel Plus modulator are composite RCA. Problem is, I would need to have a couple of STB's available so each TV could have it's own otherwise people would be changing channels on a STB that someone else was watching (not good). Also, picture quality is not _as_ good as a regular analog channel. Problem is, I only have 4 channels of modulation and I've got them all in use.

I can't see a way out of this one if I want anything other than comcast analog cable. And the clock is ticking until comcast gets rid of analog for more HD. Eventually I will have to change.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21685974 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:28:02 EDT Re: FIOS Digital Converters and my Channel Plus 4 Ch Modulator http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21685842 birdfeedr : A SD STB delivers analog video, if it is one of the analog sources, it seems you can still control the other devices. The only recording device is Tivo? the rest are playback?

You would have to use the STB to control what is fed to the Tivo on the single channel 3 or channel 4.

I'm thinking out loud, before I looked up specs on your modulator.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21685842 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:05:33 EDT FIOS Digital Converters and my Channel Plus 4 Ch Modulator http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21685499 roveer : For years I've been using analog cable TV (channels 2-80) running into a channel Plus 4 channel modulator (channels 91, 93, 101 & 103). A Modulator inserts additional analog channels onto your coax and distributes them to your TV's. On these 4 channels I have a VCR (yes, small kids), DVD, Tivo, & Hard Drive Video streamer. The benefit of modulation is that along with distributed IR I can watch & control any of these devices on any of the 7 TV's in my house. This has been a god send with 4 small kids. We have dozens of Dora's Cyberchase, Thomas etc on the Tivo and all we have to do is tune Channel 89 on any TV pick up the Tivo remote and we have access to the Tivo (any TV in the house). Same goes for the VCR, DVD & Video player. It's really a great thing.

Here's my problem. I want to move away from Comcast because they won't port my phone number for digital phone. So I want to go with a triple play from Verizon. But As we all know Verizon is all digital so there's no analog for me to modulate with. They want me to use digital converters for all of my TV's but I can see no way to get this working with my modulation scheme. Any ideas? I have to keep this family friendly.

With no solution I'm looking at moving the phone & internet to Verizon and staying with comcast for TV until they ditch analog in a year or so. Then I'll be forced to deal with the analog/digital issue. So far the alternatives are pretty expensive (around $5,000 for component matrix switching) and most of my equipment is too old (analog source and TV's). I'll have to start upgrading to component capable source & TV if I want to make this work in the future. It's going to be expensive, but there's no other way that I can see.

Ideas? Anyone, Beuler, beuler...

Thanks a bunch.

Roveer]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21685499 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:08:50 EDT