Dave109

I went with blonder tongue with several mini-mod fixed channel modulators (MICM-45c) and two mini-mod agile channel modulators (AMCM-860). Also with the 12 slot chassis to hold them all. Also the blonder tongue 12 port passive combiner (ZHC-12A). I went with coaxial switch timer from Monroe Electronics (RA157A) (automated A/B), that will turn the switch at preset times from cable to our DVD broadcast via the above setup. Now this all sounds good but I am getting ready to test it and I have a feeling it's not that easy. What can I do if the signal from the combiner is to low or high? Could that even be a problem?

Well, after many phone calls, this isn't going to work. It's not meant to hook directly to your cable feed from the cable company or so I understand now. I'm glad I called Blonder Tongue just to be sure. I thought it was too good to be true. So back to what was suggested here as that appears to be the best source of information. I'm looking at the following: Blonder Tongue RF modulators AMCM 860B and MICM-45C. Now the fixed MICM-45C modular is a lot less expensive and I'm leaning that way. Any thoughts using the this one over the AMCM 860B? Looking at 24 channels roughly. I'm also wondering if it's possible to use TV tuners like the Zenith DTT-900 in place of the above rf modulators. I'd tune each to a different channel and still hook them all to a combiner and then into the building.....

I think this will do what I need. Video All-Call Systems VACD-12 and AB-800 Blonder Tongue "Additionally, emergency or general announcement information can be quickly delivered with both audio and video information to each television in the school. Blonder Tongue manufactures a complete line of products for implementing a Video All-Call System. These systems provide an integrated solution of allowing one channel to override all other channels on all televisions in a school system. In order to integrate all of these components into a complete all-call system, Blonder Tongue also offers the VACD- 12 Distribution Amplifier and the AB-800 Pin Diode Switch. These two products are used to distribute the alternate audio/video program to each modulator and processor in the system. When invoked, the substitute IF program will override the normal IF programs available at each modulator and processor. Every channel in the system will be overridden with the new program."

Would you mind a simple diagram? It's always easier for me to see things that way. outside cable | | split out to rdfmodulator(s)? | | modulator x 9 = 27 channels? | | combiner ( from all modulators ) | | feed into building

Many of the TV's are on the low end, many are still tube w/o digital turners. The "wired remote" looks interesting.

I believe you understand what I'm saying. So a mini headend sounds like a way of having several smaller rf modulators in a cabinet.... I was still thinking rf modulator channel 3,4,5,6,7,8,- to -98... Hmmm... I wonder something like an emergency broadcast interupt over all the channels... Like I said, it's not in my area. I can see some of it but I've never worked with this to this end.

The "audience" this is intended for only has TV's in thier locations. We are already doing as you mentioned for the employees at the desk. You might say it's a controlled audience that have their TV's turned off and on for them that I am trying to make this happen for.

Yes, it's getting past what I can probably handle. I'm in the I.T. dept. and this is a project we are looking into. There is only basic cable service being switched. So, it seems like a rack with an RF modulator for each channel I want to cover/reproduce. I take it would all then go into a combiner and sent on into the building for the tv's I want the content on. I'd still like it to be simple for someone just to be able to use an A/B switch to swithc between cable and DVD/VCR being feed into all channel on the selected tv's. I can do this with a VCR now but the TV's ahve to be on channel 4 and the ofcourse the other channels are static. Might have to settle for this. Of course, if folks didn't want to watch MRSA or H1N1, they could just turn off the TV. I may have to look at something like digital signage on monitors placed around the building that can continually display the needed content. I really hoped there was an rf modulator that instead of one channel is could at least do several channels. Is that what you meant by a mini headend?

I would prefer to cut away from the incoming cable line and cut over to to the feed I would like to provide. But it seems that I have provide "substitute" channels for the ones removed by cutting from the cable. Here's an example: People are watching serveral of the TV's in our building. For the next hour it is needed to play a DVD/VHS tape from our source. A person would go to the equipment room and push something like an A/B switch that would change the buildings tv's from cable to our source showing a DVD/VHS over all channels. We have H1N1 type content to play and everyone needs to see it no matter what channel a tv is turned too.

I need to find a way to be able to switch over our buildings cable feed, substitute material we have on DVD/VCR that would broadcast on all channels of buildings tv's.