On Fri, 07 May 2010 12:12:19 -0700, UCLAN wrote:

mm wrote:

What should I do about signal conflict (overload?) between two
sources, both on co-axial cable? Is there an easy way to weaken a tv
signal in a co-axial cable?

I have two inputs to my maybe 10-year old analog tv, selected with an
A-B switch, with co-ax input and output. One input A is from the
2-year-old DVDR with digiital output and an RF modulator in the other
room, and the other input B is a 1-year-old set-top box atop the set.

In the last week, when I am watching in the A setting and slide the
switch to the B setting to use the set-top box, there is an image for
a split second, and then the screen turns all blue. But when I
disconnect the A signal from the A side of the switch, the B side
works fine.

[...snip]

Two choices:

1) [Best Choice] Get a programable modulator that lets you choose any channel.

http://www.channelplus.com/product_d...?productId=224

Set it to a much higher channel. Tune directly with with your TV tuner. Use
signal combiner for A and B signals. Trash A/B switch.

Wow. At first I didn't like this because it meant spending more money
than a switch would cost, buying a whole new device, but A) it's only
aobut 50 dollars, B) one device would solve the problem at EVERY tv
with a set-top box. Right now there is only one, but I have two more
boxes to be connected. (I always imagine that something I've
never bought costs a lot of money. I was amazed when I saw how cheap
plexiglas and lexan are.)

2) Get a better A/B switch.

Or do it all with:

http://www.channelplus.com/product_d...?productId=170

This is only about 5 dollars more. I have to read the manual more
closely and also think about if I'm ever going to have a second
source. Or just assume I might someday and buy it.

or

http://www.channelplus.com/product_d...?productId=225

Hey, this is even better. This one has 2, 3, or 4 inputs, depending
on which model one buys, and costs 30 dollars more (78 to 100) for the
one with 2 inputs, and 102 to 120 for the one with 3 outputs**, 125 to
145 for the one with 4 inputs.

**(Geekbro has it for 184 dollars. You really have to be careful you
don't overpay. I came across a digital camera last month whose price
ranged from 80 to 280 dollars, same model, none of them
reconditioned.)

And yet they look like the first one you gave. The sketch in the
manual reminds me that maybe I will have satellite some day, plus the
dvdr (which has an antenna), and with a VCR too (although I would have
plugged that into the DVDR, it's good to be able to plug it into this)
and have those 2, or 3 or 4, inputs on separate channels, and still
just use channel 3 for the settop box whereever there is one.

I'm never going to have a camera at the front door, but one of these
is still the best for me.


Thanks a lot.


Even though now it's almost obvious, it didnt' occur to me that they
would make an RF mod with a different channel output, much less an
almost any channel output, and even multiple inputs, and even at an
affordable price. Wow. I don't think I came across these when I
was googling for RF mods, but if I did, their names or blurbs didn't
explain why I would spend the extra money.