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Dave Platt[_2_] Dave Platt[_2_] is offline
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Default Distiibution amplifier vs. ????


In article ,
micky wrote:
I think I need a new amplifier for the signal from my DVDR output to
various tv's, but I forget what that thing is called. ???

When I look up distribution amplifier, they seem to be from the antenna
to the TV, and aren't those different frequencies.


It would help us a lot to answer your question accurately, if you
actually described what sort of signal you are distributing to the
TVs. There are at least 3:

(1) Composite video, plus audio (typically two or three 75-ohm coax
cables ending in RCA plugs... video is yellow, audio is typically red
and black).

(2) S-Video, plus audio (similar to the above, but the video signal is
multiple wires in a cable that ends in a DIN connector).

(3) "RF modulated", where the signal goes into the remote TVs' antenna
inputs, and the TVs are tuned to challen 3 or 4 (typically).

(4) HDMI (digital).

For (1) you would want a "composite video and stereo audio"
distribution amplifier (Markertek has the CE Labs AV400, which will
feed up to 4 TVs). For (2) you'd want a similar device with S-Video
rather than composite (I don't have a specific one to recommend). For
(3) an ordinary broadcast-TV distribution amplifier such as you've
already found should work, since in this case you _are_ distributing
TV signals. For (4) you would need an HDMI distribution router (which
isn't just an amplifier).

The 110volt amp is still a little warm, but I suppose after 35 years of
use without interruption, it could have failed. It's mark is Archer,
which was Radio Shack, but I know the very same thing was sold under
other brands.


After that many years, it would not be surprising if some of the
filter capacitors have dried out and failed. It might be repairable,
but unless you are trained and skilled in such it might be
uneconomical.

Am I better off with 110vac or with one that uses a 12v wall wart?


In cases like this I think a wall-wart system might give better
reliability, because it keeps the heat from the power supply out of
the amplifier enclosure.