Quick AV adaptor question

[pjpjpjpj]

I’m looking for an inexpensive way to take composite analog audio and video (red, white, and yellow RCA cable) and convert it to a coax cable.

I am looking to take the analog out from an HD extender (HD100) and run it to a small TV that only has coax in.

I’ve seen little $20 gadgets from Wal-Mart that have a couple of types of analog input and a couple of types of analog output, but they all require power. Does it need to be powered? Is there such thing as a straight adaptor - a small block with three female RCA jacks on one side and a coax F-connector on the other? I looked briefly at monoprice but did not see anything.

[wrems]

Would something like this work?

http://www.hdtvsupply.com/rfmodulator.html

I know nothing about them, but it seems like it might be able to do what you're looking to do.

Probably more than you want to spend though.

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by wrems

Would something like this work?

http://www.hdtvsupply.com/rfmodulator.html

I know nothing about them, but it seems like it might be able to do what you're looking to do.

Probably more than you want to spend though.

That one appears to be powered see right side of box. I've never seen one that wasn't powered. But that doesn't mean they don't/didn't exist.

[pjpjpjpj]

That would work, but it has way more than I need and costs way more. I just need to go from composite to coax.

I bought a convertor at Wal-Mart a few years ago for my mother-in-law, because she had a DVD player that only had composite out and an old TV that only had coax in. But as I said above, it was powered, and I was just wondering if that was necessary, or whether you can buy a non-powered adaptor to make the same conversion.

[Fonceur]

I kinda doubt that you can do it without power... It's more complex than just splitting a stereo signal into 2 mono signals or the other way around.

[zoundz]

Easiest, cheapest way: run the composite video and audio into your old VCR that you never use any more and use the CH 3/4 RF out to feed the TV.

Rat Shak probably has a CH 3/4 modulator (that's what you want) for maybe $25 or $30, but it will probably only have mono audio. Standalone modulators with stereo audio tended to be a bit rare and more $$.

[pjpjpjpj]

Originally Posted by zoundz

Easiest, cheapest way: run the composite video and audio into your old VCR that you never use any more and use the CH 3/4 RF out to feed the TV.

Rat Shak probably has a CH 3/4 modulator (that's what you want) for maybe $25 or $30, but it will probably only have mono audio. Standalone modulators with stereo audio tended to be a bit rare and more $$.

Aha. That's the ticket.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2103095
This one is $30, I paid $20 at my local Wal-Mart a few years ago (as I said).

I guess a non-powered device doesn't exist.

The VCR idea is brilliant, though, just to save money. Unfortunately, I'd have to have the VCR out and plugged in.... but that would work, and would give me something to do with my old (stereo) VCR collecting dust in the basement.

[GKusnick]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

I guess a non-powered device doesn't exist.

Right. As already mentioned, it's not just a matter of different connector types. Basically the modulator has to do the same kind of job (broadly speaking) as a cable modem, i.e. converting an electrical signal from one format to another. That requires active electronics inside the box, and that takes power. You've never seen an unpowered cable modem, and you won't see an unpowered RF modulator either. (Battery powered, maybe. But not unpowered.)

[pjpjpjpj]

WRENCH IN THE WORKS (I think).

The small TV that has the coax connection is ATSC/QAM (digital). It's a digital antenna connector.

The coax out of my VCR is analog.

So what I need is a modulator that takes analog composite in, and has DIGITAL coax out. I have a bad feeling that such a device does not exist. I can't think of a reason that it would. It seems like "digital out" is always in a format capable of HD, such as HDMI or DVI. Does anyone make a digital coax-out device?

So if there is not such a device, any of you electronics whizzes want to coach me through building one?

On edit, here's a gadget that would work perfectly: http://zeevee.com/residential/zvbox150. Too bad it's $1400. I could buy a new (much larger/better) TV for that!

[Fonceur]

That seems like an odd TV set to only offer ATSC/QAM as input... Are you sure you're not missing some other inputs?

[Grant.Edwards]

Originally Posted by Fonceur

That seems like an odd TV set to only offer ATSC/QAM as input... Are
you sure you're not missing some other inputs?

I've never seen a TV that had an ATSC/QAM ("digital") tuner but not an
NTSC ("analog") tuner. The OP should double-check that's the case.

--
Grant

[Spectrum]

Yup, I've seen several sets that had both but never one that just had an ATSC/QAM. There may be a setting that needs to be changed in the TV's setup menu (mine has this) that determines whether the TV uses the ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuner. That's not to say the OP's TV isn't a rare creature...

[pjpjpjpj]

Here it is... won in an office raffle.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Philips-US...Tuner/14585222

It has no inputs other than the antenna jack, and an ATSC/QAM tuner.

If it had NTSC, I'd know it.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

Here it is... won in an office raffle.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Philips-US...Tuner/14585222

It has no inputs other than the antenna jack, and an ATSC/QAM tuner.

If it had NTSC, I'd know it.

480 x 234

Well, you get what you pay for... Is it still within the return window? I mean, that's LOWER than SD resolution...

[pjpjpjpj]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

Well, you get what you pay for... Is it still within the return window? I mean, that's LOWER than SD resolution...

Um, it's a 7" screen on a (meant to be) portable TV. Of course it's not HD. But it actually looks pretty good via the antenna.

Since you asked... I was going to wall-mount it in the master bathroom, and feed it from the Extender in the master bedroom (there's line-of-sight from the bathroom TV to the extender for the remote to work). It was just going to be for the wife when she's "getting ready", so she could have something on and not have to keep turning around to watch the TV. Last time we were in Vegas, our room had a little 7" TV by the vanity and she liked having it there.

It was free, there is no receipt, no return (someone at the office might get offended if I asked for a receipt), so I'll just keep it as a portable TV, in case I ever find the need for one.

[Fuzzy]

I understand it's a 7" screen, I'm just saying there are plenty of 800x480 7" displays as well - most with a full range of inputs.

[pjpjpjpj]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

I understand it's a 7" screen, I'm just saying there are plenty of 800x480 7" displays as well - most with a full range of inputs.

Obviously you put way too much stock in our office manager (who bought the thing) looking for anything with specific requirements.

[Fuzzy]

I made the original comment before you said it was a gift.