Digital TV reception for 5 TVs with only 1 cable to aerial on roof

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  sraymond on 30/12/2012 - 20:07

  +1

  You have several options, but none are cheap. Depends if you are talking about separate viewing on each unit or all showing the same picture. AV senders will allow you to broadcast the picture from one source to all the units. You can also change the channel from any of the locations that are receiving the signal, if you have the right remote. If you are wanting indvdual control at each TV you will most likely need cabling and splitters. It's probably better to put a second aerial up to keep a strong signal. Others are talking about rabbit ears, but seems you have already tried something similar.

  This idea was mentioned on Whirlpool. I am not convinced, but have a look.

  http://www.marmitek.com/en/index_consumer.php?product.php?&p…

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 31/12/2012 - 11:16

    Thanks. When I've had my own home (just sold) we did split the antennae it is the best way however it weakens the signal. The issue I have is that its a rental ppty I won't be putting holes in walls. The reason for the many TVs is the kids are older and have different tastes to say my hubby who likes to watch 5 days of cricket (he isn't a pig and will turn it over but he does love his cricket). I'm hoping on a stand alone option because we will be renting for at least 5 years (the job requires us to move frequently).
    Thank you anyway

• 

  [Deactivated] on 31/12/2012 - 00:38

  +1

  I thought you could just use coaxial splitters?
  I found this http://www.cableandwireshop.com/power_passing_6-way_drop_cab…
  As far as I know the antenna is just receiving a signal and each TV can listen to that signal however they would like without interferring with the other TVs because they are just receiving signal, not sending anything. I'm certain enough that I'd set it up that way.

  I think the real problem is how you plan on distributing from the base antenna… You could lead the antenna to one wall socket or you could split at the source and have 6 sockets or any other combination… depends on cost vs convenience and what you want. I wouldn't want coaxial cable running through my whole house but then again I'm happy with just 1 TV and couldn't afford 6 seperate wall sockets. Haven't seperate antennas might just do the trick although it depends on the signal strength that you get.

  http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/N-Digital-Freeview-5dBi-DVB-T-TV-…

  best of luck anyway

  edit: heres another one I had to post I laughed when I saw it
  http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DVB-T-TV-Magnetic-Based-Aerial-Bo…

• 

  PlasticSpaceman on 31/12/2012 - 08:53

  +1

  You can get good power boosted "rabbit ears", frequently used on caravans etc - but they are not cheap and performance will vary depending on your location as well as the location of the unit itself….. As noted, you can get video senders - although you can't watch different channels concurrently, and interference. Another option would be something llike some Xboxes on the remote tvs and a pc running mediacentre with four tuners…. (http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/connecting-your-xbox-3…). Can get cheap second hand xboxes…. Only issue there may be wifi saturation if all four xboxes are streaming at once….

• 

  Ramrunner on 31/12/2012 - 10:49

  +1

  I've worked with AV equipment for a while, but if you want multiple TV sockets, watching different channels on all different TVs, then you MUST spend the money and get a coaxial splitter (for 5 TVs you may need an active one to boost the signal if the signal is not strong).

  OR

  As suggested, set up a Media Centre with multiple tuners and place front end clients on each PC. MythTV is probably best for this IMO.

  Option 2 will actually be far more expensive and may require patience to set up correctly if you've never done it before but will give you the added benefit of having MythTV recording all the shows you want automatically for viewing on each of your TVs whenever you want AND you can stream other movies/photos/music to any of the TVs you want.

  Cost may be a factor, so you might have to sell one of the 5 TVs :)

  Oh, and ANY solution that requires feeding streaming data to TVs such as what we're talking about with MythTV will require data cabling. I hold high hopes for the new 802.11ac wireless standard to give us multiple HD streaming capability, but with CURRENT hardware, to stream to multiple TV and have HD (1920x1080) streams, you WILL need gigabit cabling.

  Anyone who tells you otherwise hasn't actually done this. Wireless DOES NOT currently cut it.

  • 

    _Bruce_ on 31/12/2012 - 11:22

    with CURRENT hardware, to stream to multiple TV and have HD (1920x1080) streams, you WILL need ethernet cabling.

    Fixed that for you. Though to be fair, 100 Mb is marginal, there is no good reason not to use CAT6 anyway and almost everything is Gb now. Completely agree about wifi.

    OP: I don't recommend this approach at all unless you are a tech enthusiast, there just aren't simple consumer solutions available.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 31/12/2012 - 11:32

    Thanks so much! I think they can just watch DVDs eh lol.
    The Tvs are owned by the kids was just trying to enable them broadcasted TV.

    Ramrunner- turns out where we have moved the Bigpond mobile broadband we had set up at previous Address can't receive signal (we have moved to karana downs qld) …..TPG couldn't help us cause we didn't have an active Telstra line. So I'm waiting on instillation on iinet. I wentwith Xmas package that has BOB2 included a device that us wifi modem;phone; and iinet TV starter package on it. Wondering with ur expertise whether u believe this may solve our problem? I am on smart phone only for access to net atm, so can only give u URL link from memory http://www.iinet.com.au
    If u wouldn't mind having a look at the specs on the bob2 unit and the iinet TV starter pack I've ordered (the TV option I mention is not the actual name just going from memory)
    I will call iinet of course about this but would appreciate ur view on it given my circumstances

    • 

      Ramrunner on 31/12/2012 - 12:40

      +1

      Surprised TPG didn't help. Would have thought they'd make an effort to get a customer. We are in fact an iiNet agent so glad you went with them, however, as we did not organize this for you, your direct contact for this is indeed iiNet. As we are not marked on their system as a reseller for you, we can't actually do anything with your connection now.

      The TV starter package will be a FetchTV Box.

      This is a dual tuner Freeview recorder to be sure (over your existing antenna), and will stream iiNet's FetchTV options (sort of like Foxtel but over your broadband - just not as many or as good channels).

      According to iiNet's FAQ:

      Can I watch fetchtv in more than one room?

      This feature is currently under development; we’ll keep you posted with any new information.

      So no, this will still only work for one of your TVs in one room only.

      Regards.

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  [Deactivated] on 01/01/2013 - 19:29

  Thanks ramrunner u have been a big help

  • 

    Ramrunner on 01/01/2013 - 22:24

    Glad to be of service. Enjoy the new year.

    All the best.