The price of HD video modulators has finally come down to a level where it might be worth constructing a distribution system using modulators instead of using a matrix.

I've been looking for a reasonably-priced ATSC modulator for quite some time and my client just ran across the Stellar Labs 33-11980. Its output is at +25 dB. It takes an HDMI input. Its output resolution is not mentioned in the one sheet I was able to find -- [Link: farnell.com] -- though it states that input resolution is automatically detected.

They go for $299 each.

If you have several modulators, their outputs can be mixed, then distributed as TV signals on RG6, using standard TV frequency amps and splitters. All channels will go to all TVs and the number of TVs you can serve is determined only by the size of your distribution system (I once did three store systems with 400 TV outlets each). You pick a TV's channel at the TV.

Have you had any success with other modulators? I'm talking ATSC because that's what TV tuners can select. QAM modulators require cable boxes programmed to select the channels you have.

Thanks.

These may not be compatible with cable boxes and bluray players? Nevermind 4K HDR

Ernie:

We have been down the “single end” modulation path.
After testing many products we have yet to find any “reasonable price” unit that supports HDCP and has a quality same resolution in/out capability.

We do it with a two piece system (encoder at source & dcoder at display), it is more money but it meets the HDCP and picture quality criteria.

I started looking into this company but never finished.

http://www.provideoinstruments.com/

I never stopped to consider what resolution a 4K TV's built in TV tuner would play back.  Could it do 4K?

Disagree with Ernie on the QAM tuner description; many, many, many sets offer QAM tuners.

And these work great. We have loved them for builder models for distributing the propaganda or big game to all of the TV's

Pat yourself on the back for not finishing with these guys. They're sold as PVI products, some of which are called VeCOAX. The products look quite nice. The experience is sheer hell.

I bought a modulator from them that (theoretically) will do ATSC, QAM, and overseas (from the US) modulation styles. It would not set up properly. This can happen.

But trying to get assistance was a nightmare. I finally had to give up on the possibility of using the product because of lack of getting anyone on the phone, even after making an appointment. I simply could not drive the 40 miles through LA traffic to my client's site, only to find that nobody would answer the phone in the four hours I was on site. Doing this twice was enough. Now they're not responding about my returning the product.

Another installer I know set up a system using several channels of PVI QAM modulators. He was successful but his eventual successful installation required a six hour phone call... somehow he got someone on the phone.

I could go on. Don't use these guys.


jrainey's answer speaks for itself. Of course, I forgot to mention perhaps the worst part of this whole mess: HDMI WILL CHANGE and what works today might be a doorstop tomorrow.


Okay. I did not consider that. My client actually uses an OTA antenna and the TVs he has would make him choose between QAM and ATSC, having to rescan all channels when changing from one to the other. This makes QAM not usable for him.

Faster48 Has a few of them out in the wild. I helped him on an install with them a few years back. They worked at the time with DTV. Image quality was great!

I have one out in the wild that is still kicking. Blu-ray comcast etc. They worked but took alot of time to get set up right. Faster48 has a background in pro coax distribution so his knowlege about coax distribution/levels played a key in him getting it to work on his large job.

All of this being said, you have to go into it knowing that there is absolutely ZERO support. I know on one of the jobs he managed to get support to log in and they did somethings So yes, buyer beware! Its a shame because they do work well if you can get them up and running!

We have discussed the PVI product before. It has always been rock solid for me but I have never needed to call to figure anything out. I am the type that always figures everything out for myself.
So it may very well be they are unresponsive to tech support and return calls. But since I never have a problem with the product and can figure things out myself, then it has never been an issue for me.
My biggest complaint with the company is they do not give you dealer cost; if you are a small business and not ordering stacks of modulators at a time (and often). So that normally pushes me to other alternatives, since marking PVI product up above retail price causes it to not be so cheap anymore (compared to other solutions).

As mentioned, the Stellar Labs modulator does NOT support HDCP. That pretty much makes it a non-starter. All these digital HD modulators with HDMI input that do not support HDCP, are meant for digital signage. The companies that are re-branding for home use are a-holes. They know good and well the product is practically useless for that purpose without HDCP compliance.

My background in coax distribution and signal levels includes the successful construction of three antenna systems for a company in the Los Angeles area, many years back. The sources were a TV antenna; a laserdisc player modulated onto channel 6; and a DirecTV receiver modulated onto channel 3 with a vestigial sideband filter following the modulator.

Each system had four hundred outputs at +10 dB. I chose +10 dB because my experience with idiot salespeople told me someone was very likely to split a signal in two using a 4-way splitter... retail, you know.

The modulator I had had three different audio settings. The joke of a "manual" did not even have the word "audio" or "sound" in the manual. This left me with three possible video settings times three possible audio settings that had to be checked on ten TVs throughout the house. Even when we got three of those TVs into the garage, it was just too confusing to work through.

No support. Yup, that's them.

Crestron NVX

See:

[Link: hdtvsupply.com]

One Channel HDMI to ATSC/QAM Adapter

Also supports DVB-C/DVB-T/ISDB-T

Web GUI Setup & Control

Sends 1080p HDMI via coax cables to TVs

HDCP Compliant

Free Shipping

5-Year Warranty & Lifetime Tech Support

30-Day No-Hassle Open Box Returns

It cant be HDCP compliant if you dont have a decoder at the other end.

Bye Bye Jimmy

Fins,
I'd agree with that, except Calrad has an ATSC modulator that modulates the output of a DirecTV H24. I've got one working on a dozen TVs at a client's house. The modulator's output is mixed straight into his OTA antenna system.

Doesn't that mean that the modulator is somehow HDCP compliant all by itself?

(Incidentally, this modulator would not work with a wireless Genie client.)

Not sure what you mean by that. There is no "box" at the TV end for ANY modulated setup, if the TV has a tuner built-in. That is kind of the whole point.
[note]: Metra's modulated setup uses DVB-T modulation, so requires a tuner box at each TV. Also why it is so much cheaper.


Jimmy, have you use this product before?
I would certainly test this product myself, to make sure a HDCP signal would work. As they don't specifically say that it will. They only mention HDCP once in the literature and that look like a copy/paste about the HDMI input in general.