how to play 5dvd's to 5 seperate tv's from central location

[grannymae]

Hi all.

newb question here.

i am looking for a multi disc, dvd player that will play to separate outputs.

i.e., i have 5 tv's. how do i get 5 different dvd's to play to 5 tv's? is there such a product? all the multi-disc products i see seem to play to only 1 tv. how do i get 5 different dvd's to play to 5 different tv's?

THX!!

GrannyMae

[Number Six]

You have to use 5 separate DVD players individually wired to each respective TV.

[grannymae]

You have to use 5 separate DVD players individually wired to each respective TV.

that's the way i have it set up now. i.e., i have a central office that has the 5dvd players. each are wired to 5 different tv's that are all about 100 feet from the players. i have no way to find out if a dvd is done playing or not, because i have no monitor to monitor the monitors. i know i can set each dvd player on repeat, but when i do that there is a "repeat all" icon on each screen and it looks awful. maybe another brand of dvd players would not display this "repeat all", but the 5 i have don't have an option to turn that display off.

if i could set up a monitor in the office to monitor what's playing on all the tv's, this would solve the problem. however, i can't split a dvd signal (unless i am missing something), so a 5 way switcher does not seem to be a solution.

any ideas?

TIA

[guns1inger]

You can split a signal simply by getting the right cables, or making them yourself.

[grannymae]

You can split a signal simply by getting the right cables, or making them yourself.

i have always been told that dvd component cable can't be split without almost complete loss of signal. i was told i needed an amplifier. amps for this are too expensive, that's why i am tring an alternate solution.

how exactly would you split component cables without a loss of signal?

[guns1inger]

You can't do it without some loss, but total loss is not going to happen. The question is where do you want to pay the price - in quality, or in getting an amplified splitter ?

The other thing to look at is if the players also have s-video. Most players that have both s-video and component actually run the output through both simultaneously. You may find that if you plug a monitor into the s-video output of the DVD player you can see what is playing over the component. No splitting, no loss.

[grannymae]

You can't do it without some loss, but total loss is not going to happen. The question is where do you want to pay the price - in quality, or in getting an amplified splitter ?

i'm thinking that the fact that the monitors are 100 feet or more away, the signal would really suffer.

The other thing to look at is if the players also have s-video. Most players that have both s-video and component actually run the output through both simultaneously. You may find that if you plug a monitor into the s-video output of the DVD player you can see what is playing over the component. No splitting, no loss.

hmm. i had not thought of this!! will give it a try.

tyvm

[Number Six]

You have to use 5 separate DVD players individually wired to each respective TV.

that's the way i have it set up now. i.e., i have a central office that has the 5dvd players. each are wired to 5 different tv's that are all about 100 feet from the players. i have no way to find out if a dvd is done playing or not, because i have no monitor to monitor the monitors. i know i can set each dvd player on repeat, but when i do that there is a "repeat all" icon on each screen and it looks awful. maybe another brand of dvd players would not display this "repeat all", but the 5 i have don't have an option to turn that display off.

if i could set up a monitor in the office to monitor what's playing on all the tv's, this would solve the problem. however, i can't split a dvd signal (unless i am missing something), so a 5 way switcher does not seem to be a solution.

any ideas?

TIA

Are your DVD players the el cheapo variety that do not have a display to show you what the player is doing? The repeat all icon is being displayed because you have the OSD (on screen display) turned on - you should be able to turn this off either via a button on the player's remote control, or in the player's setup menu - what model DVD players are they?

[mikel]

What about something like this?

http://www.smarthome.com/8145H/5-Way-HD-Component-Video-Distribution-Amplifier/p.aspx

[grannymae]

You have to use 5 separate DVD players individually wired to each respective TV.

that's the way i have it set up now. i.e., i have a central office that has the 5dvd players. each are wired to 5 different tv's that are all about 100 feet from the players. i have no way to find out if a dvd is done playing or not, because i have no monitor to monitor the monitors. i know i can set each dvd player on repeat, but when i do that there is a "repeat all" icon on each screen and it looks awful. maybe another brand of dvd players would not display this "repeat all", but the 5 i have don't have an option to turn that display off.

if i could set up a monitor in the office to monitor what's playing on all the tv's, this would solve the problem. however, i can't split a dvd signal (unless i am missing something), so a 5 way switcher does not seem to be a solution.

any ideas?

TIA

Are your DVD players the el cheapo variety that do not have a display to show you what the player is doing?

yes, they certainly are cheapo.

The repeat all icon is being displayed because you have the OSD (on screen display) turned on - you should be able to turn this off either via a button on the player's remote control, or in the player's setup menu - what model DVD players are they?

unfortunately, the OSD can't be toggled off. i went all the way to the manufacturer out of disbelief that this hideous OSD won't go away.

this is the machine;
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7944683&type=product&id=1152228812909&re...ci_sku=7944683

[grannymae]

What about something like this?

http://www.smarthome.com/8145H/5-Way-HD-Component-Video-Distribution-Amplifier/p.aspx

i could be reading the specs wrong, but it seems this amp is for one input to 5 outputs. i guess i could match this with a 5-way switch and that would do the job.

or would it?

[Number Six]

You best option may be to replace the players - here is another el cheapo player, but it has a built in display - I own 1 and it is a nice player. They are also the same size as your current machines, so no major change to your setup.

http://www.amazon.com/Coby-DVD-514-Channel-Progressive-Player/dp/B0007SKSES/ref=sr_1_1...3114874&sr=8-1

Your total cost looks to be $155.45 with free shipping.

[grannymae]

You best option may be to replace the players - here is another el cheapo player, but it has a built in display - I own 1 and it is a nice player. They are also the same size as your current machines, so no major change to your setup.

http://www.amazon.com/Coby-DVD-514-Channel-Progressive-Player/dp/B0007SKSES/ref=sr_1_1...3114874&sr=8-1

Your total cost looks to be $155.45 with free shipping.

i had no idea i could get $30 machines with front panel display.

i have ordered the 5 machines. VERY simple fix.

you guys are great! thx again!

[Number Six]

Glad to help