Weird idea for a switch

[Shilar]

I typically have to buy a switchbox (or 4) so I can plug in all my game systems and accessories to my television (which is an HDTV). I have an odd question: Is there on the market an HDTV converter? As in, able to take an A/V Composite cable, then convert and transmit it into an HDTV signal, be it through a standard cable or very short OTA.

The reason I ask this? I have 16-20 game systems, and have to build a massive manual switchbox system (automatic just does not work) to plug them into the HDTV. An idea I recently thought on was instead of a switchbox, I'd have each system be on a channel, and when I want to play one of them, I simply change the channel. I would prefer HD, not because of the quality, but because I can plug in up to 5-6 channels per signal (and since most of these systems are actually at best 480p, the quality isn't an issue).

As for wired/ota, either would work well, and would be a godsend, though would like to have a multi-channel/signal setup. Any advice (and preferably low-cost solutions) would be nice

[84lion]

Check out Amazon, search on "composite video to hdmi." I believe the results of the search are what you want. Units appear to start at about $20.

-edit- Now I see you're looking for composite video to ATSC signal ("short OTA"). Those animals are quite expensive. If your TV can handle NTSC input and you're OK with that, I have an old box (can't remember the name at the moment) that can take four separate standard video inputs and output them over coaxial cable to four separate channels. Those boxes I think go in the 50-100 dollar range these days. Obviously they're "old technology" and PQ isn't that great.

[jman98]

I'm not trying to offend, but I don't know if you really want what you described or if you did a bad job of describing your desires. This sentence in particular puzzles me:
"convert and transmit it into an HDTV signal, be it through a standard cable or very short OTA"

If you just want something that can take old composite signals and output them as HDMI, then it should be easy to find converters that can do that. Amazon always has a ton of X to Y converts of all kinds. If you are really wanting something that takes SD composite and upscales it to 1080i/p then that is a completely different thing. What kind of output do you want? HDMI? Something else? and is the "standard cable or very short OTA" reference talking about the input or output?

[Shilar]

I'm not trying to offend, but I don't know if you really want what you described or if you did a bad job of describing your desires. This sentence in particular puzzles me:
"convert and transmit it into an HDTV signal, be it through a standard cable or very short OTA"

If you just want something that can take old composite signals and output them as HDMI, then it should be easy to find converters that can do that. Amazon always has a ton of X to Y converts of all kinds. If you are really wanting something that takes SD composite and upscales it to 1080i/p then that is a completely different thing. What kind of output do you want? HDMI? Something else? and is the "standard cable or very short OTA" reference talking about the input or output?

That's ok, I can try to explain better. Back in the days of analog, they came out with an OTA transmitter that made whatever you plugged into it a -very- low-power TV station. Basically, you could play an NES on channel 70, VCR can be set on channel 71, etc. What I'm looking for is a similar idea to be steered to but in HDTV signal format (ie Wii can be 69-1, 3DO can be 69-2). Doesn't have to upgrade the signal, Just need it to transmit to that channel. I figured the best idea (that might not violate FCC laws) would be making it cable, yet still take advantage of the HDTV signal. Basically, instead of transmitting it OTA, you'd plug it into the TV like cable, and the channels are set. I'm not planning on putting in an antenna on this setup.

[jagabo]

You're talking about an RF (radio frequency) modulator. To convert a single SD analog video to a single SD analog RF channel is simple and cheap:

http://www.amazon.com/RCA-Compact-RF-Modulator-CRF907R/dp/B0014KKV7W/

In theory you could daisy chain 20 of those to get 20 channels -- except they usually only give you the choice of two channels -- usually channel 3 or channel 4. You need 20 different channels*. And your TV has to have an analog tuner. Many TVs no longer have one.

It's a lot more work to convert an SD analog signal to a digital ATSC or QAM signal for an HDTV's digital tuner. It require that the signal be digitized, MPG compressed, then ATSC or QAM modulated. That costs a lot more. Then if you want 20 channels multiply that cost by 20. And you're now in the domain of a cable TV operator, meaning pro level devices and pro level costs.

Here's an example of an HDMI (you'll still need an analog to HDMI converter) that handles four channels for about $5000:
http://www.markertek.com/product/thr-4hdmi-qamip/thor-h-4hdmi-qam-ip-4ch-hdmi-to-qam-e...oder-modulator


* it might be possible to have them all set to channel 3 (or 4) and only have one video source on at a time. Since all the unpowered devices won't be putting out a signal the RF modulator associated with that device might not interfere with the one device that is powered up and running. Still 20 analog devices daisy chained together might have other problems.

[Shilar]

Thanks for the replies. You would think they would have made an atsc modulator that would be cheaper, so guess I'm stuck with making another mega switchbox. Fortunately found some good ones on Amazon. I tell you, good composite switchboxes are getting hard to find.

Still, would be a dream if a company came out with a home unit that allowed people to at the least have the ability to display on the HDTV channels, like I was speaking on. I could have my entire game collection on a 4-channel spread (using 5 dash channels per channel).

PS - did find one unit that did an analog multi-channel setup, but man is it expensive... and only does 4.

http://www.amazon.com/CHANNEL-PLUS-5445-Channel-Modulator/dp/B00026C4GA/ref=pd_sim_sbs...VJXXMT0NPKAX4K

Here's another I looked at that after some exhaustive searching: http://www.provideoinstruments.com/micromod-hdmi-hd-rf-modulator.html?gclid=CJartLnFgM...FdcZgQodoVQACw

[jagabo]

guess I'm stuck with making another mega switchbox.

Four of these can handle 15 devices (or five can handle 20, or six can handle 25):

http://www.amazon.com/Auto-sensing-V-Switch-5--2-out/dp/B00DSQMVKU/

If you have to resort to manual switching you'll only have to press 2 buttons.

[Shilar]

guess I'm stuck with making another mega switchbox.

Four of these can handle 15 devices (or five can handle 20, or six can handle 25):

http://www.amazon.com/Auto-sensing-V-Switch-5--2-out/dp/B00DSQMVKU/

If you have to resort to manual switching you'll only have to press 2 buttons.

At issue with these, they are non-stackable. I need the buttons to actually face forward, not be on top. I do have this in mind: http://www.amazon.com/Panlong%C2%AE-Switcher-Composite-Switch-Selector/dp/B00KXVBB3Q/r...HYGBN7ZJM96VAE

It's still manual, but had 8 inputs to one, and the switches are front facing. 2-3 of these and I can hook up every game system I own.

[lingyi]

Here's some other possible alternatives. Most require a bit of DIY and the last requires electronics knowledge.

CCTV Switch

Other much more knowledgeable members here can give more info if this is available or feasible, but it seems that a 16-20 (video / audio input) channel CCTV switch should be available. The primary catch is that you'll have to convert your RCA plug to BNC (adapters are cheap).


Multi-postion rotary switch.

You'd probably need at least two (one for video, one for audio). A quick Google search brought up Mouser which has up to 36 position rotary switches. http://www.mouser.com/Electromechanical/Switches/Rotary-Switches/_/N-5g2i?Ns=Number%20...%20Positions|1
I'd be concerned about isolation between inputs and rotary switches wear out and introduce noise over time.


Patch bay.

One cable to switch any input to a single output. I'm thinking a Cat 5 patch bay would work nicely since you can run video and audio signals over Cat 5. You can use something like this http://www.amazon.com/Evertech-10pcs-Female-Terminal-Connector/dp/B00GXKUYQ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424991301&sr=8-1& to keywords=audio+video+cat+5+rca to convert your RCA plugs to Cat 5 wiring.


Make your own switch

http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/13/how-to-make-a-solid-state-a-v-switcher/

90% of what the poster is saying goes over my head, but it seems a good way to build your own switchbox.

[lingyi]

jagabo

In theory you could daisy chain 20 of those to get 20 channels -- except they usually only give you the choice of two channels -- usually channel 3 or channel 4. You need 20 different channels*. And your TV has to have an analog tuner. Many TVs no longer have one.

My understanding is that lower frequency TV channels needed bandwidth separation to prevent interference. If you had a broadcast channel 3, you couldn't have channel 4. If you had channel 4, you couldn't have channel 3. (In Asia and I believe Europe, its channels 2 & 3 that are used for RF modulators.

Here in Hawaii, when broadcast channel 5 was added, despite the the broadcast tower being <10 miles from my house, we would get constant interference from the stronger channel 4 station.

All higher UHF frequencies (channels 14 - 82/83?) could in theory be used without interference.

[Shilar]

jagabo

In theory you could daisy chain 20 of those to get 20 channels -- except they usually only give you the choice of two channels -- usually channel 3 or channel 4. You need 20 different channels*. And your TV has to have an analog tuner. Many TVs no longer have one.

My understanding is that lower frequency TV channels needed bandwidth separation to prevent interference. If you had a broadcast channel 3, you couldn't have channel 4. If you had channel 4, you couldn't have channel 3. (In Asia and I believe Europe, its channels 2 & 3 that are used for RF modulators.

Here in Hawaii, when broadcast channel 5 was added, despite the the broadcast tower being <10 miles from my house, we would get constant interference from the stronger channel 4 station.

All higher UHF frequencies (channels 14 - 82/83?) could in theory be used without interference.

Why also I was looking for an ATSC/HDTV solution. Imagine a box that can not only trasmit in the HD format, but can have multiple channels to the one, ie 4-1, 4-2, 4-3. The main problem I ran into with UHF was the fine tuning had to be perfect to show well. If the fine tuning was out of whack by so much as a degree, you lose the station.