Humax 9200t Signal Distribution

[spansda]

Hi all,

I'm looking at buying a a Twin Tuner PVR, and am hovering between the 9200t, or the topfield5800.

Idealy i'd like to buy the Humax, but could anyone tell me, how I can distribute the signal from a humax into several rooms. I have co-ax throughout the house, but as the humax only has an rf loop, im not sure how this would work.

I'd also like to control the humax from different rooms, but thats another issue for another day!


Thanks
Darren

[Barry]

The 9200T has a modulated RF output, not loop.

[ianh64]

I do exactly what you want to do. The RF output from the Humax is fed into a Labgear Handilink pro MRX270 (http://labgear.co.uk/pdf/9.pdf) distribution amp and IR repeater so I get a decent signal and the ability to control the 9200 from other rooms. Cost I think is about £70.

[SHC]

Hi all,

I'm looking at buying a a Twin Tuner PVR, and am hovering between the 9200t, or the topfield5800.

Idealy i'd like to buy the Humax, but could anyone tell me, how I can distribute the signal from a humax into several rooms. I have co-ax throughout the house, but as the humax only has an rf loop, im not sure how this would work.

I'd also like to control the humax from different rooms, but thats another issue for another day!
Thanks
Darren[/b]

Hi Darren,

I do this with mine. The RF from the Humax is fed to my VCR and the VCR RF output to the input of a 4 port aerial amplifier. The RF outputs from the amplifier are fed to three bedrooms and back to the main TV.
I run it through the VCR so that we could originally play tapes, but that is very rare since we got the Humax.
One problem is that when you play a recorded programme from the Humax the recorded list is superimposed over the tuned station at the end of playing and remains there until you press exit on the Humax remote - usually the next morning!
I leave the Humax on 24/7 apart from when we are on holiday and there is nothing we desperately want to record.

[spansda]

I do exactly what you want to do. The RF output from the Humax is fed into a Labgear Handilink pro MRX270 (http://labgear.co.uk/pdf/9.pdf) distribution amp and IR repeater so I get a decent signal and the ability to control the 9200 from other rooms. Cost I think is about £70.[/b]



Perfect, appreciate the advice, and will follow your lead!


Thanks
D

[ianh64]

If you do go for a IR repeater that uses the aerial feed, you need to make sure that you are not using isolation type TV outlets. These normally have a -||- symbol printed on them. I had to replace the one in my bedroom with a non isolated version. This is also true of any AV amps that the link pases through - the one supplied by Labgear specifically allows a signal to be passed through it in reverse direction. The labgear one is also powered by the IR splitter/controller that is situated with the TV so the amp can be remotely mounted without the need for a seperate power supply. One final word! Extra IR transmitters are available but they are not compatible with the Sky ones.

[spansda]

I do exactly what you want to do. The RF output from the Humax is fed into a Labgear Handilink pro MRX270 (http://labgear.co.uk/pdf/9.pdf) distribution amp and IR repeater so I get a decent signal and the ability to control the 9200 from other rooms. Cost I think is about £70.[/b]


Ian,

Sorry for the Noddy like questions, but I am having a few probs with the MRx270.

What connections do you have going in to the MRX270? You mention in your earlier reply that The RF output is fed into the MRX270. Is this the RF output from the 9200? If so is this the output that is marked RF Loop? As this is the only output type connector I can see? (other than Scart)

Dead pleased with the 9200, and the MRX270, its just my incompatence thats ruining it all !


Thanks
Darren

[Mr_Orange]

What connections do you have going in to the MRX270? You mention in your earlier reply that The RF output is fed into the MRX270. Is this the RF output from the 9200? If so is this the output that is marked RF Loop? As this is the only output type connector I can see? (other than Scart)[/b]That's right. Take the aerial lead that went from your Humax into your TV and plug it into the MRX270. Then as I understand it, you connect a lead from the MRX270 base unit into your main TV and one to the distribution amp and thence on to the other TVs.

I don't have one, but this is how I understand them to work. I have been researching TV distribution recently and now know what I need to buy to achieve this, thanks to some helpful replies on this forum.

[ianh64]

Sorry for not getting back.

That's right. Take the aerial lead that went from your Humax into your TV and plug it into the MRX270. Then as I understand it, you connect a lead from the MRX270 base unit into your main TV and one to the distribution amp and thence on to the other TVs.[/b]

Yes. This is correct.

Without taking my TV cabinet apart, as I remember, the control unit has one input and two outputs on it. The input is fed from the RF out of the humax - this would normally go through to the TV for analogue stuff. Instead, the TV is fed from the TV out of the control unit and the rest of the house is fed from the other output. In the case of the MRX270 that uses the distribution amp, this output feeds (and supplies power to) the distribution amp. From the distribution amp, you then take up to 4 outputs to other TV's. The distribution amp can also take FM in (don't know about DAB) and this is MUX'd so can be output at a TV/FM wall plate. The IT eye then plugs in at the TV end.

You then tune each remote TV into humax RF output frequency and you should see and beable to control the hummy at each location - assuming you take the hummy remote with you!

[chrisn78]

Just thought I'd add that I have bought the following "DigiSender" from Argos (£39.99) and it works fine with the Humax - sending the picture directly from SCART on the back of the Humax to SCART on a different TV. It also includes a slightly clumsy IR repeater which works nicely so you can control the Humax from the "other" TV - provided you remember to take the remote with you!

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5345904.htm

I believe you can also buy extra receivers so you can send to multiple TV's.

Hope this helps anybody else looking to send their Humax pictures to another room

[itops]

I've been using a tvLINK system to distribute the Humax RF signal to four TVs around the house since the hummy was first released and it works like a dream. The tvLINK system is really designed for use with SKY boxes, although it works a great with a Humax if you buy a tvLINKPLUS unit. I don't have any SKY equipment but I originally bought a loftbox to allow me to distribute my CCTV cameras to all the TVs and PCs in the house.

Basically I have a tvLINK loftbox mounted in the loft that integrates TV, DAB and CCTV. I have then installed a tvLINK eye in each room that houses a TV and then attached the Humax to the lofbox using a tvLINKplus that allows me to control the humax and a DVB player from any room. The SCART on the hummy feeds my projector and the RF output feeds the TVs. I still can't beleive the RF picture quality on my Panasonic plasma.

The only slight downside to the system is that you need a Humax switcher/remote in each of the rooms or buy a couple of programable remotes. I've got a couple of the Sony RM900 that do the job, although there missing any colored keys which would have been nice.

For more info on the tvLINK take a look at www.tvlink.co.uk or drop me a mail.

[clickerticker]

I do exactly what you want to do. The RF output from the Humax is fed into a Labgear Handilink pro MRX270 (http://labgear.co.uk/pdf/9.pdf) distribution amp and IR repeater so I get a decent signal and the ability to control the 9200 from other rooms. Cost I think is about £70.[/b]
I'm trying to do pretty much the same (without the IR repeater). My Labgear box is Labgear HDU681 (http://www.tracsat.co.uk/catalog/labgear-hdu681-distribution-system-p-201.html).
Only had the Hummy for a few days and am struggling with this. Specifically, the analog channels the Hummy outputs on its RF are seriously degraded and just about unwatchable - the Hummys modulated digital output seems fine.
Have tried swapping UHF output channel, aerial power is off, box is at latest revisions.
Aerial almost new, 50% signal from Hannington and 100% quality on all Freeview. Analog perfect.

Sky box currently doing the job works fine - no noticeable degradation in analog signals. Have ruled out cables as I can take the Hummy out of circuit by linking Aerial-in and RF-out cables together - analog is perfect.

Hummy UK think that the RF modulator in my box may be defective and I have a fault code to facilitate a replacement. I'm getting concerned however that there may more of a generic problem with the Hummy RF and would like to form a view before the 7 day return period is over.

Anyone else noticed any degradation in the RF on a Hummy ?

[peteH]

I'm trying to do pretty much the same (without the IR repeater). My Labgear box is Labgear HDU681 (http://www.tracsat.co.uk/catalog/labgear-hdu681-distribution-system-p-201.html).
Only had the Hummy for a few days and am struggling with this. Specifically, the analog channels the Hummy outputs on its RF are seriously degraded and just about unwatchable - the Hummys modulated digital output seems fine.
Have tried swapping UHF output channel, aerial power is off, box is at latest revisions.
Aerial almost new, 50% signal from Hannington and 100% quality on all Freeview. Analog perfect.

Sky box currently doing the job works fine - no noticeable degradation in analog signals. Have ruled out cables as I can take the Hummy out of circuit by linking Aerial-in and RF-out cables together - analog is perfect.

Hummy UK think that the RF modulator in my box may be defective and I have a fault code to facilitate a replacement. I'm getting concerned however that there may more of a generic problem with the Hummy RF and would like to form a view before the 7 day return period is over.

Anyone else noticed any degradation in the RF on a Hummy ?[/b]


YES - (and also FoxF2T box). Tried to set up upstairs TV (no SCART) but signal coming from the aerial-out just not watchable. Also using Hannington. One issue may be how close the box default channel is to Chanel 5 signals but you've beaten me to it in swapping the output channel which I was intending to try.

Clearly there are issues here!

Pete

[AndyL]

Have a search around on google for 'taboo' channels (carefully! http://www.hummy.org.uk/invison/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/angelic.gif )

I had this problem, as working out a good channel to set the Hummy output to was harder than I originally thought (for me it more difficult as I had signals from two transmitters and a modulated VCR to contend with) - I got there eventually, but can't remember the full rules, someting like ...

Avoid any channel which already has a signal on it, or an adjacent channel to a strong signal or any channel + or - 5, or + or - 9 from a strong signal.

[peteH]

YES - (and also FoxF2T box). Tried to set up upstairs TV (no SCART) but signal coming from the aerial-out just not watchable. Also using Hannington. One issue may be how close the box default channel is to Chanel 5 signals but you've beaten me to it in swapping the output channel which I was intending to try.

Clearly there are issues here!

Pete[/b]


...AND TO ANSWER MY OWN POST, Hannington was clearly the common factor. Retuning the UHF channel on the Hummy is the way to go. Retune to Ch32 and all is beautiful! Daughter now has digital in her room with the FoxBox as well.


Pete