Hello,

I'm not quite sure if this is in the correct forum, so please feel free to relocate this if it isn't.

I would like to be able to broadcast audio/video output from my PC to the TVs in the house. I'd like to do it in 1080i, with 5.1 audio output. However, I currently live in an apartment where I cannot fish new wiring. This eliminates things like network media serving since my wireless network cannot support enough data throughput for multiple TVs.

Are there personal ATSC transmitters on the market, similar to the FM transmitters that are audio only? The range doesn't need to be far at all, possibly 25 feet or so.

A quick google search came up with this:
http://www.amazon.com/Brite-View-BV-2500-Wireless-Transmitter-Receiver/dp/B0026FCGLI
http://www.electronichouse.com/article/belkin_announces_wireless_hd_transmitter/C93

Your Google-fu is better than mine.

Can anyone find one which transmits ATSC specifically? I'd rather not have to shell out for receivers when the TVs already have the ATSC tuners built-in.

ATSC is not an RF modulation tranmission standard.
OTA digital TV is broadcast using MPEG2 encoding in accordance with ATSC standards asnd is broadcast using 8VSB RF modulation. Most cable digitasl content is also encoded in accordance with the the ATSC standards.
I am not aware of any home use transmiters for 8VSB modulated digital video that would enable any TV in a home to receive the content with an OTA 8vsb digital tuner (which is often mistankenly called an ATSC tuner).
Is it if your intention to send different HD programs to different TV all of which have digital tuners from your PC or to send a single program to the other TVs concurently?

You won't be able to transmit 8VSB privately. The FCC would frown upon that I'm sure.

Shell out for an electrician and run cables/wiring from your antenna to the TV's to suit your needs.

You won't be able to transmit 8VSB privately. The FCC would frown upon that I'm sure.


It seems that the product is both legal and illegal.

"The Air HD (BV-2500) will automatically adjust its frequency between 4.9~5.9 GHz."

There are unlicensed frequency bands at 5.3 and 5.8 Ghz. 4.9 GHZ is reserved for public service, but unlicensed. Weather radar uses 5.5 GHz.

There is a product that will modulate an ATSC signal which is currently being used for tests of amateur DTV, but using one of these on the TV band is illegal. Plus, it's a lot more expensive than those products to which you've already been linked.

- Trip

Is it if your intention to send different HD programs to different TV all of which have digital tuners from your PC or to send a single program to the other TVs concurently?A single program to all of the TVs concurrently

You won't be able to transmit 8VSB privately. The FCC would frown upon that I'm sure.I was under the impression that low-power broadcasting on them would be OK? That seems to be the case with FM, at least, since you can get personal FM transmitters that use licensed frequencies for personal audio devices.

Shell out for an electrician and run cables/wiring from your antenna to the TV's to suit your needs.If it were allowed I would run the cabling myself, but, it's not.

There's a rule allowing extremely low-powered FM transmitters. No such rule exists for TV.

- Trip

You might look into HDMI over Powerline equipment:

http://www.efunctional.com/dbhdp100.html

I don't know if you can do component over powerline since that wold probably be better if the same program is going to all the TVs.

The second linked product in post #2, "Flywire" (http://www.electronichouse.com/artic...ransmitter/C93), from Belkin, was never produced, and Belkin announced earlier this year that it will not be produced.

It seems that the product is both legal and illegal.

"The Air HD (BV-2500) will automatically adjust its frequency between 4.9~5.9 GHz."

There are unlicensed frequency bands at 5.3 and 5.8 Ghz. 4.9 GHZ is reserved for public service, but unlicensed. Weather radar uses 5.5 GHz.

With a broadcast distance of 20 meters... I don't think it will disrupt your neighbor's weather radar too badly. ;)

This device is no different than some portable phones.

That's a lot different than remodulating and rebroadcasting a signal within the 50-800MHz range.

There's a rule allowing extremely low-powered FM transmitters. No such rule exists for TV.

- TripAh, I wasn't aware that the FM exception was specific. I had assumed it was a blanket low-power exemption.

Thanks guys. Sounds like I'll just have to wait to do this until I move into my house in a couple months and I can run wires to wherever I want!

If you are willing to sacrifice some signal quality for your temporary situation you might consider something like a Leapfrog:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16855001&highlight=#post16855001

Since the original poster asked specifically about ATSC... SR Systems in Germany sells an MPEG encoder / 8VSB modulator combination capable of generating about 10 milliwatts of power for about 1000 euros. It's intended for use by Amateur Radio operators - who mostly use DVB-S instead of ATSC anyway. I bought a pair of these and am working on an Amateur ATSC repeater here in the bay area.

But the idea of using these to move TV around your house is pretty much a non-starter. Your best bet is (vaporware, so far as I know) wireless HDMI gear.

What about using those 8vsb modulators going through RG6 coax ?

Yeah, I think the point is more about the $1500 cost of the equipment...

What about a ZvBox? It uses QAM, not ATSC, but seems to do what you want otherwise. You'd need the Pro model for 1080i.

Since the original poster asked specifically about ATSC... SR Systems in Germany sells an MPEG encoder / 8VSB modulator combination capable of generating about 10 milliwatts of power for about 1000 euros. It's intended for use by Amateur Radio operators - who mostly use DVB-S instead of ATSC anyway. I bought a pair of these and am working on an Amateur ATSC repeater here in the bay area.

But the idea of using these to move TV around your house is pretty much a non-starter. Your best bet is (vaporware, so far as I know) wireless HDMI gear.

But does the SR Systems do MPEG2 audio or AC3? I thought the big debate in CA ATV circles was the fact that this type gear didn't do AC3 and therefore CECBs were useless since unlike the more expensive STBs, the CECB's didn't have MPEG2 decoders in them and the ATSC ATV activity would start at 1296 using the L-Band segment of DVB-S receivers and not use 432?

But does the SR Systems do MPEG2 audio or AC3? I thought the big debate in CA ATV circles was the fact that this type gear didn't do AC3 and therefore CECBs were useless since unlike the more expensive STBs, the CECB's didn't have MPEG2 decoders in them and the ATSC ATV activity would start at 1296 using the L-Band segment of DVB-S receivers and not use 432?
I'm sure the SR Systems encoder is MPEG-1 Layer 2. I'll also guess that it's fully capable of AC-3 (it's not that much more MIPS for AC-3 2.0), but they just don't want to deal with the Dolby licensing.

Aside from the encoder fee, I believe you need to verify that each customer has paid their fee to Dolby to produce/transmit content. Not a good model for the amateur radio market.

Ron

I'm sure the SR Systems encoder is MPEG-1 Layer 2. I'll also guess that it's fully capable of AC-3 (it's not that much more MIPS for AC-3 2.0), but they just don't want to deal with the Dolby licensing.

Aside from the encoder fee, I believe you need to verify that each customer has paid their fee to Dolby to produce/transmit content. Not a good model for the amateur radio market.

A few months ago, Toner Cable was taking orders for a commercial MPEG-2encoder/QAM modulator product intended for headend use for $2,500, and one of my competitors said he was testing the prototype, but when I called in to place an order, I was told that they had to drop that product because of a problem negotiating the Dolby rights fee.

If the OP has an existing RF coax connection directly to each TV then he would just need a modulator and NOT a transmitter? That would presumably be legal - though they aren't cheap.

If the TVs are QAM compatible then the zvboxes might be of interest? Think they are more geared to PC connection - but may also allow HD video sources? The ZVBox 150 appears to have HD Component inputs - though 720p only - not 1080i?

http://www.zeevee.com/connected-home

(Sorry - just seen coyoteaz posted a similar thought)

If the OP has an existing RF coax connection directly to each TV then he would just need a modulator and NOT a transmitter? That would presumably be legal - though they aren't cheap.

If the TVs are QAM compatible then the zvboxes might be of interest? Think they are more geared to PC connection - but may also allow HD video sources? The ZVBox 150 appears to have HD Component inputs - though 720p only - not 1080i?

http://www.zeevee.com/connected-home

(Sorry - just seen coyoteaz posted a similar thought)

Along with this line of thinking is the Bocs Extender (http://www.myxtender.com/) (SD at the present, but HD is in future)

Also they have a thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1080436)on AVS with a rep from the company to answer questions... David Feller is the go to guy for this product.

The Air HD operates on the NON-DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) frequencies,Hugh?In other words, the Air HD (BV-2500) will automatically adjust its frequency between 4.9~5.9 GHz for the best video transmission performance possibleThat ought to go far. Surely can't use a consumer ATSC receiver with that.

There's a rule allowing extremely low-powered FM transmitters. No such rule exists for TV.

- TripI'd like to ask for clarification on this... I may not be using all the correct terms, but I have a VCR that modulates analog/NTSC on channel 3 (or 4), right? Of course that's legal, right? I see that he does want to do it wirelessly, but lets say he already had coax run. Is there a device that could do that such as I outlined above?

If there is, obviously it would be illegal (don't do it!), but technically possible to use an amp with directional antennas to send that through the air a short distance.

... but I have a VCR that modulates analog/NTSC on channel 3 (or 4), right? Of course that's legal, right? Is there a device that could do that such as I outlined above?

Not for "ATSC" (8VSB) that I am aware. Remodulating over coax cable is not the same as re-broadcasting OTA (wirelessly) on licenced frequencies.

EDIT:
Let me clarify... It would be legal, but I am not aware of any "box" that re-modulates ATSC similar to a VCR.

This eliminates things like network media serving since my wireless network cannot support enough data throughput for multiple TVs.

A single program to all of the TVs concurrently

Multicast over Wi-Fi would allow you to send the same video stream to all of the clients on the network, using only the bandwidth of a single video stream.

You'll need 802.11n to get the speed needed for HD, though. 802.11a/b/g won't be fast enough.

-- Kevin

I'd like to ask for clarification on this... I may not be using all the correct terms, but I have a VCR that modulates analog/NTSC on channel 3 (or 4), right? Of course that's legal, right?

Yep, as long as it's kept within the coax.

I see that he does want to do it wirelessly, but lets say he already had coax run. Is there a device that could do that such as I outlined above?

That one really expensive SR Systems device is the only thing I've seen that does something like that.

- Trip

I am waiting for something like the WV300 (can't post link, do a Google search)
I believe it's only a matter of time before one comes out, legal in the US or not

Transmitting video over the air within the TV Broadcast bands is illegal under FCC rules. They figure there's just too much possibility of interference, copyright violations and "XXX-Rated" broadcasts.

BTW, the last time I priced 8VSB Modulators for CATV and MATV, they were about $8K each. You'd still need an MPEG-2 HDTV Encoder ($30K or so) and a Dolby Digital encoder (several thousand bucks), and you'd need to create PSIP Table information as well, using a computer and the appropriate $oftware.

I am waiting for something like the WV300 (can't post link, do a Google search)
I believe it's only a matter of time before one comes out, legal in the US or not

I hope that if they do, it's of better quality than the one I had. It worked okay at first, but then just started throwing harmonics all over the band and became useless.

I kinda wish the converter boxes would do QAM in addition to ATSC so I could inject a QAM signal into the antenna system and feed it around the house...

- Trip

I have used the ZeeVee's, they work well:

http://www.zeevee.com/connected-home/zvbox150

I have the QRF5000-2 at home, with ASI Input from TSReader:

http://www.rccfiber.com/products/analog_digital.htm

Though nice, both provide only QAM as best I can tell and I have precisely zero QAM tuners in my home. (Not counting my dying DViCO Fusion5 which doesn't work with TSReader on the QAM side.)

I asked and the Zeevee folks have no plans to provide an 8VSB model.

- Trip

Though nice, both provide only QAM as best I can tell and I have precisely zero QAM tuners in my home. (Not counting my dying DViCO Fusion5 which doesn't work with TSReader on the QAM side.)

I asked and the Zeevee folks have no plans to provide an 8VSB model.

- Trip

I doubt that anyone is going to make an inexpensive 8VSB modulator because the market for it just becomes smaller and smaller as the TV stock turns over and every TV will have a QAM tuner. I could really use some for MATV because I have lots of MATV customers with old clunker TVs and CECB tuners, but that market can only get smaller.

It doesn't cost diddly to make an 8VSB modulator. DISH made one for its Model 5000 or 6000 HDTV receivers and sold it for a couple hundred dollars, but it was not a stand-alone unit and needed an unencrypted digital input, so even of anyone found a way to kludge it into a stand-alone unit, the only inexpensive source of unencrypted MPEG-2 programming would be demodulated broadcast HDTV, but if that is all anyone wanted to distribute, they wouldn't need to demod and remod: they'd just heterodyne convert it if necessary.

I suppose Zenith would want a license fee for such nowadays, and given the limited market like Mike says is unlikely to happen.

I have one of the Computer Modules ATSC modulator cards too... never use it..


and a few of the old Sencore HDTV997's(?) with ATSC modulator cards in them.
Anyone want one of the Sencore cards to play with?

For the OP:

Sencore makes some 8-VSB Modulator devices that are intended for the pro market. One such device is the HDTV996A, info here (http://www.sencore.com/products/broadcast-signal-generators/129).

Another 8-VSB modulator is the Sencore ATSC987, info here (http://www.sencore.com/products/modulators/127). At work I procured and used two Sencore ATSC987 8-VSB Modulators. They provided an easy way to distribute our HD programing throughout the agency/production center. Please note: this device only accepts ASI input via a 25 pin D Sub Connector or SMPTE310M input via BNC connector.

Anyone want one of the Sencore cards to play with?

If there's any chance I could feed video off one of my computers with it, I wouldn't mind playing with one. What would you want for it? What about software for it?

I mostly just want to feed a signal around the house to say I can, not so much that I have anything to air on it... :)

- Trip

What about this: Tivit

CES: Mobile DTV goes Wi-Fi to reach iPhones

http://www.networkworldme.com/v1/news.aspx?v=1&nid=3924&sec=wireless

BTW, where is the CES coverage on the AVS Forum?

For those that may be interested Sencore has a PCI solution for 8VSB modulation. It is the HDTV 998C ATSC/NTSC PCI RF Output Card, info here (http://www.sencore.com/products/modulators/125).

Alitronika offers at least three 8VSB modulation devices, info here (http://www.alitronika.com/dvb_modulators.htm).

This is an old posting, so do not know if it is still alive.

Wendell wrote
note: this device only accepts ASI input via a 25 pin D Sub Connector or SMPTE310M input via BNC connector.

I have an interest in using a ATSC987 card as a modulator over a home cable system.
I do not know what those two input formats are, are they available over
a normal PVR or TV set?

I have a ATSC998 card, but the package I got with it does not appear to have the drivers in it, everything else though.
Any thoughts?

I do not know what those two input formats are, are they available over a normal PVR or TV set?AFAIK, no.

For info on ASI click here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asynchronous_serial_interface). You can click the links in the article for more info.

SMPTE-310 is a SMPTE standard. You can purchase individual standards from SMPTE here (http://www.smpte.org/home/). The following is from the Scope of the SMPTE-310

This standard describes the physical interface and modulation characteristics for a synchronous serial interface to carry MPEG-2 transport bit streams at rates up to 40 Mb/s. It is a point-to-point interface intended for use in a low-noise environment. The low-noise environment is defined as a noise level that would corrupt no more than one MPEG-2 data packet per day at the transport clock rate. When other transmission systems (e.g., studio-to-transmitter microwave links, etc.) are interposed between devices employing this interface, higher noise levels may be encountered. In such cases, it is recommended that appropriate error correcting methods be used (see figure 1).

Any idea where I can get the ATSC998 drivers?
I have everything else.

Any idea where I can get the ATSC998 drivers?
I have everything else.I assume you mean the Sencore HDTV 998C card. If so, here is an excerpt form the data sheet:

A simple program interface (API), robust low-level software drivers, and sample code in the Software Developer’s Kit (SDK) are provided to simplify integration and minimize start-up time.

I suggest you contact Sencore and see if they can help, click here (http://www.sencore.com/).

here are two possibilities that do not require modulating
http://www.iogear.com/product/GUWAVKIT2/

http://avior.iogear.com/product/GWAV8141K/

dave

Another more recent option is the DekTec DTA-111. It's also available from Sencore. Still pricey, but a little cheaper than some of the other cards. You still need a way of doing the mpeg-2 and AC-3 encoding, but you can probably do that in software with a reasonably powerful PC (assuming you want to do real time encoding). You wouldn't need to have a very powerful PC if you are playing pre-encoded streams.

$150 on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sencore-ATSC987-8VSB-Modulator-10-Available-/160572195359?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2562d9421f

Good luck getting the proper input format.

...http://cgi.ebay.com/Sencore-ATSC987-8VSB-Modulator-10-Available-/160572195359?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2562d9421f

Good luck getting the proper input format.

My needs may be simpler to meet than most other people's. I need to modulate a relatively low resolution surveillance camera image into 8VSB. What can get me from an affordable camera output to an input compatible with the Sencore ATSC987?

What can get me from an affordable camera output to an input compatible with the Sencore ATSC987?

One option:
A camera equipped with an internal HDV encoder and a firewire output plus a firewire to ASI converter.

Option 2:
A cheap MPEG2 encoder that has an IP output and then use a IP to ASI converter.

Option 3:
A true MPEG2 SD encoder. Try ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/Harmonic-Divicom-MV50-MPEG2-video-encoder-w-ASI-OUT-/350455007555?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5198bf0943
http://cgi.ebay.com/Tiernan-TE6000A-MPEG-2-Encoder-/120709088361?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1ad28469

A camera equipped with an internal HDV encoder and a firewire output plus a firewire to ASI converter.If I am reading the ad correctly the Sencore ATSC987 8VSB Modulator does not have the ASI (serial) input included. I assume most applicable devices of today have serial (BNC) ASI ports on them.

In our instillation (late 90's) we used SMPTE-310 so I never looked into the requirements for the DVB/TTL Parallel input. Can not find a PDF manual on the Sencore site :(.

I met with the guys at Contemporary Research yesterday...they tell me that there is virtually no demand for consumer atsc modulators..and that coupled with the license fees make them non viable. But they do have a nice line of QAM modulators.

http://www.crwww.com/

If the converter boxes would tune QAM, or more than a handful of TV receivers could tune ATSC and QAM without changing mode, I'd love to buy a couple of QAM modulators.

I have no receivers except converter boxes at home except for a single TV I got off Craigslist that requires a mode change in the menu to receive QAM.

- Trip

If the converter boxes would tune QAM, or more than a handful of TV receivers could tune ATSC and QAM without changing mode, I'd love to buy a couple of QAM modulators.

I have no receivers except converter boxes at home except for a single TV I got off Craigslist that requires a mode change in the menu to receive QAM.

- Trip


Yea.. I have a samsung Tv that has dual inputs and will tune both that way.

$150 on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sencore-ATSC987-8VSB-Modulator-10-Available-/160572195359?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2562d9421f

Good luck getting the proper input format.

So are SMPTE310M PCI or PCIe cards cheaper than 8VSB modulator cards? i.e. Could some money be saved by buying this standalone 8VSB modulator and also buying the appropriate interface card to drive it?

I suspect there isn't that much difference in price, but I also have no idea why that standalone modulator has to be so big.

but I also have no idea why that standalone modulator has to be so big.It is a standard 19", 2R rack mount device. It is possible that it could have been a 1R rather than a 2R. I never looked inside our units.

It is a standard 19", 2R rack mount device. It is possible that it could have been a 1R rather than a 2R. I never looked inside our units.

Saw several new commercial units out here @ NAB that are 1RU's.

I don't think anyone here is troubled that such a device might be two rack heights tall versus one, but rather, they would like it to exist in a little box that they can put on the shelf with their other discrete boxes.

There seem to be two bug-aboos as far as distributing desired programming on 8VSB:

1. There is no consumer grade modulator with a consumer friendly price that is available, nor will there be, and,

2. There are few sources of desirable, unencrypted digital programs to be so distributed, so even if you can find each and every item you would need to develop your own 8VS modulated to an FCC channel at affordable prices as used items or closeouts, you wouldn't have the data streams you desire to source them.

The "community" of people who need to be able to demodulate 8VSB but who cannot demodulate QAM is limited to the ever dwindling number of cheapskates who still have only their CECB box available for such a purpose. I have more of those customers than anyone I know of, but they are an insignificant and declining customer base.

I'd love to hook my FTA satellite box to a modulator to feed Al Jazeera through my house.

- Trip

I'd love to hook my FTA satellite box to a modulator to feed Al Jazeera through my house.

- Trip

But you can diplex your L-band satellite signal into your coax and put a $100 FTA receiver at any other TV and be better served than you would be by a modulated Al Jazeera house channel at a very modest cost.

Better served how? Three of the four TV sets in my house have only one set of A/V inputs, currently used by the converter boxes, not that my dad seems to know how to use anything besides the volume and the channel up button anyway. (The boxes are set to "always on" because more than one power button was too confusing. I had to buy universal remotes to get everything onto one remote.)

Not to mention that it would require four $100 boxes and a diplexer instead of one $100 box plus a $35 modulator like I had when we were analog. (I used the modulator to feed the local WB subchannel to the other TVs in the house before the age of CECBs.)

- Trip

Better served how? Three of the four TV sets in my house have only one set of A/V inputs, currently used by the converter boxes, not that my dad seems to know how to use anything besides the volume and the channel up button anyway. (The boxes are set to "always on" because more than one power button was too confusing.)

Not to mention that it would require four $100 boxes instead of one $100 box plus a $35 modulator like I would have had if I'd had FTA when we were analog. (I used the modulator to feed the local WB subchannel to the other TVs in the house before the age of CECBs.)

- Trip

Better served because each TV will have independent access to the two hundred channels that are on the satellite that carries Al Jazeeera.

So you want to take the standard def Al Jazeera output from your FTA receiver, somehow encode it to MPEG, modulate it to 8VAB, and then have it demodulated and decoded by your CECB, broadcast TV tuner box where it is then modulated to channel 3 NTSC and viewed on -what - a Philco TV with a round picture tube and a doily on top? And you want a hardware solution to do all that to get you one channel that costs less than the $100 per box/TV to do it over L-bands? Good luck!

Each TV may have "access" to it, but if my dad has to get up and unplug the converter box and hook up the satellite box in order to watch the two channels of interest on that satellite, (since most of it is non-English and most of the rest is religious in nature) then it doesn't really make a difference how much access there is. He couldn't even manage to use the button I set up on the remote to flip the TV over to analog to watch PBS before the transition, let alone something like that. I don't think he's atypical of many TV viewers.

I'd love a full solution of some kind for less than the $300 premium it would run me to equip an entire house to watch a single additional channel without replacing all the sets; we had it in analog just fine. Plus, then I could use multiple dishes and add programming from multiple satellites with additional modulator boxes.

I'm not really sure why I should be expected to go out and buy brand new TV sets to do something that used to be easily doable without making such a purchase. (New TVs would allow use of my analog modulator since they have the ability to receive both analog and digital, unlike the boxes.)

- Trip

The "community" of people who need to be able to demodulate 8VSB but who cannot demodulate QAM is limited to the ever dwindling number of cheapskates who still have only their CECB box available for such a purpose. I have more of those customers than anyone I know of, but they are an insignificant and declining customer base.

As Trip has already pointed out, there are a lot of devices that can demodulate QAM, but can't demodulate QAM and 8VSB at the "same time". I have a nice large screen Sony TV connected to a good OTA antenna setup. The TV can decode QAM, but only if I set the coax input for "cable" rather than "antenna". So the fact that my TV can demodulate QAM is useless to me. I think the ability to distribute programming to all the TV's in the house without having to have special equipment at each TV will still be a nice capability. I understand that that may never happen cheaply for the consumer.

Does anyone have an idea how much a SPTE310M card like the Computer Modules ATSC Master II FD-RS PCIe card would cost? Any other cheaper alternatives?

When will the patents for 8VSB, MPEG2 and Dolby Digital audio expire? Prices should drop tremendously then.

To answer the OP, they are called "modulators" as discussed here;
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1302051&highlight=modulator

Does anyone have an idea how much a SPTE310M card like the Computer Modules ATSC Master II FD-RS PCIe card would cost? Any other cheaper alternatives?

It's one of those things where if you have to ask the price, then you can't afford it. Cards like this are generally $1k and up. If your lucky and you keep searching ebay you might one day find one there. It will be used and sold as-is because the person selling it will likely not have any way of actually testing it. Then you can bid on it and maybe get it for $300 or $400, not knowing whether it'll actually work or just be a piece of useless junk. Anyway, that's the easy part. The hard part is going to be 2 other issues. The first is you'll need software to support it. The pro version of Tsreader supports some ASI and dvb-spi output cards. Whether or not it supports the cards your interested in I'm not sure. If it does it's a bargain at $399. The second problem your going to face is you'll have to feed your atsc modulator a transport stream that's 100% atsc compliant. That means the bitrate of the mux and the audio and video formats will have to be exactly in line with the ATSC spec. Otherwise, the modulator will likely choke and just give give you some kind of alarm. The bottom line is this is going to be very expensive and complicated because the ATSC modulator your looking at is only one piece of a much larger puzzle. That's probably why these ATSC modulators on ebay are being sold so cheap. They're only practical use is to those who are actually operating an OTA broadcast station.

$150 on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sencore-ATSC987-8VSB-Modulator-10-Available-/160572195359?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2562d9421f

Good luck getting the proper input format.

http://www.ascendant.com.tw/download/sencore/atsc-987_e.pdf

http://www.ascendant.com.tw/download/sencore/atsc-987_e.pdf

There is the problem sencore..! Only works till the power supply craps out. kinda like the tarts who stole from my truck and wifes suburban the other day. Gonna have to pull a Justified in the neigborhood and shake down the section 8 who moved in around the corner...;)

Rob