Hi all,

Does anyone know for sure what brands/models of RF Modulators have been proven to work with the H2160MW9 ?

I just got a Magnavox H2160MW9 and can not get any display at all on the TV set. (it is an older model Zenith with RF coax antenna input only)

I called tech support and they said that the only thing he thought it might be is that the RF Modulator I was trying to use is incompatible with the H2160MW9, but he could not tell me what brands/models of RF Modulators would be compatible, that I would just have to try some and see.

(he said some RF Modulators being incompatible with the H2160MW9 is a known issue)

(I don't want to have to keep buying and trying many different brands/models of RF Modulators, so I was hoping someone might know for sure which ones are compatible :-)

I have a direct cable TV hook up (no cable box) and the TV can get channels fine with a direct hook up and also thru an older model VCR without using the modulator.

Is it possible to hook up the H2160MW9 thru the old vcr and thereby use the built-in modulator on it ?

The RF modulator I have that is incompatible with the H2160MW9 is the Phillips Magnavox PM61138.

The H2160MW9 does work as I tried it in another room where I have a video projector with digital inputs, but I need to use this in a room with an old Zenith with coax antenna-in only. (I'm not ready to afford a new TV with digital inputs yet)

Thanks in advance for any help ! :)

Is it possible to hook up the H2160MW9 thru the old vcr and thereby use the built-in modulator on it?

Yes. The VCR must be powered on and set to the "video" or composite "line" input in order to serve as a RF modulator.

Thanks Digado !

I just tried your suggestion and it worked !

While I would have preferred to be able to use a much smaller regular RF Modulator instead of using an old bulky VCR as an RF Modulator, it still is better than having to buy and try many different brands/models of RF Modulators trying to find one that is compatible.

If anyone reads this and knows for sure from experience of an RF Modulator that IS compatible and works with the H2160MW9 please reply and let me know as I can switch to that later, at least in the meantime the old VCR works good as an RF Modulator.

On second thought I just might wait till sometime later on to get a new TV with digital inputs when I can afford it rather than pay about $30 for an RF Modulator even if I could find out which one is compatible with the H2160MW9, I'll probally just keep using the old VCR as an RF Modulator instead, it does work good so why pay for another RF Modulator ?

It still would be interesting to know if anyone knows of any RF Modulators are compatible with the H2160MW9, especially since there might be others who would benefit from such info.

I really don't know what would cause a RF modulator to be not compatible with a line output device like the 2160a:confused:
I know you were told your RF mod was incompatible but really it's only function is to accept composite(or S-video) output and modulate it to channel 3 or 4.
Again I'm not saying it would be impossible but it would be highly unlikely that either the Philips RF mod or Magnavox 2160a would be non standard.
I agree with your thought process though, why spend $30 for a RF mod for a old TV when your VCR works. Basically all newer TVs now have at least composite inputs in which case you wouldn't need the RF mod if you get a newer TV.

I really don't know what would cause a RF modulator to be not compatible with a line output device like the 2160a:confused:
I know you were told your RF mod was incompatible but really it's only function is to accept composite(or S-video) output and modulate it to channel 3 or 4.
Again I'm not saying it would be impossible but it would be highly unlikely that either the Philips RF mod or Magnavox 2160a would be non standard.
I agree with your thought process though, why spend $30 for a RF mod for a old TV when your VCR works. Basically all newer TVs now have at least composite inputs in which case you wouldn't need the RF mod if you get a newer TV.
I understand what you are saying and I also thought that there should be no compabitility issues with such a basic device as an RF Modulator, but tech support for the H2160MW9 said it was a known issue for some RF Modulators to be incompatible.

I tried doing research on RF Modulators and compatibility and the only thing I found so far was a forum comment that basically said that Phillips Modulators give out so much interference that it does not work with many models.

I really don't know what would cause a RF modulator to be not compatible with a line output device like the 2160a

If a recorder or other video device has excessive DC voltage present along with the signal {AC} waveform on its video outputs, it could cause the modulator's input stage to malfunction. We see this all the time in the professional video world and there are DC blocking devices out there available to remove the DC component. They simply insert between the offending video out and the next video in.

Here's an example of one that's passive, which has three channels in it, for use with component video. If you used one of these on a DVD recorder's composite video out, you'd simply use one of the three channels, such as green, between it and the modulator, and ignore the red and blue connections:

http://www.markertek.com/Video-Equipment/Video-Processors/Video-Noise-Hum-Elimination/Audio-Authority/1182.xhtml

If a recorder or other video device has excessive DC voltage present along with the signal {AC} waveform on its video outputs, it could cause the modulator's input stage to malfunction. We see this all the time in the professional video world and there are DC blocking devices out there available to remove the DC component. They simply insert between the offending video out and the next video in.

Here's an example of one that's passive, which has three channels in it, for use with component video. If you used one of these on a DVD recorder's composite video out, you'd simply use one of the three channels, such as green, between it and the modulator, and ignore the red and blue connections:

http://www.markertek.com/Video-Equipment/Video-Processors/Video-Noise-Hum-Elimination/Audio-Authority/1182.xhtml
Thanks for sharing the info, I learned something new I was not aware of and it is good to know about such electronic quirks of what makes some things incompatible.

(of course the cost of the device that would remedy it is about the cost of a new RF Modulator (if a compatible one was found) so I would still opt to using my old VCR as a substitute RF Modulator, but I still appreciate the knowledge you shared anyhow :-)

Thanks !