Ok, here's my situation. I have a small fitness room I'm putting together. I will have 5 LCD TVs on stands in front of 5 pieces of cardio equipment.

The LCDs are special ones made for fitness rooms, which only means that they have their own little remote wired into the back of the LCD.

I want to have full cable TV (must be Comcast Digital) on each LCD, but no need for premium channels, on demand, or any of that junk. But, I don't just want basic cable, I want the main cable package - not sure if that's called something specific. i.e. NOT just 25 channels, it should be about 100 or so.

So, the question is, do I need 5 cable boxes or can I just get 1 and split it to the 5 TVs? Will the signal be ok? Can all 5 TVs be on different channels and be controlled right from the TV itself?

It's my impression that with Comcast Digital service, if you don't have a box, you'll only get the first 20 channels - basic cable. That won't work.

There are obviously tons of fitness clubs that have this kind of setup on a large scale, so there's got to be a smooth way to do it.

Any help is appreciated! Thanks!

So, the question is, do I need 5 cable boxes or can I just get 1 and split it to the 5 TVs? Will the signal be ok? Can all 5 TVs be on different channels and be controlled right from the TV itself?

If you split the signal you can only watch one channel for all TV's!!
Each TV needs it's own tuner.

Ok, so that means that each TV needs a box, right?

If that's the case, is there any way to control the channel changes directly from the TV and not the box. With these custom gym LCDs, the little remote is hard wired into the back of the screen, so the channels effectively need to be changed on the TV, not on the box. I don't know if that's possible.

Thanks!

Unless the LCD's have Qam tuners in them (QAM for cable) you will need to switch the cable boxes.
keep in mind if the boxes are in close proximity they could interfere with each other (one person changing his/her channel could also change the other boxes as well!!

Even if they have QAM tuners, most providers encrypt the channels beyond the broadcast basic package, so you'll still need boxes for each.

You could set up an IR distribution system and mount a remote control next to each TV to control the boxes. It's not exactly a quick or elegant solution, but it would work.

Not sure if they have that, but they are digital ready TVs. Here is what I have:

http://www.sharpusa.com/products/ModelDetailedSpecs/0,1161,1870-,00.html#

I bought these through Cardiovision, the TVs are modified to use their own controllers:

http://www.cardiovision.tv/products/pvs/cv15s.asp?menu=list1

This is actually a slightly older model, but same idea.

The guys there seem to think 1 cable box will work for all 5 TVs, each watching a different channel and having full cable.

I guess we'll see when Comcast comes out to do the install.

I looked at your specs, there is no mention of a QAM tuner, it seems each TV will have a unique remote control, but you can only watch the same program if you split the output of the cable box and if you split the input to the cable box you will only pick up the analog stations.
Even if they have QAM tuners, most providers encrypt the channels beyond the broadcast basic package, so you'll still need boxes for each.

In my area I have a QAM tuner and I pick up about 100 or more channels, this may change some day but for now I get them!!

Hey dude looking for the same response from over here?
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r18780133-Fitness-Room-installation-multiple-cable-boxes

sansri88 - I don't understand your post. is there anything wrong with trying to get info from multiple sources?

RCbridge - thanks for your help. I still don't quite get the whole picture, but we'll see what happens when the Comcast guy arrives

sansri88 - I don't understand your post. is there anything wrong with trying to get info from multiple sources?


Nahh man just doing the same thing that someone did to me :)

sansri88 - I don't understand your post. is there anything wrong with trying to get info from multiple sources?

Nothing... so long as you understand that the basic answer to your question will be the same... As to the answer?

Short answer:

- Yes you need a cable box for each TV
- Yes you need to use the cable box remote to change the channels.

Long winded answer with the usual caveats: (the answer doesn't really change)

If you want multiple TV's to display different channels as provided by your cable company **and** those channels require a DIGITAL cable box... as in a normal 'cable-ready TV' will not get you all of the stations... then yes, you will need a digital cable-box for each TV. The only way you wouldn't need a cable box is if your TV supported cablecard.

Now, if you have a digital cable box then the only way to change channels is to change them on the cable box... the TV (if HD) would be set to AUX/VIDEO1 (or whatever the input is called) or channel 3/4 if its a basic run of the mill non-hd tv.

You MAY be able to reprogram the remote control of the TV to change the channels on the cable box **but** the better solution (usually) is to program the cable box remote for your specific TV... All/most cable box remotes have this ability.

Finally... you will have to point the remote in the general direction of the cable box in order for you to be able to change channels...

Oh one more problem.... If you get 3 of the same cable box its a safe bet that the remote from BOX1 will change the channel on BOX2 and/or BOX3 if they are all located in the same general area. Some boxes have a way to combat this but you'll likely have to google the net for a FULL manual - not the simple/dumbed-down version that cable companies usually give out their customers.

HTH

Dave