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Using One Digital-to-Analog Converter for Whole House

post #1 of 14
4/28/08 at 4:31pm
Thread Starter 
With this new analog to digital conversion coming up soon, I was wondering if there would be a way to simplify this process. Here's what I had in mind:

My house is wired for cable, but we still use standard over-the-air antenna. Since the house is already wired, we set up a rooftop antenna inside our attic and attached to the cable wiring. So, now all the TVs in the house are plugged into the cable jack in the walls, and they're all drawing off the antenna in the attic for their reception (all analog TVs). Now, I was wondering if it would be possible to simply put ONE digital-to-analog converter box in the attic (perhaps after the antenna and then route that into the house's cable wiring) and then have all the TVs simply use that signal. This would save the hassle of buying / setting up multiple boxes for the multiple TVs. Would this be possible?


I am not well versed at A/V terminology, so try to keep it in simple terms, if possible please.


Thanks.
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post #2 of 14
4/28/08 at 5:41pm
Yes, it's possible. You'd be watching the same channel on all your TVs, though. For practical purposes, the answer is no. You need a separate converter box for each TV.
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post #3 of 14
4/28/08 at 6:26pm
Thread Starter 
Well right now with the current set up we're capable of watching different channels on different TVs. Would the channel be changed via the converter box or still the TV? Because in the case that it would still be with the TV, wouldn't the box just convert all the data and transmit it through the house (since the antenna is probably transmitting all the data throughout the house - since we can watch multiple channels)?
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post #4 of 14
4/28/08 at 6:39pm
The channel is changed by the converter box, so you would need a converter box for each TV if you wanted to watch different channels.
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post #5 of 14
4/29/08 at 4:27am
One box is needed for each TV, simply remove the cable from the TV and plug it into the box and plug the box into the TV. Scan and then you must use the box to tune the TV, the TV stays on channel 2 or 3.
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post #6 of 14
4/30/08 at 9:09am
Because in the case that it would still be with the TV, wouldn't the box just convert all the data and transmit it through the house (since the antenna is probably transmitting all the data throughout the house - since we can watch multiple channels)?
The converter box does not convert all the data. The converter box actually is a tuner and converter. It tunes to the selected digital channel and then converts only that channel to analog. So you need a separate box for each set.
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post #7 of 14
4/30/08 at 3:40pm
Thread Starter 
Ah I understand now.

I guess there's no way around getting multiple boxes. =\\

Thanks for all the help, everyone.
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post #8 of 14
7/12/08 at 10:50am
Hello,

A whole house digital to analog TV converter has been manufactured overseas. It is called the Multibox. It is manufactured by A2B Electronics.

This is my first post, so I cannot give you the URLs, so Google "State of the Multibox for the U.S Market", to get to an article that will have links to Multibox and A2B.

The article suggests emailing A2B to ask for the Multibox to be manufactured for the USA market.

I'd buy this product in an instant if it was available in the USA. I sent my email last night.

Send them an email to let them know we want this product in the USA!
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post #9 of 14
7/12/08 at 6:04pm
That product won't fly in the USA. It has three tuners and modulators, I can receive twelve channels at my location and I suspect that many locations receive some number more than three.
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post #10 of 14
3/1/09 at 5:48am
Before I would get too carried away buying too many boxes of equipment, I would suggest getting by with the bare minimum temporarily. By sometime next year or so someone will be marketing a whole house converter box that will work in the U.S.
So just "stay tuned".
bestaluck
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post #11 of 14
3/1/09 at 5:51am
I wonder how such a product would work. I suspect that a full-spectrum converter would never be financially viable. Perhaps a box that has a number of converters operating in parallel, that automatically find the X strongest signals it can get a lock on, and converts them.
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post #12 of 14
3/1/09 at 8:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by stellvas View Post

Before I would get too carried away buying too many boxes of equipment, I would suggest getting by with the bare minimum temporarily. By sometime next year or so someone will be marketing a whole house converter box that will work in the U.S.
So just "stay tuned".
bestaluck

(this was an 8 month old thread)
But, I also suspect such a device won't appear. The major Manufacturers and Dealers both told the Government that there would be very low demand for converter boxes when they were announced: so the manufacturers don't want to build them and the dealers don't want to sell them; a new TV is their solution.

They can't even get customers to install VCRs and Converter boxes without mistakes, so they sure don't want to field complaint calls (or returns) for something as complicated as a whole house distribution system. (a friend has run some service calls and seen boxes connected but not turned on; or not even plugged in; or plugged in and on but not connected, and the people thought they were working.)
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post #13 of 14
3/2/09 at 8:20am
I agree there are many inept folks who have bought converter boxes. They are the only ones we hear silly stories about. However there are also millions of over-the-air receiving Americans out there that are quite electronically literate and I feel would make great use of a whole house converter. The market is there if someone will design it and build it. This process of every TV needing it's own box is quite primitive and I feel, hopefully, quite short-lived.
Just an opinion.
T'care,
Mike
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post #14 of 14
3/2/09 at 8:27am
One would think if there were a market that that particular product would either be available now or at least announced.

It's not like the digital transition is happening overnight. It was announced as early as 2005.

Yes, the tech might take time to implement, but I'd think you would have heard SOMETHING by now. Tech companies will pursue avenues that are profitable, but expecting them to fill every niche (especially the ones they may not benefit from) is unrealistic.
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