RF Out with different tuners

[urantoid]

Could anyone please walk me through how to connect my new (to me) ET10000 to a loftbox to distribute an RF signal. This arrangement worked fine with my previous Technomate TM Twin OE which had a dedicated RF output. I kept that unit until now despite its limitations (using Open Vix 3.x.xx) because when I tried to upgrade it I was told that most modern tuners distribute their signals via 4K outputs and do not have RF outputs. I passed on that solution as none of my tvs can handle that resolutuion.

I have 4 tuners installed on the Xtrend - 1 x AVL6211 (DVB-S2) (active) and 3 x TDA10024 (DVB-C) tuners (all unused) and at the moment am using openvix 5.3.039 to access UK freesat and an IPTV feed which work perfectly well on the tv that is directly connected to the ET10000 by HDMI.


Is this possible to distribute the signal using my existing tuners as I can't find any reference to RF output anywhere within the setup menu options. Is this actually possible with this version of Open Vix or do I need additional hardware or a different tuner?


Cheers

[Trial]

Hi,
what do you mean with RF signal? Do you you want your ET10000 to receive digital TV and convert it into an RF signal you put into your house cable as a cable TV signal so that other "normal" TVs can also watch this program? If yes I do not see any RF out on the back of the ET10000 so this will not work.

Ralf

[abu baniaz]

You will need different hardware. There is a hdmi to RF demodulator.

https://www.world-of-satellite.co.uk/EDISION-HDMI-MODULATOR-single-DVB-T-Full-HD-Distribution-over-Coax?filter_name=RF%20demodulator

[urantoid]

Thanks for the swift response.

That's exactly what I want to do. My tuners all have connections labelled RF out. I was told on another forum that these RF outputs should be already activated but after further research I'm wondering if this was in the mistaken belief that I had so-called combination DVB C/S/T tuners?? Mine seem to be just DVB S/S2 and DVB-C hence my detailing their actual designation in case it helps.

I have also heard that I might have to attach an RF modulator or use the HDMI or USB output but I'm still not quite sure exactly what the best option is for my particular set-top box. If I can use the existing tuners by hooking them up somehow using some sort of cable that would be ideal but at this stage I'm not sure what they can actually do.

As you can tell I'm a newbie and still finding my way. The various technical terms are difficult to understand so any advice gratefully received.

[urantoid]

You will need different hardware. There is a hdmi to RF demodulator.

https://www.world-of-satellite.co.uk/EDISION-HDMI-MODULATOR-single-DVB-T-Full-HD-Distribution-over-Coax?filter_name=RF%20demodulator

Just saw this response. Seems like a pricy solution. Is it possible to simply switch out one of my existing tuners with a combo version?

[abu baniaz]

Unless a receiver has a demodulator, it won't send out a TV output over RF. Tuners are irrelevant to this.

When you see "RF out" on a tuner, it is a "loop out". So for example, TV aerial comes in to tuner 1, 1 out to 2 in, 2 out to 3 in.

[adm]

Thanks for the swift response.

That's exactly what I want to do. My tuners all have connections labelled RF out. I was told on another forum that these RF outputs should be already activated but after further research I'm wondering if this was in the mistaken belief that I had so-called combination DVB C/S/T tuners?? Mine seem to be just DVB S/S2 and DVB-C hence my detailing their actual designation in case it helps.


What are the type numbers of the tuners?
How many of each tuner do you have?
menu -> setup -> tuners and scanning -> tuner setup.

I have a et10000 and fitted to mine......
Si2169 is a hybrid terrestrial tuner capable of SD and HD from and aerial (T and T2) and also the same from cable (aerial [t2] or cable selectable during setup)
AVL6211 is a Satellite tuner capable of SD and HD for Freesat and Sky FTA

What is the input source to your box? Satellite, Terrestrial (via an aerial) or cable?

The output connectors on these tuners, I suspect, do not do what you expect them to do. They will just have a copy of the tuner input signal, nothing more - effectively a bit of wire between input and output (actually, there will be a bit of buffering electronics). They will not have the decoded TV channel from the box modulated on them nor will these RF outputs be capable of outputting a recorded program.



I have also heard that I might have to attach an RF modulator or use the HDMI or USB output but I'm still not quite sure exactly what the best option is for my particular set-top box. If I can use the existing tuners by hooking them up somehow using some sort of cable that would be ideal but at this stage I'm not sure what they can actually do.


What was your previous set-up? And what exactly do you want to achieve?
Are your secondary TVs digital TV compatible - can they receive digital TV on thier own or are they very much older technology and are analogue only?

Do you want to see the output of your ET10K on these secondary TVs, say, to watch recordings?

The answers you get will depend very much on what you are actually trying to achieve and what the technology your secondary TVs are capable of.

Also "traditional" RF distribution may give you the poorest quality picture and to achieve this with more modern equipment may not be the best cost effective solution.

With respect to your original observation the HDMI output may have been capable of 4K but also other lower resolution standards.

[Andy_Hazza]

Just saw this response. Seems like a pricy solution. Is it possible to simply switch out one of my existing tuners with a combo version?

Not possible. You need an HDMI Modulator like the one mentioned by @Abu.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ccs]

The ET10K has a scart socket, that would be a cheaper way of creating a simple RF out to other tv's.

[Andy_Hazza]

And with that comes crappy picture quality. HDMI Modulator is the best solution and at least then he is future proofed to some extent.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[abu baniaz]

What does the OP want to watch in other rooms? Might be other solutions possible

[ccs]

.... like using the Technomate as a client/slave if it still works ok. (It would need updating to 5.2.045)

[adm]

Just saw this response. Seems like a pricy solution. Is it possible to simply switch out one of my existing tuners with a combo version?

Your Technomate TM Twin OE had a inbuild modulator. None of the tuners for a ET10k have this functionality. [Possibly no modern box has this inbuilt functionality]. Changing tuners will not get you the functionality of your Technomate box. It is old technology that fell out of favour about the same time that analogue tv got switched off as it could not support HD TV.

Again what do you want from the RF output? Do you want to be able to see the decoded TV output and/or recordings from your ET10k box or do you just need an aerial rf input to your other TVs? The former will require extra equipment whilst the latter maybe a connector cost a couple of quid.

[adm]

The ET10K has a scart socket, that would be a cheaper way of creating a simple RF out to other tv's.

And then then OP would/could lose his HDMI connection to his main TV.

[abu baniaz]

And then then OP would/could lose his HDMI connection to his main TV.

They work simultaneously for all other receiver. Is the ET 10K different?

[urantoid]

Cheers all.
My system:
Sat feed - Sky dish trained on Astra 28.2 with 2 leads from dish to living room which gives perfectly acceptable FTA pictures on 32” Panasonic LCD TV.
IPTV via hardwire connection to 50Mb fibre EE broadband router – the picture is fine but sometimes slightly unreliable (presumably due to my choice of IPTV provider and easily changed in future).
A signal (?non-HD) was distributed via a Technomate TM Twin OE to 4 rooms via RF out using a loftbox with feeds the various rooms. All screens display the same channel that can be changed using an android app on phone/tablet.
The Technomate started playing up (?power supply issue) so I acquired a new-ish Xtrend box that well-known auction site in the mistaken belief that it had RF out capability (the picture of the back had several RF-style connectors which I now know are actually DVB-C tuner connectors). Duh!
The ET10000 box has 4 tuners:
1 x AVL6211 (DVB-S2) https://datasheetspdf.com/pdf/938781/Availink/AVL6211/1
3 x TDA10024 (DVB-C) http://read.pudn.com/downloads404/doc/comm/1724335/TDA10024_Objective_Full_Data-Sheet_V1.0.pdf
It came with OpenPLI but I flashed/updated to the most recent ET10000 bootlocker and Openvix 5.0.39 image but, unlike my previous setup, can find no reference in the menus to RF output - ?this option has been removed since my previous older version of OpenVix or is it just the lack of a suitable properly configured tuner?
The TVs are nothing special – Primary display in living room is the 32” 1080i Panasonic Viera directly connected to the box via HDMI. It’s squeezed into a cupboard built into a chimney breast so no possibility for a larger screen. The picture is fine, especially with the new (to me) ET10000.
Elsewhere are 3 Thomson 32” HD ready LCDs- native resolutions of 1280 x720 and in the kitchen an ancient Philips 20” FlatTV (sporting a lovely “Crystal Clear III” screen!!!).
This setup worked very well previously and we’re not ready to dump these screens for the latest 1920 or 4K offerings (hassle and probably outside our budget for now)
I am happy with the picture quality we got from the previous setup and not really looking to upgrade too much especially as, since changing the sat box the Panasonic shows much improved resolution. No idea yet how the other screens will fare unfortunately…

I’m thinking a combo tuner with sat in and RF out capability would allow me to connect the second dish feed and record Freesat but would appreciate ongoing advice how to go about doing this with minimum fuss/outlay. There is an RF modulator attached to the loftbox (if that’s at all relevant) and I think I have another one somewhere in storage.

I hope this contains all the info needed but if not please ask away…

[ccs]

ET10K tuners are very difficult to find, but I'm sure second hand versions can be purchased.

You won't find a reference to RF out because the ET10K hasn't got any, whatever tuners you may have.

[urantoid]

Just seen the various helpful responses (multitasking so missed them before my most recent post).

- The secondary TVs are not fully digital, just LCD.

- I would like to be able to watch recordings in all the rooms but not a deal breaker.

- I don't mind connecting the Panasonic with component or other leads if this allows connecting the secondaries with an RF output via Scart or HDMI

- looks like HDMI connector only useful if/when I upgrade my "vintage" TV stock??

[abu baniaz]

Tuner = Device to receive satellite, terrestrial or cable signal.

RF modulator = Device to send out what box sees. The Twin is among last devices to have this.

Unless you have an RF modulator, forget piping out what you see on TV.


Do you have Kodi on your Android device? If so, you can watch recording on main box and stream/view live TV from it.

[urantoid]

I've successfully installed an RF modulator and the picture is great throughout the house, using phone apps to change channels.

In the interest of versatility I'll be investigating Kodi and some of the other options mentioned in this thread, as well as replacing one of the cable tuners with a sat tuner so I can record programmes while watching another.

So - it seems the request for help has been successfully resolved and I hope the info here will help others with the same setup or equipment spec.

Sincere thanks to all contributors to this thread. You saved me a great deal of time and expense.