Next generation in video distribution?

[snedecor]

Right now, we have a network of RG6 cables going to strategic rooms all over the church plant, where we can set up re-broadcast/overflow room(s). We modulate to channel 4, and tune TV's, Projectors, etc. to channel 4 to see the audio/video.

Of course, this is standard definition, and about VHS quality.

What's the next logical step in Video/Audio distribution? Logically to me, it would be ATSC, but it seems ATSC modulators are horrendously expensive...

What is everyone doing to distribute widely HD audio/video to satellite rooms/locations?

Thanks for bringing a video newbie up to speed!

[sdpiowa]

We also have RF distribution around our building. When we began doing a live video stream to another room every week, we installed three Cat5 cables between the two rooms. One carries audio, one carries the video on the main screen, and the third carries the video on the 52" monitors on each side.

We have found that the Cat5 transmission system works pretty well overall. However, only one of the two video feeds is actually digital (the other just uses a couple pins on the network cable). The digital feed looks fantastic. We use the digital one to carry the VGA signal from the computer.


To run full HD relatively long distances, I assume that you would need to install fiber optic cable. HD-SDI might get you a couple hundred feet.

I am by no means an expert, but our church is starting to experiment with this.

[Gracetech]

If you already have the coax in place then you might want to look into the ZeeVee appliances. ZeeVee makes QAM very inexpensive. QAM is the cheapest way to get HD around your campus. All you need is one ZeeVee unit for each channel you want to create and then displays with a QAM receiver. Most Consumer TV's have ATSC/QAM receivers.

If you are doing add on's then i would suggest Cat5/6. Looking at the way everything is going it will be much easier to use a Data Network to carry data then to try to implement a different format carrier every time the industry changes.

crt

[snedecor]

Looks like my choices are:

SD - NTSC modulator $7.00

HD - QAM modulator $1500-$2500


Oooof!

I guess I had to ask....

The benefit is that it's true broadcast, and any QAM tuner on the coax can display the audio/video, right? That means large flat-panel displays for overflow room(s), nursery, foyer, cry rooms, etc, so you don't need a PC at every terminus. OK, the wheels are starting to turn...

[Gracetech]

Yea i don't know if i would call it broadcast quality but i don't think anyone at your church could ever spot the difference. Yes it is fully modulated audio and video and will play on any TV that has either a QAM built in or add on QAM receiver.

When you put in a HD Modulator you will want to make sure the cable distribution system is up to snuff so that may mean adding in higher MHz splitters and amplifiers. The older splitters and amps won't work or will not work well.

crt

[snedecor]

Sorry, I wasn't clear.

My point was that it is TRUE broadcast (one to many), and not narrowcast (one to one). Once it's hit the cable, it's available to any room in the plant that has a cable outlet.

Thanks for the ideas on the splitters/amps, hadn't thought of that...

Sned

[Gracetech]

I'm sure you have deduced by now that it is infact a distribution model and not a point to point system.

crt