Sky and Freeview over RF or Cat5/6?

rossyl

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Hi All

I am planning distributig Sky and Freeview around the house.

I only need one channel shown.
The run will be quite far 25-40m

Which is best?

- Sky HDMI & DVB Aerial -> HDMI RF Modulator -> RF Amplifier -> RF to each TV

OR

- Sky HDMI & DVB Aerial
Unsure what product to use to distribute signal
Cat 5/6 cable run to each TV
RJ45 / Cat 5/6 Baluns

Many thanks
 
You don’t say which SKY platform you will be working with HD or Q?

How many TV’s?

Joe
 
Hi Joe.

Needs to work with both HD and Q

TVs can be 55"

At least 6 TVs

Thanks
 
Surround sound in one or all zones?

How do you wish to control the SKY Box from each Zone?

One channel in all Zones - not a popular option in many homes :)

If supporting SKY Q will all TV's support 4K UHD with HDR?

Joe
 
Hi Joe

One channel in all zones - for sure.

Only surround in one room (presume direct from Sky box, or split)

Control via the Sky App on our phones. No need for Sky remotes.

PQ - Aiming for HD 1080p on all TVs. It needs to be a clear picture, not 4k UHD.
 
In the Primary (Surround) Zone are you OK with using the Optical Out of the SKY Box for 'up to DD5.1' to the AVR and setting the HDMI Output to HD video + 2.0 (stereo) audio to distribute to the other Zones?

If image quality is your primary requirement and the 'zone' TV's are 42" and above you will want to stick to HD over CAT - you can either go with an HDBT based solution or a LAN based solution.

If the TV's are smaller/you are happy to give away a bit of image quality you could go the RF route.

Joe
 
Thanks Joe.

For the main area, I'd like 4k. So maybe use the HDMI, split it, send one to the AVR in the main area, send the rest to a distribution box?

Can RF via an RF HDMI Modulator not deliver HD around the house?

If not - could you link to another proposed product?

Many thanks
 
RF - like any conversion device everyone ‘claims’ no quality loss, the only way to know for sure if any hardware you are considering will deliver for you is to try it out.

‘4K’ - can cover all sorts. You have to specify if you are expecting to Output 4K UHD with HDR and split that to 4K UHD with HDR (passthru) + 1080p SDR, that can cost £450 and still doesn’t deal with 5.1 or Atmos if you need stereo for the distribution system.

It is all possible - you just have to realise you need a decent budget!

Joe
 
Thanks Joe.

I must say, I didn't think I was reinventing the wheel - if anything trying to do something that is behind the times, not at the forefront.

If hoped people might be able to tell me:
  • how they already have done this
  • what products they used
  • how it is working for them
  • what they learned and what they would do differently.

Maybe I should start a new thread, as it seems we have gotten overly cryptic.
 
Unfortunately you are trying to reinvent a wheel :)

There is no simple way to take a 4K UHD, HDR, Atmos/Surround sound signal and distribute it to Displays which do not support that signal.

Joe
 
Somehow I think we've misunderstood each other.

I said I was after
In one room = 4k and 5.1 surround
In all other rooms = 1080p and stereo

Having had a search around, it's certainly been achieved before.

My original query was, which is better:
Sky HDMI & DVB Aerial -> HDMI RF Modulator -> RF Amplifier -> RF to each TV

OR

- Sky HDMI & DVB Aerial
Unsure what product to use to distribute signal
Cat 5/6 cable run to each TV
RJ45 / Cat 5/6 Baluns

I'm not sure we're any closer to answering that.
 
As per my earlier post you have to refine your requirements.

4K, SDR, Stereo audio split to 1 x 4K, SDR, Stereo audio + 1x 1080p, SDR, Stereo audio is an option.

4K, HDR, Stereo audio split to 1 x 4K, HDR, Stereo audio + 1x 1080p, SDR, Stereo audio is also an option.

Where you run into issues is any requirement to also have Surround Sound or Immersive audio in the Primary Zone as ‘splitters’ tend not to have the ability to down mIx the audio to 2.0.

What will your Source be set to Output HDR or SDR?

Joe
 

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