Wired@Home.blog

At least We Keep the Bunny Ears

At least We Keep the Bunny Ears

Time marches on. Black-and-white television sets gave way to color; giant cathode ray tubes sets passing as image projectors gave way to sleek and compact designs, and now the transition to digital TV is nearly complete. direct tv technology has replaced the analogue signal we let into our homes with cable boxes, rabbit ears and even miniature towers made of tin foil. What once took careful planning, gas money and half a paycheck's worth of popcorn can now be had with the press of a button.

The switch to digital transmissions leaves behind increased broadcasting space that will improve the efficiency of communications for the police, fire departments and rescue squads. Also to benefit are companies dealing with data transmission, leaving open the possibility of improvements in wireless broadband technology.

The consumer benefits from a drastically improved image and sound quality, and enjoys "multicasting," which allows for the broadcast of different programs on the same channel at the same time. Either one High Definition or multiple Standard Definition programs will fit within the transmission limits of a single channel, opening up more programming choices for the consumer.

Digital TV is not only a medium for a better viewing experience, but also a platform for interactive data and video features that bring a sense of complete control to the direct TV product. Becoming an informed viewer no longer requires access to newspapers, television guides and other print media. The right buttons on your controller--which may seem intimidating at first--bring up interactive broadcast schedules, pay-per-view options, access to built-in recordable media and much more.

It wasn't so long ago that people were excited to gather around the radio, and fill their heads with the images that televisions weren't around to provide for them. It wasn't long after that that we were captivated with tiny screens filled with grainy black and white images and faint, distorted sounds. Nowadays, the pressing issue seems to be whether those glasses that came with your new television set can really make you think that killer shark just jumped from the screen right onto your lap. Eventually, we'll have to purchase digital shark repellent.

Those old bunny ears might have fallen out of favor with the interests of modern convenience, and we may have bittersweet memories of watching the big game while frantically adjusting those silver tubes up, down, and every which way right before the last play, but the transition to digital is inexorable. Thankfully, those of us who aren't ready to give up those funny little antennas are perfectly entitled to keep them.

ZeeVee Expands it's ZvBox Product Line

ZeeVee, Inc. announced a significant expansion of its critically acclaimed and award-winning ZvBox® and ZvPro® product line, allowing system integrators to bring their customers state of the art, brand-enhancing HD Video capabilities at prices previously impossible. Businesses in hospitality, medical, educational, sports, and casino markets have been demanding HD Video capabilities at competitive prices. ZvBox box delivers.

 First, the new ZvBox 180 combines the advanced 1080 video processing of the flagship ZvPro 280 and the front panel ease-of-use of the top-selling ZvBox 170, delivering 1080 video performance at a price that’s fully one third less than previously available. 

“Our customers have been asking for 1080 performance in our most popular ZvBox 170 package, all at a much more affordable price,” said ZeeVee’s co-founder and CEO, Vic Odryna. “We are very proud to be able to deliver.” 

Second is the new ZvBox 160, which replaces the ZvBox 150, an entry-level product that carried an aggressive price point but was not meant for multi-channel deployments in commercial applications and did not contain ZeeVee’s most powerful HD encoding technology. The ZvBox 160 is a full 720p-60fps powerhouse that contains ZeeVee’s latest breakthrough Generation 3 video processor, all deployed in a fan-cooled, easy to configure package at a very aggressive price. 

The new ZvBox 180 and ZvBox 160 are immediately available from Wired@Home.com. 

 

 

 

How to Connect your iPad or iPhone to your HDTV with the Atlona AT-HDVieW

Check out this video from Atlona that will show you how to connect you iPad or iPhone to your HDTV using Apple's VGA adapter and Atlona's AT-HDVieW VGA to HDMI converter. The AT-HDVieW, which is a plug and play device, will automatically sense the native resolution of the display and scale the device's output to match it. The converter will take audio signal from the device and embedded it into the HDMI signal output, so that user is able to enjoy both audio and video though one cable. The HDVieW is a scaler-converter, which means that it will always work without any adjustments to the video card software in addition to that the video quality will be dramatically increased due to the built-in high quality scaler. The Atlona converter is USB powered and therefore will not require additional power supplies.

The Atlona AT-HDVieW is also PC compatible. 

Atlona PC to HDTV, Projector or Monitor Wireless Adapter with 1080p

New Product Announcement:

Atlona's all new AT-AiR3 is designed to connect any Windows or Mac Based computer to your HDTV, Projector or Computer Monitor wirelessly though HDMI or VGA Connections. The AiR3 is based on a powerful Ultra Wide Band technology, allowing users to extend high resolution content up to 30ft away from any computer’s USB port. Atlona wireless PC to TV transmitter is capable of supporting resolutions up to 1080p. The AT-AiR3 features dual video (HDMI and VGA) and dual Audio (HDMI-Audio and 1/8" mini stereo) outputs which are active simultaneously.

The versatile AiR3 serves both in commercial and home applications, giving users an easy way to connect projectors in meeting rooms or HDTV’s in living rooms to any computer or laptop. The Atlona AiR3 gives users the flexibility of being able to conveniently extend their computer’s visual workspace to a larger screen. The AiR3 features the two most common interfaces for both TV and computer displays, HDMI and VGA interface. Both HDMI and VGA output connections are active at the same time, allowing the AiR3 receiver supply content to both a digital and an analog display, such as an HDTV and a projector in a conference room.

Applications:

1. Education: Many K-12 and higher education schools and Universities utilize the Atlona AiR3 wireless PC to Projector solution for their class rooms. The lack of cables allows instructors the mobility needed to move around the class room, while maintaining connection to their display. The “USB stick” can be transferred from computer to computer like a USB flash drive, accommodating learning environments where multiple instructors use the same classroom. The AiR3 also serves as a way to take traditionally single user education software, such as language learning programs like Rosetta Stone, to a more communal learning setup where multiple users can learn at the same time.

2. Conference Room: The Atlona AT-AiR3 is the perfect device to allow a simple PC to TV conference room environment. Each presenter can connect the small USB dongle to their laptop to and see their presentation in seconds on a shared screen for everyone to see. Using Microsoft’s Power Point or Apples Keynote extended monitor mode, presenters can control and modify their presentation, while displaying slides to their audience.

3. Home use: So much digital content is available online such as video, books, music and more, home users are doing more and more with their computers. The AT-AiR3 allows user an ability to move the small laptop screen to a Large HDTV or a Projector to enjoy Netflix, Youtube, Showing their Picassa Photos or viewing any other content on the big screen. The AiR3 is a no-wire solution to enlarge your computer screen to the size of your HDTV and move it to a living room.

Atlona says the AT-AiR3 will be available February 8th, 2011 and will retail for $199. We're taking pre-orders right now at Wired@Home.com for only $179 so check it out!

ZeeVee - Send HD Video Over Your Existing Coax Wiring

Why Send HD Over Coax? Because it's there!

Based on the same technology used by TV stations and cable companies,ZvBox^® turns the output of a VGA or HD source into an HDTV cable channel and broadcasts it over coax cabling to all connected HDTVs. To view the HD source, simply tune in your new Zv channel at any of the HDTVs.

The Key Benefits of Coax:

• Coax already in place in vast majority of homes- reduces or eliminates the need to cut holes in walls or run new wires.
• Proven method: cable companies light up entire cities with coax
• Easy to deploy and expand coax systems using simple hand tools
• System parts (splitters, amps, etc.) inexpensive and widely available
• Connects to off-the-shelf HDTVs without additional set top boxes at each TV
• Handles up to 135 simultaneous channels

An ideal retrofit solution: Distribute HD video sources over existing coaxial cabling‐‐no set top boxes required.

Existing solutions Existing HD video distribution solutions are often labor intensive, requiring new cabling to each display.To share an HD source with 3 HDTVs in remote locations, you might pull new component cables to each HDTV, or CAT5 cabling (with baluns to provide the appropriate connection at each end), or perhaps HDMI cabling. Each represents substantial installation effort, and the expense of a hub of some sort. A new (old) way in contrast, distributing HD over coaxial cabling often allows the use of existing cabling, substantially reducing labor. This is accomplished using RF modulation of the source‐ a technique that’s been around for some time, but has recently made the leap to HD.

HD Encoder/RF Modulator

RF Modulator Basics

An RF Modulator turns an AV source into a TV channel, which is then broadcast over coaxial cabling. At the TV, tuning in that channel displays the source connected to the modulator. All that's required is an "empty" or unused channel that the modulator can "take over" for broadcasting it's source. 

Standard Definition (analog) RF Modulators are common, and fairly simple; they turn the input source into an NTSC (analog) TV channel. If you've ever tuned in channel 3 or 4 to watch a VCR, cable box, or play a video game, then you've used an analog RF modulator, it was built into the device you were watching.

HD Modulators, which convert AV sources into HDTV channels, are more complex. When they receive an HD analog input, they must first encode the video as an MPEG2 stream (the DTV video format standard) and convert the audio to the DTV audio standard. Because the HD source contains many times more data than SD sources, this real-time conversion requires serious processing power. Finally, the encoded stream is modulated onto an RF channel for broadcast. The modulator may create an ATSC channel, which is the standard for over-the-air broadcasts, or it may create a QAM channel, the standard for digital cable broadcast. The new channel can share coaxial cabling with other existing NTSC, ATSC or QAM channels. Finally, the channel is tuned in at the HDTV in true HD, so picture and sound quality are far superior to SD modulation techniques. 

Killer apps

With an HD RF modulator, you can share an HD DVR, cable box, media server, or Blu ray player with all the HDTVs in a home using existing coaxial cabling. Or, connect the Zone 2 output of an AV receiver to the modulator, and all sources connected to the AV receiver will be available on all of the HDTVs via coax. Or connect the VGA output of a computer to a modulator, and distribute digital signage to all connected HDTVs in a corporate setting, using simple to deploy coax cabling. 

Here's a comparison of the 3 ZeeVee HD Encoder/Modulators available:

 

Features	ZvBox® 150	ZvBox® 170	ZvPro® 250
1080p / 1080i
720p 60fps
720p 30fps
480p, 480i
VGA Video input
Component Video input
Broadcast two HD channels in different languages
Front panel configuration
PC configuration via USB connection
Analog audio inputs
Assignable Coax and Optical Digital Audio Inputs
Closed Captioning Ready (with optional ZVCC1)
IR control for switching inputs via direct IR input
IR control for switching inputs via IR window
RS 232 for switching inputs and configuration
Broadcast on any digital cable channel 2-135
Spectrum Analyzer to find open channels
Firmware updatable
Integral power supply and fan cooling
Rack mountable/Includes rack ears
Warranty	1 Year Parts and Labor	1 Year Parts and Labor*	3 Year Parts and Labor

Programming Alert - DIRECTV Channel Changes

DIRECTV® is shuffling it's movie channels around next week possibly because they're going to add some additional HBO channels, hopefully in HD...Thanks to PDI-SAT for the announcement.

DIRECTV® is shuffling it's movie channels around next week possibly because they're going to add some additional HBO channels, hopefully in HD...Thanks to PDI-SAT for the announcement.

DIRECTV Begins Public Beta of Multi-Room HD DVR Service

DIRECTV has started the public beta of it's much anticipated Multi-Room HD DVR Service. I don't know about you but I've been waiting for this new service for quite some time.

Here's some details from DIRECTV:

Watch what you want, when you want, in any room you want. With just one HD DVR, you can watch your recorded shows on any TV in your house that's connected to an HD receiver. But that's just the beginning. You can also:

• Start watching a recorded show in one room and continue watching it where you left off in another room
• Record and delete shows from any TV connected to an HD receiver, not just the one connected to the HD DVR
• Record two shows at once, while watching two different shows in separate rooms
• Set separate parental controls for each TV

If you have more than one HD DVR, the DIRECTV Multi-Room HD DVR service keeps things simple by showing you a single, combined playlist of all your recorded programs on any connected TV.

You need an HD DVR* (models HR20-23) and at least one compatible HD receiver (models H21-23) that are already networked, along with HD Access and DVR service.

Visit DIRECTV for more information or check out the DIRECTV MRV Beta Technical Forum.

7 iPhone Apps for Your Home Theater

Electronic House Magazine has posted a great article for all you iPhone users just itching to find a yet another way to show off to control your home theater! From remote simulators to DVR controllers to TV guides, these 7 iPhone apps can make your home theater experience even better. You be the judge and report your findings back to us, maybe we'll take your word for it...

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10 Popular Products for MDU Installations

CE Pro magazine has posted "10 Popular MDU Products" which shows solutions for multi-dwelling units (MDU), housing complexes and gated community housing projects. One of my favorite installation products, the DIRECTV SWM-8 Single Wire Multiswitch, has made the list. Here's a preview:

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2009 Inauguration Mix channel on DIRECTV

DIRECTV will use it's signature interactive news mix channel to bring you 8 camera views of the 2009 Presidential Inauguration on channel 102 and 352 and of course it will be available in HD.

DIRECTV will also run a “blog ticker” at the bottom of the screen, updating viewers on the networks’ perspective on this historical event, the first 100 days of Obama’s presidency, significant quotes and upcoming guests.

Coverage will start at 7am to 2pm Pacific Time.