WTB: RF Modulator

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PSlover14

203 posts

Master Geek

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#306803 22-Aug-2023 22:13

Just quickly, I want to preface this with I'm just looking for the modulator, not advice :)

I have a TV with RF only inputs that I'd like to use with some old game systems for a bit of fun, and am looking for a RF modulator box. Jaycar used to have one for sale, and I know Sky were supplying them for weird setups for a while, so if anyone has one kicking around they're not using, I'd like to buy it off you. Potentially after a couple for some other projects even.

Not really looking for anything sort of "industrial/commercial" level due to the price those command, at this point just after some consumer-grade modulator boxes.

Thanks,

pslover14

toejam316

1466 posts

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#3119189 22-Aug-2023 22:29

An interesting option is to use a VCR, you could try the op shops for a cheap one?

Anything I say is the ramblings of an ill informed, opinionated so-and-so, and not representative of any of my past, present or future employers, and is also probably best disregarded.

MarkM536

309 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3119199 22-Aug-2023 23:21

I've seen the occasional one pop up on TradeMe, mainly listed as Sky TV devices.

Sadly I've thrown an RCA to RF modulator out in 2019 into ewaste. 😬

steve2222

498 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3119225 23-Aug-2023 07:47

@pslover14

Where are you located? I have 2 or 3 kicking around.

PSlover14

203 posts

Master Geek

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#3119248 23-Aug-2023 08:56

steve2222:
@pslover14

Where are you located? I have 2 or 3 kicking around.

Hi, Hamilton, although happy to pay postage depending on costs

steve2222

498 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3119255 23-Aug-2023 09:16

North Shore, Auckland here.

If you can wait until the weekend (at the latest) to give me a chance to get them out of a storage box at home, I can then send you photos etc.

xbmcnut

492 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3119284 23-Aug-2023 10:27

I have a commercial one and possibly a 2nd one. Beach Haven, Auckland. DM for more info if reqd.

RS820+, DS223, CoreELEC on Odroid N2+, 3 x Echo Dot & 7 x Google Homes connected to Home Assistant on Beelink SEi12.

richms

28172 posts

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#3119291 23-Aug-2023 10:41

Grab a tvlink off aliexpress if you can do UHF, if the TV is so old that it only does VHF then you need to spend a little more on the blue ended one with 69 in the name (nice) which will do VHF channels too.

Do not waste your money on this one - RF Modulator Converter Television System TV Signal Standard Audio Video Signal Converter AV To RF Modulator TV 220V EU/US Plug - the one I got was massivly unsafe with its power supply design and was just tuned with coils so it was somewhere in the VHF high band with harmonics all up the UHF.

Do not get this one M65A-NTSC RF Modulator Support AV Output Professional HD VHF Demodulator Converter Support NTSC TV Format Output for CATV System - it is VHF but seems to use the same type as a VCR uses with really low output levels and no filtering so if you put a signal with more than 5Mhz of video into it, it will cross over onto the audio like a VCR one.

The TV link is way better than any others I have tried, full UHF coverage and quite a clean output if you are wanting to mix with off air and keep the digital channels coming thru.

Richard rich.ms

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PSlover14

203 posts

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#3119354 23-Aug-2023 13:39

toejam316:

An interesting option is to use a VCR, you could try the op shops for a cheap one?

This did cross my mind, however I would prefer to pick up one to two standalone modulators that can have the channel set on them (like the Sky one does I believe) so I could potentially wire them all up to one cable and just change channels on the TV, for a bit of fun/nostalgia. As far as I'm aware, most VCRs always use the same RF channel of channel 1 or 2?

steve2222:

North Shore, Auckland here.

If you can wait until the weekend (at the latest) to give me a chance to get them out of a storage box at home, I can then send you photos etc.

Perfectly happy waiting, not in a huge rush. It's just for some homelab/mancave-y type stuff so not urgent.

(sorry won't let me quote yours)

richms:

The TV link is way better than any others I have tried, full UHF coverage and quite a clean output if you are wanting to mix with off air and keep the digital channels coming thru.

Appreciate the advice, I'll see how it pans out domestically first before jumping on AliExpress but the info is good to know.

steve2222

498 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3120580 26-Aug-2023 13:34

@PSlover14

Okay found in storage are 3 modulators which historically I used for exactly the same purpose as your use case.

All 3 still power up when I plug them in - although I have not used them for several years.

They are all different models/brands. Two have manuals/instructions but the third (a Sky branded one) does not.

I also have three IR remote receivers which blast the IR signal over the aerial cable back to the device so that you can control say a DVD player or Sky decoder from a remote TV (with the RF modulators being used to send the signal from those devices over RF aerial cable). These may not be of use to you though as at the device end you need an IR transmitter to point to the IR receiver on the device. I have two of the IR transmitters but they plug into a Hills TV distribution/amplifier box (which I still use to distribute DTV RF signals over aerial cables to each room.

If you PM me your email address I can send photos if you wish.

Cheers