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