My mini head end -- a report

[Doug E.]

I've just completed a project that's been in the back of my mind for years...a way to achieve the following:

--use the channel selectors on my vintage TV's instead of being stuck on channel 3 or 4;

--obtain more technically correct NTSC video (modulation levels, vestigial sideband, etc.) than is usually possible with a consumer-grade RF modulator;

--do the necessary sound processing to achieve appropriate audio for TV's from the 60's, which entails dynamic range compression, equalization, & volume normalization;

--be able to set up more varied & flexible "programs" for TV viewing, combining multiple DVD's, MP4 & other video files, & YouTube videos that are in 4:3 aspect ratio;

--have the flexibility to support two cable lines, one for each TV, in separate rooms;

--have the capability of transmitting over the air using a simple dipole antenna, with enough signal strength to cover my apartment (but not too much);

--have all the equipment in a compact cabinet without messy wiring;

--have easy access to the necessary adjustments.

I think I've achieved it all in the "head end" that I designed. A friend who is a talented cabinetmaker made the case for me. I'm so pleased with it that I feel like showing it off :-) The picture doesn't do it justice, but it sits inside an aquarium cabinet so the light isn't that great.
Here's what's in it:
--2 Sony DVD players
--a Behringer mini 9-band equalizer
--3 Blonder Tongue mini agile modulators (2 AMCM-860D's & an AMCM-806) & a Blonder Tongue MIPS4 power supply
--3 Radio Shack variable attenuators that give up to 20dB attenuation
--a 3-way splitter used "backwards" as a combiner for the 3 coax outputs
--a 2-way splitter
--a coax antenna switch connected between the third modulator output & its attenuator, allowing me to switch that output (full signal strength) to a dipole for over-the-air transmission
--a CB/ham radio filter just for the heck of it, because it came with one of the attenuators & has just the right length of coax to connect the combiner to the splitter;
--an outlet strip in the lower compartment with storage space for all the power cords.

The third modulator is connected to a laptop computer with its HDMI output going to an HDMI-to-composite video converter. I'm using SMPlayer as the video player & Pulseeffects for audio processing.

Each of the 3 video sources gets the benefit of dynamic range compression (either through the DVD player or the laptop computer audio software), equalization (through the Behringer or the computer's audio software) & volume normalization (2 of the modulators have built-in volume normalization & Pulseeffects provides it for the laptop).

Anyhow, I just wanted to share...

Doug E.