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Video amplifiers

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 8:22 am
by craiggsmith
Can you use those little in-line TV signal amplifiers for a composite signal?

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 10:33 am
by Mikerowaved
craiggsmith wrote:Can you use those little in-line TV signal amplifiers for a composite signal?
The amplifiers I believe you are referring to only work on RF signals. The amp you want needs to be designed to boost the composite signal, which is unmodulated. These are sometimes called "Distribution Amplifiers", like THIS one. (No endorsement, just an example.)

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 10:51 am
by michaelfish
A video amplifier should not be needed. Correct cabling (RG-59, RG-6 coax) with the proper connectors should be sufficent. For lengths beyond 200', use CAT5/6 and video baluns.

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 9:31 pm
by craiggsmith
OK, thanks!

Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:00 am
by Aczlan
michaelfish wrote:A video amplifier should not be needed. Correct cabling (RG-59, RG-6 coax) with the proper connectors should be sufficent. For lengths beyond 200', use CAT5/6 and video baluns.

There are cases where an amplifier/splitter is a good idea. We are going to use one for our webcasting setup as the video will come in from the camera and go out to three places:
  1. Webcast Communicator
  2. Preview monitor
  3. Library for inclusion into the building CCTV system
Aaron Z

Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 5:01 pm
by michaelfish
Aczlan wrote:There are cases where an amplifier/splitter is a good idea.
I was commenting on the "in-line TV amplifier"

On the other hand, the proper way to get more video signals from one composite source is to use a Video Distribution amplifier.

The word splitter can be confused with a "Y" cable, which should not be used for video, and amplifiers only boost signals. In-line TV amplifers are for boosting RF signals of television channels.

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 11:01 am
by StevePoulsen
Mikerowaved wrote:The amplifiers I believe you are referring to only work on RF signals. The amp you want needs to be designed to boost the composite signal, which is unmodulated. These are sometimes called "Distribution Amplifiers", like THIS one. (No endorsement, just an example.)

Current "standard" meetinghouse plans use VDA's (Video Distribution Amplifiers) manufacatured by Emtech Electronics which have been great over years of use they rarely fail, and come in several diffrent form factors depending on your needs F, RCA, or BNC connectors.