There are several how-to docs on using bare wires from the telco (originally intended for alarm circuits) with special-purpose modems to get internet access in places the "usual" technologies won't reach.
Here's an idle thought I had. Probably more effort than it's worth, but an interesting exercise...
Devise a circuit to take a 720p component signal, and convert it to 4 s-video feeds, one for each quadrant of the raster (top-left, top-right, bottom-left, bottom-right).
Feed these to 4 standard def mpeg2 capture cards (PVR250, etc.).
Do some mpeg processing magic to combine the 4 captures into one stream, handling frame synchronization and sound from one of the cards.
I have NO idea if such a circuit is possible, and I don't know enough about mpeg2 to even suggest potential algorithms.
I'll let those with a little more clue dismiss the idea or generate their own little light bulbs and start a project...
I worked in the engineering dept of a small cable TV company in western Connecticut a long time ago.
A customer had been complaining of interference on a particular channel, and was able to videotape what he saw: he was picking up a channel from Louisiana!
I'll let somebody else calculate the distance (figure New Orleans to Danbury), but I was certainly impressed...
Rather than spend the big bucks on the display, I bought an HDTV receiver (dish 6000 with OTA module) to watch on my regular analog TV (5 year old 35" toshiba). Hooked it up to the antenna in my attic (which the previous owners left!), and I'm very pleased with the results.
CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox all broadcast digitally in my area (Boston), and PBS is testing on a limited schedule. This weekend's project is going to be adding another antenna so I can get the southern NH PBS station (WENH) which has more broadcasting time than WGBH.
If you're on the fence about taking the plunge, it's another option!
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There are several how-to docs on using bare wires from the telco (originally intended for alarm circuits) with special-purpose modems to get internet access in places the "usual" technologies won't reach.
Here's an idle thought I had. Probably more effort than it's worth, but an interesting exercise...
Devise a circuit to take a 720p component signal, and convert it to 4 s-video feeds, one for each quadrant of the raster (top-left, top-right, bottom-left, bottom-right).
Feed these to 4 standard def mpeg2 capture cards (PVR250, etc.).
Do some mpeg processing magic to combine the 4 captures into one stream, handling frame synchronization and sound from one of the cards.
I have NO idea if such a circuit is possible, and I don't know enough about mpeg2 to even suggest potential algorithms.
I'll let those with a little more clue dismiss the idea or generate their own little light bulbs and start a project...
Steve (CoffeeBreath!)
I worked in the engineering dept of a small cable TV company in western Connecticut a long time ago.
A customer had been complaining of interference on a particular channel, and was able to videotape what he saw: he was picking up a channel from Louisiana!
I'll let somebody else calculate the distance (figure New Orleans to Danbury), but I was certainly impressed...
Freaky!
Rather than spend the big bucks on the display, I bought an HDTV receiver (dish 6000 with OTA module) to watch on my regular analog TV (5 year old 35" toshiba). Hooked it up to the antenna in my attic (which the previous owners left!), and I'm very pleased with the results.
CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox all broadcast digitally in my area (Boston), and PBS is testing on a limited schedule. This weekend's project is going to be adding another antenna so I can get the southern NH PBS station (WENH) which has more broadcasting time than WGBH.
If you're on the fence about taking the plunge, it's another option!