How To Boost RF Signal From VCR

Peddyr

Do any of you good folk on Boards know the best solution for boosting the RF output from a VCR so that it is strong enough to transmit around the house out via a small indoor antenna and receive on an old UHF/VHF TV via it's built in telescopic antenna?

Ronnie Raygun

I don't think that would be legal, even if you could be bothered to make it work.

5uspect

Probably a SCART sender, depending on distance.

watty

Illegal.


You need to use a pair of 2.4 or 5.8GHz legal video senders. Multiple receivers will work from one transmitter.

You can get very small OEM receivers that will work off battery and tune the Retail CE marked Transmitter.

Peddyr

5uspect wrote: »

Probably a SCART sender, depending on distance.

Thanks for the replies folks. I didn't think it would be illegal as it's so low powered and short range...

There's no scart or RF socket on the TV. It's an old 1976 JVC 3050 and it's handy in the kitchen due to its small size and lack of space in my very small cottage kitchen, so A/V senders are not an option.

12 element

You could use a channelised amplifier that's the same channel as the RF output of the VCR and connect it to an aerial. It might be illegal but its done all over the country by farmers wanting to keep an eye on there livestock!

zg3409

Legal livestock camera are available. No need to break the law.

If you get a wireless video sender and connect it to a modulator and then wire the modulator to the aerial directly then it will work. It's very rare a TV does not have an RF socket.

Transmitting illegally can have all sorts of unintended consequences as there are lots of users of radio frequencies such as Gardai, taxi's etc you could interfere with.

winston_1

Peddyr wrote: »

Do any of you good folk on Boards know the best solution for boosting the RF output from a VCR so that it is strong enough to transmit around the house out via a small indoor antenna and receive on an old UHF/VHF TV via it's built in telescopic antenna?

For gods sake that is illegal.

Just run a coax lead from the VCR to the TV in question. What could be simpler than that? Don't tell me you have to drill holes and the TV is a long way away. Just do it.

Peddyr

Not really practical way to attach a cable to this antique beauty - JVC 3050. Getting a great signal on VHF from Kippure.

So. you can stream video etc around your house via a wireless network, transmit TV around your house via an A/V sender but to do likewise from a VCR is illegal.. How does that work then?!

zg3409

Peddyr wrote: »

transmit TV around your house via an A/V sender but to do likewise from a VCR is illegal.. How does that work then?!

There are licenced bands and unlicenced bands, or more correctly licence exempt.

Licenced bands are designed to prevent unwanted interference to professional services. If you suddenly wiped out you whole neighbourhoods ability to get Saorview that would be an example of unwanted interference.

Licence exempt bands allow anyone to transmit within certain restrictions. For example anyone can use wifi or video senders or baby intercoms without getting a licence. However if your baby intercom does not work because your next door neighbour also has the same brand and is also on the same channel then there is nothing you can do about it, no-one you can complain to.

There are bands allowed for licence exempt video, and that is the band video senders use. If you want to send video wirelessly then use the right equipment.

watty

Peddyr wrote: »

Not really practical way to attach a cable to this antique beauty - JVC 3050. Getting a great signal on VHF from Kippure.

I have JVC 2" portable TV/Radio. It has a 2.5mm jack aerial socket. I plan to put a miniature Video Sender Receiver and modulator from a VHS on the rear. I may even replace the 2.5mm RF jack with a 3.5mm stereo jack cleverly wired for RF direct Video.

Also even without a RF jack socket you can clip on coax centre to closed whip and any socket/metal work/battery-minus for coax braid.