the blocks are

choice select model CHO 4055

sounds ALL TOO FAMILIAR RIGHT?

i wish I had any idea on how to help, that sounds like what Clint Eastwood would
call a "clusterfuck"

oh it is a clusterfok :( I was thinking of just buying a spool of rg6 and running a totally separate line to yellow composite...that way all id have to do is change the input on the tvs (whichever ones i or the owner want at any given point)...and i know that it will work because i wired it.

sux

This setup sounds 100% typical of the average satellite TV installer in restaurants/bars - do it as cheaply as possible and make it as easy as you can for the bar manager to change sports channels.

Strangely enough, 10 CHO4055's are a total of 40 HD outputs from 10 inputs.
It sounds like they are utilizing the unit as a composite amplifier, meaning they're using the component HD plugs as composite plugs, giving each unit the ability to output 10 outputs (chaining each row's last output to the next row's input, which takes 1 plugs out of each row, total of 2 less plugs per module). But if all they have are satellite boxes & CHO 4055's, its about the only way it could be set up given what they have.

What I would suggest is taking the trace the composite (yellow RCA plug) output out of ONE of the satellite boxes to the amplifier, and make that your video input. Make sure you plug it in when you're done for the night, and definitely ask permission first. That would give them 9 sports channels and your video mixes on 6 of the TVs, assuming the 10 boxes go to 6 TVs each. If you need to go onto more TVs, you'll need your own video splitter, which then you can unplug 2 or more satellite boxes from the CHO 4055's, and just plug them into your splitter.

If you plan to play there a lot, you should probably invest in a A/B video switch so the satellite to video mix transition is at the push of a button in the future. To be really tricky, you could take another CHO4055, do what I said above (1 input to 10 outputs) and connect 10 A/B video switches to each of the satellite box outputs. That way you essentially have a choice of not only which boxes get bypassed, but you could actually bypass all 10 satellite boxes and have it on all 60 screens that way.

In all reality, they should be doing this for you and your contract should spell out exactly what they need to do to fulfill their end of the deal, but for the most part we all know DJs get the raw end of the deal.


If you have more pics or need more info you can email me at dougr AT dwwfl.com.

"oh no, Ive gone cross-eyed"

I do this crap for a living.. imagine that. Figure out ingenious ways to work within a small AV budget with as little stuff as possible.

It is stuff that will make you go cross eyed if you're not used to people asking for ridiculous connections constantly like I am.

Here's a diagram describing what I think he's looking at...

<a href="s174.photobucket.com target="_blank"><img src="i174.photobucket.com border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="s174.photobucket.com target="_blank"><img src="i174.photobucket.com border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Let's try that link a different way..

i174.photobucket.com
i174.photobucket.com

Yea thats what i did today to check to see if i would get output to the tvs...


heres the problem...im using the aver quickplay converter from small dvi to vga...then vga to composite..

im gettin a green tint (and thats with blue, green, and red all connnected..

I will be doing a weekly event at this spot starting next month, but the first event is the most important (oct 31st).

with that being said...i could just input my r/g/b into several blocks, but then id have to buy a dozen or so splitters....

So as im sitting here, I am thinking I need a solid way to make this work (without having to plug in and out wires all the time).

So Doug, lets say I get another block with say 4 or 5 outputs...I run my input wire from the booth to the blocks input then output I run each of the 4 or 5 to an a/b switch mounted next to each block... A being the sat input and B being the dj booth video input...

I could actually do this to all 10 blocks if I so desired right? All I would need would be 2 blocks, some splitters, 10 A/B switches and a few patch cables?

Can you verify the TVs are connected with straight composite (yellow and white/red audio), and not component (meaning the Green Blue Red for video / White/Red for audio).

You may be getting a green tint because they are actually outputting in HD, although there's technically not enough CHO4055's to get 60 TVs in HD...

It sounds like your converter is converting to component, but the TV's are connected in composite (yellow RCA only).

Once you know if it's actually component (3 wire video) or composite (1 wire video) to the ACTUAL TV's, I'll be able to help more. I'm thinking with the green tint you might be running component in, but the TV's are hooked up composite.

If they ARE component outputs to the TVs (and indeed using all 3 video signals), you will need to buy component A/B switches.

Once you get the component/composite video problem sorted out, then yes, like you said, 10 channels of *distribution amplifiers*, 10 A/B switches and a LOT of patch cables (at least 20 for composite, 60 for component). It certainly beats connecting a whole pile of wires and amps up every week! And worrying about a call the next day why 6 TVs won't come on... Versus telling them to make sure they're all on input A or B.

Also the other benefit they may not realize is they can use the booth output from a DVD player and play promotional things or event DVDs (like high school reunion pictures for a party, etc).

Oh and definitely shop around online... Radio Shack and local places will kill you on prices of this A/V stuff. Trust me when you're talking paying $10 more for an RCA cable locally, that's $200+ in lost savings. Same as the A/B switches, if you get a $40 switch locally, or a $20 switch online... Big difference.

The TVs (which there are 36 to 40) are connected via R/G/B...the other 20 or so odd TVs are daisy chained (2nd floor) and from my understanding are barely used.

The whole system is set up R/G/B...

wow, after seeing the price on just the composite a/b switches (80 bux minimum) and ill need 10 of em...) I could just wire the whole damn club using coax rg6 with splitters and coax to composite ends and run yellow composite thru the whole club...I bet a spool of rg6 is cheaper?

thats the best way,,,the oiwner has his connects and u got ur hdmi over cat6 just change video source from tv also gives the club owner the option to leave certain sporting event on tvs while others have music video trust me.....MLB PLAYOFF, NFL PLAYOFFS ETC...NBA FINALS

thats what im going to do...eye, you have any suggestions on specs for rg6? Im tryin to keep costs to a minimum but I dont want to EVER have to mess with these wires again. lol

And, the furthest TVs are about 100 feet away...do you suggest any amplification?

www.amazon.com would something like this work?

MONOPRICE.COM they even have a new wall plate hdmi to cat6 this is the best with indicator light whichs lets u know its working n connected...fresh!! lol

www.monoprice.com

everything is on monoprice even the amplifier and what I like about monoprice is they are not just a distributor they are the manufacturer. thier name is on the actually device unlike these crakerjack webstores that buy from taiwan and just resell. deal with people that know the product. and its cheap.

Video Switchers are the way to go if you have the money... I did a nice install for a club last year all HD. You choose what goes on what screen. Many different models.

also there are devices that will allow you to run through cat 5 cable for the long runs...They work great.

but eye, do i really need hdmi to cat6? im not runnin audio to any of the tvs.

wait a minute, thats cat5/6 cable...im talkin rg6 coax

The amplification will be at the actual video distribution part - 100 feet should be okay theoretically. But don't forget that how much your time costs running 40 runs of RG6 through walls / ceilings /etc. As well as any local statutes or codes that may require those RG6 runs to be done by a licensed contractor.

The one guy mentioned Monoprice.com - their component video switcher is less than $20 each and have a qty discount. Plus its a 4 way switch with remote!

www.monoprice.com

They also carry REALLY cheap RCA cables 1.5 ft component - $2.26 when you order 10+..

CAT 6 IS fine...cheap and rather thin so you can squeeze behind moldongs without taking them down.

you can run hdmi if you got the money...lol

its not me who has the money,,,its the club owner, in which i think he dont wanna spend the extra money

so cat6 is best option for u

how do i plug cat6 into a composite yellow tv input? :)

and ill need 20-30 splitters, and 50 adapters from cat6 to single male rca/composite...

the tvs are all in a row, all around the outside of the bar, then on the inside, same as the upstairs, this is goin to be an ez run...just alot of adapters and what not. no walls to run thru, and ill just zip tie the wires right with the satellite wires.

YOU BETTA BE GETTIN PAID A GRIP SON!

definitly.

MILLZ do not use composite...go hdmi..trust me you can see a great difference....

Im such an amature in this dept, but from when I researching how to run my cable
in my house to my TV everywhere I read said composite if very close, if not
equal to, hdmi.
hdmi just carries the audio as well.

its not my money to spend eye or i would...

Actually a HDMI system might work out ok. To start, you could get a $142 HDMI 1 to 8 port distribution amplifier, run 8 HDMI wires and use the TV remotes to switch to the HDMI ports.

Shopped around online, HDMI cables are not super expensive..

a roll of rg6 is 60 bux...im not running hdmi in this spot, its old and run down and who knows how long its going to be open...the owner doesnt want to spend any more money than the bare minimum and i can agree with him on that...but thank you all for your input...im going to go with rg6 with inexpensive splitters and rca adapter ends.

in the new club im going to wire up next month....the budget is nice, so im thinking cat 6/hdmi

6.14 HERE...

www.monoprice.com

That's a cross-over cat6 cable - that won't work, you need a straight through patch cord.

www.monoprice.com

use thie over cat6 that works......regular cat6