Recently I bought second-hand a Multiview T35 Freeview receiver and modulator , they were designed for use in Hotels and schools to recreate the 5 analogue channels after digital switchover so that existing distribution systems could carry on until the TVs were replaced. They are quite clever units and once reset they will tune into the local Freeview channels and rebroadcast BBC1 BBC2 ITV Channel 4 & 5 on seperate analogue channels. You can then plug in an aerial lead to your old TV and tune in the channels so the tuner works as they could back in the past. Another neat trick is that it turns the EPG into a set of teletext pages which are visible on a Teletext TV a bit like being in the past.
I tried it with my 1990s B&O and all worked well see pictures. Several off these are appearing on auction sites so they may be a useful addition to keeping your old sets going.
That's a very neat gadget! I'll look out for one of those.
Very much liking this indeed.
I was not aware of its existence so many thanks for raising it. Will have to see about getting one.
Couldn't resist......just bought one! Now I can have the best of both worlds. I can also keep my separate modulator and freeview box.
So it was you, ahahahha 🙂 I was reading and then when hit submit to buy it said sold. Teach me to hesitate. 😀
edit:
Just made an offer on one of the other ones and it was accepted so I have one too. So cool, thanks to Chris for posting and making us aware of these excellent devices, can't wait as this is going to transform my 625 analogue network.
Just a few pointers to getting them going. You need to be able to see the output on modulator 1 to configure or reset. Depending on how it was used that may be set to a high channel as BBC1 might have been up at C57 not the first you come to. So find that, if when you press menu and find a channel it shows <2 menu> you have the wrong channel, this isnt helped by the lack of a signal to start with. The manuals are available on the links.
http://www.rsdtv.com/pdf/MultiviewB-009.pdf for the tall model, and
http://rsdtv.com/pdf/MultiviewH002.pdf for the low profile one
Connect an aerial and once you get to screen one press menu and then press simultaneously the left right buttons next to RS232 port it then asks for confirmation and does a new setup and retune.
regards
ChrisW
Thanks for that Chris.
I bought one of the slimline ones. I've also put those two manuals in the Data library for ease and just in case they ever go from the other site.
I just bought one - a tall one, with no external PSU but 12V PSUs are not an issue here 🙂
Cathovisor You will just need to find a 12vDC wall wart at more than 1.6A I used 2A centre positive.
Chris
So it was you, ahahahha 🙂 I was reading and then when hit submit to buy it said sold. Teach me to hesitate. 😀
Sorry!! I hesitated as well but I must have hit the button first! At least you have one coming as well. It will save me a lot of work and cables compared to what I was planning.
This seems to be a very useful bit of kit! So I have just purchased a slimline unit too.
Jon
Cathovisor You will just need to find a 12vDC wall wart at more than 1.6A I used 2A centre positive.
Chris
Thanks for the tip Chris - I spotted on the photos of the units what's needed and I have a goodly number of that sort of thing about 🙂
Any idea what the serial port does?
Data port for software updates
Since I only have non-digital TV's and use set top boxes in my home anyway, this looks like a good thing to own so I too have bought one.
The possibility of having five analogue channels to use is very attractive.
As Chris said the RS232 port is for software updates, I believe (RSD)Sat software to do any updates but I have not tried it yet.
This gives some info
http://www.rsdtv.com/rcms/showthread.php/5-Firmware-Software-Upgrade-Procedure-for-the-Multiview
regards
ChrisW
I wonder if it is worth performing a firmware update or leaving well alone if it appears to work ok?
Something of a grey area for me, but it would be interesting to hear opinions.
If it works OK then I'd leave well alone. I only did software upgrades if anything was obviously wrong....but then that's only my opinion!
Agreed , if it’s not broken don’t fix it as the saying goes. Not the best advice in some cases but in this one I think it is.
I have to admit that my biggest fear would be doing it, running into problems and the thing is then unable to operate and thus useless.
If it works OK then I'd leave well alone. I only did software upgrades if anything was obviously wrong....but then that's only my opinion!
I'll certainly agree with that, one of our companies clients has changed their corporate logo and has been sending out software updates. We're running around like headless chickens at the moment sorting out the damage.
I've just ordered a T35 also, I had also been looking at the A2B MyM T3, only 3 modulators but with NICAM encoding capability.
John.