[misterhouse-users] ChannelPlus Modulation & IR system

[Kirk B. <ki...@ka...>]

This is a bit of a repeat from some other posts, but I wanted to use a
better subject and consolidate my thoughts.

I already have a much of coax run in my house to a central location.
I'm really interested in the ChannelPlus modulation/amplification/IR
system.  

Part 1: RF modulation/distribution
----------------------------------

My first question -- it seems that I have to put something like the
DA-550BID amplifier in my equipment closet to amplify all of the
signals.  But it seems to take in only one input.  But I don't want to
move my video sources into the equipment closet... partly because of a
lack of room and partly because I like to use high-quality S-Video
connections locally.

I have one location with a crappy Dish Network PVR and a DVD player.  It
seems that I could put a ChannelPlus 2-channel modulator in that room
and hook up an output from each device.  I could then run coax from that 
modulator into the amplifier in my equipment closet, and then out to all
of my other TVs.

My problem is that I have another location.  It has a Tivo that already
has RF output that already goes directly into the equipment closet. 

And I also have two video cameras that come directly into the equipment
closet with composite video.

So, can I put a second 2-channel modulator in the equipment closet?  If
so, how do I combine the signals from both 2-channel modulators AND the
signal from the Tivo (on channel 3) into one stream that has 5 channels
that can be watched from any TV?

Part 2: IR distribution
-----------------------

I see that ChannelPlus also has these 2100A wall-plates.  Do these just
connect directly to the DA-550BID amplifier with a single coax cable and
that is it?  It looks like you can then buy an IR receiver to plug into
it and also an IR emitter that can plug into it as well.  What if I want
to have multiple IR emitters at one location... is there some way to
split the IR output or do I have to put in two wall plates.

Finally, if anybody knows how Misterhouse can both watch and add to the
IR traffic directly I would love to know.  The only way I can think of
right now is to buy a regular IR input/output that Misterhouse can use
and then line that up with the IR emitter and receivers used by the
ChannelPlus system.  But I would like to avoid going from electrical to
IR and back to electrical if I can.  I thought that most IR distribution
systems use the same eletrical characteristics and thus there may be a
way to directly like the two systems.

Any answers will be greatly appreciated!

-- 
Kirk Bauer <ki...@ka...>
http://linux.kaybee.org | www.autorpm.org | www.logwatch.org