Is this the easiest way to watch a DVD on an old telly?

[Luke Hooft]

I want to watch DVDs on a TV with only an RF input. This is a common
problem, I know, and the two solutions are either an old vcr that doesn't
have macrovision, or a device that will convert a composite video signal to
an RF signal.

I couldn't be bothered hunting down a suitable VCR, which will probably be a
bulky useless thing on top of my TV, I just want to buy the converter. Is
this device

http://www.tandy.com.au/cgi-bin/tandy.storefront/4078126a0306d11a273fc0a87f9
c06af/Product/View/G1507 basically what I'm after, and is it the cheapest of
it's kind? Seems a tad expensive for what it does. Dick Smith's website has
it for the same price. And does anyone know why it says "not compatible with
all DVD players"? Will it avoid the macrovision problem or not?

I remember I had an old Nintendo (NES) that had a "RF modulator" to plug it
into the TV. Little grey box. Would that possibly to the job (if I still
have it?).

Any thoughts/advice welcome.

LH

[Michael Barry]

An RF modulator is the best solution, because of the macrovision problem
going through a VCR.

A newer TV with component inputs would be the best case scenario, because
you lose a huge benefit of DVDs without this (the fact that DVDs are encoded
in the 4:2:0 component format...running composite/RF is just throwing this
information away).

Michael.

"Luke Hooft" <nobodyliveshere@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
news:TwUdc.372$Er.15255@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...
> I want to watch DVDs on a TV with only an RF input. This is a common
> problem, I know, and the two solutions are either an old vcr that doesn't
> have macrovision, or a device that will convert a composite video signal
to
> an RF signal.
>
> I couldn't be bothered hunting down a suitable VCR, which will probably be
a
> bulky useless thing on top of my TV, I just want to buy the converter. Is
> this device
>
>
http://www.tandy.com.au/cgi-bin/tandy.storefront/4078126a0306d11a273fc0a87f9
> c06af/Product/View/G1507 basically what I'm after, and is it the cheapest
of
> it's kind? Seems a tad expensive for what it does. Dick Smith's website
has
> it for the same price. And does anyone know why it says "not compatible
with
> all DVD players"? Will it avoid the macrovision problem or not?
>
> I remember I had an old Nintendo (NES) that had a "RF modulator" to plug
it
> into the TV. Little grey box. Would that possibly to the job (if I still
> have it?).
>
> Any thoughts/advice welcome.
>
> LH
>
>

[Luke Hooft]

"Michael Barry" <msbarry@ihug.com.au> wrote in message
news:c594hp$73b$1@lust.ihug.co.nz...
> An RF modulator is the best solution, because of the macrovision problem
> going through a VCR.

Yeah. I actually found this one, has stereo sound inputs, rather than mono
like the one I linked in my first post. It's also $15 bucks cheaper.

http://www.citysouthelectronics.com.au/rfmod.html

One with multiple switchable inputs would be even better, though I guess I
could get a box that does that separately..

> A newer TV with component inputs would be the best case scenario, because
> you lose a huge benefit of DVDs without this (the fact that DVDs are
encoded
> in the 4:2:0 component format...running composite/RF is just throwing this
> information away).

Oh sure. This is just for the bedroom. I have a newer TV in the lounge, and
plan to get a better one (widescreen, progressive display, component input)
eventually. The RF modulator is just a quick fix solution.

LH

[Daniel Bowen]

"Luke Hooft" <nobodyliveshere@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
news:TwUdc.372$Er.15255@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...
> I want to watch DVDs on a TV with only an RF input. This is a common
> problem, I know, and the two solutions are either an old vcr that doesn't
> have macrovision, or a device that will convert a composite video signal
to
> an RF signal.
>
> I couldn't be bothered hunting down a suitable VCR, which will probably be
a
> bulky useless thing on top of my TV, I just want to buy the converter. Is
> this device

Do you have a DVD player at the moment? Do you have a VCR at all?

If you don't yet have a DVD player, but do have a VCR (even if it does have
macrovision) I'd have thought the easiest/cheapest path is to buy a cheapie
DVD player that has no macrovision on it.


Daniel
--
Daniel Bowen, Melbourne, Australia
Email: dbowen at custard dot net dot au
http://www.danielbowen.com/

[Luke Hooft]

"Daniel Bowen" <dbowen@custard.REMOVETHIS.net.au> wrote in message
news:4078952c$5_1@news.melbourne.pipenetworks.com. ..

> Do you have a DVD player at the moment? Do you have a VCR at all?
>
> If you don't yet have a DVD player, but do have a VCR (even if it does
have
> macrovision) I'd have thought the easiest/cheapest path is to buy a
cheapie
> DVD player that has no macrovision on it.

I have the player, a cheapie that *does* have macrovision, unfortunately. I
suppose I could get another if I had to.

LH