I have my entire house configured to distribute video sources through the cable line. I have a lot of knowledge on the subject because I've been running this setup for about 18 months, so I just wanted to share some information with the community that has helped me so much over the past month.

Basically, I have one main setup in my living room with all of my components, (Mythtv, DVD, Tivo, Digital Cable box etc). The other TVs across the house can all watch my video sources by changing to a specific channel.

I use the Channel Plus 3025 Whole House Video Distribution box to do this. It can take two video/audio sources (via RCA jacks) and modulate them onto two different cable channels. For instance, if I set my MythTV output to composite (RCA style) video and run an RCA jack Y-cable out of my soundcard...I can run those outputs in the Channel Plus. I can then set channel 92 (or any high channel) to be my MythTV. I run the five outputted RF cables from the Channel Plus to the other TVs in my house. Then I just turn to channel 92 from any TV in the house and I can watch my MythTV.

The video quality is as good as RF can get, but remember, it is still RF cable. My living room setup is nice, but the other TVs in the house are just 27 inch or smaller, with no fancy speakers or anything...so the video quality is pretty decent. I wouldn't suggest this setup to output to big screens or anything. Basically, it will distribute an RF signal that is very close to the quality of the input signal. (My eyes can't tell the difference on a 25 inch TV.)

Anyway, overall I'm very happy with this setup and it is much cheaper than running multiple frontends. (Keep in mind that everyone watching the MythTV has to watch the same show. This is fine for 2 people in a house with many rooms and TVs, but may not be as useful for a family of 5 who want to watch different shows simultaneously.) Also, note that the other TVs in the house still have full access to the regular analog cable channels...that doesn't change in this model.

This is where I purchased the Channel Plus from because they had the best price:
http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=cha3025
If you search, there are many different Channel Plus products that support more input sources and better video quality (s-video) if you want to spend the money, but I'm happy with my two input source RF box. I also have a basic RCA switchbox in front of it, so that I can hook up additional sources.

The other piece to the puzzle is remote repeaters. Keep in mind that the ChannelPlus will distribute video and audio, but you won't have any remote control capabilities. For that, you need remote repeaters, which are very easy to install and use. Buy a "receiver" and aim it at your video components (MythTv, DVD, etc.). Then buy a "transmitter" for every "other" TV in the house. When you aim a remote at a transmitter, the signal gets converted to RF, sent through the air to the receiver, and then resent via IR from the receiver to your components...thus allowing control from any room.

I use 5 Powermid transmitters in my house and one receiver. You can get them here:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-bk0XugjsGQ ... T&g=194550

Last, but not least...if you don't want to have to carry your one and only remote all over the house, you should get some extra universal remotes. One For All makes excellent remotes for great prices. http://www.ofausa.com/list_remotes.php? ... eam%20Line

I have a URC-6131 in every room of the house, which controls all of my video sources. You can usually find these for about $20, which makes them a great value. (I have mine JP1 modified for additional customization, but that's another story.)

Anyway, I just wanted to give everyone a little direction in case they ever wanted to Myth-ify their entire house without setting up multiple frontends. If I left anything out, or if you have any questions on the subject, feel free to reply to the thread.

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Currently running: R5.5, HD5000 x 2, PVR150, Athlon 64 3000+, Chaintech VNF4, 1GB RAM, 2 x 250GB in LVM, MSI NX6200TC -> AA 9A60 -> HDTV

Great idea.
You are right $125 plus costs of a few transmitters and universal is remotes is cheaper than costs of front end. This is perfect for single people with multiple TVs or electronic stores/retail outlets wanting to feed video to multiple displays.

You should post this on the WIKI.

But it won't work for HD, right? So it's not really a good solution for selling TVs.

I use the same Channel Plus modulator and ATI RF remotes. Works great - highly reccomended.

One caution, tho. If you have a strong cable signal to begin with, and have any channels in the range you want to insert your own, you'll need to get a low-pass or a band-pass filter to remove the signal from a certain channel range. I ended up using a low pass filter to remove all cable channels above 80 or so, and inserted my myth box on 88 and a VCR (for the kids old tapes) on 84.

Using all 5 outputs from the modulator, we can watch Myth on all the TV's in the house - and the ATI remote works fairly well from any TV, too!

Allan

I have a similar set up and it works great here too. I'm using a couple of One for All Cinema7 remotes (URC-7800) with IR transmitters from Radio Shack. The remotes are JP1 remotes which means you can hook them up to the computer and program them, move buttons around, add new codes, etc. Very handy.

Yes, I had to use one of these too. For anyone else reading this...the filters are made by Channel Plus and run about $30.

They are located here:
http://www.channelplus.com/products_rf. ... essoriesrf

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Currently running: R5.5, HD5000 x 2, PVR150, Athlon 64 3000+, Chaintech VNF4, 1GB RAM, 2 x 250GB in LVM, MSI NX6200TC -> AA 9A60 -> HDTV