Entertainment Sytem Setup

December 20, 2005 12:56 PM

How much picture quality is lost in routing cable through three devices (satellite, VCR, DVD recorder? Also, how can I set up an entertainment system so it's as easy to switch from device to device as possible?

My family recently purchased a DVD player that happens to be a recorder. I'd like to rewire the system to take advantage of it with two goals in mind:

1. Keep signal quality as high as possible

2. Make the system as easy to use as possible

My parents are good at changing channels and volume, but that's the extent of their skill. I want to set things up so they have to push as few buttons as possible to select the VCR, satellite or DVD player as possible, and hopefully in as logical way as possible.

The TV is fairly new and has component inputs, which might be nice for the DVD. The satellite system is fairly old, and can only do S-Video and cable. If it makes things too complicated, DVD recording isn't necessary. I'm willing to buy new cables, if that will help too. How can I make things pretty?

posted by bargex to technology (7 comments total)

For the switching-being-components part of your question, a "switcher box." (There's probably a more technical name for it.) You plug the DVD player, satellite dish, game system, etc. into it, then one cable goes to the TV. To swtich between components, just press the button marked "DVD" or "XBox" or whatever. I got one at Best Buy for about $20 that works fine for me (switching between DVD player and PS2), but there may be more high-end models that limit degradation of video quality. Mind you, I've never noticed any loss of quality using the box I have, but maybe I'm just not looking hard enough.
posted by arco at 1:26 PM on December 20, 2005

There are some grammar issues in my response, but I think you catch my drift.
posted by arco at 1:27 PM on December 20, 2005

Probably the easiest way to do this is to buy a AV reciever and use it to route signals around - there are plenty that do video, and have the ability to hook up VCRs and stuff.

The fact that you have two recorders makes it complicated to set up a chain without some kind of hub, without having to do a bunch of relatively complicated switching on multiple devices.
posted by aubilenon at 1:33 PM on December 20, 2005

2. Make the system as easy to use as possible

I swear by my Harmony Universal Remote. I think Logitech makes them now.

I was never able to find a remote that would handle *everything* in my system. I could control 90% of things but then others I had to switch remotes. I got tired of using 4-5 remotes and I got annoyed at all the "hack your remote" websites because i want a remote to be EASY to program, I didn't want to build an RS-232 cable just to get it to work with my receiver.

I also didn't want to pay 400.00 for a Palm-type LCD screen remote, I wanted actual BUTTONS to control things.

The Harmony RULES. It has a USB interface so instead of finding all the codes to program into your remote you just plug it into your computer, go to their website and select the actual components and how they are tied together (things like "when you watch TV, what device controls the volume, the TV or the receiver?") and it programs your remote for you.

Unlike other remotes, you then think in terms of "tasks", not "devices." You press the button marked "Watch TV" and it puts on the TV, puts on the receiver, sets the receiver to the proper channel, etc...", ditto for "watch a movie" or "play music."

It's the only remote I've ever really liked. If it hasn't already been listed, it's the sort of thing you'd find on Kevin Kelly's Cool Tools website. It just makes sense, and it works.

I have an older model, but the newer ones are here.
posted by bondcliff at 1:50 PM on December 20, 2005

Also, one of my goals in looking for a remote was so that my mom could operate it. She can, though the TiVo changing the channel on her confuses her sometimes.
posted by bondcliff at 1:51 PM on December 20, 2005

I will second getting an AV receiver. These are not particularly high-tech or expensive items, and do make your cable routing and stuff a lot more comprehensible.

Also second the Harmony remote. I used to have one of those highly hackable remotes, which I had hacked; eventually it died. Although the Harmony is expensive as remotes go, my time is worth something, and I ultimately came out ahead with this thing. They really did a nice job with it, and once it's set up (setup is pretty straightforward), it is dead-simple to use--to watch TV you punch a button that says "Watch TV" etc. Plus, hey, you've got only one remote.
posted by adamrice at 2:12 PM on December 20, 2005

Thanks everyone! I'm going to start looking into the fancy remotes. I think that'll be the best for the 'rents.
posted by bargex at 3:13 AM on December 21, 2005