Classic Hifi Care

Is it possible to stream from the Internet, specifically YouTube, to an agile modulator?

I know there are off brand internet streaming units that have RCA outputs for the video signal. That would likely be a digital video signal that wouldn't work with your theater. The problem is getting an analog video signal from the streaming device. I can't find such a device om Ebay. You need to ask someone who is into video production and has been for a while to ask about this.

They make RF modulators, available at Walmart. I'm not 100% sure what they do. They convert digital to analog, and provide a modern connection for older TV's but I'm also not 100% sure just WHAT connection they provide, nor why I need it. Assuming they provide a digital-to-analog signal, perhaps that output could be used by the agile modulator?

Not a stupid question at all... I never thought about it , but if they can stream music on BT to basically anything ... why can't they develop a small set top box to capture the wireless in your home and convert the analog to digital signal into a roku box? ... it would be a niche market for sure... catering to idiots like us that try to keep these old formats alive .....but I bet the digital interference would mess up the circuits of a old TV to make it unwatchable? I mean have you ever tried to listen to a AM radio in today's digital world... you gotta go out into the desert like shango to avoid interference just to pull in stations...

I may ask on VideoKarma to see what those guys have to say about the subject. I always feel so stupid when I ask those guys a question. They seem to feel like if they know the answer, I should too.

Someone once said:
"There are no stupid questions,
only stupid people who do not ask questions."

As long as you get your answer Greg, who cares
about someone's attitude on a forum ?
I gave up that concern some years ago, along
with wondering what happened to common sense.

In fact, I had to look up what an agile modulator was !

Greg, wouldn't a 1 or 2 channel modulator be enough? At least for the time being. Having that would give you some leeway to find a good price on one. As I see it the problem to all this is getting a NTSC to ATSC converter.

I did some looking up. Here is a converter for the HDMI output of a streaming device that will convert it to a analog video signal. Apply that output to a RF modulator and you're all set. You would change the programming from the streaming devices remote.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/115405250031?h ... Swn3tilgeo

I want to use an agile modulator with whatever setup I come up with. An agile modulator is basically a miniature TV broadcast setup that was commonly used in stores where they sold TV sets, hospitals, hotels, places like that. They would have multiple sets on at once. With an agile modulator, I wouldn't have to connect then re-connect sets when I wanted to watch them. I could watch them all, or only one at once, whichever one I wanted. I want to enjoy OTA TV signals, since we have something like 80+ channels here available OTA. I will need a digital-to-analog box for that, then whatever other devices I need. I thought it would be nice to be able to enjoy YouTube videos on the old black and white sets. I have four sets that survived the move, plus the Stereo Theater. Rex, I'll check out the link you provided. And, Mr. Mogul, I realize there is no such thing as a stupid question and that snarky responses are part of the game sometimes. I feel like I'm being a bother asking questions I should know the answer to. I try to read and research, but sometimes the light comes on better for me with human interaction.

I would check in at the local resale or goodwill ... they just about always have one of those converter boxes , as everyone moved to smart TV's

I have a converter box we got when the gubmint was passing them our for free. How long ago was that?

electra225 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 04, 2022 8:48 pm I have a converter box we got when the gubmint was passing them our for free. How long ago was that?

That gummint-eeshew converter box is exactly what you need to receive "composite" video, that's the yellow RCA jack. You tie the red and white together because the modulators are rarely MTS stereo and your old TV doesn't care.

I cant be bothered trying to find content on the internet, let alone convert to analog for streaming. I want classic shows, movies or current events that are available from my other formats.

ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES: Feed into this A-V modulator and the old TV gets a much better signal than anything else, including that DT converter box. Its analog output on ch 3 or 4 is not a very good signal, and the BT is adjustable! https://www.ebay.com/itm/155005235583?e ... Sw4eViiZ5z , put a little 16 inch whip antenna and you're on the air!

Just make sure channel 7 is not being used in your locale, I checked and it isn't. The range of the five channels I broadcast at home is about 100 feet. I get it with simple rabbit ears anywhere on the property. Close neighbors can receive via their antennas, most smart TVs scan both analog and digital channels, and these all show up because its connected to an antenna.

Going by this website https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps , it looks like your area has more channels available than most of us so you may want to pick ONE of those to re-broadcast, I suggest METV due to period-correct content.

They took METV off OTA Channel 7.1. The only way we get METV here is on Cox cable. We get all kinds of other stuff, though. COZY, Antenna TV, Grit I think there are something like 82 OTA channels available here in the Phoenix market. On YouTube I watch "The Real McCoys, Highway Patrol, Dragnet", stuff like that. I also like the old History Channel videos on old companies like Packard, Studebaker and that. And WW2 movies.

I have an old VHS videotape chassis with the RF modulator on it, if that would make an interesting project for anybody.

Chris Campbell

TC Chris wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 2:34 am I have an old VHS videotape chassis with the RF modulator on it, if that would make an interesting project for anybody.

Chris Campbell

The "cans" those RF modulators came in usually need only 12 VDC, analog audio and composite video inputs. I have a great one from a Sony beta player.

They make a good project if you're not trying to broadcast far with a low output RF level of channel 3 or 4.

The output of the BT modulator is high enough to broadcast with from attic to basement.