reubanks@cipc1.Dayton.NCR.COM (Russell Eubanks) (05/25/89)
A while back, someone in r.a.s. made the comment that TNG should be heard in stereo to get the full effect. I don't believe that getting stereo is as simple as connecting my speakers to my (old) TV. Is there some way that I can modify my TV to receive broadcasts in stereo and output the sound through my speakers? If the equipment to make the modification is available, what is the best source? Since I don't read a couple of the groups to which this is posted, please respond to me via e-mail. Thanks in advance. - Russell Eubanks -- --- "There are always alternatives" ----...this planet isn't big---- ---- - Spock -----enough for the both of us--- ----- Russell.Eubanks@cipc1.Dayton.NCR.COM ------so...OFF YA GO! - Duck --- -------- ...!uunet!ncrlnk!cipc1!reubanks -------- Dodgers (24 1/2 century) --
reubanks@cipc1.Dayton.NCR.COM (Russell Eubanks) (06/06/89)
First of all, thanks for all of the responses that I received to
my mono-to-stereo question. I am posting this consolidated
response to the same groups to which I posted the original inquiry.
Its kind of long, so you might want to hit "n" now....
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The responses seemed to fall into three categories:
1) Buy a stereo TV and/or VCR. This is the easiest alternative
and, obviously, the most expensive (i.e., only in my dreams!).
2) Buy a "Y" cable and connect the "audio out" from the VCR to the
proper input jacks on my amplifier. This will route the sound
through my speakers. Not "true" stereo, but better than the mono
sound I currently get from my TV.
3) An MTS or Frequency Decoder (FRED) unit (I'm guessing at the
acronyms). What follow are some excerpts from the mail I received:
from D.P -
There are several ways, all of which involve external
equipment.
1) Buy an outboard "TV audio tuner" that includes an MTS
(multichannel television sound) decoder. This would be
entirely separate from the TV; you'd plug the output of
this tuner into your stereo system. You would then tune
the audio-tuner to the same channel as the television,
turn up the stereo's sound, and turn down the TV's sound
all the way.
2) You can buy an external MTS decoder that does not
include a tuner. Instead, it is designed to use the TV's
own tuner, and to extract the MTS signal from the IF
(intermediate frequency) stage within the TV.
If your TV has a "decoder output" jack, then it was
designed to be "stero compatible", and you can simply
plug the MTS decoder into this jack. If your TV is more
than about 5 years old, this probably isn't the case.
Some MTS decoders are capable of picking up the IF signal
from the TV without needing to have a direct connection
to the TV's circuitry. They come with a little "pickup"
device (essentially an antenna that's tuned to the
standare IF signal) that you attach to the outside of the
TV set; it picks up the IF radiation from within the TV
cabinet, amplifies it, and feeds it into the MTS decoder
circuitry. You will usually need to mofe the pickup
around the outside of the TV to locate the best spoit for
it (strongest IF pickup). Some TV's (e.g., late-model
Sonys) have such good electrical shielding in their
cabinets that this trick won't work...the IF can't excape
from the cabinet.
- from T.R.:
...Or you could buy a unit that would split off the audio
and feed it into stereo speakers. The name of just one
such unit is Recoton (I believe) and I seem to think that
they sell for about $100 U.S.
- from R-T.D.:
I am using a cable converter called RemoteScan 2001 which
has remote volume control. Simply hook it to any TV, you
get full remote control -- power, channel, volume, mute,
timer. It can switch back and forth between cable and
on air TV. If you ar willing to hook it up to your
stereo system, you can get stereo and SAP sound. It
costs $99.95 while it was on sale.
- from J.R.S:
...or cheapest, buy FRED from Recotron, which picks up
vibes near your TV (really) and puts out stereo for
speakers or to your stereo. Try an electronic discount
store nearby...
- from A.B.:
...Watch out for decks (VCR) that say linear STEREO.
Linear means a stereo playback head for the tape NOT the
ability to decode MTS in the TUNER part of the VCR...
Almost all of the respondents indicated that the components might
be available at Radio Shack.
Personally, I am trying to track down an MTS decoder or FRED unit
in my area. If I can't find a unit, I'll buy a patch cable and try
that method. Once again, thanks for all the responses!
- Russell Eubanks.......
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