When I get that #analogCable headend built, I'm going to have a channel that's 24/7 Defcon talks, and another that's 24/7 Computer Chronicles.
Anyone have other suggestions for TV channels I should have?
@philpem Been thinking a lot about this for myself but on a UHF/terrestrial system. Definitely going to have a 24/7 MST3K channel!
I've also been thinking that it'd be really cool to be able to schedule blocks of programs, like how a TV channel would, so it's not just episode after episode of one show but one show followed by another and then another every day.
@philpem I think maybe, yeah? Like a hotel TV system, no cable decoder.
Honestly yeah doing spoof adverts, continuity announcements, bumpers/idents/trailer packages would be really fun too!
@renbymon Oh right, that makes sense. You'd be doing what I'm doing, but outputting on the UHF "C" channels instead of the EIA ones.
It's actually possible to do a hybrid system, which is what I'm aiming for. PAL and NTSC, maybe some scrambled channels, and a bunch of clear ones. And maybe DVB-T with CAS for poops and chuckles.
@philpem "C" as in Group C?
I'd be interested to know what hardware you're using as I haven't thought about specifics other than some chinese UHF modulators I've seen on ebay.
@renbymon No, I mean the C-prefixed channel numbers from C21 to C69. 8MHz spacing, but I can't remember what the base frequency is.
For NTSC I've got a General Instrument Commander6M modulator and a MVP scrambler (which both need recapping). I'm looking out for a Triax or similar headend at a good price. The Chinese ones will kinda work but they have no VSB filter (they mash the adjacent channel on the low side) and have poor harmonic performance, but they'll work in a pinch.
@philpem Ahh right yes was going to stay in that space as it's all my TVs can tune to ^^
@philpem I have tried using my HackRF on one of my LCD TVs but the TV has a real hard time locking and I guess that's the board itself because it's an unofficial one.
Would like to find some actual CATV hardware to use. :)
@renbymon That sounds like either an amplifier fault on the hackrf, wrong frequency, or not enough gain. In my experience it usually just locks.
@philpem I'm suddenly thinking it might be dodgy RG6; I was using the stuff that came with the house and last time I stripped some back the shield just turned to dust.
Gonna see about running off a new cable tonight and will try again.
@renbymon I think we're talking the same thing, unless you're thinking of doing DVB-T (it's on my maybe list).
Playout is something I haven't quite got my head around yet... but I like the idea of block scheduling, especially if there's a way to insert the break-bumpers (and maybe even some spoof adverts).
I kinda want an AI voice-synth that sounds like an old-time television announcer, to do the voiceovers.