PC TO TV SENDER & PC CONTROL

TWO COMPLEMENTARY DEVICES
I assembled the test of two products in a single review, because together express all their versatility. The PC to TV Sender is a system that transports video and audio signals of the PC toward any Television Set or Videorecorder. Without using cables and with an excellent quality. The PC Control, turns any PC into a multimedia center with remote control, where we can see DVD and images, listen to music, register the TV channels how it happens in the modern multimedia operating systems. But with a more accessible cost and without need to buy a new computer.
 
PC TO TV SENDER

Looking films and images on the computer monitor, limits the pleasure of the vision because often the position PC location is a crowded desk with a monitor of small dimensions. To solve the problem we use wireless devices that takes video and audio signals out-going from the PC and transmits them to a television set or a videoprojector of big format. Only qualification demanded, the computer must have a composite video output. Most of modern PCs (and practically all notebooks) owns video and audio outs suitable for the purpose. The PC to TV Sender is composed by two modules: The Transmitter and the Receiver, both with two antennas to transport video and stereo audio. Antennas for video are panel type and can be oriented to have the better reception quality. The audio uses stylus antennas of omnidirectional kind. The separation of video and audio guarantees a perfect quality of signals.
 

The two modules are supplied with AC power supplies, connection cables and SCART adapters for the connection with the television sets. Is included an adapter that converts mini-jack output of the PC audio card, in standard RCA.
The adapters and the cables in endowment, can be also used to transmit the exits of videorecorders, DVD players, videocameras, digital cameras and in general all the devices with a video composite output.
 

Attention! The two power supply units has different voltage and must be attached in a correct way to avoid damages to the modules. The Transmitter works with 12 Volt, the Receiver with 9 Volt.

 

Transmitter and Receiver modules, are provided with a channel selector, useful if one have interferences on the used radio frequency. Channels must be the same for both modules.

 

Rear view of the radio frequency devices. The Transmitter has a jack that can be connected to infrared modules, to send over long distances the signals of the remote control, as explained in the following.

 
HOW TO USE IT

Transmitter: Connect the video output of the computer to the VIDEO IN (yellow), connect the line exit of the audio card by the stereo adapter to the connectors AUDIO IN (white and red).
Receiver: Connect VIDEO OUT and AUDIO OUT to the SCART adapter. Connect the SCART to an input of the television set and select the input with the remote control. Switch On the modules and orient the panel antennas to improve the signal quality. In normal conditions, the range of the system is of further on ten meters, also through the walls.


PC CONTROL

An hi-tech remote control to manage, with a single device, the television set, the videorecorder, the DVD player, the computer and Domotics system of your home! The appearance of this "definitive" remote control hides numerous functions and a double system of transmission: To infrareds and radio frequency.
 

INFRARED REPEATER

Available as facultative accessory, the module IR-repeater allows to remote the commands of the multimedia control and to transmit them to distance toward the Transmitter module. In practice, the Receiver nearby placed to the big screen, picks up the infrared signals of the remote control and sends them over the air on a radio frequency service channel. The Transmitter module, receives these impulses and makes them available on the jack IR EXT, which can be connected to a series of infrared LEDs, that activate one or many devices.



INSTALLATION

The wrapping contains the Remote Control, the Radio Receiver with USB connection for PC, the installation CD and a concise but exhaustive manual.

 

The Remote Control is already ready to pilot all the traditional household appliances, that use coded infrared impulses. A series of already planned brands, can be set with a simple procedure. Alternatively is possible to search for the kind of coding with an automatic scanning up to find that right one for the specific device.

To control the PC, is necessary to connect the radio receiver to the USB door of the computer and install the ShowShifter control software and the X10 module driver. If you are connected to Internet, last available update of the software is automatically searched. Updatings are a guarantee offered by the producers to solve possible "bugs" signalled by the users and make more fluid the working of the programs. For this, I advise warmly to bring the software up to date.


The X10 control software, opens the door to the automation devices by Marmitek, as described in the following.


 

THE MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM

The software ShowShifter turns any PC into an advanced multimedia computer. After installing it, a configuration procedure starts for the available audio-video system. Is possible also to control video capture cards and TV tuners.
To reproduce the DVD correctly is necessary to install a DirectShow compatible decoder, present in numerous players as for istance WinDVD. All the parameters of visualization, are checked in visual modality, with a graphic effective interface.


 

The guide also illustrates the use and the installation of the multimedia system in flats on several levels, thanks to the radio waves system. A more complete version of ShowShifter is available, the JukeBox, it includes a multimedia libraries manager.



 

REMOTE CONTROL MODES

The versatility of the system, allows different control modalities both with the infrareds and the radio frequency. The simpler situation foresees the direct control of the PC with the remote control Marmitek. The radio frequency is used to simulate the mouse and the functions of navigation of the computer. The advanced use foresees the control both of the television set (with the infrareds) and the PC (with the radio frequency). The PC can be connected directly to the television set or can be used the radio link "PC to TV Sender". In this case the control of the multimedia also extends at a home on several levels.


 

THE "X10" SYSTEM FOR DOMOTICS

The radio signals of the remote control, can activate a series of modules that manage the switch and regulation of lamps, washing machines, ovens, antitheft. They can be connected to several electro-mechanical "actuators". For istance is possible to raise or lower the roll-up shutters of home, activate the irrigation system, regulate the position of a surveillance camera, ecc. Besides the radio waves, other systems to transmit the commands to the X10 modules can be used. For istance using the same cables that transport the 220 Volt energy. This system allows to connect any point of a habitation, by using the already mounted power sockets. A single radio receiver can pilot numerous control modules and realize a complete Domotics system (electronics applied to the house).

 

 
CONCLUSIONS

A tool to command the multimedia functions of our computers remotely. The solution proposed by Marmitek opens new horizons to the advanced telecontrol of the houses, from the audio-video up to advanced solutions of security and automation. The future of Domotics is already within reach, reliable and simple to use.
I thank Nicoshop for the test samples.

The direct link for the PC to TV Sender is: http://www.nicoshop.com/cat197_l2.html#9

The direct link for the PC Control is: http://www.nicoshop.com/cat200_l2.html#1

The link to look closer at the solutions for the Domotica proposed by NicoShop is: http://www.nicoshop.com/cat039_l2.html
The cost for each review is 100 EURO, including VAT, product test, research and deepenings (possible creation of user manuals), graphics and photographic production, italian translation. Please ask for multimedia and conference delivering.