HDMI RF Modulator Chassis System 1-12 Units 12 Ch HDMI

Answer:
We have a perfect device for ATSC private channel injection for that camera.  If you keep the Analog  RCA Camera then we'd have to get you an RCA to HDMI converter, then you can use something small and compact like the PETIT modulator, this unit only takes in HDMI. So you can upgrade your camera to and HD HDMI output camera, and just, plug indirectly, otherwise, we need to get you a converter with the above product.    Single Channel Petit H-HDMI-RF-PETIT https://thorbroadcast.com/product/petit-hdmi-rf-modulator-1.html   Multi Channel Units There are units: H-THUNDER-4  - https://thorbroadcast.com/product/1-4-or-8-hdmi-digital-rf-encoder-modulator-8230.html/238 or H-HDCOAX-8 - https://thorbroadcast.com/product/1-8-hdmi-digital-rf-modulator-cc-closed-captioning.html/95  

Answer:
1) If you log into the NMS GUI through any web browser, there is a menu in the modulation settings to change that.  Once you get to the menu the password is THOR in all capitals, it will allow you to switch to DVBT one thing I want to point out DVB-T is a European standard, are you trying to get it working in the USA Canada or Mexico? If so it should be DVB-C Annex B or ATSC so it works with North American television sets.  American TV sets won't have DVBT tuners built-in. 2) Yes, this is correct, the DVB-C Annex B is actually Annex J.83b, please change it to J.83B, from the modulation menu or reset unit the default configuration, The default is J.83B channel 2 (57mhz)

Answer:

Hello, that's great news. Happy to hear the install went well.

2) Yes, we totally get that. They just so happen to be countless helpful documents on the product page, which can be downloaded, and also a bunch of instructional videos on how to do that. The box is pretty small and we just put in the install manual; all other docs and helpful tips tricks and extended installation docs we leave up on the website. Perhaps we should add a note in the units box that those are available via the web

https://thorbroadcast.com/product/petit-hdmi-rf-modulator-1.html

Scroll all the way to the bottom, all the PDF's are there.

Answer:
The RF Petit modulator has about +35dbmv RF output power, but next generation will have +40dbmv RF output power, same as the 4ch HDMI modulator RF is a bit like water pressure, it is being lost traveling over the Coax, depending on channel frequency and coax cable type this is the insertion loss by frequency a cable:      

Answer:
If you need to use an Antenna, and need a couple HDMI sources converted to ATSC channels to watch along with your Antenna, these would be a great fit.  Simple to use, compact, Full 1080 Picture quality is excellent. Use a combiner to get all the sources in the same RG6 to inject into the rest of your system.  Units are readily available and have tech support included, along with a 30 day moneyback guarantee.  Let me know if you have any specific questions about operation or setup, but it looks like you're just replacing an older analog unit, so this should be a smooth transition.

Answer:
    How many HDMI sources do you have total? i figured i could buy a splitter if needed. Also a computer with dvd player and cut out the vhs So just one HDMI source? yes This is a very popular choice for lower budget scenario's https://thorbroadcast.com/product/petit-hdmi-rf-modulator-1.html this is what currently use = DVISn Nano Encoder – RF Out The DVISn (Nano) encoder/multiplexer with RF output is the most cost-effective and smallest form factor solution within the DVIS line of products for inserting locally generated content into an MDU, hotel or commercial property in digital format. It is ideal for applications requiring a low-cost, basic solution for SD MPEG-2 encoding and QAM-based distribution or insertion of locally generated content into a coax network. Extremely compact and wall mountable, the DVISn device fits into virtually any space and includes fully integrated audio/video encoding, multiplexing and QAM modulation. We can add this HDMI "Channel" to an assigned number not being used by your current CATV system, and any TV set to that channel wil be able to get the TV so it should be easy to swap devices ? Yes very much so we can even preconfigure the device to your current settings so when you get it, you just have to plug it in do use third party to come on site ? or I should be able to handle ? You should be able to hook up a few cables we will set it up like your current unit, all we need to know is which channel you're currently sending video on dont recall - but i find out when time comes so its matter of ordering via thor website and you config and ship and i plug in - done? correct just send us an email after you order with the information we need, and we'll do the rest

Answer:
  https://thorbroadcast.com/product/thor-optical-mini-catv-rf-transmitter-45-1000mhz.html this is the least expensive transmitter we offer https://thorbroadcast.com/product/thor-fiber-optical-mini-ftth-rf-catv-cable-tv-receiver-8230.html https://thorbroadcast.com/product/rf-catv-mini-optical-receiver.html We have two compact optical RX options RF over Fiber equipment only works on singlemode fiber. hopefully thats what you have installed. If you have multimode, nothing in the world will work. That's bad news, because I'm afraid the cable is multi-mode. You can not put RF on multimode fiber. flat out doesn't work. How can I tell what type of cable has been installed? single mode cable is usually yellow MM is usually orange Ours is orange. OK, and thanks for the input. Time to think about a Plan B, which would involve replacing the RG-6 with a better grade coaxial cable. What would you recommend? RG 6 is the standard most people go with. You can go up to RG11 but realistically at 700ft you'll need Amps regardless https://thorbroadcast.com/product/distribution-amplifier-30db-54-1000mhz-coax-catv-qam-atsc-analog-rf.html We're getting way too much signal attenuation over a run of that length. Might be an easy solution if you just have the one run giving you issues. Then again if you think your cable is damaged, installed poorly, thus giving you too much attenuation then replace it with RG 11 and throw on a DA technically speaking you shouldn't even be able to get a signal on the other side 900MHz   20.1dB   6.0dB   5.4dB So in this table RG 6 versus RG 11 is only .6db of loss difference per 100ft I would get an amp, don't worry about the cable It's just that single long run. The rest of the CATV distribution system uses amps. if its RG59 then replace the coax, if its RG6 then leave it our amp is +30 db so you'll replace about 500ft of cable with one unit Tx Does the amp go at the transmitting end or the receiving? Or in the middle? depends on how much power you're reading at the transmission site, if its high, then go middle, if its low at the outset, then go transmission then middle get an RF meter and check the power at multiple points and see where you are you don't want to overdrive the signal to high and then go too low, you'll degrade the quality that way Are you recommending a specific amplifier? ours never have issues https://thorbroadcast.com/product/distribution-amplifier-30db-54-1000mhz-coax-catv-qam-atsc-analog-rf.html The RG-6 is in the ceiling. To stall an amp at a half-way point would require an electrical outlet that's not there.  

Answer:

There are some other was to deal with the HDMI real-time distribution 1)  HDMI over Ethernet, this is also a very convenient day and not noticeable delay https://thorbroadcast.com/product/4k-hdmi-over-ip-ethenet-cat6-rj45-extender-300feet-with-8230.html 2) HDMI over fiber https://thorbroadcast.com/product/hdmi-fiber-extender-with-ir.html 3)SDI over fiber https://thorbroadcast.com/product/1-sdi-hdsdi-over-fiber-mini-extender.html

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Yes this system sounds like it would be ideal for you.  We do have 1RU power strips you can attach to the rack which have 8 outlets in each.    This is a popular option; the other option is using a multi channel modulator, currently the Thunder-4 is at a great price so it works out to be about the same.  https://thorbroadcast.com/product/1-4-or-8-hdmi-digital-rf-encoder-modulator-8230.html/238   In this case you would need 5pcs of the Thunder-4 to output 20 channels, using an RF combiner, and less power supplies.  All of our units are digital modulators, they don't output analog.    Let me know if you have any other questions, or thoughts, what your preference is etc. 

Answer:

We have a lot of options for Qam Modulators. We have 8 Channel HDMI input modulators https://thorbroadcast.com/product/1-4-or-8-hdmi-digital-rf-encoder-modulator-8230.html/239 They are a great value for price per channel. Terrific HD picture. We also have individual units like the RF PETIT that can be mounted in Chassis as well https://thorbroadcast.com/product/petit-hdmi-rf-modulator-chassis-system-for-1-12-units.html/254 How many channels are you looking to do out of the 60? Or do you need all 60 replaced?

Answer:
The maximum RF output power from the modulator is +32dbmv Please log in to the modulator, the IP address is 192.168.1.10, Please check attached instructions as well In the Modulation Parameters you can set attenuation so the strongest signal is with the "0" attention value. If you need more than +32dbmv than you would need to use amplifier, or we do have other modulators with the strongest RF output power

Answer:

Customer - First, please forgive my lack of "tech" terminology regarding your manuals. I have a Thor digital TV tuner (H-STB-QAM-ATSC) and a Thor Modulator (H-HDMI-RF-PETIT). How do I tell the modulator to switch from coax (antenna input) to HDMI (DVD player) input?

Support - Hello The modulator outputs a signal via RF from the HDMI source so it needs to be on a vacant channel, if your antenna feed has channels 2-40 then put our modulator on channel 41

Customer - I will give that a try. Any vacant channel? I believe my antenna receives channels up to 58. Also, what channel should the Tuner be on or doesn't it matter?

Support - The tuner can be set to the channel you want to watch okay then set the modulator to 60, after that you need to rescan the STB for AIR so it picks up your antenna, and also make sure the modulator is set to ATSC, not qam

Customer - Thanks I will try that. Hopefully all will work fine. If not, I'll beg for more help!

Support - You can also call tech support if you get stuck again, 1800-521-8467 ext 2 and they will help you resolve the issue

Customer - I can't call, because our cell phone doesn't get a signal at this location. I set the modulator to channel 65 and did a tuner rescan, with no results.

Support - Channel 65 does not show up on the tuner. Is the modulator set for ATSC? and you're doing a scan for AIR on the STB

Customer - I need help with the terminology, please. How do I determine these 2 settings?

Support - Using those 3 buttons you can setup the following:

1) Change the channel number

2) Press HOME 1 time: changes the CABLE QAM (J83b) to AIR ATSC modulation (vice versa)

3) Press HOME 2 times: changes DHCP ON or OFF

4) Press HOME 3 times: Reset to default configuration (factory reset)

https://thorbroadcast.com/ is sharing a file with you. h-hdmi-rf-petit-quick-connection-instructions1.pdf - (Size:2.82 MB) This is the manual for the modulator so if you click the menu button on the front of the unit and it reads J83B then that is QAM, you need to change that to ATSC which is terrestrial antenna signal QAM is Cable and ATSC is Antenna essentially, those are the two standards we use in North America So we just need to get everything on the same standard, if you have an antenna on your house, then we need the modulator and STB decoder box to also be setup for Antenna, which is ATSC

Customer - The modulator offers 3 digital readout: J836, dHOF and ASr. Am I to use the ASr setting when scanning?

No stick on J83B, which is north american QAM, press the down when its highlighted and it should switch to ATSC press up on J83B to switch, then DOWN to SAVE, ASR will reset the unit back to factory settings, so don't play with that

Customer - Got it!! Thanks so much. So now if I replace the DVD player HDMI with a ROKU HDMI all should work well, yes? Again, thanks.

Answer:

Yes that HDCP will work, you can find more specs on the product here However this is not a 4k resolution product, so your dish hopper would be better suited if you set it up for 1080i or 1080p/60 We do have 4k  Resolution HDMI  modulator, H-4K-UHD-QAM-IP  

Answer:

The encoders in an MPEG-2 system have a delay by nature. The encoder takes in an uncompressed video or audio signal and applies various techniques to reduce the data rate, so it can be sent as a modulated TV channel. The decoder, or TV tuner, also has some delay as it processes the encoded data and reconstructs the original signal. This process takes time and there is nothing that can be done to eliminate the delay completely. However, the delay should not be greater than 0.8-1s. If there is a delay greater than 1s, it is likely that the delay is coming from something other than the encoding and modulation process. To test the delay caused by the modulator alone, you can send a clock signal from a PC to the modulator and to a TV. Take a picture of the PC screen and the TV next to it, and you will see that the modulator delay should not be more than 1s. It's possible that the delay is coming from the ATEM Mini Pro Extreme or a combination of the ATEM Mini Pro Extreme and the modulator. this is link to the Timer video you cosul use for testing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cQT4urTlXM There are different professional and commercial modulators available that have different chipsets. They can encode and modulate at about 0.3-0.5s, for example, the H-2ADHD-QAM-IPLL (https://thorbroadcast.com/product/2-hdmi-ypbpr-hd-digital-tv-modulator-qam-atsc-dvb-t-8230.html).  

Answer:

The Petit modulator is capable of generating a single physical cable channel based on the frequency chart/channel table.

https://thorbroadcast.com/upload/files/220/catv-qam-channel-center-frequency.pdf

 

It doesn't have a transport stream multiplexer built into it, it cannot multiplex two programs on a single channel.

You can, however, place these programs on two separate physical channels. For example:

CH4 - 69MHz

CH5 - 79MHz

You can then assign VCT virtual channel numbers, such as 4.1 for the first program and 4.2 for the second program.

This way, the TV will scan and display visual channels, regardless of the fact that they are being transmitted on physical channels 4 and 5.

Please let me know if this explanation is clear.

 

 If you require the ability to multiplex two or more programs on a single frequency, we do have other multi-channel modulators available.:

H-2ADHD-QAM-IP-LL

https://thorbroadcast.com/product/2-hdmi-ypbpr-hd-digital-tv-modulator-qam-atsc-dvb-t-8230.html

Answer:
At that point yes, those are the more obvious differences. There really isn't much of a difference past that; the petits will take up a lot more rack space, plus you'll need accessories like the PSU and Combiner.  Using an 8 and a 4 obviously means more rack room, less wires and initial  implementation and setting or troubleshooting  time is much quicker, so installation officiency is much better.  The difference in actual modulation and power to encode isn't much different on these devices specifically, compared to other ones we have on the shelf.  Both of those were designed to be easy to use and provide excellent picture quality.  You can't go wrong either way; it's up to a designer's choice at this point. I personally would go less rack space and less clutter by design choice, but every one usually has their opinion on that matter.  

Answer:

No unfortunetly not we do have our own mouting system for multiple HDMI modulators and our own power supply ,

part number: H-PS-12X16 , H-RM-PETTIT,  H-LB-PETTIT

Answer:
Thor Broadcast   6:42?PM (0 minutes ago)       to Matthew, Support             Hello Matt,   Thank you for contacting us.   The most likely problem you are having is that your old TV does not support Digital ATSC of Air or Digital QAM RF.  You can easily find out by connecting an off-air antenna and scanning for Air channels. If the TV finds digital channels like 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, etc., it means that your TV supports digital signals.  In that case, we will advise you on what to do.   If not, it means that your TV only supports Analog Modulated RF - NTSC.  Our Petit Modulator supports Digital modulated signals, not analog. However, there is a workaround.   You can connect our Petit modulator to the Digital tuner H-STB-QAM-ATSC.  That tuner will scan and find the digital channel the Petit is generating and output an ANALOG RF - NTSC output on channel 3 or 4, you can then connect to your TV H-STB-QAM-ATSC https://thorbroadcast.com/product/qam-catv-rf-and-atsc-rf-to-hdmi-decoder-stb-8230.html     Please let me know if this is clear. Otherwise, you can run this coaxial cable for the Petit to all your Digital TVs, and you can enjoy full HD video and audio.

Answer:
I understand your dilemma, but this Petit modulator Output HDMI is a loopout, meaning it has not gone under the process of encoding and modulation so it can be extended out via RF Coax. The only way to complete this sort of task is using a separate decoder after the encoding process which introduces about 300-350ms of delay.    So if you take your coax feed out of the modulator you have an RF feed, split that coax able with a 1x2 splitter, https://thorbroadcast.com/product/coax-multiplexers-splitters-combiners-f-type-input-output-catv-atsc-or-8230.html/257 Then use a decoder like this one for clear QAM or ATSC, depending on which standard you choose to modulate onto. Tune to the channel, and you have your HDMI out at the same time/speed as the rest of your coax.  https://thorbroadcast.com/product/qam-catv-rf-and-atsc-rf-to-hdmi-decoder-stb-8230.html When you decode that RF channel from your modulor, you're running all the encoded TS at the same time with no delay.    Let me know if you have any questions. We have both of those products in stock as well. 

Answer:

Just a couple of points to clarify:

1) The HDMI output is simply a split/pass-through port and is not processed. Whatever comes in on the HDMI input will be identical on the HDMI output.

2) For the RF output, the HDMI video must be encoded to MPEG-2, and the audio must be encoded to MPEG-1 or Dolby AC-3 (selectable) from uncompressed PCM audio. We can generate MPEG-1 or AC-3 audio from PCM.

If the HDMI source already has Dolby AC-3 audio, the Petit will automatically pass it through. However, if the HDMI input has Dolby Digital 5.1, unfortunately we are not able to process it, this is why you are experiencing noise.

The only way to have both the HDMI output and RF output working correctly is to set the HDMI audio on the source to uncompressed PCM or Dolby AC3

Answer:

For 200-foot runs, you should not need an amplifier when using the HDMI-to-RF Modulator with a 1x16 splitter — that setup should work fine.

The modulator’s maximum RF output level is +40 dBmV. The H-SP-1x16 splitter has approximately 15 dB insertion loss: https://thorbroadcast.com/product/coax-multiplexers-splitters-combiners-f-type-input-output-catv-atsc-or-8230.html/258

Coaxial cable loss depends on the frequency and cable type, but we can estimate an average of about 5 dB loss per 100 feet. With a 200-foot run, that would be approximately 10 dB of cable loss.

Most TVs can receive signals as low as about +5 dBmV, so your signal level should still be within a safe range. I would recommend testing the system as-is first.

If you find that the signal loss is higher than expected, you could add an amplifier — such as the H-RF-AMP-40 — after the modulator and before the splitter: https://thorbroadcast.com/product/40db-bi-directional-distribution-amplifier-54-1000mhz-coax-catv-qam-atsc-analog-8230.html

Answer:
The password should be"THOR"  by default.    Inside those parameters you can switch to J83A for European QAM or to DVBT.    Since this model was made to work with broadcast signals not PC resolutions.  For best results use: 720p/59.94 or 60 Hz 1080i/59.94 or 60 Hz 1080p/59.94 or 60 Hz   unit dosnt support 25, 29.94 or 30hz   Please let me know if you have any further questions. 

 

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I would think that Channel 2 is perhaps the most convenient channel, over here in the states that is generally CBS.  However most areas will have different arrangements of free off air channels in ATSC. If you are using QAM, the same is applicable as most RF headends will start with channel 2 and build up from there.    ------------ Same thing, channel 2, but it needs to be on QAM J86A for European market; or if they are using OTA Antenna then it needs to be set to DVBT.   Make sure the modulator is set up to search for either of those two RF standards otherwise it will not pick it up.    However if this is for an existing antenna system on the Yacht, then you must put the modulator Channel on a Vacant frequency.  If you scan a TV for channel 2, and it already has programming on channel 2, the modulator will not overwrite the existing DVBT channel.  So if you have it set to DVBT, you must find an empty frequency, then set the modulator to the open frequency, then finally scan the TV and the HDMI source should be there.

Answer:

Stan: Yes, the Thor Petit is the correct unit for what you want to do.

What you need to do is switch the output mode to ATSC (air) instead of cable. The Petit supports two modulation standards:

• Cable (QAM)

• Over-the-air broadcast (ATSC)

For an antenna, you need to switch it to ATSC / Air mode.

If you connect a small antenna directly, it will work. It will probably cover a short distance—something like inside a house or nearby area.

If you want to extend the range further, you can use a small RF amplifier. We have one available:

H-AMP-RF-40 40 dB RF Amplifier

That should give you enough power to broadcast approximately 200–300 feet depending on the antenna and installation.

Customer: Okay, that actually sounds about right. I’m running a small campground and trying to broadcast to TVs in the parking area. When guests arrive, they could just tune their TV to Channel 15 and see a welcome video or information.

I already have an antenna. I saw your amplifier listed for about $369. Is that the one you recommend?

Stan: Yes, that would be the one.

But keep in mind the antenna itself is very important, as well as:

• how high you mount it

• the type of antenna

• the surrounding terrain

The amplifier will make the signal stronger, but RF propagation depends heavily on antenna placement.

Also, I should mention that increasing RF power too much could potentially interfere with over-the-air broadcasts, so you should be careful about that.

Customer: Understood. I’m actually outside the U.S., and from what I understand, as long as the signal stays within my property—about 100 acres—I shouldn’t be causing problems. I’m just broadcasting from my clubhouse to the parking lot.

Stan: That makes sense. If it's only a few hundred feet and stays within your property, it should be fine.

How far do you actually need to reach?

Customer: Probably around 500 to 1,000 feet.

Stan: Okay. That might actually work without the amplifier if your antenna is high enough.

You can try this first:

1. Switch the Petit to ATSC (Air) mode

2. Connect your antenna directly to the RF output

3. Test the coverage

If the signal isn't strong enough, then you can add the H-AMP-RF-40 amplifier to boost it.

Customer: So you're saying I can connect the antenna directly to the Petit?

Stan: Yes, absolutely. That’s actually the intended use. The Petit is designed to connect directly to an RF system or antenna.

It will definitely broadcast—you just need to test how far the signal reaches.

I’ve tested it in my house before and it worked.

Customer: Okay, I’ll try connecting the antenna directly when I get back home. I had only tested the cable connection so far.

Stan: Perfect. Try it first without the amplifier. If you need more range, then you can add the 40 dB RF amplifier later.

 

Facts:

What are the rules in the United States regarding broadcasting your own type of station on the ATSC spectrum on your own land? Are there any specific distance or power restrictions? Is it allowed?

 

:

Short answer: No — in the United States you generally cannot legally broadcast your own ATSC TV station from your property without an FCC license, regardless of distance or property size. There is no exemption just because it is on your own land. The rules are based on spectrum licensing and interference, not property boundaries.

Here is how it actually works.

1. Broadcasting on TV channels (ATSC) requires an FCC license

In the U.S., all television broadcast frequencies (VHF and UHF) are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

That means:

• You cannot legally transmit ATSC TV signals on those frequencies unless you have a broadcast license.

• The license must be for a specific channel, power, and location.

Typical licensed TV categories include:

License Type Typical Power Purpose Full Power TV 100 kW – 1 MW ERP Major broadcast stations Low Power TV (LPTV) Up to ~15 kW ERP Local stations TV Translators up to ~250 W – several kW Relay stations

Without one of these licenses, transmitting ATSC on a TV channel is technically illegal, even if it only covers your property.

2. There is no "distance limit" exemption

Many people assume there is a rule like:

“If it stays within my property or under 1000 ft it is allowed.”

That is not true for TV broadcast frequencies.

The FCC regulates based on:

• Spectrum use

• Interference with licensed services

Even a very small transmitter could interfere with:

• TV stations

• wireless microphones

• public safety systems

• white-space devices

So the rule is simply:

No unlicensed transmission in TV broadcast bands.

3. The only legal unlicensed transmitters fall under FCC Part 15

Some extremely low-power devices can operate without a license under FCC Part 15.

Examples:

• Wi-Fi

• Bluetooth

• garage door remotes

• very low-power FM transmitters

But Part 15 devices must follow very strict emission limits and cannot cause interference.

For broadcast bands:

FM radio example

• Maximum field strength: 250 µV/m at 3 meters

• Effective radiated power: roughly 0.01 microwatts

• Range: usually 100–200 ft

For TV bands, unlicensed broadcasting is generally not permitted under Part 15 (except specialized devices like microphones or telemetry).

So a normal ATSC transmitter cannot legally operate under Part 15.

4. What hobbyists sometimes do (but it’s technically illegal)

Some people still operate very small ATSC modulators connected to antennas.

Typical setups:

• 0 dBm to +10 dBm RF output

• small antenna

• coverage: 100–500 ft

Because power is small, it often doesn't cause interference, so it may go unnoticed.

But legally:

It is still unauthorized broadcasting.

5. Legal alternatives

If someone wants to distribute video around a property (hotel, campground, resort), the legal methods are:

1. Cable RF distribution (most common)

Use QAM modulators into coax.

• Thor modulators

• distribution amps

• coax network

No FCC broadcast issue because it stays inside cable.

2. IPTV network

Use:

• HDMI → IP encoder

• multicast over Ethernet

• smart TVs or set-top boxes

3. Licensed low-power TV station

Possible but difficult:

• FCC application

• engineering study

• frequency allocation

• license fees

6. The practical reality

Many resorts, RV parks, and campuses do exactly what your caller described:

• small ATSC modulator

• tiny antenna

• coverage under 500–1000 ft

Technically illegal but rarely enforced unless interference occurs.

FCC enforcement usually happens only if:

• someone complains

• it interferes with licensed TV

• it operates at significant power

7. Rough safe engineering guideline (not legal advice)

Engineers usually keep these setups:

Parameter Typical value RF power 0 to +10 dBm Antenna gain 2–5 dBi Coverage 100–1000 ft

But again: still not officially legal.

? For your Thor Petit customer, the best advice is usually:

1. Switch to ATSC mode

2. Connect antenna directly

3. Use very low power

4. Only cover property area

5. Avoid licensed channels nearby

If you want, I can also show you something very interesting that most RF engineers know but customers don’t:

Why the FCC almost never detects small ATSC micro-broadcasts under ~10 mW — it explains why campground systems often work without problems.

  Yes , why ?  

The main reason very small ATSC “micro-broadcasts” are almost never detected by the FCC comes down to how spectrum monitoring actually works in the real world. It’s not that they are legal — it’s that they are extremely hard to notice unless they cause interference.

Here are the main technical reasons.

1. The FCC does not continuously monitor every TV channel everywhere

The FCC does not run continuous spectrum surveillance across the entire country.

Instead, enforcement works mostly like this:

1. Complaint-based enforcement

2. Interference investigations

3. Occasional targeted sweeps

In practice:

• A licensed TV station complains about interference.

• The FCC investigates the area.

• They track down the source.

If no one complains, nothing usually triggers an investigation.

2. Very low-power signals disappear quickly

RF signals drop off extremely fast with distance.

For example:

RF Power Typical Range 0 dBm (1 mW) ~100–200 ft +10 dBm (10 mW) ~300–800 ft +20 dBm (100 mW) ~1000–2000 ft

A small modulator connected to a basic antenna may only cover a few hundred feet.

By the time the signal reaches public space or another TV receiver, it may already be below the noise floor.

3. ATSC receivers ignore weak signals

ATSC digital TV works differently than analog.

A TV only locks onto a signal if it is above a certain threshold (around 15 dB SNR).

Below that level:

• The receiver simply ignores the signal.

• It doesn’t appear as a weak picture like analog did.

So weak transmissions effectively become invisible to most receivers.

4. Direction finding requires strong signals

To locate an illegal transmitter, investigators use:

• spectrum analyzers

• directional antennas

• RF triangulation

These techniques require a detectable signal level.

A micro-transmitter that only travels 300–500 ft is extremely difficult to locate unless investigators are already nearby.

5. TV bands are already noisy

Modern TV spectrum contains:

• weak distant stations

• reflections

• LTE/5G leakage

• atmospheric noise

• multipath signals

A tiny local transmitter often blends into the existing RF noise.

6. Enforcement resources are limited

The FCC used to have many field offices across the U.S.

Over the past decade:

• most regional offices were closed

• only a few enforcement teams remain

Because of this, the FCC focuses mainly on:

• pirate FM stations

• aviation interference

• emergency services interference

• large illegal transmitters

A tiny ATSC signal inside a campground is very low priority.

7. Interference is the real trigger

Almost every enforcement case starts because someone complains.

Examples:

• A nearby TV station loses coverage

• A TV viewer reports interference

• A cable operator notices a signal leak

If your signal stays very local and on an unused channel, it usually doesn't trigger complaints.

Important note

Even though small transmissions often go unnoticed:

?? It is still technically illegal to broadcast ATSC without an FCC license in the U.S.

The legal risk mainly arises if:

• the signal interferes with licensed TV

• power is too high

• the transmission spreads beyond the property

? This is why systems like the Thor Petit often work well for:

• resorts

• RV parks

• campuses

• hotels

• small demo systems

They operate at very low power and short range.

If you want, I can also explain something very useful for your customers:

The best antenna type and RF power level to cover ~500–1000 ft without causing interference.

That is actually a very practical setup for campground or resort applications.

  How about if the customer use different modulation standard like Dvb-t used in Europe?  

Using DVB-T instead of ATSC does NOT make it legal in the United States. The FCC regulates the frequency spectrum, not the modulation standard. What matters is transmitting RF energy in the TV broadcast band, regardless of whether it is ATSC, DVB-T, analog NTSC, or anything else.

Here is how it works.

1. The FCC regulates frequencies, not modulation formats

In the U.S., the TV broadcast spectrum (roughly 54–608 MHz after repack) is allocated for licensed television services.

The FCC rules say that any transmission in those bands requires a license, regardless of the digital standard used.

So transmitting:

• ATSC

• DVB-T

• DVB-T2

• ISDB-T

• analog NTSC

on a TV channel all require a license.

The FCC does not care what modulation format you use — it only cares that you are transmitting RF energy in a licensed broadcast band.

2. A DVB-T signal would actually be more problematic

If someone transmits DVB-T in the U.S.:

• U.S. TVs cannot decode DVB-T (they only decode ATSC).

• But the signal still occupies the same 6 MHz TV channel bandwidth.

That means:

• It would look like noise/interference to any ATSC receiver.

• It could disrupt nearby ATSC broadcasts.

So technically DVB-T transmission in the U.S. can be even worse from an interference perspective.

3. The spectrum is already assigned

In the U.S., each TV channel is assigned to specific stations.

Example:

Channel Frequency Range Channel 14 470–476 MHz Channel 15 476–482 MHz Channel 16 482–488 MHz

A licensed broadcaster may already operate on that channel within 50–100 miles, even if you cannot receive it clearly.

Broadcast signals can travel very far, especially under certain atmospheric conditions.

So transmitting on that frequency could interfere with licensed stations.

4. The only legal unlicensed transmissions are under FCC Part 15

The only transmissions allowed without a license are extremely low-power devices under Part 15.

Examples:

• Wi-Fi

• Bluetooth

• wireless microphones

• some telemetry devices

But broadcast transmitters are not allowed under Part 15.

Even if someone uses DVB-T, ATSC, or analog TV, it would still exceed the permitted limits.

5. What is actually legal for hotels, resorts, and campuses

For distributing TV around a property, the legal methods are:

1. Closed coax network (most common)

RF modulators feed into a cable system inside the property.

Example:

Laptop → HDMI → RF modulator → coax network → TVs

This is completely legal because the signal stays inside the cable infrastructure.

2. IPTV distribution

Using IP streaming instead of RF broadcast.

Example:

Laptop → encoder → Ethernet → smart TVs or IPTV boxes.

3. Licensed broadcast station

Possible but complicated:

• FCC engineering study

• spectrum coordination

• licensing application

This is how Low Power TV (LPTV) stations operate.

6. Why some people still use small RF transmissions

Even though it is technically unauthorized, some small private systems use:

• very low RF power

• small antennas

• limited range (100–500 ft)

The risk is lower because they rarely cause interference.

But legally speaking:

Changing the modulation to DVB-T does not change the legality.

? Simple rule: If you transmit RF in the TV broadcast spectrum, you need an FCC license, regardless of whether the signal is ATSC, DVB-T, or anything else.

If you'd like, I can also show you something very interesting for your Thor customers:

There is a legal way to use a small antenna with modulators like the Thor Petit without technically broadcasting, and some hotels and casinos use it. It’s a clever RF trick many engineers use.

  Is it any open frequency open for hobbies six or lower frequency somewhere below or a bath the FCC approved frequencies  

Yes — in the United States there are some frequencies where hobbyists can legally transmit, but they are not in the TV broadcast band. The FCC provides several options depending on the power level and whether you obtain a license.

Below are the main legal paths.

1. Amateur Radio Bands (Ham Radio) – Licensed but very flexible

If someone gets an Amateur Radio (Ham) license, they can legally transmit on many bands with significant power.

4

Examples of amateur bands:

Band Frequency 160 m 1.8 – 2.0 MHz 80 m 3.5 – 4.0 MHz 40 m 7.0 – 7.3 MHz 20 m 14.0 – 14.35 MHz 2 m 144 – 148 MHz 70 cm 420 – 450 MHz

Typical allowed power:

• Up to 1500 watts PEP in many bands.

However, amateur radio has restrictions:

• ? No commercial use

• ? No broadcasting for the general public

• ? No entertainment broadcasting

It is intended for experimentation and communication between licensed operators.

2. License-Free ISM Bands (Industrial / Scientific / Medical)

These bands allow unlicensed operation under FCC Part 15.

Common ISM bands:

Frequency Typical Use 13.56 MHz RFID / NFC 27 MHz RC toys 433 MHz sensors / remotes 902–928 MHz LoRa / IoT 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi / Bluetooth 5.8 GHz Wi-Fi

Restrictions:

• very limited power

• must accept interference

• cannot interfere with licensed services

These bands are great for data transmission, not broadcast TV.

3. Low-Power FM Radio (Part 15)

There is one place where hobby broadcasting is somewhat allowed.

FM band: 88–108 MHz

Under Part 15 rules:

• Field strength limit: 250 µV/m at 3 meters

• Typical range: 100–200 feet

This is how small car FM transmitters work.

People sometimes use these for:

• drive-in movie audio

• small events

• Christmas light displays

But the range is intentionally very small.

4. Citizens Band (CB Radio)

CB radio is another license-free option.

Frequency:

Band Frequency CB 26.965 – 27.405 MHz

Power limits:

• 4 watts AM

• 12 watts SSB

However, CB is meant for two-way communication, not broadcasting.

5. Low Power TV (Legal but licensed)

The only legal way to broadcast TV over the air is through an FCC license.

Example:

License Type Power LPTV up to ~15 kW TV translator hundreds of watts

These require:

• engineering studies

• FCC application

• frequency coordination

6. Why there is no "open TV frequency"

TV spectrum is extremely valuable.

Reasons it is tightly controlled:

• interference travels far

• high-power transmitters

• spectrum is scarce

Channels have been repacked and auctioned for billions of dollars.

So there are no hobby broadcast TV channels available.

7. What resorts and campuses usually do instead

Places like:

• hotels

• RV parks

• universities

• cruise ships

normally use:

RF cable distribution instead of RF broadcast

Example:

Laptop → HDMI → RF modulator → coax network → TVs

This is completely legal because the signal stays inside the cable system.

? Simple summary

Method License Needed Typical Range ATSC TV broadcast Yes miles Low power FM Part 15 No ~200 ft Ham radio Yes miles ISM bands No short Cable RF distribution No property-wide

If you want, I can also show you something very interesting related to your Thor modulators:

There is a trick engineers use to legally create a “local TV channel” around a resort using RF modulators and antennas but technically staying within FCC limits.

  Yes please !  

Engineers sometimes create a “local TV channel” for a property (hotel, resort, campus, RV park) using RF modulators like your Thor units without technically operating a broadcast station. The trick is to keep the RF energy confined to the property infrastructure instead of radiating freely like a broadcast transmitter.

Here are the common methods.

1. Closed Cable System (Most common and fully legal)

This is how hotels and cruise ships distribute their own channels.

4

Typical setup:

Laptop / media player ↓ HDMI modulator (ATSC or QAM) ↓ RF combiner ↓ Coax distribution amplifier ↓ Room TVs

Key points:

• Signal stays inside coax cables.

• The coax network acts like a private cable TV system.

• No RF is intentionally radiated into the air.

This is completely legal because it is considered a cable distribution system, not broadcasting.

2. “Leaky Cable” / Distributed Antenna Systems

Large facilities sometimes use leaky coax cable.

4

This cable is designed to radiate very small RF signals along its length.

Used in:

• tunnels

• mines

• subways

• campuses

• large buildings

Advantages:

• RF stays very localized

• signal coverage is controlled

• minimal external interference

It behaves more like a distributed antenna inside the property.

3. Extremely Low Power “Micro RF Cells”

Some campuses create very tiny RF cells.

Example setup:

• ATSC modulator

• 20–30 dB attenuator

• small indoor antenna

The attenuator reduces power so the signal only covers:

• a building

• a courtyard

• a parking lot

This keeps the signal very weak outside the property.

Engineers call this:

“RF containment design.”

4. Distributed Headend + IPTV (modern systems)

Many modern resorts combine:

• IPTV network

• RF modulators for legacy TVs

Example:

Media server ↓ IP network ↓ Edge modulators ↓ Local coax networks in each building

This allows:

• property information channel

• digital signage

• live event channel

• welcome channel

5. The engineering principle

The goal is RF containment.

Instead of broadcasting outward like a TV station:

• keep RF inside cables

• keep antennas small

• keep power extremely low

• keep coverage inside the property

This reduces the chance of interfering with licensed spectrum.

6. Why resorts like this approach

Advantages:

• Works with normal TVs • No internet required • Very reliable • Easy to add channels • No FCC broadcast license needed (when contained in cable)

That’s why systems like your Thor HDMI modulators are commonly used for:

• hotels

• cruise ships

• stadiums

• hospitals

• RV parks

? For the campground customer you mentioned, the best engineering solution would normally be:

Laptop → Thor Petit → small MATV distribution network → TVs

If they absolutely want antenna reception, it should be:

• very low power

• very localized

• ideally inside buildings.

Answer:

Adam (Thor Broadcast): Yes, those are analog RF modulators.

Customer: Right. So here’s the issue — one gym works perfectly with no problems at all. But in the other gym, I’m getting strange scan lines. I was told it might be the wrong type of modulator for newer TVs.

Adam: That’s very possible. Newer TVs often don’t handle analog RF signals well. They are designed more for digital signals like QAM or ATSC.

Customer: That makes sense. I spoke with someone earlier, and they mentioned something similar — that the newer TVs may only support digital tuning.

Adam: Exactly. Your current unit (H-16 HDMI-RF-AMAT) creates analog cable channels, which were common in older systems. But modern TVs are moving away from that.

Customer: Got it.

Adam: If you look on our website under HDMI RF modulators, you’ll see the newer digital models — like the Thunder series.

Customer: Yes, I see the Thunder-8.

Adam: Right. That’s an 8-channel digital modulator. For a 16-channel system, you would use two Thunder-8 units and combine them.

Customer: So basically split the channels between the two units?

Adam: Exactly. For example:

• One unit handles channels 2–9

• The other handles channels 10–18

Then you combine the RF output into your existing coax network.

Customer: That seems straightforward. I could set that up at the rack or near the splitter.

Adam: Yes, exactly.

Customer: So just to confirm — this will support all the TVs in the gym?

Adam: Yes. The system creates 16 digital channels and distributes them over coax. All TVs connected to the network can tune into those channels after a scan.

Customer: Okay, that sounds like the solution. What’s interesting is that the older gym has been running the analog system for over 10 years with no issues.

Adam: That’s likely because those TVs support analog signals. The newer gym probably has newer models with different tuners.

Customer: Yeah, that makes sense. TV technology has changed a lot in the last few years.

Adam: Exactly. Many newer TVs prioritize digital inputs and may not fully support analog RF anymore.

Customer: I just want to make sure we don’t upgrade and still see the same issue.

Adam: I understand. But based on what you described, this is almost certainly a compatibility issue between analog modulation and modern digital tuners.

Customer: That’s what it looks like to me too.

Adam: Also, the video quality improvement will be significant. Digital modulation provides a much cleaner, sharper image — similar to a direct HDMI connection.

Customer: Yeah, analog definitely has its limits.

Adam: Exactly — analog signals degrade, and there’s only so much quality you can get out of them.

Customer: One more thing — the system also uses BrightSign players.

Adam: That’s another indicator. BrightSign outputs digital HDMI only, so pairing it with a digital modulator is the correct approach.

Customer: Got it. That all lines up.

Adam: If you decide to move forward, we can also pre-program the channel plan before shipping — so it’s plug-and-play.

Customer: That would be great. I’ll get a channel list together.

Adam: Perfect. Let us know when you’re ready.

Customer: Will do. Thanks for your help.

Adam: You’re very welcome. Have a great day.

Answer:

That model is designed for HDMI to RF conversion only. It's strictly a modulator that creates an RF signal for transmission to Televisions.  For a demodulator, we do have them for Clear QAM and ATSC; https://thorbroadcast.com/product/qam-catv-rf-and-atsc-rf-to-hdmi-decoder-stb-8230.html

They are readily avialable and in stock. Fairly straight forward, they are quite popular so long as you have ATSC or Clear QAM signals.