There is growing awareness of Labgear's latest ranges of in-home distribution products among professional installers. Labgear has led this technology for many years and recently has been working quietly to upgrade and expand its comprehensive ranges. In doing so it has moved away from its rivals in making reliable, easy-to-install systems. Here Labgear’s Technical Manager Andy Wade takes a closer look at the products on offer.

The company's latest release of products provides effective home distribution solutions and clearly appeals to those installers looking to develop new business opportunities with consumers.

Digitally equipped homes now number almost one in three, yet in the majority of cases the new channels are only accessible on one main TV screen. What better time could there be to take advantage of the simple idea of distributing set-top box outputs around the home?

Often householders are completely unaware that this is possible, but once seduced by the prospect of having 'digital' channels available on all their sets, along with the ability to work the remote control from other rooms, an irresistible consumer demand is created.

Many homes already have simple aerial-fed distribution systems with a 4- or 8-way amplifier. When these households go digital, there exists an ideal opportunity to upgrade the system to distribute set-top box and VCR outputs. Equally, why not add high quality FM and DAB radio signals for those mini hi-fi systems in the study and children's bedrooms?

Handylink Digital

Each of the three Handylink Digital products forms the hub of a comprehensive domestic system handling satellite IF as well as VHF and UHF signals.

The MRX351 (1+4-way) and MRX390 (1+8-way) units are ideal when a digital satellite installation is done at the same time. They are also the perfect choice for new-build and major refurbishment projects.

The MRX290 (1+8-way) has a single main input and is for installations in flats where the signals arrive on one cable from a multiswitch, rather than from individual aerials.

Customers concerned about security will appreciate the auxiliary UHF input provided on these products. It allows connection of a CCTV camera (via a modulator) and the signal is available on all connected TVs.

MSR Amplifiers

The MSR ranges are enhanced infra-red capable versions of the classic multi-way amplifier. MSRs are the ideal way to upgrade older systems to add IR control capability - usually this just involves adding a new cable run from the set-top box location to the amplifier input, and swapping the old amplifier for an MSR.

The MSR3x0 range features separate VHF inputs and a special radio output which allows the installer to provide a dedicated

radio outlet for the main hi-fi system in the lounge (another example of how Labgear's carefully thought-out equipment allows you to do a first class job!).

Infra-red options

Labgear offers two quite distinct IR extender systems for use with the new products (see the features panel below).

Infra-red accessories are ordered separately from the main amplifier units, allowing the installer optimum choice in their selection of hardware.

Handylink control is an IR re-emission system and requires a base unit near to the controlled equipment. It is compatible with most manufacturers' products, including digital satellite and digital terrestrial set-top boxes and almost all VCRs. This system will appeal to the customer who wishes to control several items of equipment from remote rooms.

The Labgear Digilink system is for the customer who only wants to control a Sky Digibox. No base unit is needed with this system, which works directly via the RF-OUT 2 connector of the Digibox. In a Digilink equipped system, RF-OUT 2 of the Digibox must connect directly to the Labgear distribution unit, in other words the Digibox must be the last item in the UHF loop-through chain.