Xref: utzoo rec.arts.startrek:24861 rec.arts.tv:11302 sci.electronics:6458
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!ncrlnk!cipc1!reubanks
From: reubanks@cipc1.Dayton.NCR.COM (Russell Eubanks)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek,rec.arts.tv,sci.electronics
Subject: Converting TV to stereo
Message-ID: <1086@cipc1.Dayton.NCR.COM>
Date: 5 Jun 89 17:59:45 GMT
Reply-To: reubanks@cipc1.Dayton.NCR.COM (Russell Eubanks)
Followup-To: rec.arts.startrek
Distribution: usa
Organization: NCR Controller's Division - F*A*S*T - Dayton, OH
Lines: 102



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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