two HDTVs on a single 8300HD possible?

[AZDesertRat]

I want to hook two HDTVs to a single receiver if its possible. I know they will both have to look at the same channel but I want a second smaller set in my Computer room so I can watch DVR recorded shows. I have seen component video splitters and 50' component video cables online so is it feasable to do this?

[kevinw]

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10113&cs_id=1011301&p_id=3049&seq=1&format=2&style=
http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat%5Fid=3104&sku=41065&cm_mmc_o=-p8ByplCjCiIC7RRKCjCgBF5BEwEf%20MbpwB%20l5kbffwyCjCgBF5BEwEf%20MbpwB%20l5kbffwy%20Cw&gclid=CN-UscK9_I0CFTyKOAodUlLBOg

With component you would have to run an audio line also. Hdmi you would not.

[AZDesertRat]

Wow, thats more than I planned on spending.
I found splitters here
http://cgi.ebay.com/3-RCA-Component-Video-1-Male-to-2-Female-RGB-Splitter_W0QQitemZ290150490536QQihZ019QQcategoryZ73390QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

and 50' cables here

http://cgi.ebay.com/50FT-5-RCA-Component-Video-Cable-HDTV-DVD-NEW-50_W0QQitemZ220140397854QQihZ012QQcategoryZ14965QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Will this work? I am not so concerned about picture degredation on the second TV but don't want to mess up the pic on the main one.

[kevinw]

It will get you picture but not audio.

[Splicer]

Wow, thats more than I planned on spending.
I found splitters here
http://cgi.ebay.com/3-RCA-Component-Video-1-Male-to-2-Female-RGB-Splitter_W0QQitemZ290150490536QQihZ019QQcategoryZ73390QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

and 50' cables here

http://cgi.ebay.com/50FT-5-RCA-Component-Video-Cable-HDTV-DVD-NEW-50_W0QQitemZ220140397854QQihZ012QQcategoryZ14965QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Will this work? I am not so concerned about picture degredation on the second TV but don't want to mess up the pic on the main one.
Yes but you will still need 2 'Y' (single male to dual female) connectors for the audio.
http://cgi.ebay.com/6-RCA-Male-Plug-to-2-Female-Jack-Audio-Y-Adapter-Cable_W0QQitemZ290150693483QQihZ019QQcategoryZ32833QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[kevinw]

Yes but you will still need 2 'Y' (single male to dual female) connectors for the audio.
http://cgi.ebay.com/6-RCA-Male-Plug-to-2-Female-Jack-Audio-Y-Adapter-Cable_W0QQitemZ290150693483QQihZ019QQcategoryZ32833QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
These will not work.

[Ratman]

Sure they can... it's just that the colors won't "match up".

[Splicer]

These will not work.
May I ask why they won't work?

[57U]

Well, the Y-connector ends should really be the same colour. So, you should have a white connector on the single end and two white connectors on the double end. You could then have a second Y-connector with 3 red ends for the "right" channel.

You could, of course, use any colours you want (black on all ends for example), however, as indicated by Ratman above, you need to ensure that you don't mix up the colours, which is very likely using the Y linked to by Splicer, since the red and white ends "imply" left and right channels, which they should not since they are really the same channel.

Example:

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@1628435114.1187446882@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccceaddlkfmfdggcefecemldffidfmg.0&vertical=SEARS&sid=ISx20070515x00003c&pid=05760035000&psid=18788724

The y-connectors that are "allowed" to have red/white ends are the ones that feed into a 3.5 mm mini-jack, because there the left and right channels are going into the mini end of the Y.

[Splicer]

That is a pretty easy work around using a piece of tape (masking, electrical, colored etc...). But it will work.

[kevinw]

My mistake I swore when i first saw the link it was for a miniplug adapter. You may not need a splitter at all if the box outputs audio from both. Then a really long set of RCA stereo cables would be good.

[Ratman]

The documentation for the HD8300 shows audio outputs and secondary audio outputs which are bot RCA plugs, so you may not need a Y adapter for the audio cables.

http://www.grandecom.net/site-file.php?fid=50

[AZDesertRat]

If I use the secondary audio outputs will they have sound in normal mode or would I have to make onscreen adjustments to turn something on?
This is just to get a second TV in a remote room so I don't want to spend a ton on it. The little 23 or 26" HDTV is going to set me back enough as it is!
I suppose I can look into a second 8300 HDTV/DVR receiver but they probably get another $30 a month or more for that. The cables and y adapters will pay for themselves pretty quick at that rate.

Thanks everyone!

Edit: I looked at the documentation link and see the secondary video/audio jacks are composite video and not component video. Will this work along with my first TV being component or maybe HDMI in the future?

[Splicer]

Easiest way to see is to just try it out on the TV you already have connected. Just switch the audio out and see if the audio still works. Both are analog so most likely both will output at the same time. If not get the 'Y' plugs.

[buzz_morris]

The 8300 has digital and analog HD out, try connecting the near monitor using HDMI. Then connect the far monitor with the long analog HD Y-Pr-Pb cables.