Document Number: PD196-173R8
PD295-001
Page 5 of 19
PDi Communication Systems, Inc. 40 Greenwood Lane Springboro, Ohio 45066 USA PH 937-743-6010 Fax 973-743-6554
Introduction
Traditionally a facility pays for dozens or hundreds of satellite channels but only has a small number of set top boxes,
each locked on a single channel, and combined onto the cable plant. When a patient wants to view a channel that isn’t on
the cable plant, the nurse has to go to the head end and change one of the receivers or tell the patient the channel is not
available. In an effort to provide the full channel package to each patient, the set top box may be placed next to each TV
in the patient area. Unfortunately, when the IR remote is used by one patient to change his channel, any TV nearby will
also change.
The PDi Satellite Interface module is designed to improve the patient experience interacting with a TV at a facility in which
the channels come from a satellite set top box. It allows direct access to all set top box functions via PDi TV keypad, IR
remote, pillow speaker and PDI-Qube™ table radio. It gives patients access to every channel the facility is paying for,
and allows patients to easily switch between satellite, in-house DVD and rooftop antenna channels. The interface module
can pay for itself by eliminating modulators, splitters and combiners in most environments. It removes the need to
modulate signals for distribution (by using one coax or HDMI cable from each set top box to an associated TV). It offers
customizable key mapping and works in retro-fit installations (in which each set top box is already modulated to different
channels and combined onto the cable plant). Best of all, it’s made in America!
Compatibility
The PDi Satellite Interface forms a communication bridge between a PDi TV and a satellite set top box. Therefore, it has
been designed to be compatible with as many models of TV’s and set top boxes as possible. All PDi TV’s larger than 10”
built since 2008 are compatible. For earlier model PDi TV’s look for a CCI port on the unit or contact PDi to verify.
All DirecTV
®
set top boxes with a USB port should be compatible. The following Direct TV models have been tested to
work properly:
D12
H21
HR24
H25
Contact PDi for questions about other models.
Mounting the Satellite Interface
The PDi Satellite Interface is designed to slide into an industry standard mini-mod chassis. Because the module is
powered by the satellite set top box, it does not require a mini-mod power supply. This reduces cost of the rack and
allows for 3 or 4 additional modules to be placed in each chassis, for a total of 15 or 16. Standard mini-mod rack mount
chassis are suitable for the Satellite Interface. The chassis power supply is not needed. Compatible chassis include, but
are not limited to:
Blonder Tongue MIRC-12V
Drake
®
RMM-12
Pico Macom
®
MPC-12C
Holland HMR
When it is more desirable to have the set top box and interface module located near the TV, the module may be used in a
stand-alone configuration without the need for a mini-mod chassis. Since the Interface uses very little energy, it has no
special ventilation requirements.
