Introduction
I recently purchased the Terk LF10S Leap Frog remote video system to allow my satellite receiver signals from my living room to be sent into my bedroom without running a new RG6 coax cable. The distance is too far to consider running individual audio and video wiring.

In my case this would be a solution because I do not need to have the satellite on different channels in the two locations as the two TVs are rarely on at the same time.

Installation of the transmitter
Everything that should be needed for your installation is included in the box. At the source end, in my case the satellite receiver, there is a transmitter box, a power supply, a phone cord and the component cables for the connection of the left, right audio and the video signals. All that is required to connect the transmitter is to plug in the power supply to an AC outlet and the power connector into the transmitter. Next connect the phone cord between the wall jack and the connection marked “phone line out.” If you have a phone plugged into the wall jack, then unplug the phone at the wall and plug it into the jack on the rear of the transmitter labeled “phone in” and your phone will continue to function normally. Next connect the left (white) right (red) and video (yellow) component cables between the satellite outputs and the transmitter input connections. If you have used your satellite component connections to hook up some other piece of equipment, like a VCR, for example, you may need to reconnect the other equipment to the component output connections on the transmitter. Terk has provided full flexibility for your connections.

Installation of the receiver
Also in the box is the receiver, a power supply, a phone cord and the component cables for the connection of the left, right audio and the video signals. All that is required to connect the receiver is to plug in the power supply to an AC outlet and the power connector into the receiver. Next connect the phone cord between the wall jack and the connection marked “phone line out.” If you have a phone plugged into the wall jack, then unplug the phone at the wall and plug it into the jack on the rear of the receiver labeled “phone in” and your phone will continue to function normally. Next connect the left (white) right (red) and video (yellow) component cables between the receiver outputs and the television input connections. If your television does not have component inputs, you can use the component inputs of a VCR if one is connected to your TV. Alternately you can get a RF modulator to convert the signal to channel 3 or 4. These are available at any Radio Shack store.

Picture Quality
The picture quality is comparable to that from a good quality VCR. It is not as good as the satellite receiver tied directly to the TV. On smaller TVs of say 27” and smaller, the picture quality is just fine, no complaints at all. On big screen TVs you will notice some softening of the picture. Sound quality is excellent, so it would be useful for piping sound to the garage just fine.

Other hookup possibilities
I can see the unit being used for getting audio to surround speakers across the room without having to run wire, provided there is a telephone jack handy at both the source and the surround speakers. It would take either powered speakers or an additional amplifier, but in some cases this may be the only way to get the job done.

Interferences
When I first hooked up the units I tied them into my phone line as advertised. I found out real quick that since I had DSL service that this was not going to work. I disconnected my DSL modem to make sure and it cleared the units right up. I ended up using the second phone line wiring (Yellow/Black in my case) just for the Leap Frogs and the problem was solved.

Another interference I noted hooking up one on a friends plasma display is the plasma will interfere with the IR pickup. Shielding the Leap Frog from the rays from the plasma cured the situation. Also direct sunlight on the receiver should be avoided.

Conclusion
If you have the need for a Leap Frog, this could be the system for you. I have been very pleased with the application I used it with and would think there would be many other applications for a device to send audio/video/IR remote signals over a phone line.



Recommended: Yes