NetMedia ACB3-5PK User Manual

Cable Box Bypass Kit

NM-ACB3

Use the NetMedia ACB3 Cable Box Bypass/Combiner Kit to pass a modulator signal to the TV tuner without disrupting the
output of a digital or analog cable box. Most cable boxes will only tune cable service signals. Therefore, the TV must be used
instead of the cable box to tune other signals. The ACB3 permits this by splitting the cable signal and filtering out channels
3 and 4 before recombining with the cable box which outputs an independent channel 3 or 4.

Product Includes:

1. Bypass Filter Assembly (2 Two-Way Splitters, Male to Male
F-Connector Coupler, Bypass Filter).

Passes modulated signals directly to TV

To Cable Box

Sends signal to Cable
Box RF Input.

From Wall

Receives combined cable and
modulator signal from
distribution system.

Cable Box

Not Included - may be

analog or digital box.

Bypass Filter

Removes channels that would

interfere with cable box

output on channels 3 and 4.

From Cable Box

Receives signal from Cable

Box RF Output.

To TV

Sends Cable Box Output

and filtered bypass signal

to TV RF Input.

Installation Procedures:

1. Set the modulator according to its directions. Choose an unused channel with at least one blank channel on either side
to separate it from any other broadcast, cable, or modulated sources. Be aware that digital cable data typically interferes
with channels above 80, even though they appear unused, and even when the location is not subscribed to digital
services. Channels 120-125 sometimes work without filtering; any filter required to clear a channel range from the main
cable service would be separate and in addition to the one included with the ACB3 (NetMedia CNF7080 removes cable
channels 70-80). Also, the TV analog channels 120-125 are not the same as the cable box digital channels 120-125 so they
will not interfere with each other.

2. Combine the modulator and cable service at the beginning of the distribution system. This should be before any other
splitters except for ones that are dedicated to Internet service. Make sure not to use any diplexers to split or combine
because they will severely degrade whichever signal is connected to the SAT input/output.

3. Install an ACB3 Kit as shown above wherever there is a cable box that is connected to the TV’s only RF cable/antenna input.

4. Use the cable box tuner/remote to view cable programming while the TV is set to channel 3 or 4. Use the TV tuner/remote
to switch it to the modulator channel.

NM-ACB3

FEATURES

Lets TV tune to modulator channels

Works with analog and digital boxes

Prevents conict on ch. 3 and 4

Sturdy compact design

One year limited warranty

NetMedia, Inc., 10940 N. Stallard Place, Tucson, Arizona 85737 [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [e-mail] www.netmedia.com

SPECIFICATIONS

Filtered Frequencies:
Filtered Channels:
Input/Output Connectors:
Cable Type:
Size:
Weight:

< 91MHz

VHF 2-6

4 Male F, 75 Ohm

Coax such as RG59 or RG6

5.5“ long x 2” wide x 1” high

3.3 oz.

(subject to change without notice)

MAN-ACB3 REV1002A

One Year Limited Warranty

NetMedia, Inc. warrants this product to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use and service
for One Year from the date of purchase or NetMedia will repair or, at its option, replace the defective product. Please keep
your purchase receipt. In the unlikely event that you need warranty service, call NetMedia at 1-520-544-4567 for a Return
Material Authorization (RMA) number. Then, return the product, with the RMA number clearly marked on the package,
by a traceable method with freight pre-paid and accompanied by a copy of the purchase receipt to:

Attn: Customer Service, NetMedia, Inc. 10940 N. Stallard Place, Tucson, AZ 85737-9527

No expressed or implied warranty is made for any defects in this product which result from accident, abuse, failure to
operate the product in accordance with relevant instructions, neglect, immersion in or exposure to chemicals or liquid,
extreme climate, excessive wear and tear and defect resulting from other extraneous causes such as unauthorized disas­sembly, repair and or modification. Any implied warranty arising from the sale of this product, including implied warran­ties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, are limited to the warranty stated above. NetMedia shall not
be responsible for any loss, damages or expenses, whether direct, consequential or incidental that arise from the use or
inability to use this product. Some states do not allow limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above
limitations and exclusions may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other
rights, which vary from state to state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q- Do I need the bypass kit if I use the A/V cables to connect the cable box to the TV?

A- No. You only need the kit when you use the coax output of the cable box. Split the coax before the cable box. Connect

the cable box to the TV’s A/V input and the bypass coax to the the TV’s RF input. Use the TV remote to switch the TV from
the A/V input to the modulator channel.

Q- Do I need the bypass kit if the TV has two coax inputs?

A- No. You only need the kit when you use must combine the coax output of the cable box with the bypass coax in order

to go into the same input of the TV. Split the coax before the cable box. Connect the cable box output to one RF input
and the bypass coax to the other RF input. Use the TV remote to change RF inputs on the TV (ANT1, ANT2) and then
select the modulator channel.

Q- Why can’t I see the modulator on the cable box, even after I installed the bypass kit?

A- Most cable boxes are setup to only tune the cable company’s channels. The purpose of the bypass kit is to send the

modulator signal directly to the TV for tuning. Therefore, you will have to use the TV’s remote instead of the cable box
remote. Change the TV from the cable box channel (3 or 4) to the modulator’s channel.

Q- Why does the modulator signal look snowy after I put in the bypass kit?

A- The bypass kit will reduce the strength of the signal that passes through the filter and splitters. Try turning up the gain

of the modulator or amplfying the signal at the head end of the distribution system to compensate for the loss. Make
sure the modulator looks good without the bypass kit. Also make sure the kit is installed according to the diagram.

Q- Can the bypass kit be used with digital cable service?

A- Yes. When the kit is properly installed, the digital service has a clear path to the cable box; the signal does not pass

through the filter. Even so, the filter only removes low VHF frequencies which are not near the typical digital range above
channel 80.

Q- Does this filter make clear channels for the modulator?

A- No. Any splitters, amplifiers or filters that you use for combining signals together are separate from the ones used to bypass

the cable box. If there are no clear cable channels then you will need an additional filter, such as NetMedia’s NM-CNF7080,
at the head of the distribution system. The filter goes on the cable service before it combines with the modulator.

Modulator set
from ch. 70-80.

Cable Box

Splitter/

Combiner

Main cable or antenna

NM-CNF7080 ch. 70-80 Notch Filter

The notch filter does not bypass the cable box.

Figure 1 - Bypassing a digital or analog cable box and recombining to a single coax input on the TV. The NM-ACB3

filter removes any conflict with the cable box on channel 3 or 4. The NM-CNF7080 filter removes any
conflict with the cable service on channels 70-80. Switch the TV from the cable box channel (3 or 4) to
the modulated channel (70-80).

NetMedia, Inc., 10940 N. Stallard Place, Tucson, Arizona 85737 [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [e-mail] www.netmedia.com

NetMedia Cable Box

Bypass/Combiner

Kit NM-ACB3

The kit filter does not

make clear channels

for the modulator.

Television

MAN-ACB3 REV1002A

NM-ACB3