Terk LF-20S Wavemaster Wireless 2.4 GHz A/V Distribution System

by Terk

Product Details

Product Manual [145kb PDF]

• Item Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005T3KU
• Item model number: LF20S
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,079 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 10, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Leapfrog LF-20S from Terk Technologies is a wireless transmitter/receiver system that eliminates the need--and the expense--of running extra wires from room to room in order to enjoy your audio/video entertainment from multiple in-home locations. By using Terk's WaveMaster 20 technology and transmitting across the 2.4 GHz frequency band, the LF-20S gives you the clearest possible signal with a range of up to a 100 feet.

The Leapfrog's signals penetrate walls, doors, ceilings, and floors with no interference. Multiple channel selection lets you select the best possible signal from two different channels. The LF-20S is easy to install, requiring no tools for setup. The system is expandable, too: with the purchase of up to three additional receivers, you can use it with multiple TVs or other components throughout your home.

What's in the Box
Transmitter (LF-20TX), receiver (LF-20RX), 2 AC power adapters, three 3-foot AV dubbing cables, and a user's manual.

Product Description

Your family nagged until you bought a satellite system for the TV in the rec room. You thought they'd be satisfied but now they complain that only 1 TV is hooked up to the system. This Wireless AV Distribution System will make everyone happy. It transmits audio & video signals from your main TV to other TVs in the house without expensive & difficult in-wall wiring. And its 2.4GHz frequency band provides clear signals even over long distances. If this doesn't make them happy, nothing will.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't play well with others in the 2.4GHz band, January 17, 2003

By 

Anderson P Bryan (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terk LF-20S Wavemaster Wireless 2.4 GHz A/V Distribution System (Electronics)

I bought this to transmit PBS Kids channel from my 2nd satellite receiver in the basement to my toddle's room on the 2nd floor. Great reception if I turned off my 2.4GHz wireless network router and did not talk on my 2.4GHz cordless phone. With the router on, I got a strobing horizontal line down the screen. With the cordless phone, pressing the Talk button to use the phone killed the signal. I returned the product to the store.

If you don't have other 2.4GHz devices it seems like it will work well for you.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice picture if you have no other 2.4GHz products, March 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Terk LF-20S Wavemaster Wireless 2.4 GHz A/V Distribution System (Electronics)

This product works great -- if you have no other products on the 2.4GHz spectrum. Unfortunately my 802.11b network and Vtech 2.4GHz phones were too much for it, and the sound was punctuated with sharp snapping sounds and the picture showed strobing horizontal lines. When I unplugged my 802.11b access point and 2.4GHz phone, the sound and picture were great. Buy it if you don't have other 2.4GHz devices to interfere, but otherwise avoid it.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's not a problem with the Wavemaster, February 17, 2003

By 

Darrell Koller (Ballwin, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Terk LF-20S Wavemaster Wireless 2.4 GHz A/V Distribution System (Electronics)

I've read several reviews submitted in this and several other forums. I've noticed that opinions about the Wavemaster vary greatly by the intended use of the reviewers. Those that use the device for transmitting video/audio from DVDs, satellite decoders etc. are generally very happy with the quality.

Those that are attempting to use the device attached to a computer are usually unhappy. They give the device a bad review without realizing that the problem is not the device. Most people are unaware that the resolution of a computer monitor is much higher than that of a TV. When you attempt to use a TV as a computer monitor you get very poor results. It doesn't matter what mechanism you use to deliver the computer output to the TV. The limiting factor is the TV.

I purchased a a "Leap Frog" aka Wavenaster this weekend. It operates at 2.4 Ghz, and has 4 channels. It consists of a transmitter and a receiver (extra receivers are available for additional TVs). I hooked it up to my computer's video out and to my TV. Voila! It works great! Throw in the fact that my video card came with an RF (radio frequency) remote (doesn't need line-of-site path) and I have a pretty neat solution. I can sit at my TV and control a MPEG2 movie playing on my computer in the other room.

Now for the bad. The picture quality is pretty good (at least as good as the best broadcast TV you've seen), but seems to be susceptible to intermittent static interference. Not a big deal unless you're really anal about that stuff. There's a slight underlying hiss and occassional pop in the audio. That's my biggest complaint so far. I'm pretty picky about sound. And don't think your gonna get THX. The last problem is that due to the fact that regular NTSC TV transmission is at such low resolution it's difficult to view text displayed on the computer screen transmitted to the TV. It's difficult to control the movie or browse directories from the couch. I guess the solution to that problem is to buy an HDTV or at least something bigger than my 25 inch set.

This technique is not limited to computers and satellite signal decoders. I played with hooking up a DVD player sitting in another room. I also hooked up my digital camera and displayed a slide show. Anything that has composite output and can generate a NTSC signal can be used as a source (sorry no component or SVideo out for you video quality freaks). If you're looking for a high quality you might have to wait a year or so until a true digital solution is available. The advertised range is up to 300 ft. You should be able broadcast to you're neighbor across the street. Obviously, line-of-site is optimal, but if you had that you could also just run a cable.