nick205
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| posted on 13/11/07 at 12:38 PM |
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Aerial splitter - amplified or not?
I'm looking to split my single aerial feed in the loft into 4 feeds to seperate rroms in the house.
The signal is fine at the moment to the one TV/DVR, but what's the best way of splitting it?
Should I use a passive (unpowered) splitter like this...
Image deleted by owner
or an amplified (powered) one like this....?
[img][/img]
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mookaloid
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| posted on 13/11/07 at 12:45 PM |
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I'm no expert but it seems to me that you may need to boost the signal if you are dividing it by 4.
If the unpowered thingy is cheap it might be worth a punt to see if it works in your situation - you might be in a strong signal area and it might be
ok.
In my experience with these things the only thing that works is cable or satellite 
Cheers
Mark
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 13/11/07 at 12:50 PM |
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It depends on your signal strength!
If you get a very strong signal now, with no interference at all, and you're reasonably close to the transmitter, then an plain splitter will
probably work OK.
In my case, I have a loft aerial that gave an acceptable signal to the TV & video, but got noisy when split over several devices. I fitted an
amp, but turned the gain down as low as possible - just enough to get a strong signal at all sets. If you turn the gain too high you just amplify the
noise at the expense of the signal.
You can also make huge gains by using the best co-ax cable you can get, with good-quality plugs.
Good info here - no connection, satisfied customer, blah blah.
HTH
David
Forgot to mention: digital TV requires a far better signal than analogue, so best to get this right now, ready for the changeover.
[Edited on 13/11/07 by David Jenkins]
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britishtrident
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| posted on 13/11/07 at 12:53 PM |
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For four outlets you will need powered unless you live very very close to your transmitter.
However be aware of two things
Most DTV boxes don't like a signal that is over boosted, with DTV clean signal quality is more important than strength.
Most video recorders and PVR also boost the signal coming out from them by quite a large amount.
You can reduce the gain with either by using a variable gain amplifier-splitter and/or signal attenuators on the wall sockets (Maplin sell them)
When I was using a common aerial for 4 outlets I used a variable booster and attenuators but these days I have 2 loft aerial each supplying 2 TVs this
was the easiest and neatest solution.
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RichardK
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| posted on 13/11/07 at 01:33 PM |
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Boosted definatly and if you use tv eyes (sky channel changer) then it's got to be compatable with those too or they won't work, guess how
I know .
Rich
Gallery updated 11/01/2011
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wilkingj
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| posted on 13/11/07 at 01:50 PM |
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Boosted...
However, Do NOT fit the Booster within a metre of the aerial. (You will get it self oscillating / feeding back into the aerial.
Put a Proper Wide band Aerial OUTSIDE (and pointing at the Transmitter (look at where the neighbours are pointing theirs)
Put an Amplifier in the loft (in the dry)
Break out from there.
However, I did it this way, in order of connection.
Aerial - Amp - Downstairs to DTV Box - Video Box(or DVD) - Back out any up to the loft where I split out into the bedrooms.
The Downstairs TV is fed by the SCART leads from the Freeview box / Video.
However, I can still run the freeview / Dvd / Video and watch in the Bedrooms.
My Kids have DTV Dongles on their PC's and can watch Freeview independantly of me downstairs, or watch a Video. They have DVD's in the
PC's anyway.
Watch point of using several devices in series is simple.
Change the Channel which the DVD / Video transmits out to different ones.
ie the Video outputs on CH36, then make the DVD on CH 45, and the Video on CH55.
This keeps the outputs distant from each other, and they wont interfere with each other.
If you dont need the UHF outputs, then switch them off in the setup.
OK this is for multi TV / video / DVD all over the house. Its not hard, but watch out for which channel each output is on, as they will interfere if
they are all too close channel wise. ie dont try to have them on say CH35,36,37 for the three devices.
Use Scart connections for any TV's close to the DVD/ Video, as it will give a better picture.
Spend out on a GOOD aerial, rather than amplifying the noise on a bad signal. There is no point in amplifying NOISE. Get a good signal, then amp and
distribute it.
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 13/11/07 at 04:33 PM |
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Another vote for boosted. Its amazing how much signal is lost in one of those little things 
[Edited on 13-11-07 by speedyxjs]
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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Ian D
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| posted on 13/11/07 at 07:46 PM |
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Put the aerial in the loft and fit an amp.
I have a 6 way and it works perfectly. It also didnt cost much about £15.
benefits, the wind cant blow down the aerial, you dont stress the building and you can get at easily.
ian
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Ian D
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| posted on 13/11/07 at 07:46 PM |
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Put the aerial in the loft and fit an amp.
I have a 6 way and it works perfectly. It also didnt cost much about £15.
benefits, the wind cant blow down the aerial, you dont stress the building and you can get at easily.
ian
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Lightning
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| posted on 13/11/07 at 08:47 PM |
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Funny this should appear at this time as I could do with a 12way splitter at least.
I suppose another aerial (3) would simplify matters. At the moment I have 6 way splitter with another 6 way splitter into that. The second splitter
used to work on anologue ok but is no good for digital.
Any thoughts on the best place to go??
re routing the cables in the attic has been fun as some are wrapped around the wires and rods for the old mechanical call bells. Most of these still
exist!
Steve
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geoff shep
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| posted on 14/11/07 at 07:52 PM |
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Try splitting it without anything and see how it is - then get the xtra stuff if required. I've done it with 2 co-ax cables connected to same
aerial and it has worked fine for 2 x freeview sets but I guess it depends on the signal strength. Buying extra aerials is often just as cheap as a
splitter/booster.
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nick205
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| posted on 20/11/07 at 07:30 AM |
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Thanks for the feedback chaps!
I'm going to try a 6 way amplified splitter box fitted in the loft to start with. It's only £30 from Maplin and I've already got
most of the wiring in place to from the loft to the different rooms.
It did occur to me that a feed to the garage might be useful too
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Peteff
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| posted on 20/11/07 at 09:38 AM |
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Use shielded coaxial cable to wire it all in as well if you are distributing the digital signal or you'll get a lot of interference on the cable
runs.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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