TV aerial help

bushmins · 26 Dec 2009 at 20:14

Just got a TV for my boy.
I was thinking of splitting the cable from our aerial (on the chimney) and sending one cable off to his room.

Ive since heard that this will half the recepton to the main TV (and his). Is this true? We dont get perfect reception where we are - about half way on the free view reception monitor - so not too bad, so id rather fit a seperate aerial if that is the case.

Anyone in the know?

EDIT Dont want to put in a booster or anything else that will need to be plugged in.

[TR]SweetSpotOz · 26 Dec 2009 at 20:16

MeMeMeMe · 26 Dec 2009 at 21:03

That splitting = half the signal sounds a bit unlikely to me.

If it does: for the main TV, do you plug the cable into something else first, like a settop box or a DVR? If so, check if that has two outputs - route your cable from the second output on that to the other TV, and you should be fine.

That's my Heath Robinson suggestion anyway.

johnyccc · 26 Dec 2009 at 21:15

I've used one Aerial for 3 TV's (from a cheap booster) with no problem at all.
Can even receive the video/sky signal this way too, depending on your setup.

Caged · 26 Dec 2009 at 21:58

In the unlikely chance that you can get away with a passive splitter, you can't just chop the wires and bodge another one, you need a proper splitter. What's the issue with getting a powered splitter - most of them can be powered via the coaxial cable so you don't need to worry about running power to your loft.

A masthead splitter is the way to go with this one.

bushmins · 26 Dec 2009 at 22:22

This setup is like this.

The existing aerial is on the chimney (outside) the cable runs down the outside of the house and then into a socket inside the house, another cable then runs from the socket to the free view box.

What i was thinking of doing was getting one of the duel aerial sockets and putting it on the outside of the house, one lead goes to the upstairs bedroom the other carrys on down the wall and into the existing indoor socket.

To have a splitter in where the main TV is would mean having to run cable all over the lounge to get it back up to the bedroom.

One of these http://www.ryness.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=2804

There is no way im getting up on the roof, i can get to the guttering on a ladder but thats as far as my legs take me.

Vesta_Man · 26 Dec 2009 at 22:41

Best option is to shorten the cable from the Ariel and chuck a decent booster in the loft and spur off that.
A decent (High dB GAIN low noise) 3-4 way booster can be bought for as little as £15-£20 and doing it this way will significantly increase the likelihood of all TV's get a decent signal meaning ALL freeview channels rather than a handful.

SniperDude · 26 Dec 2009 at 22:44

5-2400MHz 2 way splitter with F connectors

get the f connectors that you screw onto the cable, once you screw them in
to the splitter tape over the fconnector down to the wire with isolation tape or
and better still self amalgamating tape I would use the latter

once you have connected and sealed all the connectors with tape so water can't get into the cable you can screw the spitter to the wall

here a guide of how to fit the connectors
http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/fconn.htm

Vesta_Man · 26 Dec 2009 at 22:49

SniperDude said:
5-2400MHz 2 way splitter with F connectors

get the f connectors that you screw onto the cable, once you screw them in
to the splitter tape over the fconnector down to the wire with isolation tape or
and better still self amalgamating tape I would use the latter

once you have connected and sealed all the connectors with tape so water can't get into the cable you can screw the spitter to the wall

here a guide of how to fit the connectors
http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/fconn.htm

Why bother using sat terminations on a terrestrial setup?

bushmins · 26 Dec 2009 at 22:57

ignore

SniperDude · 27 Dec 2009 at 00:18

Vesta_Man said:
Why bother using sat terminations on a terrestrial setup?

because they are not just for satellite.
they are used for
Satellite
Radio
Digital terrestrial
Cable TV

also being used on a roof of a house so its best the cables
be screwed into the splitter so they don't come loose
and screw in connectors like this are far superior to standard connectors.
that's why they are used in satellite anyway.

so my reply would have to be.... why not ?

Caged · 27 Dec 2009 at 01:32

You want the "Vision C12656 Mastamp 2-way V20-1220K inc PSU" from this page:

http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page11c.htm#vision

Split the cable between your aerial and living room (as close to the aerial as possible), then insert that powered amplifier. The power supply will go between the TV socket in your living room and the Freeview box, and sends power back up the RF cable to power the amp.