Questions on splitting a VHF/UHF signal ? Help! (1 Viewer)

[Oswald Pascual]

I have a VHF/UHF antenna in the attic. I wish to split the video feed from that antenna in order to feed two sat boxes.

My questions are:
1)Should I split the feed as close to the source(antenna)as possible or does it matter where I split it?

2)Would I benifit from amplifying the signal before splitting it or after?

3)Also if anyone could reccomend a good UHF/VHF splitter or amplifier it would be nice.

Thanks

 

[Phil A]

There are 2 types of amplifiers, a signal amplifier commonly referred to as a preamplifier and a distribution amp. The preamp is what amplifieres the TV signal. The distribution amp is to compensate for losses in splitting, which should be minimal with a 2-way splitter (around 3.5db) especially if you used RG-6 cable (vs. RG-59). I like the Monster ones or something of equivalent quality. They are not that expensive and come in different quality levels. Probably can find them at Best Buy.

 

[Oswald Pascual]

O.K. I have 2 Sat Boxes, I want each sat box to feed 4 rooms. (I am controlling the sat boxes with an RF remote control.) Is there some type of SAT splitter I can use on the output of each sat box to do this?(1 in 4 Out) All of the TERK splitters seem to imply they are for cable or off the air antennas only?

 

[Brian L]

Oswald,

I do not believe that you can split a SAT signal, as you would a RF signal. I have seen this asked frequently, and the answer is normally no.

To feed multiple boxes, you would need a dish with more then 1 LNB. If your dish has two LNB's, you can use a 2 x 4 (I think that is right). It will feed up to 4 boxes.

If you have 3 LNBs (my dish has that), you may already have a 4 way Multiswitch built in to the dish (I have that too). It would feed 4 boxes directly.

Also, Terk makes a MS that is said to work with an existing dish MS, to provide up to 8 outputs.

Then, if you need to combine OTA with SAT, you will use Diplexors to combine and then separate the signals.

BGL

 

[Brian L]

Humm....re-read your last post. I think I missed your point.

If you are sending the RF output of the SAT box (which combines Sat + OTA, normally with SAT on Channel 3 or 4), you should be able to use a normal Cable/Antenna capable splitter.

BGL

 

[Oswald Pascual]

BrianL

I am not trying to split the actual signal coming from the dish. I am trying to spit the signal coming out of the sat recevier box. The cable that would normally just go from the receiver box to the TV is the one I am trying to split. Basically I want the sat receiver box to feed 4 TV's. I hope this is more clear, sometimes its harder to explain things without a diagram. Is this possible?

If it is I am looking for a good quality splitter since one of the four runs will be long.

Thanks

 

[Brian L]

Oswald,

As I said in the post previous to your most recent, I think you are OK with a normal RF splitter. I totally misunderstood what you meant.

I have also heard decent things about the Monster splitters, but in my experience, they were no better than a decent quality (not the 1.99 variety!) device that you can get at your local Rat Shack. Your mileage may vary.

BGL