Freeview DVB-T Splitter help

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LarzGearbox

37 posts

Geek

#102522 16-May-2012 11:38

Hi - I have recently installed a freeview areial and had perfect signal strength and quality. I can see the nearest transmitter (about 4 km away I guess) in Lower Hutt.

So we bought another TV and wanted to get freeview to it - I found in the roof space an unused Hills splitter box (not the F-connector type, but saddle and clamp) so I cut the wires and screwed them into place (using guides from youtube etc).

Signal strength pretty much halved once I spilt it and now cuts out whenever we have decent rain (and we had plenty last night!!).

So my question is, will an F-type connector splitter provide superior performance to the saddle one I have or do i need to look at another option (booster etc)??

Thanks

wellygary

8312 posts

Uber Geek

#626000 16-May-2012 11:46

LarzGearbox: I found in the roof space an unused Hills splitter box

I suspect that is the source of your problems, the splitter is likely to not be a specific UHF splitter, or simply stuffed..

Go buy a decent UHF splitter ( the connection types doesn't make that much difference) and let us know how you got on....

Jaxson

8041 posts

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Trusted

#626005 16-May-2012 11:51

There is a genuine chance you don't have a good enough signal in the first place, so you might want to confirm you have the right aerial type (UHF), good connections, good RG6 Coax cable and no other splitters/amplifiers etc hiding away elsewhere etc also.

LarzGearbox

37 posts

Geek

#626009 16-May-2012 11:55

Jaxson: There is a genuine chance you don't have a good enough signal in the first place, so you might want to confirm you have the right aerial type (UHF), good connections, good RG6 Coax cable and no other splitters/amplifiers etc hiding away elsewhere etc also.

The signal strength I had prior to putting the splitter in was pretty much 10/10 on all channels (TVNZ channels might have dipped to 9/10)

It is definately a UHF areial and I purchased brand new RG6 cable.

LarzGearbox

37 posts

Geek

#626011 16-May-2012 11:57

wellygary:
LarzGearbox: I found in the roof space an unused Hills splitter box

I suspect that is the source of your problems, the splitter is likely to not be a specific UHF splitter, or simply stuffed..

Go buy a decent UHF splitter ( the connection types doesn't make that much difference) and let us know how you got on....

Pretty sure this is what I have...

http://www.signalmaster.co.nz/Products/Product_subcat/Product?cat=14&ProductID=424

It says UHF/VHF

Jaxson

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#626013 16-May-2012 11:58

Are you sure you haven't shorted a connection with your new addition handy work? If the external shielding/braiding is touching the internal wire anywhere then it will pull it all down. If you're satisfied everything else is good, then I'd revisit your install or purchase a new splitter.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#626020 16-May-2012 12:02

LarzGearbox:

Pretty sure this is what I have...

http://www.signalmaster.co.nz/Products/Product_subcat/Product?cat=14&ProductID=424

It says UHF/VHF

It's useless for Freeview UHF.
Chuck it and get a UHF one in a cast metal box with F connectors.
Available at large Hardware stores and electronic stores.

LarzGearbox

37 posts

Geek

#626026 16-May-2012 12:08

B1GGLZ:
LarzGearbox:

Pretty sure this is what I have...

http://www.signalmaster.co.nz/Products/Product_subcat/Product?cat=14&ProductID=424

It says UHF/VHF

It's useless for Freeview UHF.
Chuck it and get a UHF one in a cast metal box with F connectors.
Available at large Hardware stores and electronic stores.

I'll double check the connection as Jaxson mentioned, but pretty sure i cut it all away.

Will probably end up buying a new splitter, just a hope that the one i found would be sufficient.

B1GGLZ - can you provide any further info about why the current one is useless and what the solid metal F-type ones do better?? I like details!

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Jaxson

8041 posts

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#626048 16-May-2012 12:33

LarzGearbox: can you provide any further info about why the current one is useless and what the solid metal F-type ones do better?? I like details!

Basically the joint provides an unshielded section of your cable, so it's prone to interference. F type connectors completely surround the joint, continuing the shielding over that section. In addition they tend to maintain their connection quality and do not oxidise their surfaces over time, meaning you preserve the good connection longer than the saddle/clamp variety.