Unused splitter outputs

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majoco

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#157252 25-Nov-2014 10:57

Hi guys,
I've recently moved into a house in Ashhurst where I can see the Wharite transmitter. There is an old style Sky terrestrial antenna feeding a four-way splitter in the roof space with drops to the master bedroom, one to one end of the lounge, two to the family room, one of which has another two-way splitter to the existing outlet and other through the wall to the lounge again! Since I have bought a Panasonic PVR I am marginal for signal after going through two splitters in the family room especially in rain. I don't use three of the drops! Should I a) remove the four way splitter and just feed the two way, b) put dummy loads on the unused drops, c) get a better antenna or d) bite the bullet and put in a masthead amplifier. Thanks in advance.

Cheers - Martin.

richms

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#1182679 25-Nov-2014 11:11

Before you invest in terminators for the outlets, try just disconnecting the unused ones at the splitter and see if that helps.

Is the splitter one with F connectors or those shoddy VHF ones with saddle clamps that are still sold to unsuspecting DIYers at big hardware chains?

Richard rich.ms

B1GGLZ

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#1182705 25-Nov-2014 12:00

If it's an old Sky antenna (and co-ax) then it's probably well past it's useful life. I would be installing a new antenna plus new rg6 co-ax and use only the splitters that you need. If they are the old cheapo splitters with Pal (Belling Lee) connectors then replace them with new high quality splitters with f connectors.
Personally if I had a household requiring more than 2 or 3 outlets I'd be considering installing a distribution amp. Something like this
http://matchmaster.co.nz/domestic/amplifiers/10mm-dda28

Jaxson

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#1182740 25-Nov-2014 12:35

Yeah seriously, do your testing with a straight run (or as close to it) between aerial and the device in question.

Keep it simple and build up from there.

All the basics apply:

Do you have good F connectors at all termination points.
Does your aerial have an F connector output, or at least are the connection saddle/clamp points and cable clear from rust?
Is the aerial in good nick and pointing the correct direction and polarization/alignment.

If you don't need that many splitters then leave them out.

Personally I keep any unused runs disconnected with dummy loads on the splitter at that point.
If I have a lot them I dump that splitter altogether and only add it back in if required.
If you're regularly using and then disconnecting TV equipment from a point then keep that outlet connected, but otherwise drop them altogether.
Keep the cable for future use, but don't connect it.

Sounds like a rant there, but the point is you need to tidy all that stuff up first.
An amplifier will make your crappy noisy signal louder, which will leave you with a strong crappy signal. ie no better off.
Basics first, and direct any money you spend in a direction that will make a difference.

majoco

18 posts

Geek

#1182803 25-Nov-2014 13:44

Thanks, guys, you have confirmed my suspicions that I need to do a big cleanup. For the moment I'll keep the the RG 59 cable but I'll join the antenna to the two way splitter by fitting F connectors to bypass the 4-way splitter entirely. I'll replace the splitter with one with F connectors and put in new F connector wall plates.

For some reason the original installer put the antenna on the eastern end of the house despite the fact that the family room and lounge are right down the other end so there's probably 25 metres of coax between the antenna and the telly. I have a mast on the western end for a SWL antenna so perhaps a new antenna on that and take the shortest route would be the best final scheme - a complete rewire in fact!

Thanks for your help - cheers - Martin

Jaxson

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#1182812 25-Nov-2014 14:14

Replace the RG6 cable. It's not that expensive to do and is potentially one of your biggest bang for buck changes.
Do this ahead of new wall plates etc. Personally I don't use the wall plates either and just go straight to the devices (less points of failure).

The aerial may well be located in that position for optimum reception, but yes, you could look to relocate it if it's position doesn't fit your use of the rooms anymore.

Seriously though, get some new RG6 cable in there. Look for Sky approved cable as a minimum standard.

majoco

18 posts

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#1230629 3-Feb-2015 15:42

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the good info, so here's an update. I kept the old Sky terrestrial on the eastern end of the house and it just supplies one drop into the main bedroom - no splitters and RG59 all the way - good picture through a Dish TV decoder.

New antenna down the western end with RG6 to a two way splitter to two new wall plates, new F connectors and cable, new Sony TV KDL32W TV in the family room via a Panasonic DMR-XW390 PVR and the original Sony 42" in the lounge, Sky dish (but no Sky box) to a Dish Satbox in the lounge too.

Brilliant pix on all TV's, heaps of signal, no dropouts due to foliage or torrential rain (not that we've had much) and I've lost a couple of kilos of sweat clambering around in the roof space in the hot hot sun!

The new antenna is a Lincrad 02MM-804 up about 5 metres direct line of sight to Wharite.

Cheers - Martin