one antenna for two tvs

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graciem

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#195031 3-Apr-2016 17:48

Hi,

I've installed a fishbone on top of the roof. I've got two tvs in different rooms. When connecting the antenna cable to each tv directly, it works fine, so we bought a tv splitter. It's a basic one: http://www.dicksmith.co.nz/antennas/ds-tv-2-way-right-angle-splitr-dsnz-cn3507

However, when we split it to two tvs, one one gets reception and the other one doesn't. Our house is in on top of the hill and can see the reception tower, so the signal should be strong.

Any ideas how I can make this work?

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#1525257 3-Apr-2016 17:56

How do you have it hooked up?

A splitter like that is horrible and not what I'd recommend using - a proper F type splitter is always the best.

Brunzy

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#1525258 3-Apr-2016 17:57

Buy a proper splitter.

No offence but if you're like most Diy types you have it connected wrongly.

bales

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#1525259 3-Apr-2016 18:01

Is the cable to the 2nd TV behind the main TV it's better to use an f type with rg 6 cable and compression connectors

keithbayly

richms

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#1525275 3-Apr-2016 18:29

Those plastic splitters are rubbish. I had one and they just had a wire connecting all 3 sockets together inside - at least that prevents connecting it wrong since there was no input or output at all.

Even with horrible screw on F connectors, you will be better off with an F connector splitter than one with the abortion that is the belling-lee or PAL antenna plug, which should have been taken care of with the move to digital, but in their infinate wisdom freeview decided that people being able to plug old antennas in was more important than a working standard.

Richard rich.ms

Rikkitic

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#1525386 3-Apr-2016 20:43

Try connecting the TVs one at a time using the splitter to make sure one TV is not affecting the other. Also make sure the connections are working.

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B1GGLZ

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#1525441 3-Apr-2016 22:38

That splitter is absolute rubbish and was barely suitable for old VHF Analogue TV.

You need something like this for Digital.

http://www.jaycar.co.nz/Sight-%26-Sound---Home/TV-Accessories/TV-%26-Antenna-Accessories/Two-Way-Splitter---F-Connectors---Die-Cast/p/LT3044

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dipper

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#1525532 4-Apr-2016 08:57

Hi,

Sorry to hijack this post but I have a friend whom has put in a F type splitter and all works well for 40 minutes and then his new tv gets pixelation and this may last for two hours and then everything goes back to normal ...its driving him nuts! Thoughts?

sbiddle

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#1525537 4-Apr-2016 09:03

dipper:

Hi,

Sorry to hijack this post but I have a friend whom has put in a F type splitter and all works well for 40 minutes and then his new tv gets pixelation and this may last for two hours and then everything goes back to normal ...its driving him nuts! Thoughts?

The only main cause of pixilation is poor signal quality. I'd pick putting in a splitter reduced signal to a level where external interference such as terrain or weather is impacting it.

Rikkitic

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#1525581 4-Apr-2016 09:56

Agree with the preceding. My own experience has taught me that digital reception is very much all or nothing. If the signal is marginal, but just barely good enough, you get a perfect picture. If it drops just below good enough, everything pixilates and freezes. It doesn't take much to push it one way or the other.

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KrazyKid

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#1525672 4-Apr-2016 10:53

B1GGLZ:

That splitter is absolute rubbish and was barely suitable for old VHF Analogue TV.

You need something like this for Digital.

http://www.jaycar.co.nz/Sight-%26-Sound---Home/TV-Accessories/TV-%26-Antenna-Accessories/Two-Way-Splitter---F-Connectors---Die-Cast/p/LT3044

I picked up one of these from Mitre 10 last week for $5.
Also got some cheap tool-less connectors and cable

The Dunedin store had tables of cheap Monster Branded cables/splitters and connectors they obviously picked up as a clearance deal somewhere.
Maybe your local Mitre 10 has some too?

trig42

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#1525679 4-Apr-2016 11:05

Rikkitic:

Agree with the preceding. My own experience has taught me that digital reception is very much all or nothing. If the signal is marginal, but just barely good enough, you get a perfect picture. If it drops just below good enough, everything pixilates and freezes. It doesn't take much to push it one way or the other.

Does anyone know at what point it tips over.

Checked two of my STBs over the weekend, both reporting 73-74% strength and 100% quality. I wonder at what point does it tip to being crap (I had pixelation issues with one STB, but I suspect it is the STB causing it - resetting seems to have fixed it).

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robjg63

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#1525680 4-Apr-2016 11:06

I would say that either:

One TV has a slightly more sensitive tuner than the other so one of them is not getting enough signal

The splitter might be a dud - fair chance the wires are broken inside - they are pretty cheap alright.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

graciem

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#1526454 5-Apr-2016 17:52

Thanks for the input. I bought an F splitter and gave it a go. Looks like it's the same, only one tv gets signal, not the other. Would that because of the cable length? There is an option to make it shorter, however, just need a bit effort to set up. Was hoping using current connection and F splitter, it'd work. Any ideas?

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#1526461 5-Apr-2016 18:09

So you used a crimping tool with the F type plugs (as retermination was required)?? You used RG-6 coax??

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#1526471 5-Apr-2016 18:36

Do your TV's have a signal strength/quality function built in that you can test your signal with?

Is your aerial correctly aligned to the TV mast/tower?

We have two Samsung TV's and a Dish TV PVR running off a single aerial in Chch. All three run at the same time without any issues.

We have a Matchmaster 3-way splitter and all leads are RG6 quad.

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