Split terrestrial signal to two tuners

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › Split terrestrial signal to two tuners

charley

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#25667 28-Aug-2008 16:07

I have 2 tv tuner cards now (HVR-3000 & HVR-2200) and need to split the signal in two. Would like your help on deciding the best option.

My setup is uhf aerial -> triplexor -> 4-way splitter -> tv tuner card.
I get 100% signal quality on all 3 mux according to ScanChannelsBDA v2.4.4

RG6 Dual Shielded cable used. 5m from triplexor to 4-way splitter. 9m from 4-way splitter to tv tuner card.

Should i use an amplifier before 4-way splitter and 2-way splitter between 4-way and tv tuner card?
Or
should i go with a 2-way amplified splitter between 4-way and tv tuner card?
was thinking of getting either of these 2-way amplified splitters.
http://www.sadl.co.nz/view/distribution_amplifiers/kingray_sa162f_splitter_amplif.php
http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/en/Product/L4219?id=se

p.s What does "power pass" mean? It's on my 4-way splitter. Should i be using that output for freeview hd terrestrial?

tia,
charley

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eXDee

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#160515 28-Aug-2008 17:18

You're best with a 5 way splitter i think.
Power pass means that the power from the power injector for a masthead amp can go through it.

charley

183 posts

Master Geek

#160599 29-Aug-2008 00:29

Ah yeah the 5-way splitter. Should i go amplified or is that over kill. My current signal seems to be on the edge with the hvr-2200 tuners.

If i used an amplifier would i want the freeview signal using the Power pass output?

cyril7

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#160607 29-Aug-2008 07:13

Dont amplifiy until you are convinced you must, COFDM prefers a lower cleaner signal rather than a louder noiser one. Amplifiers normally cause more issues than they fix.

Not knowing how much signal is available where you are, but unless you are on the edge of a coverage region its very unlikely that you should need a amplifier with 15m of cable and a 4way splitter plus triplexer. This has a total loss of around 6dB, most amplifiers have a miniumum gain of 20dB, I see overload on its way.

What is your location, what antenna do you have.

Cyril

charley

183 posts

Master Geek

#160644 29-Aug-2008 10:06

I'm up on a hill and have clear line of site to Kopukairua transmitter. I'm using a very old low gain uhf aerial. Has around 20 elements. Not X shaped like these newer ones. But yeah i really need one of those hardware signal testers but they cost to much.

cyril7

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#160652 29-Aug-2008 10:15

Hi, so you have clear line of sight, and a 20element antenna, or do you mean 9element in real yagi terms, which is quite sufficient for most situations. My guess is try without an amplifier, if the quality/BER figure on any of the tuners does not dramatically drop off then leave well alone. As I said DVB-T appears to work well at significantly lower levels that analog would have been unwatchable.

What kind of distance are you from the Tx, google maps is wonderful. And yes a DVB-T meter is pricey, could have purchased 3 or 4 FV|HD STBs for what I paid for mine, but its worth every penny and earned its keep in the few months I have had it.

PS: my home town is Te Puke, and worked for the BCNZ at Te Aroha in the days that Kopukairua was installed, so reasonably farmilar with the area.

Cyril

charley

183 posts

Master Geek

#160692 29-Aug-2008 11:49

I did a proper count and it has 18 single bars attached to a rod. Then there's 4 larger bars at the back in a concave shape. It was installed when we had sky over 15 years ago. The cable from uhf aerial to triplexor isnt even rg6 lol. I used the freeview tauranga map as a guide to distance from transmitter and we are about 22km away. Clos eenough to see the transmitter
p.s We are in green area of map, freeview coverage "very likely"

Would a 5-way splitter be better than connecting a 2-way splitter after the 4-way?

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cyril7

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#160714 29-Aug-2008 13:12

A two way then a 4way will have pretty much the same loss (within a couple of dB) as a 5way, which is infact a 6way. So 6 of one, half dozen of the other.

Cyril