Many apartment owners with two or more TVs are interested in how to connect them to one common antenna or to one cable of a cable TV system. Of course, you want to keep the quality of the TV picture. To address this issue, there are a large number of antenna splitters or TV splitters.
Content
- Varieties of devices
-
Splitter characteristics
- Bandwidth
- Attenuation level
- The presence of a high-frequency amplifier
- Choosing a TV cable
- General recommendations
Varieties of devices
Antenna dividers of a television signal are different typesbut they all serve the same purpose. The input connector, designated by the Latin letters IN, is intended for connecting a television cable through which signal either from an external antenna installed on the roof of a high-rise building, or from a cable of a cable TV system laid in home. Other connectors of this device are designated with Latin letters OUT. It is necessary to connect the antenna cables of all TVs in the apartment to them.
Which TV splitter is better? When purchasing a TV splitter, you must take into account the total number of TV receivers with which this device will work. If in the future the number of consumers may increase, this must be taken into account in order to choose a TV splitter, which is also called a crab, with the number of outputs with a margin. An antenna splitter for two TVs is currently in the greatest demand among buyers.
If it is necessary to organize a television network in an apartment building, taps (TAP) are used. They differ from TV splitters by the presence feedthrough connector.
A cable connected to this jack can link it to the input of the next coupler. So a television signal from one source can be distributed among a large number of consumers.
Splitter characteristics
When buying an antenna splitter, special attention should be paid to its characteristics, on which the picture and sound quality TV receivers connected to it. Interference or blurry images will diminish all your TV viewing pleasure. There are several important factors to consider.
Bandwidth
This parameter defines the frequency range in which the device can operate. Each TV channel number corresponds to specific area frequencies of the television signal within which broadcasting is carried out.
The frequency value gradually increases as the TV channel number increases. GOST provides for 60 channels. 9 more channels are reserved, located in the highest frequency parts of the range. On the Internet, you can find a table of correspondence between frequencies and channel numbers received by the TV.
To receive terrestrial TV, the bandwidth of the antenna splitter must be at least 1000 MHz. If the divider is intended for satellite television signals, then the upper limit of the bandwidth must be at least 2500 MHz.
Attenuation level
The parameter determines the amount by which the signal is reduced when it passes through the divider. The amount of attenuation can be found by examining the label on the body of the TV splitter. Attenuation is measured in decibels (dB). It is believed that for an antenna splitter for two TVs, an attenuation of 3–3.5 dB is an acceptable value. The value of this parameter is influenced by the correct calculation of the values of the elements of its internal circuit and the use of devices that increase the protection of the device from external electromagnetic radiation. The quality of the installation has a great influence.
Check with a consultant when buying a finished product. He will offer an antenna splitter from a well-known reliable manufacturer, which have proven themselves to be trouble-free and have positive customer reviews. When comparing different models, choose the one with the lowest attenuation.
The presence of a high-frequency amplifier
Antenna divider divides the input signal by a value depending on the number of consumers that are connected to its output connectors. If the divider has outputs that are not currently used, then a load must be connected to them, the resistance value of which is equal to the magnitude of the wave impedance antenna coaxial cable. For consumer TVs, this value is 75 ohms. Thus, the value of the attenuation level of the antenna divider will be the same as indicated in the passport for it. If this is not done, then it will increase, which, in turn, can lead to a decrease in image quality.
If the number of outputs of the divider is large, and the input signal level is insufficient for a satisfactory reception, you need to buy an antenna divider with a built-in high-frequency amplifier for television signal. The elements of the amplifier (transistors) require external power supply to operate. Typically this is the home AC outlet.
This built-in amplifier compensates for lossesassociated with the redistribution of the input TV signal power between consumers. In addition, the amplifier compensates for signal attenuation in television cables that will be laid to connect new televisions.
Choosing a TV cable
The choice of a television cable should be treated very carefully. The wire largely determines the quality of the television image on televisions remote from the main antenna input. All types of TV cables have a standard characteristic impedance. It is 75 ohms.
However, different types of cable have different attenuation. Its value is not indicated directly on the cable. The attenuation value can be found on special sites on the Internet. The attenuation of the cable, or rather, its specific attenuation, is expressed by a number that has the dimension of dB / m. The most suitable one will be the one with the smallest value compared to the others.
The greatest attenuation is possessed by the longest sections of the cable routes laid in the apartment. If you do not prepare for the purchase in advance, then if you have a choice, you need to buy the cable that has the largest diameter of the outer sheath. It has less attenuation compared to others.
General recommendations
Mounting a TV signal splitter, antenna splitter or cable TV splitter in the apartment must be reliable. The device must not be held only by suitable cables. It must have special fastening holes with which it can be fixed on the wall of the apartment.
The connectors used to connect the TV cable can be screw or plug. The choice depends on whether the buyer has soldering skills.
