who knows about RF splitters?

[stenews]

Hi mates, does any of you know about RF splitters?
I need to split my aerial antenna signal into two and I want to make sure that I'll not lose signal strength.
Which are the most important specifications that I should always keep in mind before to buy one of those things?

Thanks,
Stefano

[CWR03]

A splitter will just create a "tee" for two sources to draw signal from the same source. You'll want an amplified splitter to be sure there's no loss.

[stenews]

thanks CWR03 for your reply!
...You'll want an amplified splitter to be sure there's no loss
that's exactly the point, which one should I buy?

[Ghitulescu]

There is no answer to your question :devil:
If you need an amplifier then you need to specify what is the intended RF spectrum (band) as there is no wide-band RF amplifiers :p

[burfadel]

A non-amplified splitter will mean your signal strength is halved per channel. An amplified splitter overcomes this, but most also inject noise which you definitely do not want. They often make the output of each channel worse than they would otherwise be if they were just non-amplified split. For analogue sources the noise isn't an issue as it often isn't noticeable, but for digital splitting the noise can reduce the quality of the digital signal (even if the strength is increased) which may cause dropouts or artifacts.

I'm assuming your splitting is for television? In terms of splitting signals, any band that also falls within the range of the amplifier will be split and amplified correctly (apart from noise issues).
The Kingray products (made by GME) don't have the noise problem, they are the ones I'd recommend but they're probably not available where you are. The plus side is that Italy has a compatible power system, so you could get it online. You'd just need an adaptor plug. If you search for sa162 or sa162f (or

The 2 way splitter with Belling-Lee connectors:
http://www.gme.net.au/products/matv/matv-splitter-amplifier/SA162

The 2 way splitter with F-type:
http://www.gme.net.au/products/matv/matv-splitter-amplifier/SA162F

4 way splitters are also available.

On Ebay they're available from:
http://myworld.ebay.com.au/bozz56/

I haven't bought anything from that seller nor do I know anything about them, but they sound reasonable.

[stenews]

@Ghitulescu and @burfadel
thanks both for your reply.

I'll try to explain you better what my problem is.
Everything starts when I first bought my new multimedia HHD called TVIX HD M6600N http://kjglobal.co.uk/acatalog/TVIX_HD6600.html with dual tuner.
It comes with no pass through antenna output, that's why the only way I got to connect my old fashion tape cassette record is to use a splitter...
Right now a friend of mine told me that I really don't need a splitter nor an amplifier splitter to do that. I just need a "T" antenna connector...does it make any sense for you?

[Ghitulescu]

[QUOTE=stenews;1340226I just need a "T" antenna connector...does it make any sense for you?[/QUOTE]

For me it does, how about you? :p

[stenews]

@Ghitulescu, thanks for your reply
have you never had a problem like that before? I mean, are you using a "T connector"?
Have you noticed a lost of quality?

bye,
Stefano

[Ghitulescu]

A T-connector is some 1€, just try, nobody can tell you, on your conditions, what the results are...

[iffybob]

Some pass through outputs are buffered it may be better to use a passive (T-connector) splitter, from there the output is powered, which acts as a buffer amplifyer.

If you have a T-connector anyway, it is worth a try and see.

[rtjnyoface]

Ok, so here's a question. When we do split the cable WHEN exactly do we lose quality? For instance, do we only lose the quality when we have the two sources being used? Like if I have my pc tuner on as well as the tv on (both being the split source of course) is the quality only degraded then or at all times?

[nevragain]

If I remember how this works if a device or terminator is attached to each output the signal strength will decrease for each output the amount listed on the device (ideally of course). With all signals the lower the signal strength the more noise relative to the desired signal. For analog there is a gradual decrease in quality with lower signal strength for digital a cutoff abruptly at a threshold. I don't remember why but the the decrease in signal when more devices are added is small with RF, it may be related to impedance matching.

[rtjnyoface]

@neveragain:

So even if the one of the devices is not using the signal the device that IS using the signal will have decreased quality?

[Ghitulescu]

The theory of RF propagation and distribution is extremely complicated.

If you have an input RF signal that is strong enough, a passive T-splitter is better than any amplifier. It depends on the signal strength at input, tuner sensitivity, tuner selectivity, residual impedance of the lines (cable length, joints, solderings, relative distance between the elements), impedance adaptating scheme,.... shall I continue? :)

If you have an weak signal, then you're obliged to use an amplifier, if the tuner cannot cope with such low levels.

The answer was already given: spend 1€ for a passive T-Splitter (you'll find one in flea markets) and leave the phylosophical issues to Nietsche ;) because no one knows your conditions and even then there's no deductive solution ....

And yes, daisy-chaining several devices would in theory degrade the signal as parasite impedances are places along.

[iffybob]

I had a same prob about a year ago, in end just bort an arial amp with 7 outputs, all probs solved........... simples (eek )