4 Inputs to 1 ouput Coaxial

Villain

I have 3 sky boxes and a VHF aerial and I want to pass these into a boaster that is feeding 6 rooms. So I'm going to change the RF Out on the boxes so I can tune each one in but I need a device that will allow to put 4 inputs in and get 1 output.

Anyone know where I can get one of these??

Aha maybe 2 of these:
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=1751&productId=89258&Trail=C$cip=12724>C$cip=12725>C$cip=12733&categoryId=12733

How does the IR work on these??

Tony

Originally posted by Tony
You may be better going for a sky compatible amp which is powered from the digibox, that way you can add TV links to control the box connected to the amp. You then loop the digiboxes into each other. If this is not possible then an RF combiner unit is needed.

Global and SLX make the amps

Villain

Do you sell them Tony or know who does??

Tony

Originally posted by irish1
Do you sell them Tony or know who does??

I'm sorry i cannot answer that as it may be construed as advertising

Villain

Ok Tony
http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/SKY_Digital_and_acessories_6.html

Would I need 3 of these, 1 for each box ??

Tony

Originally posted by irish1
Ok Tony
http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/SKY_Digital_and_acessories_6.html

Would I need 3 of these, 1 for each box ??

Well no, is it possible for you to run a cable from digibox to digibox? Then all you need do is connect the amp to the last digibox in the chain, I hope i've explained this ok

Villain

not really possible with my setup, I have a coaxial going from each box back to a central point, I was going to use the rf out on each box to link into a boaster. It's ok I'l just join the 4 with good joints thanks anyway

Capt'n Midnight

Like Tony says you could daisy chain them, in series.

You could try a four way splitter in reverse with the "input" going in to a booster. BUT you would have to make sure that all SKY RF outputs were on different channels (eg: 65) and that only ONE or ZERO boxes had any input ( not sure if best to short the input or use a 75 ohm resistor on a coax plug ) otherwise you would get inteference. Oh yeah none of the channels TV or SKY should be 4 or 9 stations away from each other (or something like that)

I have not tried this yet - mean to get around to someday.

Tony

Originally posted by irish1
not really possible with my setup, I have a coaxial going from each box back to a central point, I was going to use the rf out on each box to link into a boaster. It's ok I'l just join the 4 with good joints thanks anyway

Joints are not the way to go, better to get a dedicated combiner unit or two x two way f splitters used in reverse fed into another two way f splitter in reverse.

Tony

maddog

At the chance of sounding stupid, any chance of a diagram Tony?

Regards,
Maddog

watty

          _____
	 |     |
 Box 1 --      |
         | Y    ---
 Box 2 --      |   \
         |_____|    \
                     \
                      \    _____
                       \  |     |
                        --      |
                          | Y    --- To AMP
                        --      |
                       /  |_____|
                      /
          _____      /
	 |     |    /
 Box 3 --      |   /
         | Y    ---
 Box 4 --      |   
         |_____|    
                  

There is a four way combiner/splitter, but it doesn't work, it simply shorts out all 5 sockets!

There are 4 kinds of 2-Way "Y" splitters
1) F- Connector with small internal "hybrid" transformer (do not confuse with Cable Tap which has two different out levels). Some will work with RF out2 DC PSU.

2) TV connector with small internal "hybrid" transformer . "Y" shaped. None work with RF out 2. Use on RF1 or disable remote PSU in menu Services 4 0 1 select

3) TV connector with resistors inside, often plug on back and two sockets in front, these are rubbish, avoid.

4) Really nasty ones that simply joint the 3 connections together. AVOID.

Incorrect connection causes "ghosting" as the cables *must* see 75 Ohms source and destination for proper signal transfer. RF does not flow in a wire like Audio DC or even video does. You can "get away with" considerable mismatch on composite Video etc (Not on high resolution UXVGA though as this is up to 220MHz), as it is only up to 5MHz approx. TV UHF is 470 ... 860 MHZ.

Capt'n Midnight

Four inputs to one input
4:2 2:1

__
__[box]----+
__
__[box]----+

Ascii art died a death - you would use a third splitter (or combiner depending on how you looked at it to join the O/P from the first two. Again make sure no channel or signal is duplicated on any of the inputs.
And try to make sure there is no input into the SKY boxes except perhaps into one of them an aerial or video.

Cuchulain

watty wrote: »

          _____
	 |     |
 Box 1 --      |
         | Y    ---
 Box 2 --      |   \
         |_____|    \
                     \
                      \    _____
                       \  |     |
                        --      |
                          | Y    --- To AMP
                        --      |
                       /  |_____|
                      /
          _____      /
	 |     |    /
 Box 3 --      |   /
         | Y    ---
 Box 4 --      |   
         |_____|    
                  

Sorry for digging up such an old post. Would the scenario Watty depicted above still be the best way to combine 4 rf cables together?

And would these be the best combiners for it?

Tony

No problem opening an old thread I think. Standard F splitters in reverse would be fine for this rather than sat/tv diplexers, just bear in mind you will get some level loss so keep cable runs short and use the best cable you can. Sorry for the attachment I have not figured out how to embedd (sic?) the image yet.

snaps

why cant you just daisy chain like said using male/female rf patch leads? rf out from back of 1 sky box into the rf in to the next one? VHF input into the rf input of the 1st sky box last sky box rf out into amp? Surely this would work and be best way?

Cuchulain

Ok thanks Tony. Snaps I cant daisy chain as Im trying to feed

Rabbits Ears/UHF-VHF Aerial
Feed from PC
Feed from outdoor camera

Some of the runs may be 15-20 metres so I hope that wont be a problem.