Split tv signal without degrading quality of signal

Talisman

I'm looking to have both the pvr card and the tv hooked up to the cable connection. The pc resides under the tv so getting an extra point installed seems a bit of a waste and I presume it's not required.

What's the best way to do this?

crowej

i have found that the best way to do something like this is to use a signal booster, you will get one in argos,

it will have one input and 2 or 4 outputs and it will boost the signal strenth as it goes out.

quozl

I'd just buy a cheap passive splitter first and try that if I were you.

I have the one connection from the wall split first to connect my cable-modem, then split again internally inside a pvr-500 dual-tuner card.

The picture is perfect as far as I can tell.

I'd say there's a good chance your cable signal will be good enough to split it without a booster and without causing it problems.

jimmycrackcorm

Make sure you use good quality cable. A lot of the tv extension cable packs being sold have crap cabling with huge losses.

hshortt

Length of cable is also important, if you are going to split it without a booster keep it as short as possible.

NTL Digital guys add a booster on their installations, they take the cable from the wall, put the booster on the end and then extend it to your digibox, this is done even if you don't need it!

Cheerio
Howard

Talisman

crowej wrote:

i have found that the best way to do something like this is to use a signal booster, you will get one in argos,

it will have one input and 2 or 4 outputs and it will boost the signal strenth as it goes out.

Found this on the Argos website: 2 Way Aerial Booster
My reservation about getting something like that is that there are no technical details. If it boosts the signal isn't it also likely to boost the level of noise in the signal? I'll have a look on the Maplin site for splitters and see what I come up with there.

Talisman

hshortt wrote:

Length of cable is also important, if you are going to split it without a booster keep it as short as possible.

NTL Digital guys add a booster on their installations, they take the cable from the wall, put the booster on the end and then extend it to your digibox, this is done even if you don't need it!

Cheerio
Howard

In the living room the white ntl box resides directly behind the tv. There is a white cable which screws in to a connector on the box and the the other end plugs in to the back of the tv. The cable is probably a metre long and is more than long enough to connect to the tv or pvr connection. Is there already a booster inside the white box? I only have ntl basic package.

I found this on the Maplin website: 2-Way F Splitter
I can't be certain but it looks like the same connection type as is on the ntl box. I reckon I could live with having 30cm of cable from the white box to the splitter and the same again to the tv and pvr connections.

quozl

I'd still suggest just getting a passive splitter and a short cable and seeing how that goes. Your cable signal is unlikely to be borderline and should still be ok afterwards.

Can't guarantee it, but works for many people and it's pretty cheap to try it out. That one you linked looks right to me - I just got mine free from the NTL installer.

hshortt

yeah I agree, worth a shot, if the results are not great, then use an active booster.

Cheerio
Howard

Talisman

I was able to borrow a two way aerial booster and try it out last night - it wasn't pretty. I think the signal became too strong and created noise as a result, if you know what I mean. So a trip to Maplin is called for.

SouperComputer

the problem with boosters is that they tend to boost the noise as well, making the situation much worse.

bk

Most boosters sold in Ireland are NOT suitable for NTL service.

NTL transmits some of their channels down in the VHF range, which boosters designed for the UK market aren't designed to handle, they can only handle UHF range transmissions.

I don't know why Maplins and Argos continue to sell them, they are constantly being returned.

Anyway a booster is a bad idea, it is much better to ensure you are using high quality cable (CT100) and quality connectors and splitters like you find in Maplins.

Talisman

I'll be going to Maplin either this evening or at the weekend. I'm undecided as to whether to buy the ready made cables or make them myself - haven't done anything like that before.

Option 1: Plug and Play
2 Way F Splitter
F Plug to Plug 1.5m
F Plug to Coax Plug 2m

Option 2: DIY effort
2 Way F Splitter
Satellite TV Cable FT100
Twist-On F Plugs
Coax Plug to F Socket Adaptor

Which option would people recommend?

maddog

I'd go with option 2... better sheilding... u should have no problems.

Regards,
Maddog

Talisman

I went with option 2 and the results aren't good at all.

I've checked the cables I made by connecting them directly from the ntl box to the tv/pvr card and the picture is perfect but once the 2-way splitter is introduced in to the mix there's noise everywhere, even if I only connect a single output from the splitter.

secret_squirrel

Thats odd. I use a 4 way version of that splitter and dont get too much degradation. And thats from a not great chorus analogue signal to start with.

Talisman

The splitter was dodgy. One output worked perfectly, the other had interference. Another splitter worked fine.

quozl

good to hear, was worried we'd steered you wrong