Is a booster required to split DTT signal?

bazwaldo

I have my wideband aerial hooked up to my TV card. Quality on screen is perfect! The TV card has 2 DVB-T inputs, so I tried splitting the cable so I could feed both inputs but it would not work for me. First I tried putting the 1 input and 2 output coaxs together via a small junction box. That gave me nothing on screen. Then I tried a coax splitter and made 2 small cables with standard coax connectors. This gave me a poor signal which on screen showed the odd bit of a frame. Is it purely that I need a booster to split, or can I split using a different method to get a better signal, or could it be that my aerial is slightly off in direction. I just don't fancy having another item to plug in under the telly.

Any suggestions?

watty

maybe a poor quality splitter?

Make sure it's a real splitter. Ones with F-Connectors are usually good. Some with regular TV sockets are rubbish. Also make sure it's not an FM Radio/TV diplexer.

Normally you shouldn't need an amplifier as the loss is only 3dB. A higher gain amplifier or a poor quality 4 way amp will cause distortion and make the signal poor.

bazwaldo

Cheers Watty. I'll go on the lookout for one with f-connectors and give that a go. Is there anywhere online that has them and will deliver cheaply? ebay maybe.

Martin_F

If you buy on line the postage will be almost as much as the splitter.
If you're in Dublin - B&Q, Maplins, Power City - all sell them should be for for less than a tenner.

bazwaldo

I just happened to be near a Powercity yesterday so got one. It was a fiver. Then I realised when I got home that I did not have enough f connectors so I'll have to go back.

I checked ebay also and I could have got both the splitter and connectors for less than a fiver delivered. And they look decent enough.

Onikage

I've bought from ebay before, quality was fine. Not much hope of bringing back a dud though.