[happyunited]

Hello.

I'm looking for some advice on a splitter and was hoping you could help me.
My current set up;
Tv Aerial comes straight in from roof into attic, single cable. I have a cable coming from RF2 on Sky HD up to the attic. I want to combine these two signals to a single cable to my bedroom Tv. If possible I want to use an magic eye to control what I'm watching but this isn't massively essential as I can use phone/tablet with Sky app.

I had a cheap plastic splitter before which I think worked OK for picture quality but it wouldn't send the RF signal back to the box. I've been advised to try this;
http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page15a.htm#skysplit But was hoping to have similar with the F connectors but I'm not sure about all this passive/power terminology. Would this do my job? http://www.satellitesuperstore.com/i...atcombiner.jpg

Thanks in advance for your replies.

[Chris Frost]

Quote:

Originally Posted by happyunited

Would this do my job (instead)? http://www.satellitesuperstore.com/i...atcombiner.jpg

No. That won't work. The problem with it is the frequency ranges. They're different on each leg. They both need to be "TV 5-860MHz". The one in your link has one leg that's "Sat 950-2400MHz". That's the leg that will be blind to the Sky RF2 or TV aerial signal (5-860MHz)

Strictly speaking, you should take the aerial feed down to the Sky box (RF in) and then use the RF2 output to feed the rest of your TVs. This will combine the TV aerial's Freeview signal with the analogue RF2 out from Sky and then allow you to use magic eyes.

I can understand why you're trying to combine in the loft though. If that's the case then from the Satcure page you want to use "A73203 2-way splitter F-conn 5-2300MHz 2 DC pass £3.25". This will combine both TV aerial and Sky RF2 signals and also pass the DC voltage to make the Sky eyes work. It has F connectors as well.

Remember to enable the RF2 voltage on the Sky box

[happyunited]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Frost

No. That won't work. The problem with it is the frequency ranges. They're different on each leg. They both need to be "TV 5-860MHz". The one in your link has one leg that's "Sat 950-2400MHz". That's the leg that will be blind to the Sky RF2 or TV aerial signal (5-860MHz)

Strictly speaking, you should take the aerial feed down to the Sky box (RF in) and then use the RF2 output to feed the rest of your TVs. This will combine the TV aerial's Freeview signal with the analogue RF2 out from Sky and then allow you to use magic eyes.

I can understand why you're trying to combine in the loft though. If that's the case then from the Satcure page you want to use "A73203 2-way splitter F-conn 5-2300MHz 2 DC pass £3.25". This will combine both TV aerial and Sky RF2 signals and also pass the DC voltage to make the Sky eyes work. It has F connectors as well.

Remember to enable the RF2 voltage on the Sky box

Thank you for your reply.

Yeah I understand the aerial should run directly to the Sky box then the RF cable back up to the loft but at the time I didn't have Sky so the aerial ran directly to the downstairs tv but when I got sky I used this cable as my RF2 and fed that directly to my non HD TV upstairs. I don't have ladders but I guess it's something I should consider in the future.

That's for the splitter, I'll order that. Now say for instance I wanted the 2 inputs (aerial and rf) and a couple of outputs is there much a thing or would I just use this to split the cable before it enters a splitter with a single input?

[chrisjr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by happyunited

Thank you for your reply.

Yeah I understand the aerial should run directly to the Sky box then the RF cable back up to the loft but at the time I didn't have Sky so the aerial ran directly to the downstairs tv but when I got sky I used this cable as my RF2 and fed that directly to my non HD TV upstairs. I don't have ladders but I guess it's something I should consider in the future.

That's for the splitter, I'll order that. Now say for instance I wanted the 2 inputs (aerial and rf) and a couple of outputs is there much a thing or would I just use this to split the cable before it enters a splitter with a single input?

Do you have two separate cables from the dish running down to the living room in addition to the cable that used to be the TV aerial and is now the RF 2. In other words three coax cables in total?

If so there is an alternative that will allow you to feed a mix of aerial and RF 2 to up to 8 additional rooms if you really want. This will work if one of the Sky dish cables can be fed into the loft somewhere where the TV aerial and living room cable can be also end up

If this is possible then you could wire up a Loft box system,

http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/loftbox.htm

This combines one of the two dish feeds and the TV aerial (and FM and DAB aerials if you have them) into one cable. This goes to a wall plate with the second dish cable and the return for the RF 2 output.

The wall plate splits out the combined signals as well as having the second satellite socket and one for the RF 2. The RF 2 goes back up to the Loft Box and is connected to the input of a four or eight way (depending on model) distribution amplifier built into the box. This then feeds TV (with Sky mixed in), FM and DAB to the other rooms. You can use the RF 1 out on the Sky box to feed the living room TV if you want to.

Obviously a bit more expensive and needs more work installing it than a simple splitter as described above.

[Chris Frost]

We will call the first device a combiner since it is combining two signals. Take the output from the combiner and put it through a distribution amp with Sky pass for the DC voltage.

[happyunited]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

Do you have two separate cables from the dish running down to the living room in addition to the cable that used to be the TV aerial and is now the RF 2. In other words three coax cables in total?

If so there is an alternative that will allow you to feed a mix of aerial and RF 2 to up to 8 additional rooms if you really want. This will work if one of the Sky dish cables can be fed into the loft somewhere where the TV aerial and living room cable can be also end up

If this is possible then you could wire up a Loft box system,

http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/loftbox.htm

This combines one of the two dish feeds and the TV aerial (and FM and DAB aerials if you have them) into one cable. This goes to a wall plate with the second dish cable and the return for the RF 2 output.

The wall plate splits out the combined signals as well as having the second satellite socket and one for the RF 2. The RF 2 goes back up to the Loft Box and is connected to the input of a four or eight way (depending on model) distribution amplifier built into the box. This then feeds TV (with Sky mixed in), FM and DAB to the other rooms. You can use the RF 1 out on the Sky box to feed the living room TV if you want to.

Obviously a bit more expensive and needs more work installing it than a simple splitter as described above.

Thanks for you detailed reply. At present I have a shotgun? Cable coming from Sky dish at back to the house, through the loft and down to the living room. In addition to this I have my RF cable from loft to living room then my standard aerial coming in from the roof.

I'm not sure how much longer I'll stay here as we are looking to upsize. it's definitely good to know it can be done for future but I think the combiner cheap option mentioned will more than do my job at present.

One last thing, if I wanted to send my Sky signal in HD to my bedroom there is no other option than a long HDMI cable and using a special splitter, am I right?

Thank you both again. I was standing in a shop today and nearly bought a combined for £11, turns out it would have been the wrong one!

[Chris Frost]

For HD distribution then yes, the cheapest option is long HDMI cables if they'll reach.

The "splitter" isn't really a splitter in the true sense as it doesn't divide and reduce the signal level. It duplicates the incoming signal to each output, so the device is really a distribution amplifier (DA). These aren't 'special' though. HDMI distribution amps are readily in a variety of output sizes, and they're available all over the net as well as in-store. If you';re going to buy one in the future then make sure it is powered from its own transformer rather than pinching power off the HDMI socket. That's quite important for reliability.

Where the HDMI cable runs are longer than decent cable will support then the next option is a balun system.

Baluns are simply a system to convert one type of signal (HDMI in this case) in to some suitable for transport over Ethernet Cat cable. The output from the DA connects via a short HDMI cable to a transmitter (TX) balun. The output of that balun then runs out on two CAT cables usually. A decent balun system will take Sky 1080i/3D up to 60m quite comfortably. Another balun box (RX) takes the signal on 2x Cats and converts it back and gives the output in the familiar HDMI connection type. That then connects to the TV as normal.

HDMI baluns come in a variety of different qualities, and also with or without IR support. IR is handy because it means you can use a simple Sky remote control in the bedroom. However, if you're laying cable for TV distribution as well then there's nothing stopping you using that for IR control while watching in HD quality via the TVs HDMI input. That's essentially just running an RF distribution system with Sky eyes. It's inexpensive and easily scalable. Doing it that way is cheaper and a lot neater than having multiple IR emitters stuck on the Sky box front for each room using baluns or long HDMIs.

[happyunited]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Frost

For HD distribution then yes, the cheapest option is long HDMI cables if they'll reach.

The "splitter" isn't really a splitter in the true sense as it doesn't divide and reduce the signal level. It duplicates the incoming signal to each output, so the device is really a distribution amplifier (DA). These aren't 'special' though. HDMI distribution amps are readily in a variety of output sizes, and they're available all over the net as well as in-store. If you';re going to buy one in the future then make sure it is powered from its own transformer rather than pinching power off the HDMI socket. That's quite important for reliability.

Where the HDMI cable runs are longer than decent cable will support then the next option is a balun system.

Baluns are simply a system to convert one type of signal (HDMI in this case) in to some suitable for transport over Ethernet Cat cable. The output from the DA connects via a short HDMI cable to a transmitter (TX) balun. The output of that balun then runs out on two CAT cables usually. A decent balun system will take Sky 1080i/3D up to 60m quite comfortably. Another balun box (RX) takes the signal on 2x Cats and converts it back and gives the output in the familiar HDMI connection type. That then connects to the TV as normal.

HDMI baluns come in a variety of different qualities, and also with or without IR support. IR is handy because it means you can use a simple Sky remote control in the bedroom. However, if you're laying cable for TV distribution as well then there's nothing stopping you using that for IR control while watching in HD quality via the TVs HDMI input. That's essentially just running an RF distribution system with Sky eyes. It's inexpensive and easily scalable. Doing it that way is cheaper and a lot neater than having multiple IR emitters stuck on the Sky box front for each room using baluns or long HDMIs.

Thanks again, Ive copy/pasted everything front his thread for future reference.

Back to my original query, will this combiner work? Or does it have to be the one you quoted from the sat cure page?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triax-2-Wa...item35e04a4b27

[chrisjr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by happyunited

Thanks again, Ive copy/pasted everything front his thread for future reference.

Back to my original query, will this combiner work? Or does it have to be the one you quoted from the sat cure page?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triax-2-Wa...item35e04a4b27

That one should work. It passes the UHF TV frequencies on both legs and has a DC path for the Magic Eye power supply.

So aerial on one OUT socket, Sky RF 2 on the other OUT socket and feed to the bedroom on the IN socket. There will be some signal loss through the "splitter" which could be an issue if the aerial signal is especially weak. In good to strong signal areas it should not be a problem.

The other thing to watch is what RF channel the Sky output is set to. Make sure it is somewhere well away from the Freeview frequencies to avoid interference. If you set the Sky box somewhere up in the 60s channel number range that will do as there are now no TV broadcasts in that range.

[Chris Frost]

As long as both legs cover the 5-860MHz bands for TV signals and it does DC pass on at least one leg then any you find online will work.

[happyunited]

Thank you both once again.