just got a new tuner how shold i have the arial cables? (1 Viewer)

[ohdarklord]

Basicly i just got a new tuner but i only have the one arial cable going to that tv.

Its setup like this

Should I

A replace the booster with a 4 way one and have two cables going to the htpc

B use a splitter before the htpc

or C somthing else

 

[jazZman]

Hi there,
The short answer is "A".
This will give you 25% of you overall signal to both cards.
If you go with B, you will only be getting 15% of overall signal at both cards. Depending on where you are, this may be fine.

Another thing to consider is how far your booster is fom the antenna, as a booster, boosts everything including any noise induced into the coax. the longer the run the more noise, the less usable signal.

Joints, and tight bends in your cables will also cause signal loss and increase noise.

I hope this helps.

Cheers

Jamie

 

[Taipan]

ohdarklord, I notice from your system specs that you now have 2 TV cards, so I assume your question relates to how you should connect the second card to the existing aerial?

If my assumption is correct, then the best way is to use the "aerial pass-through" that might exist on one of your TV cards. I don't know the models you have, but if you are lucky, one of them will have an aerial pass-through, which is usually amplified so there is no signal loss.

If you are lucky, then this is what you should do:-

1. connect the aerial lead to the card with the aerial pass-through
2. connect a short (usually male to female) lead from the pass-through connector to the second TV card's aerial input

If you are unlucky, and neither card has an aerial pass-through connector, then "A" is the way to go...

 

[Callifo]

Id go with the buy a new 4-way splitter amplifier, as the inbuild passthrough on cards is notoriously poor. Usually the drop in signal strength is reasonable (even appauling) compared to a proper booster.

Weve got a 4-way at home, and each card is getting 90-95% signal strength (3 to htpc and 1 to tv).

 

[Taipan]

as the inbuild passthrough on cards is notoriously poor. Usually the drop in signal strength is reasonable (even appauling) compared to a proper booster.

Maybe I was just extra lucky, but the aerial pass-through on my DNTVLive! card was at zero loss, and saved me the (not inconsiderable) expense of a 4-way amplified splitter...

 

[Callifo]

Well maybe its just these cards then, but the passthrough practically doesnt work. After using the passthrough, its less than 20% signal strength. For $40 the 4-way splitters you cant really go wrong.

 

[Forgotten Illustrator]

The short answer is "A".
This will give you 25% of you overall signal to both cards.
If you go with B, you will only be getting 15% of overall signal at both cards. Depending on where you are, this may be fine.

Please keep in mind that there are “Boosters (amplifiers)”, there are “splitters” and there are “booster/splitters”

A booster will filter (pass band) frequencies then amplifier the signal. Along with any noise that may be in the TV receiving frequencies range. But they can only amplify so much of a weak signal before the information is corrupted with noise being amplify too. They DO NOT split the signal. Plus they use external power to work.

A splitter only splits the signal and uses no external assistance to function. So as a result the output lines are equally downgraded in signal strength.

To get the best of both worlds they use “booster/splitters” by boosting and splitting and as a conclusion the outs are equally amplified for each line.


But IMO I wound just try a cheap T junction ant the HTPC end first. Then if that doses not work go out and buy a new 4 way booster/splitter.


P.S love your schematic

 

[ohdarklord]

If my assumption is correct, then the best way is to use the "aerial pass-through" that might exist on one of your TV cards.

Theres no pass through on either card or i would have used it instantly.




I think Ill unplug one of the other tvs and then that way i can test the new tuner out.


Ive not decided what ill do long terms so Ill maybe wait a week and then decide

 

[Forgotten Illustrator]

Theres no pass through on either card

“pass through” DOSE NOT equal “pass band”. I may have confused you. But what I’m try to say is that your number 1 options is to buy a T junction e.g.( http://www.hubersuhner.com.au/co-au...ed=2&prm=70A1F037EAEE26025889B301FF10D140#top ) they cost like $2 so u can’t go wrong. If it does not work then cut your losses

 

[ohdarklord]

“pass through” DOSE NOT equal “pass band”. I may have confused you.

I wasnt refering to what you said , it was Taipan thats said i should use pass through.


Ive had a look for t junctions and i can get one for £2 inc postage but ive not made up my mind yet as there are a few things im thinking about doing.