TV Boosters & Splitters

[admin_exported]

Hi all - looking for some advice on a tv distribution setup.

Our TV arial enters the front room. Now we have never had the tv in the corner were the lead enters and have used an extension cable to reach the appropriate point. Now this has always needed a booster for my old bt vision box to work ie

Main arial lead > booster (13dB Gain <3db noise) > 10m extention > Vision box.

Now we are in the process of doing the 'rooms' so I have set up multiple tv plates (she likes to move the furniture alot!) Now all these cables run into the cupboard under the stairs some 8mtr from the corner were the main arial enters and I have run an extension from the main arial to the cupboard under the stairs also...with me so far!

What is likely to be the best setup for boosters and or splitters ie

Main arial lead > booster (13dB Gain <3db noise) > 10m extention > 8 way splitter > 10m extention (average) to each point > wall plate.

or

Main arial lead > Coupler > 10m extention > 8 way booster (8dB Gain - per port - <4db noise) > 10m extention (average) to each point > wall plate.
However as the original set up did not get a good signal using the bt box after the unboosted 10m extension would the above 'coupler' version not feed enough juice to thee 8 way booster and would I be looking at something that's a mix of the two using two boosters ie: Main arial lead > booster (13dB Gain <3db noise) > 10m extention > 8 way booster (8dB Gain - per port - <4db noise) > 10m extention (average) to each point > wall plate. CheersSteve

 

[8009514]

Looks like you're trying to install a TV system in a small hotel, from the above. : )

Not easy to say which of the above will suit best. I will say though that the best place for an aerial booster is as close to the aerial as possible, and its adviseable to use as few booster amps as possible. Be good to use high quality passives as well (splitters). A good quality 2 way split will lose about 3.5 - 4 db of signal level on each leg. The 'Y' type splitter as found in say B&Q is likely to lose up to 5db or more. Might not sound a lot but a db is quite a big amount. The 8 way splitter you are thinking of should lose about 11.5 - 12db on each output (good quality) which is almost the amount the booster amplifies. Something to consider when designing your system.

Bearing in mind you need up to 8 outputs by the look of it, i would think using the 8 way booster would be the best option instead of the 8 way splitter.

Reason I say use as few amps as possible is the unwanted noise that gets created. A doubling of one to two amps in series increases the noise by 3db. Doubling from two to four another 3db increase and so on.

The second option looks to be the best to me.

Rich

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice.

Sadly it's a case off making the best of a bad deal. I appreciate that an arial amp or loft distributor would be the best way to go and failing that having the 8 way were the main arial entry is would also be a better option but having a distribution amp and cables in the front room is a no go!

I'll look at option two usng f-conectors as a coupler for the first extension and then get as good a 8 way amp as poss.

Cheers

Steve

 

[8009514]

Or, option 4, wall mount the TV so she can't move it!