Co Ax Points

[r.b]

They say do 2 co ax points on one aerial which i used to do on council properties upstairs and downstairs points with separate co ax runs.but what if say I needed 4 points 4 runs of co ax up to the aerial would i need a tv aerial booster to do this?or connect the 4 co ax ends straight in to the aerial?

 

[ProDave]

4 way distribution amplifier. They are pretty cheap now so do it properly.

 

[Doc Hudson]

Thread moved.

Doc H.

 

[m4tty]

Used many of the ones in tlc and never had a problem mate.

 

[Bruspark]

If the TV picture is currently ok be very cautious about adding high gain masthead amps (12 - 30dB etc). 

You can see if there is any normal need for a high gain aerial or booster by putting the postcode into  http://www.wolfbane.com/cgi-bin/tvd.exe? which will suggest the aerial type and direction needed and state whether a booster masthead-amplifier is needed to get a usable signal down to the lounge. (or check around to see if the other aerials in the area already all have big masts with mast bottom plastic boxes housing booster amplifiers (1 cable in one cable out)

If you don't strictly need the extra amplification then get a 4 way mast head amp with a gain control that can be turned down to a low gain (amplification level).   Aim for 6 - 10 dB gain at the most in a good signal area.     If you live 100yds down the road from crystal palace you will have to use a 4 way splitter rather than any amplifier as the signal is waaaay to strong already

The main issue is that a powerful 4 way amp (or any booster amp) can actually make the picture worse by overloading itself or overloading the connected TV which will show up as picture /sound breakup.   More in this case is less - however strange that might seem

Classically this gets reported as "I have looked in my TV menu, I have 100% signal on all channels but the quality reads 50% or less and the picture breaks up . . .   I bought a set back booster from XYZ and with that connected too theres 100% strength and no picture at all . . . . "

Here's one the aerial trade round here use a lot (Weak ish signal area)   http://www.tvaerials.com/product.aspx?productid=1382. . not quite as cheap as the ones the non specialist trade sell a lot of but then they don't get to do the call-backs    . . .   (That one comes with a separate power supply than can be connected inline to any of the outlets via the coaxial cable e.g. behind the TV in the lounge or in a run within the loft)  

In  a stronger signal area there is the Labgear 4 Way Masthead Amp c/w Power Supply which can be turned down to a very low gain to avoid any overload issue

TLC also have the SLX Gold 4 Way which is a reasonable make of indoor loft mounted amp and I've used that make before on occasions.  You wouldnt expect a professional Aerial installer to like these but then they don't like crawling around finding power in lofts etc and then being told-off for wiring the amp into the fire alarm circuit and burying it under the insulation/water tank. .   Also taking the 'still weak' signal from the aerial into the house adds to problems of interference from thermostats, mobile phones etc which would be reduced if the amplification happened as near to to the aerial as practical.

HTH

 

[Steve3948]

Nice post Bruspark

 

[m4tty]

Scoobed for that post. Nice one mate