Quite often, one family has two or even 3 televisions, but there is still only one antenna. Many home craftsmen have a natural question: how to connect several TVs to one antenna, given that they are all located in different rooms. This can only be done using a special TV signal divider or splitter.

In strict technical language, this is a device that consists of a set of resistances designed to match the wave reactance of antenna feeders and several television receivers. The splitter, in addition to a stable connection, guarantees support for the passing signal with minimal attenuation.

On sale you can choose a splitter for two TVs, and if you need to connect 3 TVs, then you need to choose splitter with three outputs.

Advice! When using a 3-output splitter, you need to connect three TVs; if there are fewer, then a 75 Ohm ballast resistor is connected to the free port, which ensures normal operation of the splitter.

When choosing such a device in a store, first of all, find out from the seller the frequency range that it passes, so that when installing the line on 3 TVs, there will be no problems with the signal. detailed information is also in the operating instructions for the device.

Crab splitter

The design of the splitter (its popular name is CRAB) is enclosed in a durable body made of brass or silumin(90% aluminum and 10% silicon), which is not subject to corrosion, but is much lighter than stainless steel. On the outside there are connectors for connecting F-plugs: on one side for an antenna, and on the other two or more - this is for connecting TVs. Its circuit is quite simple, usually transformer-based: one turn of enamel-coated wire with a cross-section of no more than 0.4 mm, which is threaded into rings or ferrite tubes. The case is closed with a lid, which is sealed or fixed with high-strength glue to enhance the tightness.

How long do we connect TV?

Before making the connection and final assembly of the entire line, you need to specifically determine the number of connected TVs. How to connect two TVs to satellite dish- this is one question, but if you need 3, then the circuit will be slightly different and the splitter will be used with three outputs. In addition, it is necessary to take into account signal attenuation, which increases as receivers become larger:

• 1 TV - signal power is 1/1;
• two - signal 1/2;
• 3 - power is only 1/3.

Therefore, when installing a line on three or more TVs, a signal amplifier is installed. Specialty stores offer a wide selection of such products with characteristics that allow you to make a connection without loss of image quality.

Assembling the connection diagram

Consider the option of connecting two TVs, one of which is in the living room, and the second in the children's room. We will use an antenna splitter or splitter that splits the main signal into 2 TVs. Modern equipment is used to carry out the work, so we do not need a soldering iron, tin or rosin.

The new type of splitters use screw sockets: a pre-stripped one end of the cable is inserted into the nut, and the second with a similar plug will subsequently be connected to the TV. The central core must be inserted into a special hole in the splitter screw socket, and the nut is screwed on and tightly presses the copper braid of the cable to the device body.

Before starting work, you should disconnect the products from the network until all work on connecting TVs to one satellite dish is completed.

Step-by-step instruction:

The figure shows the connection diagram for a) 2 TVs and b) an option for 3 TVs.

How to boost the signal

Many users complain that when they connected two TVs to one antenna (satellite or simple), the image became much worse. There is nothing unusual about this - the fact is that the splitter only divides the signal. To eliminate such a negative phenomenon, you need to use a special tv amplifier, which is designed almost similarly to the crab, but there are resistors and a microcircuit.

It requires separate power, so when installing it, you need to have an outlet or a carrying case nearby.

TV amplifier

It is better to install the amplifier as close to the antenna as possible, and make branches from it: for example, in our case, one branch goes to the living room, and the other to the children's room. In this case, experts advise not to use a splitter, but to install an amplifier - it will cost more, but the signal quality will be high.

There is another option to get rid of interference (and you can also significantly improve the signal quality) - put special cables on the cable connecting to TVs ferrite rings. This can be done on the part of the cable that is not visible from the side, next to the connection to antenna input on TV. Such noise suppressors are installed, for example, on the laptop adapter cable - a small cylindrical device on the cord next to the plug connecting the cord to the computer. There are other ways. Also, do not forget that the quality of the signal depends on the antenna itself, so it is worth knowing. If you have the skills to work with soldering equipment, then you can even make a high-quality one. And then you won't have to think why your .

Family dinner while watching the evening news - this picture can be seen in almost every kitchen window apartment building. It is no longer a luxury to have a TV in the kitchen. Watching your favorite TV series and talk shows can brighten up the routine kitchen chores of every housewife. Progress has confidently crossed the threshold of every home and apartment, and now instead of a black-and-white large-scale TV, in many houses you can see a flat TV panel on the wall in every room.

Every owner of a second, or even a third TV, naturally faced the question of how to connect two TVs to one antenna? If this circumstance puzzles you, then read this article. It contains the solution to this simple problem.

Some useful information

Firstly, this is the power of the television signal that comes from the antenna. Its level can be checked using a signal meter or assessed using the level indication in the menu on the TV screen (Fig. 1).

But here it would be nice to know at what frequency a given package (multiplex) can be received in your region. When tuning your TV manually, you must find the desired frequency (channel) and position the antenna in such a way as to receive best signal. Make sure that the achieved signal level is high enough to obtain acceptable broadcast quality after dividing it into two TV receivers.

Cable length and number of cable connections

Perhaps not everyone knows, but the length of the cable wiring can affect the quality of the “picture” on your TV. If the signal path from the antenna to the television receiver is no more than 20 - 30 m, then you probably won’t notice anything. But each subsequent meter of cable causes a drop in signal strength. This parameter is measured as attenuation per meter of length. So plan your cable management wisely, even if you don't skimp on cable.

And those who were “greedy” and assembled a cable from fragments, and even more so saved on special sealed adapters, should understand that this will not have the best effect on the final result. Like water flowing through a leaky pipeline, the TV signal will be lost, attenuated with each twist, and noise may appear on the screen. Avoid unnecessary turns of cable in your home and take care of its integrity.

Signal dividers

In order not to install your own antenna for each TV, they come to the rescue (Fig. 2). They have other names, depending on their characteristics, which can also often be heard: . What are we dealing with? The hint in the name itself is a telecommunications element through which you can distribute a signal received by one antenna to several television receivers or, simply, divide it.

It is good because it does not require a power source. But, dividing into two streams in a passive mode, the TV signal in a certain way weakens by almost half, and if the divider has three outputs, then three times, etc. This circumstance is almost not noticeable in large cities with high TV broadcast power, but if your antenna is located at a considerable distance from the repeater or you use a long cable, then you should install an active type splitter.

Active divider

This electronic device works without signal loss and even amplifies it, thanks to the built-in transistor amplifier, which has a positive effect on its function:

• active divider output connectors provide undistorted voltage;
• it has a low noise level;
• there is no cross signal distortion;
• The device has a wide dynamic range.

The active type CRAB must be powered from a stabilized source of electricity. The current consumption of the splitter - about 60 mA - can be provided from a power outlet nearby or via a high-frequency cable.

How to connect two TVs to one antenna cable

It all starts with choosing the place where you want to split the signal in two. This is the place where you should cut the cable that ran from your antenna to your existing TV and where it is convenient to install the divider. This is especially true for an active splitter (remember that it needs to be powered by something).

Let's assume that you have already purchased an additional cable and all the necessary tools are already at hand (a divider, mounting brackets, a knife, a tape measure and two antenna connectors for the first and second TVs). You should install the antenna plug that you had on the end of the antenna cable that will go into the divider. This is done using a knife; you will use it to remove excess cable insulation. Make sure that the outer cable braid does not touch the central core anywhere. After the divider is connected to the antenna cable, you can begin to distribute the signal.

Using a tape measure, measure the distance from the divider to each TV and cut two pieces of cable to the appropriate length. Install antenna connectors at the ends of the cable. Connect the cable to the divider outputs. You should have a parallel connection. You will use the principle of parallel signal distribution if one day you want to connect several TVs in your home at once.

Carefully secure the cable using compact fasteners along the baseboard or lay it in a cable channel so that no one in the household trips over it and damages the wiring. Check what you got. The ideal result is equal, stable broadcast quality on the screens of both TVs.

Connecting three or more TVs

As already mentioned, the circuit for connecting TVs to the divider is parallel. It would be worth noting that each subsequent TV included in this circuit reduces the reception quality to a certain extent. If installing a separate antenna is still not part of your plans, but you want to connect three TVs (Fig. 6), then the same three-output divider will help you out. True, it will be much more effective to install an active splitter with three or more outputs, depending on the number of receivers.

Before purchasing a divider, do not forget to specify for which frequency range your splitter is suitable. The connection algorithm is identical to the scheme with two TVs, but there are also variations. For example, if you want to connect an analogue to digital signal converter (DVB-T2) in parallel, then connect two TVs according to the classical scheme, and insert another CRAB into the remaining third output of the divider. You can connect a third TV and decoder to it, or use the loop output on the set-top box (not all set-top boxes have a loop output).

Almost every average family has a second TV: in the kitchen, in the bedroom, and sometimes in the hallway. Therefore, for many, the question of how to connect two TVs to one antenna is quite acute. There are quite a few ways, but we will focus on the simplest and at the same time effective options.

So, let's figure out how to connect two TVs to one antenna, what tools are needed for this, and also outline the main stages of this process.

What you will need

During the connection process we will need several parts. The tools will be pliers, side cutters and a regular kitchen knife.

First of all, we need a TV splitter, or splitter. This device is capable of dividing the signal from the antenna into several streams (in our case, two). That is, on one side there is an input, and on the other there are several outputs for connecting to the receiver.

Next, we will need five connectors that match the diameter of the outputs on the splitter, as well as two adapter plugs. Choose the antenna cable at your own discretion, but it is better to go with more expensive, but proven options - RG-6 or domestic RK-75.

It is also worth considering that when purchasing a splitter, be sure to check the number of outputs. For example, three-way models are designed to connect exactly three TVs, but not two. If for some reason you have a splitter for three receivers at hand, then the unnecessary output can be plugged with a special ballistic resistor with a resistance of 75 Ohms. Be sure to pay special attention to this point before connecting two TVs to one antenna.

Work order

In principle, the connection process itself is simple, and any user can handle it, even those who have never heard of radio technology. For clarity, we will divide the entire process into separate stages.

Choosing a TV splitter

First you need to buy a splitter. On store shelves you can find a wide range of models from different manufacturers. A simple rule applies here - the more expensive, the better. But there's another one here important point, which is worth paying attention to before connecting two TVs to one antenna. We are talking about soldering. If you have skills in working with a soldering iron, then it is better to give preference to models with soldering. Such splitters, and this connection in particular, they are always more reliable, they imply noticeably less signal loss while maintaining quality.

If a soldering iron is something incomprehensible for you, then you can take a regular splitter, but again taking into account the type of cable you have - or vice versa. The best option is a splitter with standard connectors for coaxial wires (antenna cable type RG-6/RK-75). After you decide on a splitter, you need to select the appropriate connectors. The most popular is the convenient, reliable and easy-to-install F-interface (adapter-wrap).

Also, special attention should be paid to the location of the splitter. The optimal option is considered to be approximately equal distance from the splitter to both TVs. It is important that the cable for the antenna is not stretched and does not twist, that is, there is no need to try to stretch it due to lack of footage, or, conversely, twist it. Calculate the distance from the splitter to the TVs in advance and cut off the excess.

Cable preparation

The cable must be cut so that it can easily reach the splitter. As a rule, the old plug is cut off along with a piece of wire. Then you need to cut the cable for installation in the F-connector.

First, we clean the edges, that is, we cut the wrapper to the braid (about 15 mm from the edge) and bend the edges. The insulating “coat” on the cable should protrude slightly, and the core end itself should protrude by at least 4-7 mm. The entire procedure for preparing the cable for the plug adapter can be performed using a kitchen knife and side cutters.

Features of the procedure

It is also important to know that the cable braid should not touch the central core in any way. Such an error can result in partial or complete loss of the signal. Similar problems most often arise with SAT 703B and DG-113 cables, where each layer is very thin.

Next, we mount the F-connector on the cable. It got its name “twisting” due to a specific installation where the plug is simply screwed onto the wire. A similar procedure must be done on all cables - and in the end you will get five connectors: one from the antenna, two for output and two for input.

Connection

We connect the cables to the splitter in the required order. Do not over-tighten the F-connector, as this may cause the main core to fall out of the adapter. Most users leave the splitter as is, that is, hanging somewhere on the baseboard or under the bedside table. Experts recommend that the splitter be properly secured to avoid ruptures and core loss. If there are children in the house, then this point is mandatory, plus it would be a good idea to hide the splitter under some kind of false panel.

If everything is done correctly, the image on both TVs should be clear and free of interference. Otherwise, specific “snow” may appear due to the loss of part of the signal or no picture at all.

Satellite TV

It often happens that even after proper installation of the splitter, the image quality has noticeably deteriorated. This happens if you connect two TVs to one satellite dish. The problem arises because the splitter takes away part of the signal in any case.

One of the options for solving this problem is to buy a splitter with a built-in signal amplifier. Such devices are noticeably more expensive, but at the same time they are much more efficient than their simple counterparts.

It is also worth clarifying that all splitters with a built-in amplifier have different gain factors. In some cases, a clearly increased signal is as useless as a weak one. Moreover, it can cause even greater picture distortion. This nuance is very often encountered by those who want to connect two TVs to one Tricolor or Rainbow TV antenna. Here you need to seek help from a service specialist from your provider, who can measure the signal level and give advice on choosing a particular splitter with specific numbers.

Antenna with amplifier

If we are talking about a regular “Polish” antenna, then to improve the signal you can connect an amplifier with a power supply, which will significantly increase the quality of the image.

To do this, you need to make some changes to the already familiar scheme. It is necessary to remove the F-connector from the entrance to the splitter, then install the plug with the power supply that comes complete with the “Polish” antenna in the free space. After this, an adapter with an antenna socket (“female”) should be mounted at the input and a connector with an amplifier should be connected.

This procedure will increase the gain, where, unlike satellite TV, the maximum value is not so important, so there should not be problems with signal overload.

It would also be worth noting that each subsequent TV significantly reduces the quality of reception. Therefore, in order to comfortably watch your favorite TV shows, it is better not to skimp and purchase an additional antenna instead of “doing magic” with a splitter. This advice is especially relevant if the TV tower is located at a great distance from the receiver.

As a rule, one digital set-top box is designed to connect one TV. If there are several TVs and all of them do not support the DVB-T2 standard, a separate receiver should be connected to each TV. Despite the low cost of set-top boxes, many people want to minimize costs and use one set-top box for at least two TVs. This is possible, but with certain limitations:

- One of the TVs must have a digital HDMI input (old CRT TVs cannot have it).
- Both TVs will show the same image, viewing different digital channels in this case is not possible.
- Channels are switched on the remote control of the set-top box, and the remote control only works in the line of sight of the set-top box. That is, if you watch TV in one room and the set-top box is in another, you will need to go to the other room every time you change the channel.

A typical example of the use of such a scheme is when one person watches channels from digital set-top box alternately in different rooms, for example, in the room and in the kitchen, and does not need to constantly switch channels. However, with a good location of the rooms and good reflective surfaces, the signal from the remote control can “fly” to another room through an open door.

Connection diagram for DVB-T2 set-top box for two TVs

If the limitations listed above do not scare you, then you can connect the digital receiver according to the diagram shown in the figure. The first TV, with an HDMI input, is connected with an HDMI cable to the corresponding output of the set-top box. The second TV is connected to the set-top box using an RCA cable, which is usually called “tulips”.

If the distance is short, then you can use a ready-made RCA cable of the required length (usually they are no more than 5 meters). If it is not possible to buy a ready-made cable, you can purchase RCA plugs and use a regular cable to transmit the signal. To transmit an image with stereo sound you will need three cables, for mono sound two will be enough. We recommend using the plugs shown in the illustration. They are reliable, easy to use and do not require any tool other than a knife for installation. Initially, an F-connector is installed on the cable, and then an RCA plug is screwed into it.