Is a coaxial splitter directional (2 sources, 1 input) or can it be used the other way (One sources, 2 inputs)

Question

I'd like to split the signal from one single antenna to two receiver, can I use a splitter? I saw at best buy that it seemed to be destined to be used for 2 source (antenna and cable) to go into one input slot on the receiver. Thanks for your help

Answer 1

yes u will use a splitter. just make sure u use a 1000 mhz splitter.

Answer 2

Yes. A cable TV splitter has 3.5 dB of loss from the input to the two outputs (3.5 dB = a 50% loss of signal, which makes sense since the signal is being split into two directions). And, the isolation between the two outputs is about 30 dB (about 1/1000 of the signal at one output will get through to the other output).

Conversely, if you have an input at one of the "output" legs and another input at the other "output" leg, these signals will combine at the "input" leg at a signal level that is 3.5 dB less than the input signals.

However, you might have a problem combining the signals together like that. If you are watching the cable signals, the TV antenna will pick up RF signals off-the-air, which will result in severe picture distortion in the cable signals.

What you really should do is get an A/B switch. That way, you can have the antenna input connected to the A leg and the cable input connected to the B side. Then the output of the switch goes to your TV. This prevents the two competing signal source from mixing and competing with each other.