Simple question from a newbie

[sheitown]

I tried to split my dish signal so that I can get the bedroom tv to receive the same thing as my main tv. (only one receiver) I did this succesfully, by adding an amplifier, but the quality of the bedroom signal is poor and I think that my main tv quality has been reduced. The splitter and the amp are behind the tv. Any suggestions on how to fix this or is this a common problem I am going to have to live with? any help would be aprreciated

[SimpleSimon]

Welcome aboard!

First, why don't you use the RCA outputs of the box to drive the main TV? It's better quality for sure, and will avoid needing the splitter. It IS a splitter, right? Not something else that just looks like one?

Second, why don't you tell us what kind of receiver you have?

[sheitown]

I have a 301 right now, but planning on adding a dvr and didn't want to lose quality when I do.

[scooper]

Well, first I'd try it WithOUT the amp.

Second - for the TV that is right there with the satellite reciver, do you HAVE to use the RF input ? Using the composite or Svideo with the analog RCA audio jacks will generally look AND sound better - then the remote TV would have the RF connection all to itself.

Second, is the remote coax path in good condition ?

[larrystotler]

Second - for the TV that is right there with the satellite reciver, do you HAVE to use the RF input ? Using the composite or Svideo with the analog RCA audio jacks will generally look AND sound better - then the remote TV would have the RF connection all to itself.

As I have tried unsuccessfully to explain to D* in the case of their new D10s, not all TVs have the RCA or SVideo jacks. They don't supply us with the 6ft RG59 to go from the receiver to the TV anymore....

[SimpleSimon]

Larry - how many hundred ya want? I haven't seen a TV without RCA inputs for YEARS.

[larrystotler]

Larry - how many hundred ya want? I haven't seen a TV without RCA inputs for YEARS.

I see that at least every third install. People around here keep their TVs for a long time. Heck, even if you hook up the RCA, you have to deal with the fact that the E* remote doesn't work on all TVs when using the TV/Video button in TV mode. A good example is RCA TVs that use the WHO-Input button. E*'s code doesn't let you switch the TV to input mode. They've made TVs even more of a mess with all these connections. It's no wonder we charge $50-100/hr to setup home theater systems, since it takes longer to try to teach the customer how to use the things.

[sheitown]

I am using the rca jacks, but i had to split the coax before going into the receiver. I saw no other way to send the signal to the remote tv. I also did try it without the amp, but the picture was terrible, I added the amp and I got a better reception, but still not good.

[boba]

Please explain in detail how you have the system hooked up your response is confusing.

[larrystotler]

I am using the rca jacks, but i had to split the coax before going into the receiver. I saw no other way to send the signal to the remote tv. I also did try it without the amp, but the picture was terrible, I added the amp and I got a better reception, but still not good.

There's your problem. I thought that was what you had originally posted. DO NOT SPLIT the feed going into the receiver. You need to hook the TV output to the other TV. You are trying to combine a digital sat signal with an analog TV signal. That's your problem. Make sure you have no splitters in the sat line from the dish to the receiver. WHat you need is 2 Diplexors if you are trying to use the same line. Combine the TV out and the Sat signal at the receiver, and seperate them with another diplexor at your other location. Good luck.

[joblo]

There is no way an RF splitter and/or amplifier placed anywhere can "reduce the quality" of the picture via the RCA jacks. You either get enough satellite signal through to the receiver to have a picture or you get a black screen.

As Larry says, 900 MHz diplexors are the best way to go if you need to the feed line to also carry the channel 3 or other VHF/UHF output channel. But unless you have very long cable runs, splitters should also work if properly installed, especially with an amplifier added to the mix.

From what you describe, I suspect the splitter for the remote set may be installed backwards. Note that the "source" or "input" signal for that device is the satellite receiver, not the dish. The satellite dish and the remote TV should be on the two output legs.

Otoh, if you also have a conventional VHF/UHF roof antenna on the same line for your local channel 35 and so on, then neither splitters nor diplexors alone will suffice. In that case, you would need a channel stop filter on the antenna line for the satellite receiver output channel, and you need a 2GHz bidirectional tapoff or a more sophisticated filter arrangement to hook up your remote TV.

[larrystotler]

joblo - he installed the splitter on the line FROM the dish, which will not work. This is why he needs the diplexor.

[joblo]

I have splitters in lines between dish and receiver. As long as the splitters pass the SAT frequencies and you have enough signal, there's no problem with that at all. Diplexors are better, but not absolutely necessary.

Also, if he's reusing the SAT feed line to the receiver to carry the remodulated output signal away from that receiver, then he must have at least two splitter-type devices on the line: one behind the sat receiver to mix the modulated return channel with the incoming SAT signal, and a second to take the signal off the trunk line at the remote TV.

Then again, maybe he has both an RCA and an RF connection to his main TV and his remote TV is simply getting a leakage signal because he put the splitter in the wrong place. In that case, the thing to do is dispense with the splitter and the RF connection to the main TV and simply run the modulator output to the remote TV, as scooper suggested.

We really need a clearer explanation of his situation to be sure exactly what is going on.

[larrystotler]

I have splitters in lines between dish and receiver. As long as the splitters pass the SAT frequencies and you have enough signal, there's no problem with that at all. Diplexors are better, but not absolutely necessary.

The problem with using splitters is that unless it is a hig frequency splitter, you will loose signal on the sat side, as well as the fact that you will get interference on the sat signal. That is why they created the diplexor. I hope you are not an installer using splitters.

Also, if he's reusing the SAT feed line to the receiver to carry the remodulated output signal away from that receiver, then he must have at least two splitter-type devices on the line: one behind the sat receiver to mix the modulated return channel with the incoming SAT signal, and a second to take the signal off the trunk line at the remote TV.

Which is what I pointed out and asked about.

We really need a clearer explanation of his situation to be sure exactly what is going on.

Agreed.

[SD4Life]

I did the same thing a year ago and I seemed to have the same problem. At first I used just a regular cable cord, but that's when I got the bad reception. I redid it, but this time I used a satellite cord. Doing that seemed to fix the problem for me.