[TomF]

We're all waiting for it and it's only a few short weeks before the end of the year, so in that time period, according to everything we've been told, OTA capability should be enabled on the HR20.

I've also got a HR10 and I've had an antenna up on the chimney for more than five years now, getting most of my locals in HD. I'm definitely going to hook up the antenna for OTA when it's enabled on the HR20, but I'm not sure exactly how to split the antenna signal. I remember the old antenna flat antenna wire that was a pain to work with and the antenna splitters that were used with that wire, but I haven't seen that since 1984 when I first got cable. There's a balun on my antenna that converts the 300 ohm output to 75 ohm coax cable which then runs down the side of the house, into the family room, and is hooked directly to the HR10 antenna input. I'm guessing that an ordinary coax cable splitter will work, but I just don't know. Anybody with experience splitting their antenna cable care to comment?

 

[matto]

an ordinary splitter will indeed work fine.

 

[JLucPicard]

I've got mine split three ways with just a regular three-way splitter (all three units being fed are within a few feet of each other). I wouldn't go anymore than that, but if you're getting good signal, a regular splitter should be OK.

 

[caimakale]

I have a 6-way splitter that I use. I also have an amplifier to help with that many connections.

 

[matto]

with more than three taps, I'd probably go with a distribution amplifier.

 

[thumperr]

not all splitters are equal, some list the insertion loss some don't. i was at Home depot today looking at splitters. some were 4db, 3.7db and then another 3.5. this is for a 2 way splitters. if you look at three way splitters, not all of the outputs have the same insertion loss. the one i purchased, has one output will at 4db, and the other 2 at 8db. For 4 way splitters they all outputs will be around 8db. the 4 way i looked at was 7.4db all around.

you may also want to check out avsforum, and look at the section for OTA rececption equipment, lots of good info.

 

[Silly Burrito]

I bought an Electroline 8-way splitter and a 1 line-amplifier from Ebay from a guy named Cabletvamps. The seller does have a website, but just so someone doesn't think that I'm just a shill, you'll have to find it

However, I can't stress how great this worked. Before, I was lucky to get my local ABC and CBS in HD. As soon as I plugged this in, the strength went up quite considerably. You'll want to make sure to terminate any connections that you don't use, but really get only what you need. I bought the 8-way because of a good deal, but I really only needed the 4 way (and I might pick it up soon).

 

[RCinFLA]

Not all splitters are created equal, particularly for UHF OTA channels. One rated for 2GHz will generally give less loss at UHF channels.

A good two way will have about 3.6 db loss, 4-way will be about 7.2 db loss. I have measured four-way "Radio Shack" splitters at over 11 db loss at mid UHF range.

You may want to put in an amp for 4-way. Amps are not always a good thing. It depends on the strongest channel(s) you will receive. A few really strong channels can overload an amplifier creating cross modulation products that cream the weaker channels. FM stations are also potential overload sources.