Options for combining 2 TV Antennas into one Coaxial Cable
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- Options for combining 2 TV Antenna into one Coaxial Cable. When you want to combine 2 or more TV antennas, you’ll need something to combine the signals. I go through the options of RF switches and diplexers for blending tv signals.
Options to combine TV Antennas
Amazon Purchase links:
(please note the following links are affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
Coaxial A/B Switch
amzn.to/3YrCAZo
Channel Master CM-0500V2 JOINtenna TV Antenna Combiner
amzn.to/3SqvYqj
Televes SmartKom 531981 Antenna Combiner Preamp
amzn.to/3SvU4zM
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I’m using a Steren A/B switch now, because when I tried to connect to the two antennas at the same time, I used a Y cable (advice from the fb group) but they caused interference. Maybe a Diplexer could work. The group just said to use equal length cables and space the antennas a few feet apart. Since this is fast becoming a new hobby, I’ll give it a try. Thanks for the videos and the replies!
I would stay away from the Y cables. Stick with the A/B switch or diplexer. Besides those options the best thing by far would be the Televes SmartKom.
@@NorthcoasterHobby hi, I was going to order the Channelmaster jointenna cm-0500v2. any thoughts on this one?
@@joeprete7424 I’ve never tried that one, it pretty much looks like a diplexer, nothing fancy. The main issue with diplexers is multipath, where both antennas pick up the same station and the signals cancel each other out. You could try it out and see, or experiment with a less expensive diplexer.
@@NorthcoasterHobby well, the Jointenna is working. I’ve got to work on some fine adjustments, but all the ABC (ch. 7 in NY) stations are now coming in. Thanks again for your help!
@@joeprete7424 You’re welcome, glad to hear that you got it sorted out! Thanks for watching my videos!
I used a simple f type t connector to combine 2 different model antennas pointing in different directions and it seems to be working fine.
The most popular combiners in Europe are the Polish combiners AMS zwrotnica there are different models. A friend of mine who lives near the border has a combiner with two UHF inputs and a VHF input. One UHF antenna is pointed to the neighbor country, the other for local channels, VHF is for both FM and DAB. The model he uses is an AMS ZA-112Ms. In my case the model that I use is the AMS ZA-106AMs combiner which has two inputs VHF 87.5- 230 MHz and UHF 470 - 790 MHz. I have two antennas a 19 elements UHF antenna for TV and a 3 element Yagi Vertical antenna for FM radio and also has excellent reception for High VHF Band for Digital Radio channels DAB+ Not to mention all combiners have 4G LTE and GSM filter.
Indeed, another great option in the right situation. Most areas of North America have reception areas with VHF and UHF mixed together. Generally antennas pick up both bands unless they are really a cut to band antenna (not very common these days). If you are receiving UHF and VHF from opposing directions a UHF VHF combiner could be a good option.
@@NorthcoasterHobby For North America I would recommend a combiner that has two UHF inputs and a VHF input,. For Europe this type of combiner is used if you live near the border and want to receive TV signals from both your country and the neighbor country. With FM and DAB things are much simple since radio antennas are omni-directional and mounted vertical you get analog and digital channels from both countries. In my case I use a VHF+UHF combiner to have both TV and radio signals on one cable. I have excellent reception on both. On FM I can receive stations from more than 100 km.
@@NorthcoasterHobby How would I buy this combiner ??? Also, how much loss is there when this item is used. Thanks for letting us know what is out there for use and sale. Peace vf
Diplexers look like TV antenna splitters, but they block or attenuate your TV signals on the power pass through side.
Cheers sir for the suggestion to watch this video you may have helped me to improve my signal from 2 diff antennas ...im on the north shore of lake ontario, a great spot to pick up signals and want to make sure my antennas arent interfereing with ea other 🍻📶📶
Problem with the manual switch is i would have to get on the roof 😂
@@zandig666 The A/B switch could be installed inside the house. But the coaxial cable from each antenna would need to be brought inside the house also. The diplexer is probably your best option.☺️
@@NorthcoasterHobby I found one relatively cheap Skywalker combiner diplexer heard it was good for 2 antennas
Thanks I would never have known this without your help🍻📶
@@zandig666 You’re welcome.
Thanks for sharing
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching!
Thank for information
You’re welcome.
Ideally you want each antenna to point in the direction that is the dead spot of the other one. If you can't do that exactly. it is best to make sure the two runs from the splitter to the antenna are the same length and type of cable. You also should have identical antennas.
Thanks for the tips.
Did you try matching the length to see if that is all it takes to not cancel & ghost the 2 signals? Otherwise half your video is useless. If you cut coax at 1/2 wavelength multiples it may also eliminate impedance issue for that piece of coax. Signal goes thru coax around 66% slower so shorter than on antenna element or in air. @@NorthcoasterHobby
@@rcarroll3204 I never tried that.
You can combine three tv antennas into a three way splitter if you want to, just be sure to seal out the connectors with heat shrink and RTV silicone in order to keep moisture from getting into the connector and keeping the center conductor clean and in pristine condition.
very nice. i like 👍
Thanks for watching.
You failed to mention that using a splitter/combiner diplexer will cut the signal in half of both antennas you're trying to combine. The A/B switch may be a pain to use, but you'll have all the signal strength from both antennas
I guess it depends on a person’s needs. If you like the A/B switch better, then use it.
You can also lose signal strength using long runs of cable. Your signal will also lose strength going through the switch.
North I got one of these channel plus UHF box
Got it for $5 flea market find some years ago
Diplexer Is Not That Hard To make, I Have Made Few In My Time, All You Ned To Do Is KNOW The Frequency You Want TTo Get Or Work On And TThen Find Resistors And Capacitors Or Other Parts In Soem Cases To Just Disjoin The Frequencies So They Work In Alternating Fashion, When The Switching Is In Mhz Or Hz, They Just Switch The Frequency So Quickly That Your Device Will NotTell The Diference And reception From Both Antennas Will Coexist In A Single Coxial Cable, Its Super Smart Way TOD o It, Im using Self Made Filters To Do All Sorts Of Things With Frequencies And Its A Neat Thing ! Great Video :)
Question, did you pre amp each antenna? I have 2 exact same antennas two same pre amps. Which has worked best for you?
I’ve never tried pre-amping both. How has that setup worked for you?
@@NorthcoasterHobby I will hopefully have an answer for you this coming weekend. I have 2 HDB4X solid signal antennas and two juice amps and a channel master jointenna. Gonna finish running wire this coming weekend and reply.
be very careful, when you combine antennas, you are making a antenna array, and can get nulls, basically the tv signals are 180 degree out of phase and cancel the signal. this is not always the case, based on phasing, but can happen. a coax switch , many vendors make them, look up mini-circuits
An A-B switch should fix that.
You can also use various different lengths of cable to get the phasing more correct.
Don't use channel thirty-seven or you might cause space aliens to crash their ships ;)
Haha, yes, reserved for astronomy.💫📡
Ch. 37 on a closed circuit cable system would be different from a broadcast signal on RF 37.🚀🛸
@@NorthcoasterHobby If you don't have a preamp on the antenna to provide isolation, some of the CH-37 will make its way onto the antenna. Splitters presume an exact impedance match. Any mismatch will cause signal to be reflected.
@@kensmith5694 Thank you.
Always use a power splitter a regular splitter cuts your signal strength in half that will cause you to lose channels
Does anyone know if these TV antennas work with FM radios at home at all?
VHF antennas will.
For those with two antennas. Is it ok to plug an amp after a diplexer/a-b switch before a passive splitter?
If you’re combining 2 antennas through a diplexer without any issues then adding an amp before a splitter should work. Try it out.
Antennas in series or parallel?
Parallel I’d think. They each have their own path to the TV.