Splitting Cable TV around the Home

jlnw25835 · 11-07-2005, 14:48

Hello Everyone,

I'd really appriciate some advice on a setup I'm doing in my home.

Long story short - I've had bad signals from my analog box for years now piping it round the house, bit of a mishmash job with Y signal splitters in the loft and all over the place, anyhoo, i've replaced all the cable with CT100 with no joins to all the rooms except for faceplates to keep it tidy. To split the signal i'm using a Philex SLxF8 Aerial Amplifier with 8 outputs and a UHF in. Here is the spec on the splitter http://www.beststuff.co.uk/slf8.htm

Currently I have my roof aerial plugged into UHF in and the picture is great on all the TVs. When I get Telewest Digital I assume i'll be getting the Pace Di4000T STB. I know there is an RF in for the roof aerial which I plan to plug in to the STB, removing it from the splitter. I intend to run the RF out from the STB to the splitter. Will this allow me to have 6 channels tuned into the TVs plugged into the splitter? i.e 5 terrestrial channels and a 6th "cable" channel? I'm thinking about UHF output from the STB and weither or not the splitter will filter out the signal or not.

Any advice on what to look for or experiances will be much appriciated.

**Rob** · 11-07-2005, 17:36

to Cable Forum

Yep in theory this will work. You might need to experiment though on the rooftop aerial connection, wheterthat is best into the RF in of the STB, or whether best direct into the splitter. Of course as you want the RF out of the STB also into the splitter you may need a simple "y" combiner onto the single RF in of the splitter to allow both rooftop and STBs to plug in. It is possible that there will be a slight bit of interference from the rooftop aerial if it is boosted through the STB RF in.

jlnw25835 · 11-07-2005, 23:07

Cheers!

I understand where you are coming from on this. I wasn't aware that the STB would "boost" the aerial signal per say, I thought maybe it would act like a simple pass-through much like a VCR. If I get any interferance it'll be the first thing i'll check.

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly, i'm really glad i've found this forum! Information on the web was sparse to say the least about splitting specifically Telewest around the home so i'm really happy you were able to assist Rob.
Obviously I'll let you all know exactly how I get on incase anyone needs to know about this sort of thing in the future.

One last point off topic.. I'm dissappointed with the STB.. scarts and aerial only? Whats wrong with providing component or composite out and optical audio!?!?

Pain in the ass for me as everything goes through my Denon DHT-550SD to my Plasma so some jiggery pokery needed. *RANT OVER*

Thanks again, if anyone has anything else to add or if you would like to enquire on setup. Ask away!

**Rob** · 11-07-2005, 23:31

STB "boosting" may be slightly incorrect, but many connections via the STB do require the STB to be powered, indicating there is some sort of amplifier. It's the same as daisy chaining your coaxial aerial thorugh the VCR in the good old days when that was all the extra kit we had.

Yep it's dissapointing that there aren't better or an alternative variety of outputs from the STBs, especially for sound, but I suppose the cable companies have to balance build costs versus number of ports, many of which would be redundant. The number of times we see comments on lack of even basic phono sockets on some STBs (ntl's most recent Samsung STBs have ditched these), necessitating use of a breakout phono / scart lead.

Of course a Scart lead is perceived to provide the best variety of signal out of the STB (analogue), you can get various leads that can split a scart into other components.

samibhai · 11-07-2005, 23:42

go buy a booster from maplins approx cost 17 pounds
__________________

how can I get hold of ntl cable keys?

**Rob** · 11-07-2005, 23:44

Samibhai. Sorry you won't find such details on here, as you are trying to bypass the cable companys network, and get something that you are not paying for. Simply put, that is theft.

The original OP already has a booster / splitter.

Acropolis · 12-07-2005, 09:17

What you have suggested will work perfectly well, the only slight problem you may find is if the STB RF output channel is close to an ariel chanel then you may get cross mod, but this should be sorted by the installer when the box is put in. If this does happen then it is simple to solve by changing the output channel on the STB a very simple thing to do, but other than that it will work fine.

jlnw25835 · 12-07-2005, 12:55

Acropolis, I think I understand you mean. When I tune in my TVs, all the channels come right at the very end of the Scan (i.e nothing for ages then all the channels at once right before it finishes - hmm.. didn't I just say that?) So when the STB is installed you're saying I need to make sure the cable channel is not right at the end of the scan so it doesn't conflict with a channel on the same frequency? That what you meant? If so I'm glad to hear it can be fixed easily, I assume some menu option to make the output from the STB on a different channel/frequency (forgive the terminology i don't know)

Another query on topic please.. If I were to put freeview boxes in each room and have the aerial from the splitter going into that instead of a TV, would it give me freeview on the TVs as well as cable? Or am I being greedy here!! (note: the roof aerial picks up freeview digital apparantly) Seems logical to me, I'm wondering if the STB would provide the freeview signal or the Roof aerial? Get me?

Rob... my analogue box stays on all the time (no standby) and i'd intended to do the same with my new digibox. Can anyone shed some light on this being a problem? Thanks for the advice people!

I'm sure this will benefit others too.

jlnw25835 · 15-07-2005, 12:51

Hi All.

**quick update**

I bought a digibox (freeview) to try out (Sony VTX-D800U) The picture is perfect. I get 100% signal quality and 85% strength! Well happy.

I'll update again when telewest finally decide to come and install my digital tv, hopefully they'll stick to the agreed slot which is the 20th.

Take it easy peeps.

DWW · 19-07-2005, 20:24

quote I assume some menu option to make the output from the STB on a different channel/frequency (forgive the terminology i don't know)

Yes this is possible and you can also adjust the level the signal comes out of the box to serve more than one TV, and also the sound output level in the diagnostics.When you have your install done the technicians do not normally connect up more than one TV via a single digi box

as this is could be in breach of their sky contract .

jlnw25835 · 20-07-2005, 21:59

DWW

Thanks for the post, I couldn't see the options you specified (assuming you were referring to the PACE box) because of the below.

**Its the 20th, and Telewest came to install my digital tv. My Dad had to supervise the install as I couldn't get time off work. Turns out they've given me a Scientific Atlanta 4200DVB STB I must say in my opinion it is rubbish. The specifications for this box on the SA website show far more interconnects than what is on the STB provided by Telewest - which is a MUCH watered down version. MOST importantly SA Website show a Terrestrial Aerial in, but not on the Telewest box - nightmare! Anyway I rang them a few times after getting cut off by some fool who tried to get me to plug the cable from the wall box into my TV (go figure) I asked for the PACE box (which i confirmed with the operator had the required aerial in), and after quite a bit of complaining they are coming to swap it on the 25th July (they had quoted me the 8th of aug!) **

Apologies for length and for being off topic I thought this would be pertent to "splitting cable tv around the home" you need the correct STB for after all!

I'll post again after the 25th.

Laters