Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

Hi, I've got 2 connectivity questions I hope you can help me with.

1. Splitting RF signal
When I split my RF signal, sending it to the TV in the Living Room and Kitchen, the quality of the reception drops. Is there anyway this loss of picture quality can be avoided? Would a signal booster help, and if so, are they fitted to the TV or aerial?

2. Splitting SCART signals
I've recently moved home and now have Telewest Digital. In my old house I had Sky Digital. I used to be able to input the RF signal into the STB, then run co-axle cables to send the pictures (RF + Sky) into another room and back again into the DVD Recorder. However, the Telewest STB doesn't have an RF out, only 2 SCART. I could "beam" the telewest pictures using a signal sender, although human traffic in the home does disrupt the signal. Is it possible to split a SCART signal. And connect 2 TVs to the STB from the same SCART output?

Any help you can give me would be appreciated.

StuartWheatley

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

You should read your terms and conditions; you should "NOT" split the feed for one thing as this throws crap out onto the Network. Second point in the terms and conditions you have signed and agreed to is 1 Digi box to 1 TV. If you want to feed to other TV's then sign up for a second/third Digi box end of

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

Hi StuartWheatley. Welcome to CF.

With regard to splitting the RF signal, are you talking about the ntl cable feed, or the feed from a terrestrial aerial?

As for splitting a scart output, I think a passthrough adapter with breakout connections might be the answer http://www.tvcables.co.uk/cgi-bin/tvcables/AD007.html

This lets you keep your original connection, plus allows a phono connection to the second TV. (phono leads are more managable than scart leads). If the second TV only has a scart connector and no composite phono inputs, you could use a phono to scart adapter.

Saneboy13...where do the T&C's state that you can only connect 1 TV to your box?


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Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

Erm, AFAIK, Both the NTL or Telewest T&Cs specify that you cannot attach anything to the cable network (and the network side of the STB), but they don't specify what you can attach to the "other side" of the STB (the scarts and any RF Aerial outs), and the original poster didn't mention interfering with the cable feed at all.

So, you can connection multiple TVs and / or video recording devices.

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

You can indeed split the RF feed coming out of the STB. I would split the RF feed, feed one feed into your normal equipment (TV whatever) and the second feed I would amplify before sending it on its longer run. You could amplify directly the output of the STB before splitting it if the normal equipments feed is affected too much.
As for splitting baseband video, it really depends upon run length. The equipment is designed to have an impedance match at 75ohms. When you start splitting video you change the impedance and video can look washed out as a result. The run lengths you will get won't be particularly good either. A video sender would be better I would have thought.

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

BTW, StuartWheatley, :welcome: to Cableforum.

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

I don't know if I have just been unlucky with video senders, but like StuartWheatley mentions in his post, I also had trouble with the interference to the signal when people walk around te house. Also the video quality is pretty bad. And when the microwave cooker was turned on, the picture was completely obliterated!

I agree about the impedences & levels being changed when the video is split, but it depends on the sensitivity of the video circuitry in the TV as to whether it is acceptable or not. It might be worth a try before a more expensive option is tried.

Another option is an RF modulator. I am sure I have seen one somewhere with a scart connector (the Maplin one only accepts phono inputs).

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

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Stuart,

9.5 Nobody other than our representatives may tamper, add to, modify or interfere with the Equipment in any way. As well as any other rights we may have, such action may result in our suspending the Services, terminating the Agreement and/or our retaining the whole or a part of any deposit. You may be liable to prosecution if you modify, tamper with or dispose of the Equipment without lawful authority. Theft of services is a crime.

As it states here, no-one other than an NTL Representative may do anything to the equipment, i.e no adding on to the equipment or modifying. Thus you may not take the RF output from the Digi box and feed into an amplifier to send to other TV's around the house

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

Reading your misinterpreted version, you need them to visit if you change your TV.
The network is ntls on the input to the STB. The network is the householders on the output of the STB. The STB provides the isolation from ntls network.

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

The way you appear to be looking at it, people could be kicked off for changing channels... This could be considered to be tampering with the equipment.

However, as far as I am aware (and have been told by NTL staff), they do NOT count adding TV sets as modifying the equipment.

Edit: One more thing. I can understand that attaching equipment directly to the cable network may cause problems on the network, but, TBH, if plugging the wrong kind of TV (or any equipment) into the STB causes problems on the cable network, then the STB is knackered and should be replaced.

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

If you have a VCR you could use it to modulate the cable signal onto an RF carrier for distribution. Hower using the RF, be it direct from the STB or via a VCR will mean you only get mono sound.

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

Stuart,

I totally understand what you are saying, but at the end of the day when you have a service call from a customer about poor pictures and you tip up only to find a "Y" splitter is duff or an amplifier has gone U/S, I personally take a dim view on any one doing this kind of thing.

I know you will say "but what's the chance of that happening?", I would counter that with 1 time is too many. The truth of the matter is that it happens more often than not. People also don't know about doing it off the output of the VCR or TV and tend to put any kind of connection "Before" it gets into the STB, and the rubbish that throws out onto the Network is a huge headache.

As I say it's my opinion about splitting the feed to other TV's. If you want TV in other rooms then either pay for extra Digi boxes or just have an aerial run there

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

I'd agree that if you are called out for a fault on a customers home network that is caused by their equipment (splitter in your example) then they should be charged. However its not against the terms and conditions to utilise the RF output from the STB.

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

In Saneboys defence terms and conditions, contracts etc did at one stage state 1 TV per STB, while the emphasis is naturally to "encourage" the customer to subscribe to additional STBs I think the limitations were quietly dropped a couple of years back much to the dismay of the poor sods that have fix the problems caused on the network when people get it wrong.

Section 9.1 of the T&Cs still states that ntl have to carry out the addition of any extra cabling or equipment though so if they wanted they could still argue that extra TVs connected by the customer are a breach of T&Cs.

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

I can understand where you are coming from, however, in my experience (I have a Tivo connected to the TV and STB), if you have picture quality problems, NTL just blame any extra equipment you have added. Either that, or the CSR asks you to disconnect it first.

Splitting the feed BEFORE it gets to the STB wasn't what the OP was talking about though. He or She was talking about splitting either the Scart or RF Outputs AFTER they leave the STB.

Now, unless I am much mistaken, it would take some soldering for someone to be able to attach a Scart splitter or Aerial input for a TV directly to the network.

I stand by my point though. If something someone attaches to either the RF out or the Scart sockets on the STB causes interference on the network, then the STB needs replacing.

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

Stu,

That is totally inexcusable from an engineer/CSR stand point, and I know it's something that is being looked at. I also fully understand what you are saying about the initial question here, it just really gets to me when customers with the best will in the world split off to feed other TV's and connect to the input.

I just think that if people want that done, then get a second/third Digi box installed.

I look at all of this from a Networks perspective. The more I encourage/bang my drum whatever you want to call it in respect of getting people away from splitting the cable to other TV's the better.

We have enough trouble getting rid of ingress/noise on the system as it is without people splitting the feed and using sub standard cable. The other favourite is people "extending" their cable. Putting in an extra length of cable so they can move their TV over the other side of the room. They go out and get "air space" cable and connect it to our cable, that again causes all sorts of rubbish on the Network.

If we can get people away from doing this, then the Network would be alot better with regards to ingress/noise and this would stop things like modems speeds running slow, or pixelation on their TV's. I know it wouldn't clear everything up in one fell swoop, but it would be a good starting point IMHO

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

Section 9.1 surely only relates to cabling & equipment that was originally supplied by ntl though.

My understanding of that section, is that you may not add another STB bought from the dodgy geezer down the pub.

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

Actually, if I thought the OP meant splitting the cable feed (the one that normally goes from the network INTO the STB, then I would agree with you 100% and would close the thread. In that case, he or she should rent another STB (or two, or three).

However, as far as I can see, the OP is talking about taking the OUTPUT from the STB (be it RF or Scart) and transmitting that around the house.

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

I think it is clear from the OP's second question that he knows exactly what he wants to do. He is simply asking if he can split the scart output to feed 2 TV's.

Reading the T&C's, I cannot see any reason why he cannot do this. There is no (longer?) mention of 1 box, 1 TV. Quoting sections about not tampering, modifying, adding, etc. surely only relate to equipment supplied by ntl. IMO I cannot see any reason why the customer cannot connect whatever they want to the scart output.

Would you consider changing your TV to be a modification? Would changing the scart lead be a modification?

To have to subscribe to a second STB just to watch the same channel in another room is ridiculous.

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

I agree, but I brought it up because its vague enough that if needed it could be used to prevent someone putting their own cableing/amps in place to feed the tv in their downstairs loo. ;)

Re: Splitting RF and SCART Signals
 

Lets clear this one:

When you want to feed another TV from the RF OUTPUT of the Digi STB, this is no problem at all. You can split, amplify, whatever you need to do with it as long as like all ready mentioned it causes no issues.

Splitting, amplifying with the RF coax cable that goes into the RF INPUT on your STB, is not allowed due to the problems it causes and because it break T&C's,( yes everybody like to interprate T&C's to suit there needs).

Basically tampering with the cable is not allowed whatever the situation when the cable is the one that goes into either the STB or the Modem.

Simple really.