Splitting RF and SCART Signals

[StuartWheatley]

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

[Saneboy13]

Originally Posted by StuartWheatley

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

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

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?


.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Saneboy13

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

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.

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.

[Stuart]

BTW, StuartWheatley, to Cableforum.

Originally Posted by Creative

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.

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).

[Saneboy13]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

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.

.

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

Originally Posted by Saneboy13

.

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

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.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Saneboy13

.

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

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.

Originally Posted by XFS03

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).

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.

[Saneboy13]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

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.

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

Originally Posted by Saneboy13

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

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.

[Stu038]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

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.

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.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Saneboy13

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

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.