How to connect two TVs to one antenna

Imagine: you decide to buy a second TV for your bedroom. Having chosen the one that is suitable for price and quality, you take it home, lift it to your floor and quite imagine how you will enjoy your favorite programs while lying on your bed. But already in the apartment you understand that it needs to be connected to an antenna, and you only have one. What to do in this situation?

The easiest and cheapest way is to split the signal from the antenna into two TVs. In this article we will tell you how to do this and what pitfalls exist.

Content:

1 Why connect several TVs to one signal source
2 How many TVs can be connected to one antenna
3 Importance of the amplifier in the chain
4 How to check signal quality
5 What equipment will be useful when connecting
6 Diagram of connecting equipment to a passive antenna
7 Scheme for separating a signal from an active antenna 7.1 How to connect through a regular splitter

8 Is it possible to connect 2 TVs to one antenna without adapters?

9 General diagram of how to choose a connection method

I would like to divide digital television via a satellite dish or cable from the provider into two TVs at once, so as not to overpay for the tariff. This can be done immediately upon connection. Just check the details with your provider so that he can provide a double set of equipment and include the required cable length in the installation. Or make the connection yourself when the second TV is purchased later than the first or is not connected on the same day. Let's figure out how to connect two TVs to one antenna. What problems and errors you may encounter and how to solve them.

We connect an antenna without an amplifier to two TVs

Step 1: Installation of F-connectors

Installation of F-connectors is carried out as follows:

Remove the top insulation. We retreat 15 mm from the edge of the cable and, using a gentle circular motion of the knife, cut and remove the top insulation. In this case, the main thing is that the braid wires remain intact.
Remove the bottom insulation. First, bend the braid back onto the cable, releasing the bottom insulation. Then, using the same gentle circular motion, remove the bottom insulation, freeing the copper core.
We attach the F-connector. We screw the connector over the braid so that the end of the copper core is 2-3 mm above the edge of the nut. It should look like the picture below.
We take the connector with our fingers and with a slight up and down movement we check the quality of the connection (nothing should be loose).

Step 2: Connecting the Cable to the Splitter and TVs

We connect as follows:

We wind the antenna cable onto the splitter input (IN).
We connect two outputs with F-connectors on television cables to the output holes of the splitter (OUT). It should look like the image below.
We screw the adapter plugs into the remaining F-connectors on the television cable.
We insert television cables into televisions. If you have a tuner, you can connect the cable to it, and then with another cable from the HDMI connector to the TV (as shown in the picture below).

After completing the first and second steps, you need to check the signal quality on each TV. Moreover, it’s worth doing this on two TVs at the same time, since individually each can show well. The image should not jump, twitch or slow down. An inexpensive LUMAX DA2203P antenna is suitable for two TVs - you shouldn’t expect anything extraordinary from it, but it transmits the signal clearly.

Why connect several TVs to one signal source?

Analogue television has been completely turned off, although you can still catch its signal through a regular antenna and set up the TV correctly. Digital channels are broadcast in free versions (basic channels) and paid ones. In the second, the client pays the selected tariff to the operator in order to watch a large number of digital channels.

When connecting digital television from an operator or installing a satellite dish, a set-top box is required for decoding. The tuner transforms the signal and transmits it to the TV. The set-top box is connected to one TV. But the signal can be split into several branches using adapters.

The purposes of connecting 2 TVs to one antenna are as follows:

There is no need for extra wires to an apartment or private house.
There is no need to install a second dish or antenna for another TV.
The subscription fee for the tariff is the same, regardless of the number of connected equipment.
It is easier to immediately hide the wires when connecting 2 or more TVs at the same time.

Important! If the signal power is very weak, which even antenna amplifiers cannot raise, it will not be possible to divide it into two branches. In this option, television with average quality will be broadcast from the antenna to only one TV.

Features of the procedure

Connecting the device is not particularly difficult. Connection is made in the following sequence:

the splitter is fixed to the selected location;
the plugs are removed from the outputs and inputs;
The cable from the antenna is connected to the input, and the cables going to the TVs are connected to the outputs.

The television cable is pre-cut for further connection or installation of a connector.

Carefully . In the case of an active filter, power is supplied to it after all necessary connections have been made.

How many TVs can be connected to one antenna?

The simplest option for connecting antenna television is one antenna to one screen. But apartments and houses most often have 2 or 3 TVs, so that all family members can watch their programs at the same time. It is more profitable to connect equipment to one broadcast source than to separate ones. But it all depends on the strength and quality of the signal.

Technically, making a double connection is not difficult. It is enough to purchase dividers (doubles, tees) to connect 2 TVs to one antenna. They receive one signal from the antenna cable. They split it and send it to the required number of channels.

With sufficient power or a high-quality amplifier, this method will work for 3 or 4 TVs. But with this division you need to take into account:

Loss of signal strength. The signal is transmitted using electromagnetic waves. Because of them, a current appears in the TV antenna, traveling along the coaxial cable to the receiver. The power of the electric current is weak. And any additional resistance from the connected equipment leads to its decrease and subsequent attenuation. Therefore, you need to connect a signal amplifier so that the flow power is enough for two TVs.
Dividers or splitters have different designs. A satellite signal requires appropriate equipment that supports such a signal. For digital – digital divider. There are models with and without coordination. Moreover, in most versions of the divider there is a regular transformer isolation inside. This means that the signal amplification must be set before it.
Although the signal is split, a second tuner will be required. If you connect TVs through a single set-top box, you will get duplication of screens. That is, all equipment will have one channel connected through the set-top box. The tuner itself is inexpensive, so purchasing one in addition will not be a problem.

These recommendations must be taken into account before splitting the signal from one antenna to two TVs. That is, buy additional equipment in advance, a cable of the required length, and a set-top box for a second TV.

How to connect three or more TVs

The connection diagram between TVs and the divider is parallel. In addition, each new device included in the system degrades the signal quality, as mentioned earlier. Ideally, to connect the third and subsequent TVs you need to install an additional antenna. But, if you are sure that everything will be in order, then you can connect it like that, using one.

Let's say if you want to connect four TVs, then you need to purchase a splitter with four connectors.

When you choose it, be sure to check with the seller what frequencies it will work with. Sometimes a conflict occurs and the splitter simply does not work.

Connecting the third and subsequent TVs is no different from connecting the second. True, sometimes there are variations. It depends on your desires: for example, you can also connect a TV set-top box. To do this, you will also need a divider with three connectors: two on the TV and one for the receiver.

The set-top box must have a loop output, pay attention to this.

Importance of the amplifier in the chain

It is easy to divide the signal from the antenna into two TVs using a divider. But it will immediately reduce the signal power by 2 times. For three TVs, three times. Therefore, be sure to purchase an amplifier. An exception is that you need to branch out from a very strong source into only two devices.

In what cases is an amplifier required:

The signal has good image quality, but low power.
More than two splitters (separators) are installed on one antenna.
The cables that run throughout the house or apartment are long.

But you shouldn’t install an amplifier if the signal is already strong and the TVs are located close to the antenna input. The exception is that there are modern amplifiers with power control. They are useful in any connection option.

Important! Amplifiers for satellite or cable digital television are not needed. They will only introduce interference into the incoming signal.

If the signal is very weak, then no amplifier will help. This happens in remote villages that are located far from the tower that serves as the broadcast source. In this situation, you will have to buy a very powerful antenna or connect to a satellite.

Device selection

How to connect a thermostat

When choosing a splitter to connect two or more TV receivers, you should consider the following points:

transmission frequency – from 5 to 1000 MHz;
the attenuation coefficient is as low as possible, indicated on the body;
the number of outputs coincides with the number of connected devices;
if outdoor installation is being considered, the presence of holes for fasteners;
cable connection type: screw, F-connector, soldering;
device type - passive or active.

In the case of an active divider, the conditions for supplying power to the module are considered.

How to check signal quality

Before connecting two TVs to one antenna, before purchasing amplifiers, cables and splitters, you need to check the quality and power of the incoming signal. This can be checked with a regular multimeter. When the level is high, you can start connecting equipment.

The second, more accurate way to check the signal level is to determine its strength through one connected TV and tuner. To do this you need:

Connect the antenna to the set-top box. Connect the set-top box and TV via HDMI or VGA cable. Turn on the tuner and TV. Set up channels through search.
Take the remote control from the tuner and press the INFO button twice. The signal strength from the antenna will appear on the screen.
Switch to Menu on the remote control and enter manual channel search mode. Enter the number of the clearest channel in the image. Usually this is “Russia” or “1channel”, but depends on the region.
See what the TV signal level is on the selected channel.

The indicator is above 70%, which means you can connect two TVs to one antenna without an amplifier. Less - you will need an amplifier for a passive or active dish. Very small - not a single amplifier will help (below 20%).

general information

The television stream that arrives on the TV screen is broadcast using television towers located in large cities. It is transmitted from tower to tower, and each distributes it in its coverage area. To receive this signal, you need to install an antenna, then connect it to the TV. This kind of television is called terrestrial; it is focused on two types of signals:

analog;
digital.

The analog format, which broadcast each television program on a separate channel in the meter and decimeter ranges, is already a thing of the past. In 2022, Russia will completely switch to digital broadcasting.

The digital format consists of two multiplexes (packets), which are transmitted over two channels. Channel numbers can be found on the official website rtrs.ru - the Russian television and radio broadcasting network. Each multiplex includes 10 free DVB-T2 channels in the package.

To receive digital TV, you need a built-in or separate set-top box and a digital receiver that supports the DVB-T2 format. The antenna is connected to it, it is connected to the TV.

When installing a new antenna and laying out a cable, the issue of dividing the signal into two receivers is not particularly relevant. To connect a second TV without disrupting the functionality of the first, you need to have some information.

Signal level

This is one of the characteristics that is taken into account when installing the antenna and connecting it. Before considering the issue of paralleling televisions, you need to make sure that the antenna reliably receives television waves and the signal level is sufficient to divide it. You need to do the following:

go to the TV or set-top box menu to manually search for a channel;
set the number of the channel being checked;
when displaying two indicators on the screen: signal quality and signal level, make sure that the level indicator is in the green zone or equal to 60% or more;
otherwise, experiment with the location of the antenna and its direction until you get the desired result.

Attention! The multiplex channel numbers for the location of the TV can be found on the broadcast network map on the website rtrs.ru. It is advisable to choose the television repeaters closest to your place of residence. Next to them on the map the direction of antenna orientation and channel numbers are indicated.

Cable length and number of cable connections

The quality and level of waves is affected by the cable length L. One of the characteristics of the product is the amount of signal attenuation per meter. If L is no more than 27-30 m, then this will not affect the quality of the picture, but each added meter will introduce attenuation and reduce the level. When calculating the laying scheme, it is necessary to choose the shortest path and try to avoid excess supplies from twisted coils. There should be exactly as much cable as needed plus one or two meters.

Important! There should be no mechanical twists of the central core or damage to the screen braid between the antenna or divider plug and the input jack of the set-top box or TV. The number of connections must be kept to a minimum. Install the connectors hermetically when they are located outdoors.

What equipment will be useful when connecting?

Before you begin connecting 2 TVs to one antenna, you should purchase all the components in advance. Even if not all elements are used in the chain, it is better to keep them “in reserve” than to have to interrupt the connection process and run to the nearest store.

Most often, to connect a circuit of one antenna and 2 TVs, you need:

A splitter or splitter with two outputs. If there are 3 or more outputs, a plug will be required for each extra output. A resistor with a resistance value of 75 ohms is suitable for this.
5 F connectors. They are needed to connect the coaxial cable to the antenna. You will need 2 pieces. for every TV.
2 adapter plugs for connecting cables directly to the TV.
2 TV cables of the required length.

To decode a digital signal you will also need two receivers. And the cords that will connect the equipment to the TV (they are usually included in the kit). It is also worth purchasing batteries for the remote control in advance. Then you can immediately set up TV channels.

Features of connecting a second TV for different operators

The methods listed above are universal solutions for various providers, but some of them also offer additional ways to set up TV channels and the Internet on TVs. We decided to look at special cases separately.

Rostelecom

Rostelecom has long been aware of the need to connect several TVs in the house and have created their own conditions for this.

What Rostelecom users need to know:

Multiscreen is a free service that allows you to continue watching TV channels on another TV. Just a convenient option for switching between different TVs within the same home.
Multiroom is a paid service from Rostelecom that allows you to view broadcasts on several devices at once. However, you can’t do without an additional set-top box + you’ll have to pay another 50 rubles. Otherwise, even after connecting a pair of devices, they will not work together. The only plus is that you will be able to watch different programs on 2+ devices. By the way, there are now quite favorable conditions for renting receivers for a long time. Renting for 36 months will cost only 99 rubles.
OnLime TeleCard is special equipment for viewing digital channels. This TV module is installed in the CI/CI+ slot (available on many devices). After this, the user can configure the display of the desired channels. It’s just important to buy the OnLime TeleCard package and a Smart card for it specifically for your region, otherwise they may not work. Otherwise, this is a great way to connect a second TV without a set-top box.

Tricolor

To power several TVs on Tricolor with a signal, there are special dual-tuner receivers. They have 2 inputs and 2 outputs, so they allow you to connect 2 TVs independently of each other. General Satellite GS E501 / GS C591 are suitable for this. You just have to install the converter on a satellite dish with 2 outputs, but there is nothing complicated about it, you just need to buy such a device separately and replace the standard converter.

MTS TV

To connect a pair of TVs to MTS TV, the easiest way is to immediately buy a special kit. It includes:

deflector 600 or 900 mm;
converter for 2 outputs;
2 set-top boxes (can be CI modules).

The price of such a kit is 8000 rubles.

Beeline TV

For this you need, which, unlike Rostelecom, is free, both upon connection and during operation. It allows you to set up up to 4 independent TVs in your home, although each of them will require a set-top box. Payment will be made as standard only for the main receiver. But all other set-top boxes will synchronize with each other, allowing you to use or write files to drives that are connected to other devices.

Diagram for connecting equipment to a passive antenna

Passive antennas do not have an amplifier in their design. Typically, when purchasing, users select the signal type in advance and know what equipment they have connected. Such dishes receive a signal only due to their shape. And an amplifier is most often required.

Before connecting, you will need to buy an amplifier, a splitter for two outputs, and antenna cables for connecting TVs. The diagram itself on how to connect 2 TV to a passive antenna is as follows:

Connect the amplifier to the antenna. It is often installed on the cable itself according to a specific pattern. It depends on the type of equipment. You can find instructions on how to connect an amplifier to passive equipment.
Connect the cable from the antenna to the distributor. The number of outputs it has must match the number of connected equipment. There is no need to buy “in reserve”. This section can always be replaced if necessary.
Place two cables into the outputs of the separator. Connect them to digital set-top boxes.
Connect set-top boxes to TVs. And configure each equipment by searching and saving channels.

Important! Passive antennas are in the digital broadcast range, where the tap is only 3.8 to 4 or more dB. Therefore, the signal can only be separated at a power level of 70%. It is precisely this that is raised by amplifiers.

Another connection option is to use an active splitter. No additional equipment is required. It already has an amplification stage that transmits the signal to another passive type splitter.

An active splitter can have a separate power supply to amplify the signal source using electrical current. This should be taken into account when drawing the connection diagram and wiring around the house.

Signal dividers

Various ways to connect one, two or more lamps

To deliver the signal separately to each receiver, a signal splitter is used. It is also called a splitter - a device that has one input and several outputs. The number of output jacks may vary depending on the type. The number of outputs must correspond to the number of connected TVs. It is better to plug the extra input with a special plug (load – 75 Ohms).

Why can’t you buy a splitter with more output sockets than needed? Because such a device involves balancing the outputs included in the operation according to resistance. An empty output will negatively affect the image quality. Dividers for analog and digital broadcasting operate in the frequency range from 5 to 1000 MHz.

TV signal divider

Signal separation circuit from an active antenna

In an active antenna, the digital signal amplification unit is located in the structure itself. It is powered from the mains via a coaxial cable. You can connect not only 2, but also more TVs to such a dish without losing image and sound quality.

The enhancing area requires power. Therefore, a regular separator will not work. It consists of a transformer part and capacitive isolation. To supply current you will have to make a separate device with power (Power Pass).

In this option, two digital tuners will be divided into active and passive. The first will supply current through the active socket to the antenna. The second is to only receive and process the signal

To connect 3 or more TVs in such a chain, an active splitter with an additional external power source is useful. Then an active tuner will not be required in the chain. Only separator and receiving attachments.

How to connect through a regular splitter

When it is not possible to connect an additional power source, you can supply current to the area between the antenna and the splitter. But you will need to create fasteners for insertion and a power supply separator.

In such a chain, the amplifier will be supplied with current up to the separator. And the TV signal will already go to the set-top boxes. They will act as passive receiving equipment.

Important! When 3 TVs are connected, and the splitter has 3 outputs, the free end must be plugged with a resistor. Its resistance should be 75 ohms. Only then will there be no unnecessary loss of quality and power.

We connect an antenna with an amplifier to two TVs

The antenna amplifier must be additionally powered. You can power it in two ways:

We use an active splitter. The active splitter has a power pass, which is indicated on the device itself with the words Power Pass. In fact, the antenna can be powered through such a splitter. It is enough to set the “antenna power” mode in the menu of the digital set-top box (which is powered from the network using a power supply), and the antenna amplifier will be powered through the active splitter.
We use our own antenna power supply. In this case, you can use a regular (passive) splitter, but in addition you will need to connect the antenna amplifier power supply to it. To do this, we take two connectors of the male/female type. We screw one onto the input of the splitter, and connect the other to the power supply. Then we connect the power supply and the splitter. Thus, the circuit will be the same as in the case of an antenna without an amplifier, but with an additional link in the form of a power supply (as in the image).

Please note that the remaining steps for mounting an antenna with an amplifier will be the same as for the non-amplifier model. We can recommend an inexpensive antenna with an amplifier REMO BAS-1159-5V Orbita-19 SUPER - it comes with a power supply.

Is it possible to connect 2 TVs to one antenna without adapters?

There is an alternative scheme without holders. Its performance is in question. But as an option for connecting two TVs to one antenna, you can try. It consists of the following:

You will need an antenna and 2 coaxial cables.
The ends of the wires are stripped. The distance from the tip to the removal of the insulation layer is determined through experimentation.
The braid and foil unravel. And a general twist is made of them. The central wires remain separate.
The two resulting wires are fixed with screws to their regular place in the antenna. The braided structure is attached to where the shield of one cable should be. During this trick, it is important to ensure that the wires do not come into contact with the screen.
The resulting wires are connected to cables for two TVs.

In theory, such a connection will improve the signal level. But in practice it takes a lot of time. Requires knowledge of antenna connection features. And it does not guarantee long-term performance.

Signal amplification methods

Poor signal quality is not a death sentence for digital TV users. You can strengthen it in several ways:

install the antenna as high as possible, accurately pointing it at the broadcast station;
if there is no result, rotate the antenna, change its location to receive the reflected signal, which may be stronger;
replace the broadband reception model with a narrowly targeted UHF model;
install a signal amplifier in the case of a passive design.

When the amplifier is placed in a room, a zero matcher is installed on the antenna itself. This is a board for connecting the cable to the structure.

General diagram of how to choose a connection method

Before connecting 2 TVs to one antenna, you need to find out which signal source is connected. The separator is selected using it. It is suitable for analog, digital, cable and satellite sources.

The next step is to determine the broadcast power level. If the indicator is above 70%, you do not need to connect the amplifier. In other cases, the purchase of an appropriate device is required.

Then, all that remains is to connect all the elements according to the chosen scheme. Turn on the TVs and tune the channels.

Found a mistake? Select it and press ctrl+enter

Minimum requirements for successful implementation of the plan

Interactive TV today is offered to Russian citizens by various companies, in particular Rostelecom. Thanks to this service, owners of city apartments and country houses receive the following opportunities:

view a large number of channels in perfect quality;
record the programs you like, both on the set-top box and on a removable storage device;
sing karaoke, play a huge collection of songs, etc.

The main condition for receiving interactive television service for two TVs is the presence of: a signal splitter, a receiver, free access to the Internet, a remote control, a cable for connecting devices. A high-quality digital set-top box for a TV must have the above equipment, so it must be purchased at specialized retail outlets, where a quality guarantee will be given.

DIY antenna splitter

Anyone can make a splitter on their own. But before you begin development, it is important to know that such a device is applicable to an analog television antenna.

It is impossible to make such a divider or adder for digital TV.

Cheap Chinese devices have large losses in transmission quality, so it would be reasonable to improve them. To do this you will need a coaxial cable and a ferrite ring.

You can assemble the antenna splitter in a small metal box, and you should pay attention to the location of each connector.

In addition, the quality of the transmitted signal from a homemade splitter can be affected by a poor connection between the plug and the socket. Also, it is worth paying attention to the cable resistance.

It would not be superfluous to ground the homemade device and insulate the cable.