Splitting freeview/co ax signal

castle96

Sorted splitting it for Sky with HDMI cables, but struggling with a fitting for Freeview.
1 aerial, 3 TVs, so I need a 1 in (main aerial) and 3 out (the 3 TVs. All I can find is something like this, but no good for co ax
3 WAY DIGITAL TV 5-1000MHz AERIAL SAT FREEVIEW F PLUG COAX SIGNAL CABLE SPLITTER | eBay
these 2 WAY TV AERIAL COAX COAXIAL SPLITTER - Y ADAPTOR ARIEL: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics  are OK as a 2 way splitter but I need 3
Any help please. Thanks

Rodders53

https://www.aerialsandtv.com/knowledge/splitters-amps-and-diplexers is worth reading.

Passive splitting two ways loses over half the incoming signal... -4dB (-3dB being half).  Split one of the two splits again (giving 3 ways) = -8 dB that's almost 1/8 of the signal.  4-way passive splitters lose the same as that 3-way version.

Avoid the plastic cased splitters. Metal is superior for screening purposes e.g.  https://www.toolstation.com/2-way-splitter/p30919

Now, many locations may get away with such losses and work well but not all - it depends on how near the transmitter you are and what sort of aerial you have and a few other factors.  A low-gain amplified splitter should be used, just to make up for the signal lost by splitting.  Quality ones have metal screening even if in a plastic casing.   F-plugs (as used on satellite) are becoming the 'standard' connector on TV aerials, splitters and amps because they are better than the old Belling-Lee / IEC TV plug used on the TV inputs.  Adapters are readily available.  But Powered splitters are also available with IEC TV sockets on them.
e.g. https://www.toolstation.com/proception-aerial-amplifier/p57418

[Deleted User]

Rodders53 said:

https://www.aerialsandtv.com/knowledge/splitters-amps-and-diplexers is worth reading.

Passive splitting two ways loses over half the incoming signal... -4dB (-3dB being half).  Split one of the two splits again (giving 3 ways) = -8 dB that's almost 1/8 of the signal.  4-way passive splitters lose the same as that 3-way version.

Avoid the plastic cased splitters. Metal is superior for screening purposes e.g.  https://www.toolstation.com/2-way-splitter/p30919

Now, many locations may get away with such losses and work well but not all - it depends on how near the transmitter you are and what sort of aerial you have and a few other factors.  A low-gain amplified splitter should be used, just to make up for the signal lost by splitting.  Quality ones have metal screening even if in a plastic casing.   F-plugs (as used on satellite) are becoming the 'standard' connector on TV aerials, splitters and amps because they are better than the old Belling-Lee / IEC TV plug used on the TV inputs.  Adapters are readily available.  But Powered splitters are also available with IEC TV sockets on them.
e.g. https://www.toolstation.com/proception-aerial-amplifier/p57418

He needs to check if he's got enough signal for a pair of those two way splitters, putting an amplifier in if you already have a strong signal is unnecessary, and a recipe for interference.

Rodders53

jack_pott said:

He needs to check if he's got enough signal for a pair of those two way splitters, putting an amplifier in if you already have a strong signal is unnecessary, and a recipe for interference.

Agreed but how? {I'd suggest a 4-way splitter preferable to 2 x 2-way in any case} 
TV metering is a very variable feast. My Panny showed the same 10/10 figures before and after DSO when the signal increased tenfold (+10 dB).  A proper signal meter is not cheap.  Employ someone to measure the signal levels? In that case they may as well be employed to fit the splitter (amplified or passive)?

A low gain amplifier is not really likely to cause overload, and overload is very much rarer than some people suggest.  But if the OP wants a sanity check if they post a very nearby shop/pub/church/school postcode I'll use Wolfbane to guesstimate the signal available at rooftop level for that postcode... 

castle96

My postcode - thanks B78 3AG. Where have you found a 4 way splitter? Length of cables is 20m

mobileron

Make it easy get a fire stick for the other tv and video stream,u wont need an aerial.

castle96

I have a firestick and will mess with that (though only for one tv - the other will need another stick/cost). However, all the coax cables are in place and I would like those to work. If I replace with a 5m cable - fine. So amplification is the problem??

castle96

Have messed with Firestick. All I want on this is Live BBc ITV (can get this - ITV hub), BBC2 C4/5. Can I get these on F/stick?

[Deleted User]

Rodders53 said:

jack_pott said:

He needs to check if he's got enough signal for a pair of those two way splitters, putting an amplifier in if you already have a strong signal is unnecessary, and a recipe for interference.

Agreed but how?

Try it and see, signal splitters cost peanuts.

castle96

I've used these
http://redirect.moneysavingexpert.com/?id=3196X602032&isjs=1&jv=14.4.2-stackpath&sref=https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78140325#Comment_78140325&url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/WAY-TV-AERIAL-COAXIAL-SPLITTER-WHITE/dp/B012O784LI/ref=asc_df_B012O784LI/?tag=bingshoppinga-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=&hvpos=&hvnetw=o&hvrand=&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584413736726818&psc=1&xguid=&xs=1&xtz=0&xuuid=2c52aae8591d75e7527b7ae0869fa52f&abp=1&xjsf=other_click__auxclick [2]&_ga=2.241561090.1640824254.1615127252-383953785.1522425734

but they dont work (length of cable??)

cajef

Every time you use one of those you are reducing the signal strength if you live a distance from the transmitter you will get poor or no signal, you need one of these:-

  Amazon.co.uk : aerial amplifier 4 way