How many TVs will work with just one aerial?

Most households have more than one TV these days, but how many can you run off one aerial? A communal installation, for example, in a block of flats can run to well over 100 sets!

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Split the signal

To run several TVs from the one aerial, the right equipment is essential. If you use a conventional splitter, you will actually lose signal output. The more times you split the signal, the less there is to go around; theoretically, you could end up with no signal at all!

If you want to make a signal available to multiple TVs, you need to amplify the signal in addition to splitting it.

Amplify to multiply

If you are looking at TV aerial installation in Bristol for more than one TV, you need to make the signal stronger. This means installing an amplifier with a strong signal gain and multiple TV points; for example, a four-way amplifier with four points would meet the needs of the average multi-TV household.

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In most domestic situations, your aerial should run several TVs without any additional equipment provided it is correctly installed.

Getting the installation right

When setting up a multiple TV system, think aerial – splitter – amplifier. First, the aerial needs to be correctly installed and positioned on the roof before the coaxial cable is run to the required number of TV installation points. The longer the length of cable, the more signal will be lost as it is transferred; therefore, an amplifier may be required.

Now install a splitter. Choose one that has the exact number of outputs for TVs, and avoid splitters that don’t divide the signal evenly between all receivers. A balanced splitter will divide the signal evenly before you install the amplifier if necessary.

The next step in your TV Aerial Installation in Bristol is to test each TV with each aerial point. Install the channels you want to watch on each set and make sure they are being received properly before adding the next set. Now you can assess whether you need an amplifier.

Knowing whether to amplify the signal can be tricky, as amplification can cause interference and you run a risk of the system breaking down. Always test the system first and ask your installer whether an amplifier is really necessary.