Switches, diplexers, and multiswitches

[RidgeRunner]

I've tried searching this topic, but I don't think I am using the right terms. At home I have OTA, where I want to put my FTA receiver I have one piece of cable run inside the wall feeding that TV from my OTA antenna. I'd like to also put my FTA receiver there. As far as I can tell and this is where the wheels fall of my research is I need some sort of two port spiltter with the FTA box in one port and the TV into another port and then that is connected to the feed coming out of my wall plate. Then down in the basement I would essentially do the same thing with the OTA antenna and the dish. I just don't know what to call these devices.

I don't need to watch what OTA and FTA at the same time, only one content provide at a time, I just want to use the wiring inside the wall, and only use one entertainment provide at time.

 

[Magic Static]

While DTH satellite services will use diplexers to piggyback OTA on the satellite cable, there are limits to this and as such doesn't make a good match with FTA. In order to share FTA services you will need multiple cables. At least two. Adding OTA degrades the signal of FTA and as hard as it is to receive some channels you won't want to degrade your reception at all. There is some good reading in the FTA FAQs section. This switch thread will help you understand more on FTA. Switch setups simplified

 

[harshness]

Adding OTA degrades the signal of FTA and as hard as it is to receive some channels you won't want to degrade your reception at all.

This caution may be a red herring.

Diplexing hurts the Intermediate Frequency (IF) signal somewhat but it should be pretty robust as it originates at the LNA. The impact of diplexing the IF signal should be negligible on the satellite downlink signal where signal levels determine whether or not you get reception.

The only thing you need to look out for is if something in your satellite system is using bandwidth in the OTA frequencies or hogging/blocking power or control voltages needed by the antenna system.

I do agree that if you want two disparate systems, it is all just a whole lot easier if you keep them separate.

 

[Titanium]

I live in an area with with marginal OTA reception. Adding a diplexer significantly degrades my reception and lose most OTA channels. The only time I observed problems with diplexers and FTA is when used with cable systems with overlapping frequency use.

If your OTA channels are strong, you shouldn't have much problem integrating diplexers, but in my case I MUST use separate lines for OTA and FTA. In the end I installed a Silicondust tuner at the antennas and distribute OTA via LAN and picked-up an additional dozen channels!

Diplexers introduce signal loss and the quality of the FTA / OTA signals, coax length / type, tuner sensitivity, etc will all determine how diplexers will work in your install.

 

[KE4EST]

Diplexers introduce signal loss and the quality of the FTA / OTA signals, coax length / type, tuner sensitivity, etc will all determine how diplexers will work in your install.

This is the key sentence.

I have seen where a marginal signal on OTA or FTA is wiped out when using diplexers. Like Brian said it depends on several factors as to how well it will work for you.
I highly recommend you just run a second cable for FTA. Good quality coax is relatively cheap. So it is a no brainer...unless of course you are in a rental situation and landlord is yelling no more coax!

 

[RidgeRunner]

OK you guys sold it, no line sharing. Maybe I'll put the set top box somewhere else in a different room, where I have a simple hole in the floor that I bring lines thru.