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How to Split an Over The Air Antenna Signal to Multiple TV’s

How can I share one over the air antenna to multiple TVs? I will show you how in this article. In most cases, your home may have existing coaxial cable wiring already set up in the house. If you had some type of cable or dish television previously installed, you likely have most of the wiring done for you. The great part about using an over the air antenna is, you can tap into the existing wiring to plug in your HD antenna. From there you can install a splitter to distribute the signal to several televisions. If your house does not have the existing wiring you will need to run the cabling yourself. I will show you how to do that as well.

How to Split an Over The Air Antenna Signal to Multiple TV's

How to Split an Over The Air Antenna Signal to Multiple TVs

Splitter Placement

Once you have your antenna installed and if your house is fully wired, all of the coaxial cables will come to a central point. In most houses, it is in the basement or utility room. It is a bundle of black cables. It may be helpful to first identify where each cable leads to. Once you have this figured out, label each cable with a piece of tape. For example, a label may read “Bedroom 1” or “Living Room”. They may have already been labeled by the electrician. The cables could already be plugged into some type of splitter from your cable provider.

Main Coaxial Cable Stack

Passive or Powered Splitter

Most of the splitters that the cable companies provide are passive and are not powered splitters. You may be better off replacing it with a powered splitter if your second TV is more than 150 feet away. This will allow you to boost your antenna signal further. If your second television is far away in another bedroom, the powered splitter will boost the signal for better reception. Make sure not to use the splitter for your internet router/modem. Your antenna should be separate from this signal and not combined.

Using Existing Wall Jacks

Pictured above: My cable from the HD antenna in the attic is plugged into the closest wall jack that connects to the splitter in the basement.

How to Split an Over The Air Antenna Signal to Multiple TV's

Attic OTA Antenna

Depending on where you’re over the air antenna is placed, you can use the closest wall jack to plug your antenna into. My antenna is in my attic, so I plugged the antenna cable into the closest wall jack in the upstairs bedroom. The cable then runs from this wall jack to the basement to the central stack of cables. This now becomes my antenna input cable. Then I placed my splitter/distribution amp in this area. Next, I plugged in the coaxial cable from the antenna wall jack into the input of the splitter. Then I identified which cables in the bundle lead to the wall jacks where the TVs are located. I plugged each TV cable into the outputs of the splitter. Again, if you do not have wall jacks installed, you will have to run a new coaxial cable to each television and central location. You will also need to provide power to the splitter and in some cases to your antenna. For certain setups, a passive splitter (unpowered) will work if your cable runs are short and your antenna booster is powerful enough.

Splitter Setup

TV Antenna Input

TV Input

 

How to Split an Over The Air Antenna Signal to Multiple TV's

Splitter/Distribution Amp

 How to Split an Over The Air Antenna Signal to Multiple TV's

Here are the splitters we recommend:

Powered Splitter

Channel Master CM3412 2-Port Distribution Amplifier

The Channel Master CM3412 2-Port Distribution Amplifier is available from these retailers:

eBay:

Channel Master CM3412 2-Port Distribution Amplifier

Amazon:

Channel Master CM3412 2-Port Distribution Amplifier

Passive (unpowered) Splitter

2-Way Coax Cable Splitter Bi-Directional

A 2-Way Coax Cable Splitter is available from these retailers:

eBay:

2-Way Coax Cable Splitter

Amazon:

2-Way Coax Cable Splitter

Adjustable Gain Amplifiers

Channel Master TV Antenna Amplifier with Adjustable Gain

I have been getting a few comments from people saying that a powered splitter is causing signal loss due to overmodulation. Most powered splitters give you all-or-nothing signal amplification. You have no control over the gain of the outputs. The Channel Master TV Antenna Amplifier can alleviate this problem. It allows you to adjust your output gain. This can be handy if you only need a little gain on your other TVs. This device will work well with a passive splitter. Just place the Channel Master CM-7777HD TV Antenna Amplifier between your OTA antenna and your passive splitter. Then dial in your gain. This can give you much more flexibility in your splitter setup.

The Channel Master TV Antenna Amplifier is available from these retailers:

eBay:

Channel Master TV Antenna Amplifier

Amazon:

Channel Master TV Antenna Amplifier

ANTOP Smart Boost Amplifier with Dual Outputs


The ANTOP Smart Boost Amplifier is also a good adjustable gain amplifier. It has dual outputs. Which allows you to connect a primary TV and a second device. It has an adjustable dial that delivers the correct balance between short-range and long-range reception. It is compatible with every type of OTA antenna. The ANTOP Smart Boost Amplifier has a built-in filter to block out 3G/4G cellular interference. See our full review of this product here.

The ANTOP smart boost antenna amplifier is available at these retailers.

ANTOP Website:

ANTOP Smart Boost Antenna Amplifier

Amazon:

ANTOP Smart Boost Antenna Amplifier


Need help choosing an antenna. Click on our guides below:

how to choose an hd antenna guide

tv station locator tool

Running Your Own Cable

If you are not fortunate enough to have your house pre-wired, you can do it yourself. It may take some time to snake RG6 Cablethe wiring around the house, but if you are the do-it-yourself type, it should not be that complicated. There are several products and tools available that can make it a lot easier to string up some cabling. You just need to determine how much cabling you need by taking some measurements. Here are some tools that can be helpful when running your own cabling.

RG6 RG59 Connectors Crimping Tool

This Crimping Tool will allow you to make your own cables to custom lengths. Just cut your cable to the length required. Use a striping tool to prep your cable and crimp on your RG6 compression connectors.

RG-6 Coaxial Locking Compression Connector

Compression connectors attach to the cable ends. These work with the crimping tool.

Deluxe Rotary Coax Coaxial Cable Stripper Cutter Tool

This cable stripping tool will allow you to have clean and professional cuts. Allowing your compression connectors to fit perfectly.

RG6 Cabling

RG6 standard shield bulk coaxial cable. Just cut your cable to length.

Using Ready-Made Cable

You can also use ready-made cables and RG6 barrels if you do not want to make your own cables. It is a simpler process and requires fewer tools. This may work better if your cable runs are short.

Coaxial Cable (50 Feet) with F-Male Connectors

Premade coaxial cable with connectors already attached.

Coaxial Barrel/Coupler

A cable extension adapter allows you to connect two coaxial cables together to extend the length.

Wall Plate with 2-Port Keystone Jack

You can cap it all off with a professional-looking wall plate.

RG6 Keystone Jack Insert

Just snap in your coaxial insert and you’re done.

Want to learn how to hard wire your house for Internet. See our how to guide.

See Our Video on How to Install an OTA Splitter

Feature Image courtesy of kangshutters at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Conclusion

There you have it. You now know how to split an over the air antenna signal to multiple TVs. There is nothing better than watching free TV in the living room and the bedroom. Now the whole family can watch on multiple TVs without arguing about which program to view.

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July 14, 2023 0

The Best Over The Air Antennas Based on Performance and User Feedback

Last updated: Friday, July 14, 2023Having a reliable over-the-air antenna is important. It can improve the reception of television stations and ensure a strong signal. In this article, we will discuss the best over-the-air antennas based on performance and user feedback. These antennas have consistently received positive reviews from users and are recognized for their ability to capture signals effectively. However, it’s important to research and consider your specific location, terrain, and distance from broadcast towers to determine the most suitable antenna for your needs. The Best Over-The-Air Antennas Based on Performance and User Feedback Channel Master EXTREMEtenna CM-4228HD The Channel Master EXTREMEtenna [...]
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About Johan
I started this site to educate the public on alternative ways you can watch television besides subscribing to cable. I have been in the audio-visual business for over 20 years. I also have an extensive computer networking background. I am a Microsoft Certified Professional and CompTIA Network+ Certified Technician. I hope you will find my articles and reviews helpful in conscious uncabling.

22 Comments

  1. I just sent back a channel master 3414-4. When I placed channel master 3414-4 I lost Half of my channels on both TV’s. My antenna is an Esky HG997, I pick up about 50 channels, but I would like to add one or two more TV’s. My coax is plugged in at the antenna’s signal collector box, then at the TV – coax is screwed into amplifier then amplifier is screwed on to TV.

    • That is interesting. My second television was losing signal until I put in the powered channel master splitter in line. I was using a passive splitter and it kept losing signal. But my cable runs are long throughout my house and the powered splitter help boost the signal. It could be doing the opposite for you and over powering your signal. Just checking your connections: Antenna plugged into signal collector, out of collector into splitter, out of splitter into your TV’s. Maybe the powered splitter is over modulating the signal. You could try a passive or unpowered splitter. Like this one http://amzn.to/1KboFoL Your signal collector may provide enough boost to work with this passive or unpowered splitter. Good Luck and I hope I was of some help!

  2. Hey there,
    Great article, question for you…
    I have to put a new antenna point into a previously cabled house. There are existing cables in the roof cavity to 3 existing points. I assuming these all run off a splitter at the point the cable comes into the ceiling (heven’t been able to verify this as yet). My question is should I replace this splitter with a 4 way or could I put a 2 way splitter down the line that runs closest to where the new point is going? The run for the new point is probably about 30 – 40 feet tops, less if I tap into an existing line.

    • Hello Scott. The rule is to keep the splitter after the antenna and the antennas power amplifier. Example: Antenna—->Antenna Power amp—->Splitter—->TV’s. So as long as the splitter is setup down the line from your new antenna, you should be fine. You maybe able to reuse the splitter you already have. If your cable runs are not long you should able to use a passive splitter as apposed to a powered splitter. Try experimenting an see if it effects your reception. Good luck.

      • Thanks Johan, I think the easiest option will be to bring a new splitter in where the new line has to go, less faffing about in the ceiling! This fits in with what you’ve just said so happy days!

  3. Great article. Thanks for sharing. I want to make sure I understand fully. When I split the antenna signal to these TVs, I can watch multiple channels. I am not forced to watch one channel on all TVs?

    • No. Each TV has separate tuners in them. This allows you to watch different channels on each television. Basically, the antenna signal is sent to the splitter, then each TV trans-codes the signal using it’s internal tuner, allowing you to watch different channels on each TV. You can split your antenna signal to many TV’s depending on the outputs of your splitter.

  4. This was very helpful! Here’s a head scratcher: we’ve set up everything for an attic-mounted antenna as you’ve recommended, and it seems to be working well, with one small exception. One of the two TVs that we have connected used to have an indoor set-top antenna attached, and it received the local PBS stations just fine. Now that we’ve switched to the attic-mount, this same TV does not have any of those stations, but has everything else. The other TV that is connected to the same antenna (using an amplifier) gets those stations. The antenna is closer to the TV that does not get the channels. Why?

    • The only explanation I have is not all tuners are built the same. Each TV manufactures tuners are a little different. In my house, I have two different TV’s hooked up to a splitter, one gets FOX fine and the other TV is very weak. You could also try using a passive as apposed to a powered splitter. Your splitter signal maybe over powered and the tuner is dropping some of the channels. Channel Master makes an adjustable gain amplifier that works in conjunction with a passive splitter. This way you can adjust the level of gain going to your TV’s. Here is a link to the Channel Master adjustable gain amp: http://amzn.to/2miejRK. Hope this helps.

    • Several things can be happening and one is that the amplifier isn’t actually needed and is merely causing overload or amplifying interference.
      And the other is that you need to switch tvs to see if it’s just the tv tuner or the coax that is the issue.

  5. Do you know if there is a splitter (such as Chanel master) that can accomodate an output of 4-5 TVS in a home?

  6. Thanks for this article. I’ve been wondering how to get ota in my basement after getting an indoor antenna in our family room. I found which cable runs from the jack where my antenna is upstairs and I am using the channel master amplifier but I only pick up two channels downstairs as opposed to all the local channels and some others upstairs. Any idea? Any help would be appreciated

    • You may want to try using a passive splitter instead of a powered splitter. The powered splitter could be overmodulating the signal. You can test this out by bypassing the splitter and going directly into your basement TV. If you get more channels it is the powered splitter; then try a passive splitter. It can also be the tuner in your basement TV. If the TV’s are different, one tuner may be better-receiving channels then the other. Here is an example of a passive splitter: https://amzn.to/2l2P99l

  7. Can we use a passive splitter outside, before we get to our amplified splitter inside? We are installing an HDTV motorized antenna

    • Not sure why you would need to set up a splitter outside and then one inside. It would be recommended to use one splitter and it should be set up after the antenna and it’s power amplifier. If you are using the outside passive splitter to combine two coaxial cables you are better of using a coupler.

  8. Wanted to connect to an existing line for our bedroom tv, and then continue on with the new line to our living room tv, where the control for the motorized antenna would be located

  9. Hello – question
    We have 2 antennas in the attic that operate 2 TV’s..
    One is much better and would like to install splitter (in attic at best antenna) and use the better antenna.. My question is this.. Both TV’s have a powered amplifier that the antenna cable runs through and then to TV.. Can I continue to use both amplifiers without damaging the antenna?
    Thanks in advance

    • I would use one amplifier that is recommended for the antenna you plan on using to split the signal. Make sure you place the antenna amplifier before the splitter. Good luck.

  10. I know that splitters cut the signal in half for each split so a 4 port splitter gives you 25% of the signal at each port. With a distribution amplifier that states +8 db at each port, does that give you the antenna signal +8 db at each port or 25% of the antenna input +8 db at each port? I am looking at a Channel Master CM-3414.

    • According to the Channel Masters website.”Amplifier gain is the amount the distribution amplifier will boost the TV signals. This is usually given in dB. Positive ‘+dB’ is signal gain, and negative ‘-dB’ is signal loss. In most distribution amplifiers, there is a fixed +15 dB of gain. However, the internal splitters that provide multiple outputs add signal loss, or negative dB. In a two output distribution amplifier, the signal splitter on the output of the amplifier will divide the signal into two separate output ports. Each output port will have approximately 50% of the signal level coming out of the amplifier. Splitting the signal into two output ports with 50% of the signal on each port will cause the signal level to drop by approximately 3.5 dB. A four port amplifier will have 25% of the power on each output port, which is approximately 7.5 dB of signal loss due to the splitter on the output. If a distribution amplifier has 15 dB of fixed gain, a four output distribution amplifier will have an effective gain of about 7.5 dB per port (15 dB gain – 7.5 dB splitter loss) from the input port to the output port(s).”

      It looks like there is some signal loss. You might want to contact Channel Master to clarify. https://support.channelmaster.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

  11. Amplified splitters also add more than twice the amount of noise to the signal as a quality preamp.
    Much more noise than a preamp like the Winegard LNA100 for example.
    So the best solution is to use a LNA100 and a splitter as opposed to a amplified splitter like the Channel Master.
    The Winegard has plenty of gain to drive a 8 port splitter and much better immunity from overload.

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