Hey there, fellow YouTubers! I just received a package from American Radio Supply and I wanted to share with you guys what I’m up to with these little connectors. I have multiple shortwave radios in my shack and I wanted to share an antenna with all of them. After looking online for combiner splitters, I found out they can be quite expensive. However, I found a cheaper solution: using a TV splitter.
The only issue is that you want to make sure the frequency range is within what you’re interested in. I bought some adapters from American Radio Supply to solve the problem with the cable connectors. These adapters are much cheaper and allow me to split the signal, isolating the radios from one another and any noise they create. I’ll keep you guys updated on how this works out for me.
Key Takeaways
- Using a TV splitter can be a cheaper alternative to combining splitters.
- The adapters allow for two ways to use them and isolate the radios from noise.
- It’s important to ensure the frequency range is within what you’re interested in.
Using a TV Splitter as a Cheaper Alternative to Combining Splitters
If you’re looking to share an antenna with multiple radios, you might be considering a combiner splitter. However, these can be quite expensive, with some costing up to $180 for just two-way splitting. Fortunately, I’ve found a cheaper alternative that might work for you – a TV splitter.
Choosing the Right Frequency Range
When selecting a TV splitter, it’s important to pay attention to the frequency range. The one I’m using goes from 5 megahertz to 1 gigahertz, which is a bit limited. If you’re interested in a wider range, you’ll need to find a different splitter. For my purposes, this one works just fine.
Using High Quality Splitter Cables
To ensure the best performance, it’s important to use high quality splitter cables. While the TV splitter itself might be cheaper, skimping on the cables could lead to poor signal quality and interference. I recommend investing in good quality cables to get the most out of your setup.
Connecting the Adapters
To connect the splitter to your radios, you’ll need some adapters. I purchased mine from American Radio Supply, and they work great. Simply connect the cable connector to the splitter, and then plug in your radios. You can split the signal in either direction, allowing you to connect one antenna to multiple radios or multiple antennas to one radio.
Overall, using a TV splitter as a cheaper alternative to combining splitters can be a great option for those looking to save some money. Just make sure to choose the right frequency range, use high quality cables, and connect the adapters properly for the best results.
Two Ways to Use the Adapters
Splitting the Signal Between Two Radios and One Antenna
If you have two radios and one antenna, you can use these adapters to split the signal between them. To do this, you will need a high-quality splitter cable that has a frequency range within your interests.
Once you have the splitter cable, connect the cable connector to the adapter and plug the adapter into the splitter. Then, connect the radios to the adapters using the SL 239 connector. This will split the signal between the two radios and allow them to share the same antenna.
It’s important to note that each radio will have a 3.5 dB loss from the main signal, but they will be electronically isolated from each other, reducing any noise that they create.
Splitting the Signal Between One Radio and Two Antennas
If you have one radio and two antennas, you can also use these adapters to split the signal. Again, you will need a high-quality splitter cable that has a frequency range within your interests.
To split the signal, connect the splitter to the adapter and plug the adapters into each antenna. Then, connect the radio to the adapter using the SL 239 connector. This will split the signal between the two antennas and allow the radio to receive signals from both simultaneously.
It’s important to note that both antennas will be connected simultaneously, so it may be unpredictable how well this will work for you. However, the adapters will electronically isolate the antennas from each other, reducing any noise that they create.
Overall, these adapters provide a much cheaper way to share an antenna between multiple radios. With a high-quality splitter cable and careful consideration of the frequency range, you can split the signal between two radios or between one radio and two antennas, reducing noise and improving the overall listening experience.
Benefits of Using the Adapters
Isolating Radios from Each Other and Any Noise They Create
One of the main benefits of using these adapters is that they allow us to isolate our radios from each other and any noise they create. By splitting the signal, we can ensure that each radio is only receiving the signal it needs without any interference from the other radios. This is especially important if you have multiple radios in close proximity to each other, as they can create noise that can interfere with each other’s signals.
Maintaining Signal Quality with Only a 3.5 DB Loss
Another benefit of using these adapters is that they allow us to maintain signal quality with only a 3.5 dB loss. While some combiner splitters can cost up to $180 apiece, these adapters offer a much more affordable solution. By using a high-quality splitter, we can ensure that our signal is split evenly without any loss of quality.
Overall, these adapters are a great solution for anyone looking to share an antenna between multiple radios. With their ability to isolate radios from each other and maintain signal quality with only a 3.5 dB loss, they offer a cost-effective and efficient solution that is perfect for any radio enthusiast.
Conclusion
Future Plans for Testing and Using the Adapters
I am excited to test out these adapters from American Radio Supply and see how they work with my shortwave radios. In the future, I plan to purchase a better splitter that goes below 5 megahertz and can split the signal three ways. This will allow me to share one antenna with all of my radios while isolating them from one another and any noise they create.
I will also be featuring these adapters in future videos to show how they work and how they can be used in different ways. I am curious to see how they perform when splitting the signal between one radio and two antennas.
Overall, I believe that using a TV splitter with high-quality cable connectors is a much cheaper way to share one antenna with multiple radios than purchasing expensive combiner splitters. However, it is important to make sure that the frequency range of the splitter is within the range of what you want to listen to.
I hope that this video has been helpful and that you will consider trying out these adapters for yourself. Let me know in the comments how they work for you and any tips or tricks you have for using them. Thank you for watching!
Note: Do not attempt to transmit through this setup. This is not intended for transmission. Also, make sure you connect every tap to a 50-75 ohm load (ie: a receiver). Leaving unused taps will cause a mismatch and defeat the purpose.
