Antennas for TV for the country house. Power unit. How to connect a television antenna amplifier Connecting a regular antenna to a TV

Today, television is everywhere, in every house, in every apartment. But the TV itself cannot receive a signal; a source is needed for this. The signal source can be street or indoor antennas, satellite television reception systems or any media devices. Let's leave aside all sorts of fancy media players and similar units for now and focus on the simplest and most basic thing - connecting our TV to the antenna. There may be several reasons for this:

1. moving to a new apartment that has not yet been opened;
2. replacement of outdated cable;
3. redevelopment of your home, repairs, etc.;
4. you just wanted it that way.

The second item on this list is worth mentioning separately. The service life of the antenna cable is ten years, but even here everything is quite individual. It all depends on the conditions of its operation. It’s one thing if your cable is laid correctly indoors, it’s another thing when part of the cable goes outside and is suspended. The effects of the external environment and load on the cable can reduce the service life by several times. By the way, it is prohibited to hang the antenna cable without a support cable.

How to choose an antenna (coaxial) cable

Since you are faced with the question of replacing or laying an antenna cable, then let's decide which one is better to choose. It is no coincidence that a new word appeared in the title of the item. The correct name for the type of cable for connecting television antennas is coaxial cable. What kind of animal is this? In the next photo you can see a section of the coaxial cable structure.

The central element is a conductor in the form of a copper core, through which the television signal arrives. An insulating shell follows on top of it. The next element is aluminum foil, which acts as a second conductor, and a braid of tinned copper wires. This braid acts as a protective shield, preventing interference from external electromagnetic waves. This entire “layer cake” is covered by another layer of plastic insulation, which also serves as protection against mechanical influences. The term coaxial in translation means coaxial. Thus, due to the coincidence of the centers of both conductors of the coaxial cable in the radial direction, a standing wave effect is created inside the cable, which reduces signal radiation losses to almost zero.

In general, there are quite a few types of coaxial cable and it is used not only for connecting television antennas. They differ in characteristic impedance, insulation diameter, flexibility, degree of shielding, and so on. In our article, we will touch on just a few types that we really need. Imported antenna cables will be labeled RG-59 or RG-6 (the most common). Russian analogues will have markings like RK-75-x-x. 75 denotes characteristic impedance, and 75 ohms is the standard impedance for coaxial antenna cables. There is also RG-11, but this is a trunk cable that is used in difficult conditions (streets) or over long distances. RG-11 is capable of providing a stable signal at a distance of up to 600 meters.

If we have decided on the type of antenna cable, then the decision of which manufacturer to give preference falls entirely on you. The range of cable products is now so wide that you can be offered anything from a cheap option to a really expensive purchase. First of all, pay attention to antenna cable quality. Try picking off, for example, a piece of outer insulation with your fingernail. If you succeed, then it’s definitely not worth taking. The insulation must be moderately elastic and withstand external influences. Pay special attention to the density of the braid. A thin braid immediately indicates that the manufacturer is slack, while the dense braid of the screen allows less interference to penetrate. If you cannot see the braid, then ask the seller to make a cut. Provided that the seller can provide you with passport data for the antenna cable, be sure to pay attention to the attenuation value of the television signal at a certain frequency and cable length. The lower the attenuation value, the better the cable.

If we are talking about buying an antenna cable, then do not forget to buy the necessary connectors (connectors), adapters and splitters in the quantity that you need. The most common type is BNC connectors. They can be soldered, crimped or on a threaded connection (F6).

The last subtype will not be difficult to find, because... They are the easiest to install and are available at all cable product retailers. Do not forget that the antenna coaxial cable should not have sharp bends when laid. If you need to lay the cable at a 90-degree angle, be sure to use corner adapters. Also, when routing cables to several TVs, you will need splitters.

How to lay an antenna cable

Well, we have almost reached the installation of your cable. All the necessary materials have already been purchased and we are faced with the question of how to lay the cable. There are only two ways:

1. Hidden wiring;
2. Open wiring.

Let's start looking at the second option. With this installation method, the cable is laid along the walls and is not covered by anything. It is unlikely that anyone will like this option and we will consider it only as temporary.

pros

1. easy installation
2. easy replacement

Minuses

1. doesn't look nice
2. easy to damage the cable
3. constantly getting in the way

The hidden wiring option is much more aesthetically pleasing, but also quite labor-intensive. In this case, the cable is tucked into special channels, baseboards, or routed inside the walls (grooving). You can do this work yourself or hire a professional. But I especially want to draw your attention to gating. This type of gasket should be combined with cosmetic repairs in the apartment, because... during work appearance the walls will be damaged. When grating, a groove is made in the wall, the cable is laid in it and the wall is plastered. Don't forget that you already have electrical wiring installed in your walls. Also, independent gating of load-bearing walls of multi-story buildings in a horizontal plane is prohibited by regulations. True, there is a loophole in our laws - if the length of the groove is no more than three meters, and the cross-section is no more than three centimeters, then you can safely groove it.

pros

1. everything is beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, no wires under your feet

Minuses

1. complex installation, possibly with cosmetic repairs
2. the budget for such work is much higher
3. difficulties when replacing the cable

How to connect the antenna cable

Well, we actually got to the main task - antenna cable connection. In modern new buildings, antenna splitters are already installed for each apartment on the landing, and all we have to do is prepare our cable and connect the connectors.

To connect the antenna cable to the plug, we first need to prepare the cable. So, we step back one and a half centimeters from the edge of the cable and make a thin circular cut. Try to cut the outer layer of insulation carefully and not damage the fine hairs of the screen underneath. Remove the cut piece of insulator. Gently and evenly peel back the screen hairs and foil strips. Stepping back 2 mm from the folded edge of the foil, make another circular cut of the inner insulator. Take the connector and twist it clockwise onto the prepared end of the cable until it stops. Cut off the excess part of the central conductor with pliers, leaving 1-2 mm from the edge of the connector.

That's it, all we have to do is prepare the second end of the cable in the same way and connect our TV to the antenna.

The TV itself cannot receive signals. To do this, an antenna is installed in front of it, which is connected via a cable. Its service life under normal operating conditions is about 10 years. When it is outdoors and exposed to the elements, replacement will be required much sooner. The cable fails especially quickly when suspended.

The photo below shows a modern television cable.

Installation of a modern television cable

It is prohibited to use a suspended cable without a support cable.

For difficult climatic conditions, a special cable is used, which should be indicated in the characteristics.

Cable device

In the center of the core there is a central copper conductor with a diameter of 0.3 to 1.1 mm (signal wire). It is not recommended to take a smaller size, since it is designed for the frequency of the meter range. Through a thin cable, the TV will only show the main channels. It is better for the user to choose a thicker cable that has less signal loss.

On top there is a shielding layer of aluminum foil and a braid of thin copper wire, which protects against external interference in the form of electromagnetic waves. Between the central wire and the screen there is a layer of polyurethane insulation. Outside there is another insulation made of polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene to protect the cable from mechanical stress and ultraviolet radiation.

The cable should have foil and braid as a screen. Old-style products with a single braid are not suitable for modern video signal transmission standards.

The centers of the wire and the screen coincide in the radial direction. Due to this, losses of the transmitted signal are reduced.

Coaxial cables differ in the following parameters:

• outer diameter (best sizes - 6-8 mm);
• wave resistance;
• degree of shielding;
• flexibility.

The markings of common television cables are as follows:

• imported – RG-6, RG-59;
• domestic - RK-75 (75 Ohm - the value of wave impedance).

It is not recommended to purchase the RK-75 cable, as it has a high signal attenuation rate. In city conditions, this may not be noticed due to the close proximity of transmitting stations, but in rural areas, signal loss becomes noticeable.

When laying a television cable near electrical wiring, its diameter must be at least 10 mm and have increased protection against interference.

When choosing a cable, you should pay attention that it is not too flexible. The braid should be chosen more densely. Too rare - it easily misses interference. The foil should not be very thin.

The insulation of the central core should be hard, not soft like foam rubber.

When studying passport data, attention should be paid to the frequency and amount of attenuation of the television signal on a certain length. The lower they are, the higher the quality of the cable.

How to extend a TV cable

When lengthening the cable, you must remember that this leads to a decrease in the quality of the transmitted signal. It is recommended to create no more than 1-2 connections. The photo shows different types devices for connecting and branching cables.

TV cable connectors and splitters

1. The insulation layer is removed from both ends and the copper braid and aluminum foil of the screen are wrapped in the opposite direction. The inner side of the foil is covered with a thin layer of polyethylene or lavsan. To ensure reliable electrical contact, half of the foil should be folded back so that the conductive side is on the outside for better contact.
2. The internal insulation is peeled off down to the signal wire in a section 1 cm long. In this case, it is necessary to prevent the formation of undercuts in the copper conductor, which reduces its strength.
3. After preparing the ends, F-plugs are screwed onto the cable through foil (Fig. a). The central core should protrude 5 mm from the plug. If it turns out to be longer, it should be trimmed.
4. Screwing the ends with F-plugs onto the F-socket adapter (Fig. c).

Splicing a television cable: a – F-plug; b – F-socket adapter; c – detachable connection

Connection of plug and socket

The same nuts are screwed onto the ends of the cables as in previous method, but a TV plug is screwed onto one of them, and a TV socket is screwed onto the other. Then they are connected. To make it reliable, it should be wrapped with electrical tape. The photo shows connections wrapped with electrical tape. They don't look very attractive, but they are reliable. Usually they are hidden in cable ducts.

Wrapping cable connections with electrical tape

Plugs are available in straight and angled versions. They are mounted on the cable in the same way. Angled - used for ease of connection, where a straight plug is not always convenient to use, as well as when creating complex turns.

Angled plug is used where using a straight plug is difficult

Twist

This method is the worst because the connection is not protected from electrical interference. It is better to solder it with tin and place it away from the electrical wiring. If wiring to several TVs is done in this way, the connections are made in the junction box. In this case, the screen and central wires are carefully insulated from each other.

Wiring via splitter

A splitter is a metal box with one “IN” input and two or more “OUT” outputs.

An external cable is suitable for the input, which should not have any splices. The splitter is attached to the wall or floor so that there is no danger of tearing out the cabling. The connector comes with butt nuts. They should be screwed onto the pre-prepared ends of the cables and then connected to the plugs. Next, the input is finally connected to an external cable, and the outputs are connected to television receivers.

TV cable splitter

If the number of TVs in the house exceeds two, instead of the usual one, install an active splitter containing a video signal amplifier. It is placed as close to the receiver as possible. This splitter is connected to the mains power supply.

With any method of connecting cables, easy access must be provided in case of repair.

Cable laying rules

1. Away from electrical wiring and powerful electrical appliances.
2. Minimum number of connections.
3. Use only factory splitters and connectors.
4. Intersection with power contours is allowed only at right angles.
5. It is not allowed to twist the cable into turns or bend it at an acute angle.
6. In the panel box, the connection is created only by soldering and with minimal exposure of the cable.

Cable preparation. Video

The video below will tell you how to prepare a TV or satellite antenna cable for use.

You can extend and branch a television cable with your own hands if you follow the rules described in the article.

To connect your TV to a cable network or antenna digital television you need to purchase a special television cable and put F-plugs on its ends.

If this problem is not solved competently, the TV may operate unstably or with interference when receiving an analog signal, and digital image and sound may disappear due to signal losses in the cable and its connection points.

The high-frequency current of a television signal flows according to a different law. Everyone knows how laundry is spun in the centrifuge of a washing machine: the higher the speed, the stronger the centrifugal force acts on the water, and it is better removed from the laundry, the laundry becomes drier. Many people experienced the effects of centrifugal force on their own bodies in childhood while riding on carousels.

The high-frequency current of the television signal flows in the antenna cable in a similar way. The higher the frequency, the closer to the surface of the conductor it flows. The skin effect appears. If we take, for example, a copper wire with a diameter of 10 mm and a copper tube of the same diameter with a wall thickness of 1 mm, then a current with a frequency of 1000 MHz will flow through them with the same losses!

Therefore, in antenna cables used for military and space equipment, to reduce signal loss (attenuation), the central core and cable braid are often coated with a thin layer of silver and even gold. This is a very expensive pleasure, and such cables are not used in everyday life.

Due to the small magnitude of the television signal in the antenna cable and its high frequency, it is not possible to determine its presence in the cable, much less carry out measurements at home without specialized expensive instruments. Only connecting the antenna cable to the TV will determine the presence and quality of the television signal.

TV cable marking

The most widely used antenna cables on the market are coaxial antenna cables from different manufacturers with a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms, brands RG 6U, SAT 50, SAT 703B and DG 113, which can be successfully used for receiving analog and digital television signals up to transmitting them from a satellite antenna with a frequency of up to 2. 15 GHz. The brands are listed in order of increasing quality of the antenna cable - reducing signal loss (attenuation) during transmission. The marking (designation) must be applied to the antenna cable sheath along its entire length every meter with a digital meter mark.

This antenna cable marking indicates the following:

• CABLETECH – manufacturing company CABLETECH (China).
• RG 6U/48 – cable brand.
• HIGH QUALITY COAXIAL CABLE – high quality coaxial cable.
• 75 OHM – characteristic impedance 75 Ohm.
• 055M – meter mark, with each meter the mark changes by 1.

How to choose a TV antenna cable

The antenna cable sheath must be marked as shown above. The antenna cable must have a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms (all televisions and switching devices are designed for this impedance - amplifiers, splitters, set-top boxes for receiving DVB-T2 digital channels). The outer diameter of the antenna cable sheath must be at least 6 mm. Central core and shielding braid made of electrical copper. Antenna cables of the SAT 703B and DG 113 brands meet these requirements. The RG 6U cable has a central steel core, galvanically coated with copper, an aluminum foil screen and copper alloy braiding, this is a budget option.

It is impossible to describe all the television cables on the market, but the information presented is quite enough for you to make the right choice yourself.

How to install the antenna plug on the cable

There is no need to invite specialists to connect the TV to the antenna cable. Every home craftsman can do this work independently using available tools if he follows the instructions below.

The voltage of an analog or digital television signal in an antenna cable is millionths of a volt, so an antenna cable connected to a cable network or another TV is not dangerous to humans. You can easily cut the cable without disconnecting its other end from the splitter or TV. When cutting a cable, an accidental short circuit between the central conductor and the shielding braid is also not dangerous.

How to install an F-plug on an antenna cable

The plugs are sold in three sizes for antenna cables of different diameters. When purchasing, make sure that the F-plug is suitable for your TV antenna cable. This type of plug is suitable for analogue, digital TV and satellite signals.

You can screw the F-plug onto the cable by cutting it in two ways, with the shielding braid wrapped in the diagram on the left side, and without wrapping it in the diagram on the right, in accordance with the cutting diagram below.

The F-plug will hold more securely if the shielding braid is twisted, but if you cannot screw it in, you can use the second method.

To cut a television cable, lightly pressing the knife so as not to damage the shielding braiding of the antenna cable, its outer shell is cut along a few centimeters.

After cutting the shell, it is bent to the side and cut off at the start of the cut.

The aluminum foil and copper braid are turned away. The screen in antenna cables comes in three versions: one copper braid, aluminum foil and on top of it a copper braid (as in my case), only aluminum foil.

Many people do not know that to give mechanical strength The foil is covered on the inside with polyethylene. It is impossible to clean the plastic. If you screw the plug onto the inside of the antenna cable foil, there will be no contact, or it will be very poor. To prevent this from happening, you need to bend half of the foil turned back, then the conductive side will be on the outside.

There are situations when the diameter of the hole in the internal thread F of the plug is larger than the diameter of the antenna cable. In this case, before wrapping the foil, you need to wind several layers of insulating tape onto the antenna cable to adjust the size of the cable. Then do everything as described. The insulation is removed from the central core using the technology described in the article “Preparing wires for installation”.

The F plug is screwed onto the foil “wrap onto the cable”.

The central core of the antenna cable is bitten off so that about 2-3 mm remains protruding.

The second half of the plug is screwed in until it stops, and the F-plug is ready for use.

There are times when, after inserting the antenna plug into the TV socket, the cable has to be bent at a right angle or it is impossible to install the TV close to the wall due to the interfering antenna cable. In this case, you can use an F-socket - a plug of an angular design.

The difference between the two described plugs is only in their shape. The technology for installing straight and angled plugs on a television cable is the same.

How to install an old design plug on an antenna cable

Before the advent of antenna F-plugs, plugs of a different design were used, which also did not require soldering, but were connected to the antenna cable using their own technology.

Before you begin installing the plug on the antenna cable, you need to hold it by the metal part and unscrew the plastic case by rotating counterclockwise. Then put the case on the cable so as not to forget.

The next stage is preparing the antenna cable for installation. To do this, use a knife blade to cut through its outer shell to a length of about a centimeter with light pressure. Next, remove the sheath and trim the shielding braid by 5 mm. Remove five millimeters of insulation from the central core. The antenna cable is now ready to be inserted into the plug.

When threading the cable into the plug, it is necessary to ensure that the conductors of the braided fasteners of the central core do not touch. Using pliers, the petals of the antenna plug are crimped around the shielding winding. There shouldn't be much effort. The main thing is to have reliable contact.

The last step is to screw the plastic part onto the metal part of the plug and insert the plug into the TV socket.

Where to insert the antenna cable on the TV

Once the connector is installed on the cable, it can be connected to the TV. The socket for connecting the TV to an antenna or cable network is usually located on its back wall and is marked next to it in the form of the abbreviated inscription “ANT”.

In the photo on the right side you can see the socket for connecting the antenna. The socket is special, standard and differs from all other connectors and sockets available on the patch panel. Therefore, it is physically impossible to mistakenly insert the antenna plug into another socket. Any of the connectors, the installation of which is discussed in the article above, fits well into the television socket.

In modern televisions, to receive a television signal, two connectors are installed to connect an antenna: - cable (digital) television and a satellite antenna.

One, designated RF (ANT 1 IN), is designed to connect a digital television or cable network antenna; this is installed on all models of TVs, both old and modern. The second one began to be installed recently, LNB (ANT 2 IN with external thread) is intended for connecting a satellite dish.

If the TV supports the DVB-S2 standard, then the satellite dish can be connected without a receiver, directly to the LNB connector. To receive digital television channels from a television tower to an individual antenna, the TV must support the DVB-T2 standard. Therefore, when buying a TV, you need to pay special attention to the list of broadcasting standards that it supports.

To receive a signal from a given connector on the TV, you need to select the signal source Antenna or Satellite TV in its Menu and perform automatic or manual channel tuning.

How to connect an antenna cable to a TV without a plug

There are situations in life when you urgently need to connect an antenna cable to your TV, but you don’t have a plug at hand. You can temporarily connect the antenna cable without a plug. To do this, you must first remove the top sheath to a length of 5 cm, develop and unscrew the shielding braid, remove the insulation from the central core of the cable and bend the core itself into a loop. The width of the loop should be slightly larger than the hole in the central connector socket.

If the connector on the TV is like in the photo, then you need to put an insulating tube on the central contact. Next, the loop is inserted into the central contact, and the shielding braid is tucked into the connector using the blade of a screwdriver. The main thing is to prevent the wires of the shielding braid from coming into contact with the central core of the cable.

If the braid is aluminum, then you can insert it into the television connector and fill the free space with thin copper wires taken from any stranded copper wire. To prevent the wire from falling out of the TV connector, you can secure it with several toothpicks or matches. Such an improvised connector will serve quite reliably.

How to connect an antenna cable to a crab without a plug

The cable is prepared in the same way as for putting on an F-plug, the central core is inserted into the crab's F-connector, and the screen is put on the protruding part of the crab's connector and secured with any wire or clamp. As a last resort, you can fix the cable by tightly wrapping several layers of electrical tape. It will work no worse than with an F-connection.

If you use a clamp with a screw crimping device, the quality and reliability of the connection will be no worse than with an F-connector.

Which antenna plug is better?

The answer is clear: the best of the three considered plugs for television coaxial cable is the F-plug. This is easy to see in the photographs above, even without special knowledge.

As you can see, the antenna plug of the old design and the Soviet antenna plug have a small section of the central core of the cable that is not covered by the shielding braid. This disrupts the uniformity of wave impedance, which leads to minor losses of the television signal.

The F-plug does not have an open section of the central core of the antenna cable. Another advantage of the antenna F-plug is ease of installation. With a minimum set of standard tools and no skills, almost anyone can correctly attach the antenna F-plug to the cable.

How to connect multiple TVs
to cable network or antenna

Connecting several televisions to a cable network or antenna transmitting an analog or digital television signal is no more difficult than one, except that you will have to put not one F-plug on the cable, but several. For this purpose, there are television signal splitters, popularly called “crabs”, they are also called “splitter”, “splitter” or “divider”.

The crab has one connector for connecting a signal from an antenna or a splitter in the entrance, marked IN (input), and several connectors for connecting televisions, marked OUT (output). If there is no marking, then usually the crab's entrance is on one side of the body, and the exits are in a row on the opposite side. All outputs for proper operation crab must be connected to TVs.

If there are two outputs, then to two TVs, if there are three outputs, then to three, and so on. There should be no loose connectors on the crab. If the output remains unconnected, then it must be loaded onto a resistor with a resistance of 75 Ohms. Or, as they say, put a plug. But in this case, part of the useful signal will be lost; it is better to use a crab, in which the number of taps is equal to the number of connected TVs.

The design of the splitter is a thin-walled casing made of silumin or brass, which also contains connectors for connecting F-plugs. The divider circuit is usually a transformer, one turn of enameled wire with a diameter of 0.2-0.4 mm, threaded through ferrite rings or tubes. Installation of transformers is carried out using a hinged method. The case is hermetically sealed with a metal lid and sealed or fixed with glue.

Eyelets are provided for mounting the crab on the wall. The housing also has a thread with a screw for grounding, although it is not clear where to get the ground wire in the vast majority of apartments. They are usually not grounded, so on some channels there may be interference from electrical wires, the Internet, and a telephone running next to the television cable. Whenever possible, such proximity should be avoided when laying cables. For a more detailed acquaintance with the design and electrical diagram crab, you can visit the page “How to connect an antenna television amplifier to a power supply”.

If you wish, you can make a crab, which is not inferior in technical parameters to expensive samples from well-known companies, with your own hands.

When connecting TVs through a crab, the level of television signal reaching each TV connected to it, regardless of whether the TV is working or not, will be reduced due to losses in the crab and the additional cable length. When connecting two TVs - by 30%, three - by 60%, four - by 90%, and if the analogue or digital television signal coming to the crab is already weak, then the image quality on all connected TVs may decrease significantly. Usually the signal in cable television is quite powerful, and its level is sufficient for the normal operation of all televisions connected to the crab.

How to connect the antenna cable
to the television signal line at the entrance of the house

Typically, a television cable is laid along the roof of a house and then, after being amplified by a main amplifier, it branches out along the entrances of the house. Since there are different packages of television programs, at the entrance to the entrance the cable is branched using a filter crab, which is a crab with two outputs. From one output the signal comes out unchanged, and from the second output it is cut off by a high-pass filter. Thus, the ability to watch all television channels is limited for those who buy cheaper social packages. Therefore, two cables run down the entrances.

If you examine the walls in your entrance, you will definitely find on each floor a metal box from which television antenna cables go to the apartments. In modern houses, boxes are no longer installed, but everything is placed in wall cabinets, in which case you will see a metal door with a lock. These boxes house TV signal subscriber taps. If you remove the lid from the box or open the cabinet door, you will see something like this. In the photo on the left is a coupler for subscribers of the full package of television programs, and on the right is for subscribers of the social package.

According to the rules, taps must be secured and grounded, but cable technicians do not do this to simplify their work. Perhaps this is better, since if the grounding is poor, then such grounding can create interference.

Taps installed in junction boxes are not fundamentally different from crabs for connecting several TVs, but they work somewhat differently. One F connector is used to connect the cable coming from the IN trunk. The second OUT is designed to carry the signal to the next tap installed on the floor below. The remaining F TAP connectors, there can be from one to five, are intended for connecting subscribers, that is, for connecting television cables going to apartments.

There should be no unconnected subscriber connectors. In case of disconnection of one subscriber, for example for non-payment, it is allowed to install an F-connector with a load resistance of 75 Ohms instead of the cable. If you need to connect a new subscriber to a cable television network, then the splitter for two subscribers, as in this example, is replaced with a three-slot one.

Thus, to connect a TV to a cable network, a piece of television cable of the required length with antenna F-connectors installed at the ends is sufficient. One F-connector of the antenna cable is connected to the subscriber tap in the entrance, and the second - to the TV.

What is the difference between a crab and a coupler?

In crab, the power of the incoming television signal is usually divided into equal parts between all connected televisions. Unlike the crab, in the coupler only a small part of the signal power received at the input is allocated to subscribers, about 6 dB.

To ensure a sufficient level of the television signal reaching subscribers, the signal to the input of the coupler is supplied from the main power amplifier, depending on the number of connected subscribers. Taken together, all branches installed in one entrance represent a crab with numerous branches.

TV signal amplifier

If after installing the crab the image becomes unsatisfactory, you will have to additionally install a television amplifier in front of it. The amplifier is designed in the same way as the crab, but additionally installed in its housing are active elements(transistors or microcircuit) that amplify the video signal. For TV amplifier In addition, a supply voltage will be required, and this must be taken into account when choosing the location for its installation.

The television amplifier must be installed as close as possible to the source of the television signal, since the amplifier amplifies noise along with the useful television signal. The photo shows the TERRA HA123 television amplifier, designed for operation in a home television network that has one output, with the ability to adjust the gain from 8 to 28 dB. If possible, the ideal option is to place the amplifier directly in the box of the main signal splitter for apartments.

If the televisions are located not far from the television amplifier, then it is more advisable to install only one television signal amplifier with several outputs instead of a television amplifier and a crab. For example, a television amplifier-splitter model Televes 5523 (Spain), which has a gain of 16 dB and five outputs, which makes it possible to connect up to 5 TVs to it.

If the signal is taken from an individual antenna, then there are amplifiers that are designed to be installed directly on the antenna instead of a matching loop. Antenna amplifiers provide high-quality reception at a distance of up to 100 km from the transmitting antenna.

The antenna amplifier, depending on the signal level at the antenna installation point, must be selected according to the gain for each specific case. The supply voltage for such amplifiers is supplied via a coaxial cable.

Anti-interference
installing a ferrite ring on the antenna cable

Sometimes, after connecting to cable television or the antenna of several TVs using a crab, interference may appear on some channels in the form of chaotically appearing white or black dots, traveling waves or a grid across the screen. When receiving digital television, image and sound may periodically disappear or be completely absent.

This may occur due to high-frequency interference from a local oscillator, parallel connected TVs, or other sources of interference entering the antenna input of the TV. It is possible that interference can also come from televisions connected in neighboring apartments.

The level of this kind of interference can be significantly reduced or even eliminated completely by installing a ferrite ring on the cable.

The effectiveness of interference suppression by a ferrite filter depends on the cross-sectional area of ​​the ring: the larger its area, the greater the inductance of the inductor made. A ferrite ring placed on the antenna cable forms a choke and, together with the linear capacitance of the antenna cable, forms a U-shaped high-frequency filter. Maximum interference suppression will be achieved by installing two rings on the antenna cable at its ends.

Ferrite rings are sold in stores and come in two types: solid and consisting of two halves, pressed into a plastic case with latches. But you can do without extra costs. If you look closely at the interface wires coming from system unit computer to a printer, scanner, monitor and other peripheral equipment, you can see the thickening of the cylindrical cables. These are ferrite filters.

You probably have an old CRT monitor collecting dust or have unnecessary interface cables. It is enough to cut the plastic with a knife, remove the ferrite ring and install it on the antenna cable. After installing the ferrite ring, interference on the TV screen will no longer interfere with watching TV programs.

There can be any number of objective reasons for slightly lengthening or increasing the already laid television cable stretched into a particular room. Most often, the need for this arises when moving a household television receiver from place to place (or moving it from one living space to another). One of the methods according to which such extension is carried out involves the presence of a set of two connecting elements shown below.

Note! Such an extension is also beneficial because the use of a new solid piece of cable of greater length is not entirely justified from an economic point of view.

Moreover, in the case of its extension, in which the connection of the television cable (or rather its individual fragments) is organized, additional costs for special adapters can be minimized.

TV cable device

Before connecting the television cable at the intended insertion point of the extended section, you must become familiar with the structure of the wire used to transmit the television signal.

Additional Information. The name coaxial cable was chosen as such because a special structure (coaxial) is used to transmit the wave signal, the nature of which is clearly visible in the figure below.

Typical antenna-type television cables include the following required elements:

• The central core is placed in durable polypropylene insulation;
• A screen made of aluminum foil protects the central wire from electromagnetic interference;
• Outer braid, designed for additional protection from external fields and forming the outer part of the coaxial structure;
• Polyethylene insulation that protects the TV cable from mechanical stress and unexpected damage.

Given this composition, before extending the television cable, it is necessary to carefully prepare each of the connected parts. Experts call this operation “cutting” the wire, during which its individual sections at the junction points are cleared of insulation and shaped for the future joint.

Types of docking connections

A high-quality connection of the antenna cable (as well as its individual parts), carried out for the purpose of extension, is possible in the following known ways:

• Use a branded extension cord, available for free sale in the form of a piece of coaxial cable from 2.5 to fifteen meters long;
• Purchase special F sockets from a radio store and use them to create a classic plug-in connection;
• Use a splitter-type connector adapter for these purposes;
• Make the extension with a separate piece of wire connected to the main line by means of ordinary twisting, and to increase its reliability use the soldering method.

The first of these options is one of the most reliable and time-tested methods of extending the antenna wire, but at the same time it is also the most expensive. The second and third approaches to the problem of cable extension are more cost-effective than the first, but even in this case you will need to go to the store for additional spare parts.

The most in a simple way jointing of pre-prepared (stripped) cable sections is considered a method of forming twists at the connection points and their subsequent soldering. However, in this case, the reliability of the resulting connection leaves much to be desired, since the central wire at the twisted points can easily break off.

Important! Regardless of the chosen method, to obtain a reliable connection, products of the same brand and thickness as the TV cable being extended should be used.

It should also be remembered that, in accordance with the standards current in Russia and GOST “Cables. Television”, the laying of communications is carried out with a standard wire of the RK 75 brand with a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms (figure below).

Among foreign samples of the same products, the most common are such well-known cords as RG6 and RG59.

Formation of joints using adapters

Let's consider the intricacies of extending wires when an extension adapter (ready-made purchased or made on the basis of special connectors) is used for these purposes. The option of a ready-to-use extension cord for a television cable, despite its relative high cost, seems to be the most convenient in terms of labor costs.

To make such a joint independently, the user should design a contact connector on the extendable end of a wire already laid in the apartment, suitable for the mating part on the purchased product. It is done on the basis that the adapter purchased in the store has connectors at both ends, made in the form of a regular antenna plug.

Another method that allows you to connect an antenna for a TV through an extension cable involves using special F-type sockets for this purpose.

Additional Information. To obtain an extension, you will need two sets of such connectors.

Before extending the television cable using the insertion method, all connected parts should be prepared for the upcoming operation. To do this you need:

• Remove the protective insulation on each of the 4 joined ends in a small area (about 2-3 cm);
• Bend the protective braid along with the screen foil towards the insulation (see photo);

• Next, the central core should be shortened so much that no more than 5 millimeters protrudes from the straight part of the connector screwed onto it (to do this, you first need to try it on at the installation site);
• Upon completion of all preparatory operations, a plug is installed on one end of the insert by screwing it in, and a socket on the other;
• At the ends of the extendable (old) wire, the mating parts of the F-connector are formed in the same way.

Another well-known cable extension option is to use splitter-type tees, which are built into an open circuit and allow you to create an extension branch. The procedure for forming this connection is practically no different from the previously discussed method, which involves the use of a type F connector.

A special feature of this connection is the ability to obtain an adapter for an internal household network, which allows you to organize the distribution of a television signal throughout the apartment. In this case, the latter will be transmitted to all television receivers with virtually no loss of quality.

Twisted connection

The simplest, but not very reliable way, using which you can arrange an extension fragment of the antenna cable, is to connect the elements using the twisting method. The disadvantage of this approach is the high probability of breakage of the central core even with slight deformation or bending of the connection section.

In addition, when carrying out this operation it is impossible to do without a soldering iron, with which the twisted contacts are first carefully tinned and then soldered.

Note! Before connecting antenna cables to each other in this way, be sure to choose products with soft insulation.

Before connecting a new cable section, for example, it is also advisable to ensure that the protective sheath is not only strong and elastic, but can also withstand repeated bending. In addition, it is important to prepare the twisted parts in advance; soldering them will be much easier if you first clean them of varnish insulation and then carefully tin them.

The formation of the leads in this case is somewhat different from their preparation for the previously discussed detachable connection (adapter). To do this you need:

• Remove the insulation at a distance of approximately 3-4 centimeters from the extendable end of the cable product (see figure below);

• The same will need to be done with the second cable blank used as an extension cord;
• Then you need to tear apart the copper braid of each of the exposed parts, after which you can gain access to the polypropylene insulation of the central core;
• Following this, you should carefully cut the protective sheath of polypropylene, being careful not to touch the wire located underneath with the tip of the knife;

Important! If this requirement is not met, the likelihood of the central core breaking off in this place during operation of the connected cable increases significantly.

• Upon completion of the preparatory operations, it is necessary to strip the bare copper wires using fine sandpaper, and then tin them using rosin and solder;
• After the formation of a twist consisting of two central cores, in order to reduce energy loss at the junction, it is carefully soldered with a soldering iron;
• Then the resulting twist is insulated using a non-conducting material (ordinary insulating tape, for example), and on top of it a twist is formed from the ends of adjacent braids;
• At the final stage of the work, the resulting joint is covered with insulating tape, which protects the joint from damage and deformation.

The same must be done when it comes time to connect the second end of the cable insert.

Cable extension examples

Knowledge of basic cable extension techniques allows you to successfully cope with many problems, including deciding how to repair an antenna, for example, or extend the cord extending from it to the required length (photo below).

If, after disassembling the home antenna, it is discovered that a piece of cable at the point of connection to the internal circuit is damaged, it must first be cut off and shortened slightly.

Additional Information. After such shortening, the length of which should not exceed one centimeter, the joining area must be prepared for subsequent soldering (as described above).

Before you repair any television receiver that has a cable connection, you should also have an idea of ​​how to properly extend the damaged wire.

In the final part of the review, we note that specialists invited by the user will repair the faulty cable line faster and better quality. But in this situation, one should proceed from considerations of economy and the ability to independently master a not very complex technique for restoring a damaged cable wire or extending it.

Video

Do you want to watch your favorite TV channels in high quality for free? Take advantage of the DVB T2 digital terrestrial television service. In many countries this standard has already become the main one over the past few years. Unfortunately, in Russia it is just beginning to gain popularity. Today, 20 of the most popular Russian channels are already available, and in the near future the organization responsible for technology development promises to add another package of channels.

If you need to regularly pay monthly for cable TV subscription fee, then the benefits of digital terrestrial television are obvious - having paid only once for a set of equipment, after about a year its cost is fully recouped and in the future you watch TV for free. In addition, it is very rare that you need the entire package of channels that is provided by cable or satellite providers.

In today’s material we will tell you in detail what features the DVB T2 digital terrestrial television service has, as well as what you need to independently install and configure the equipment. Once you are armed with the knowledge, installing over-the-air antennas will be very simple and you can save significant money by not calling a professional. So let's get started.

Until recently, terrestrial television was associated with poor picture quality, big amount various interference, as well as a minimum set of channels. It was necessary to manually tune each frequency separately, and different channels could operate in different bands, which led to the need to install several antennas or one multi-band one. In some cases, along with the signal, it could receive Additional Information, for example, teletext, when it was possible to receive information about a TV show or various entertainment content directly on the TV screen. Today, in the Internet era, such additional services have lost their relevance, but in the era of high-quality video and high-resolution screens, high-quality television pictures have become more in demand than ever. Therefore, a digital television standard was developed.

It is the use digital technologies allowed us to reach a completely new level of quality. If previously it was necessary to use exclusively satellite television, which entailed additional installation difficulties, and the set of equipment was not affordable for everyone, now it is enough to install and configure an almost ordinary decimeter antenna, in some cases an amplifier, as well as a television set-top box. And if you consider that many modern TVs already have a built-in DVB T2 receiver, then you can get by with just one inexpensive antenna.

Let's take a closer look at what advantages and disadvantages T2 digital terrestrial television has.

Advantages:

Despite the huge number of advantages, there are a number of certain disadvantages:

The state of digital television in Russia

In some ways, Russia has lagged behind other European countries. Their DVB T2 television format has long ago become a generally accepted standard, and in many places there is no analogue broadcasting at all. In Russia today there is a transitional stage, when everyone realizes the need to abandon analogue television, but the digital infrastructure is not yet sufficiently developed. In general, in most large cities you will be able to catch a number without any problems, but if you live in very remote regions, you will either have to be content with one multiplex, or just be patient. Fortunately, there are practically no such places left; the signal covers, by and large, all populated areas.

Now let's talk about the content of channel packages or, as they are officially called, multiplexes. Today there are 2 multiplexes broadcasting with 10 channels each. In the coverage area of ​​DVB T2 digital terrestrial television, reception of the first multiplex is guaranteed, while the 2nd is not yet available everywhere. There is talk about launching a third package, but due to the shortage of frequency resources and the need to free up frequencies for it by turning off analogue broadcasting, the launch date is still unknown.

What channels are included in each package? At the beginning of May 2017, their composition was as follows:

Please note that the content of multiplexes is not constant and changes from time to time. This has happened several times over the past few years. In any case, the set is quite diverse and there are channels for every taste and for every audience.

Necessary equipment

So, what equipment do you need to purchase to watch DVB T2 digital terrestrial television? Depending on the equipment you already have and the distance from the transmitting center, you may need the following set:

Antenna installation

It is almost impossible to list all special cases and conditions of admission in one article. Therefore, we will give only general recommendations that should be taken into account when installing a DVB T2 digital television antenna.

Room

Place the antenna on the windowsill and turn it towards the transmitting tower. Make sure there are no radio sources nearby, such as a Wi-Fi router. The distance between them should be at least several meters.

Outdoor

External antennas also need to be turned towards the tower and securely secured so that wind or other weather conditions cannot disturb its position. It is best to first install a reliable bracket and attach it to the wall or roof of the house, and then attach the antenna to it. This will allow you to vary the position of the device. When installing, be sure to note that for fine tuning you will have to turn it, so do not fasten it right away, it is better to do this after complete installation.

• Don't rush to use the amplifier. Try experimenting without it first. Twist the antenna or move it a little to the side, sometimes this can help significantly. If all else fails, only then use the amplifier.
• If you plan to use several TVs, the antenna must be external. By the way, in this article you can learn how to connect several TVs to one antenna.
• Minimize situations where the signal is shielded or blocked. For example, do not place the antenna under a metal roof or near a multi-story building that is blocked by a tower or high-voltage lines. True, in some cases it is possible to use the signal reflected from a high structure and amplify it using an amplifier.
• Remember that with the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, only the type of signal transmitted has changed. The antenna is still used directional and must be strictly oriented towards the transmitting station. Deviating it to the side even by a few degrees can significantly degrade the quality of reception, even to the point of disappearing completely. The further away the station is, the more accurately the antenna needs to be aimed and the higher it should be. Although, if the terrain is fairly flat, the signal can be caught with an indoor antenna at a distance of up to 20 km from the transmitter, its position also needs to be very precisely selected.

Fine-tuning signal quality

You can, of course, accurately capture a signal of the proper strength and quality yourself, without the use of additional equipment. However, in difficult reception conditions, it is best to use a special device for tuning over-the-air antennas. What is such a device? Usually this is a small box with a mechanical dial or liquid crystal screen that displays the signal strength. On one side the power is connected, and on the other there is an input for connecting the antenna cable. Since adjusting the antenna based on the visual perception of the image on the screen is not the most reliable, such a device will greatly simplify your task.

1. Take the device and connect the antenna cable to it, and also supply power either from the built-in batteries or from an external battery pack.
2. Turn the antenna towards the receiver. If the direction is correct, the device will immediately begin to emit sound signal, and numbers or an arrow run on the scale.
3. If the device shows insufficient signal level, change the position of the antenna by turning it to the side, raising it higher or lowering it lower. Achieve maximum signal performance.
4. Turn off the device, secure the antenna and you can start setting up the equipment.

Connecting the antenna to the TV

If you have a built-in DVB T2 receiver

1. Find a special input on your TV to connect external antenna. It is usually signed Ant In.
2. Connect the cable coming from the antenna to this connector. During this time, the TV must be turned off for safety reasons.
3. Turn on the TV and activate the digital tuner in the settings.
4. Execute automatic search channels.
5. Enjoy watching.

When using a digital tuner set-top box

1. Connect the cable coming from your antenna or amplifier to the antenna input on your set-top box.
2. Connect the set-top box to your TV. Ideally this should be an HDMI cable as it provides highest quality video signal. If this interface is not available, connect the two devices using traditional analog connectors, the so-called tulips. There should be 3 of them, they are indicated in different colors. Usually it is yellow, red and white. Two of them are audio connectors, while the third is video. Most often, the connectors on both the TV and the set-top box have the same color designation, so it is quite difficult to confuse them.
3. Turn on the TV and use the remote control to select the external signal source to which the tuner is connected. This can be either HDMI or AV. It all depends on the connection method.
4. Search your set-top box automatically for TV channels or configure each one manually. There is no need to configure anything on the TV.

Connecting more than one TV

So, as announced earlier, it’s time to touch on the issue of when there is more than one connected TV.

This question, and it is quite complex, should be divided into two variations:

1. There are two TVs, one has a built-in DVB-T2 receiver, the second is connected via a corresponding set-top box;
2. There are two TVs, neither of them has built-in support for analog TV and both connect to the same set-top box.

If everything is simple in the first question, to implement your plan you only need to purchase an antenna splitter, which can be bought at any radio store or radio market.

The connection diagram will take the following form: Antenna - splitter - cable to one TV to the corresponding connector on the TV - cable to the second TV - to the corresponding connector on the set-top box.

Each TV will be controlled independently of the other.

The second question is difficult because after connecting, the image will be the same for both TVs, and this cannot be changed without purchasing an additional set-top box.

The connection diagram is simple (approximately) – Antenna – cable to the TV set-top box – HDMI to one TV – RCA to another TV – Common picture for two TVs.

Therefore, if you need to connect several TVs to digital television, you should decide whether you want to save money or want to be able to watch TV comfortably.

Conclusion

We showed you detailed step by step guide How to install and configure DVB T2 digital television. Now you can watch up to 20 without any problems free channels. If you still have questions, or something doesn’t work out, ask in the comments or contact our specialists.