Are you facing issues with your antenna reception? Is it that a few channels are coming and going, and the signals aren’t as strong as they need to be?
If this is the problem you are facing, you could try combining two antennas to get a better signal reception on your TV.
Doing this could help you get a few more channels that were out of reach for your current setup of antenna.
But now comes the question, how do you do that? You might wonder, can I use a splitter to combine two antennas?
Yes, you can do just that to get better reception. You don’t need a TV antenna combiner to combine two antennas; a splitter will do the job just fine.
In this article, I will guide you on combining two antennas using a splitter to get better reception.
First: What’s a Splitter?
A splitter is a device that is used with antennas to combine two antennas together for better signal reception.
There’s a small RF piece that sits between the device and the antenna with ‘X’ outputs and an input. This RF component is the ‘X’-way signal splitter.
Moreover, there’s another kind of splitter called the 2-way splitter, where the signal that goes through the input and comes out equally split into two different outputs. In this case, the signal is reduced by 3dB because of this 1:2 power division.
Does a Splitter Weaken The Signal?
If you use the splitter to combine two or more different antennas together, you’ll achieve a good result. In this case, there might not be any signal loss.
So, if you use a splitter with two antennas to combine the signals instead of splitting one signal, your signal won’t weaken.
Is an Antenna Splitter the Same as a Combiner?
They are not the same when it comes to antenna combiner vs. splitter. These are two completely different devices that do different things.
As I’ve already mentioned, a splitter is used for splitting antenna signals into two or more different outputs.
The job of an antenna combiner is the complete opposite. It combines the signal of two or more inputs and turns it into a single output. Usually, it’s used for phasing antennas.
In this case, you won’t lose any signal using a combiner if you input signals that are identical in amplitude and phase.
So, they aren’t the same when it comes to a splitter and a combiner. However, you can still use a splitter to combine antenna signals.
Can I Use a Splitter As a Combiner?
Even though a splitter is used to split the signal of an antenna, you can still make use of it as a combiner.
So you can use a splitter to hook two antennas combining their signals. However, you need both cables that connect your splitters and antennas to be of the exact same type and length.
If you stack two antennas this way, you’ll be able to increase your channels’ range, and the frequencies you’ll receive will also increase. learn more about does tv antenna cable quality matter?
How Do I Combine Two Antennas?
You can combine two antennas using two different methods. The first method is to stack antennas vertically by combining your antennas on a signal mast. And the other method is to stack the antennas horizontally.
However, you must keep your combined antennas at least two or four feet apart. Otherwise, slight interference from each antenna can cause signal loss.
How to Connect Two Antennas with a Splitter?
Now that you know that you can use a splitter to combine antennas.
If you follow the steps explained down below properly, you’ll be able to use a splitter to combine your antennas without any trouble.
Total Time: 30 minutes
Gather the Tools That Are Required
1. First, you must gather some equipment before starting this project. Take a look at the tools required:
2. Two different coaxial cables coming out of your TV antennas
3. A switch
4. Another coaxial cable that extends from your splitter
5. A TV set
6. Another antenna apart from the one you already have
7. Twist locks to secure your stacked containers
Now you can start stacking your antennas together using your splitter to get a better TV signal reception.
Placing the Second Antenna
For this step, you need to find a strategic place where you can place your second antenna set up.
Do not place your antennas too close. You need to remember that there might be interference if you do that.
So keep your antennas apart from each other, but not too far apart either. Two or four feet apart is fine.
Connecting the Second Antenna to the TV
Now you need to connect your second antenna to your television. However, before doing that, remember to erect your second antenna.
After erecting your second antenna, it is time to connect your second antenna to your television. This is a pretty simple step.
Attaching the Coax Cables
When you’re done connecting your second antenna to your TV, you need to next attach your 2 coaxial cables to your splitter.
Note: If you want to use an antenna combiner instead of an antenna splitter, this is the step where you attach it to the coaxial cables.
Connecting the Third Coax Cable
Now it is time to connect your third coaxial cable that extends from your antenna splitter to the television set.
Final Step: Grounding the Second Antenna
You can’t trust the weather. Storms, rain, blizzards, etc., can easily cause your antenna to collapse.
So, in the final step, you need to ground the second antenna in different weatherproof parts so that it stays protected.
Benefits of Combining Two Different Antennas Together
There are a couple of benefits of combining two different antennas together, whether you use an antenna splitter or a TV antenna combiner for this job. Let’s explore these benefits down below:
- If you stack two or more different antennas together, it doesn’t only increase the frequencies but also increase the channels’ range.
- You’ll receive different channels from different stations that are from other directions by stacking antennas. This is because your second antenna will get more stations outside the range of your first antenna.
- This will also help you receive different channels from another band of frequency. Most of the antennas used for modern televisions are dual UHF/VHF bands, except for just a few. Your second antenna will pick up new frequencies that your first antenna can’t.
- Stacking two or more antennas will also increase the antenna gain, as the signals coming from the antennas will combine. This way, your signal reception quality will increase. But it can be hard to implement.
Final Words
Can I use a splitter to combine two antennas? Yes, you absolutely can. Even though splitters are used for splitting a signal into two or more signals, they can also be used for combining two antennas.
If you stack two or more antennas using an antenna splitter, it’ll increase your Tv’s signal reception, increase frequencies, enable you to receive newer channels, and increase the total antenna gain.
So, you don’t need to use an antenna combiner for this job. You can use a splitter and get a great result.
Combining two antennas from different directions can work well IF the signals are strong. If any of the signals are weak you are likely to lose them because the combining of antennas also allows half of your signal from each antenna to re-radiate out the other antenna – you loose 1/2 of your signal and that may very well drop you below the digital cliff. this may be remedied by amplification of both signals BEFORE combining.