Chris0516
Active Member
As a standard, are mulicouplers only BNC?
Multicouplers
- Thread starter Chris0516
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If you buy an off the shelf unit you can usually specify connector type! Build one and use what you need! I have BNC and N connector models!
wtp
Member
Multicouplers for Police Scanner Radios | ScannerMaster.com
Best Multicouplers for portable base mobile fire and police radio scanner. Scanner Master has the latest models at great prices, same day shipping, nation's largest scanner dealer.
www.scannermaster.com
I use the Electroline EDA2800 as a multicoupler for my scanner activities. I have another model (UDA-UG-2402) for my TV antenna distribution system. These models use F-connectors. Check ebay as a source for these units, but make sure it includes the power supply
Short answer: yes.
Especially those made for the frequencies most people would be monitoring.
Long answer:
"Multicoupler" can be different things to different people.
For instance, there was mention of an "F connector", which in my book would actually be a TV splitter, not an actual multicoupler. And..... splitters have RF loss. A standard 2-way splitter has about 3.5 dB to 4 dB loss per port, while a 4-way has about 7 dB, and an 8-way can cause up to 14 dB of signal loss. 3.5 dB to over 14 dB is not good if you are in a weak signal area.
A TRUE multicoupler is an active device and does not have any loss - maybe even a slight gain. I'm sure I'll have disagreement on this, ("waste of money", "just as good", bla, bla, bla...) but it is the same as most things - you get what you pay for.
For instance:
Stridsberg Multicouplers
Especially those made for the frequencies most people would be monitoring.
Long answer:
"Multicoupler" can be different things to different people.
For instance, there was mention of an "F connector", which in my book would actually be a TV splitter, not an actual multicoupler. And..... splitters have RF loss. A standard 2-way splitter has about 3.5 dB to 4 dB loss per port, while a 4-way has about 7 dB, and an 8-way can cause up to 14 dB of signal loss. 3.5 dB to over 14 dB is not good if you are in a weak signal area.
A TRUE multicoupler is an active device and does not have any loss - maybe even a slight gain. I'm sure I'll have disagreement on this, ("waste of money", "just as good", bla, bla, bla...) but it is the same as most things - you get what you pay for.
For instance:
Stridsberg Multicouplers
Chris0516
Active Member
Ok
I think I have one of these: SP-1300 Combiner/Splitter | Scanner Master I just need to see, if I still have it.
Ok
I went to Stridesbrg page, which prompted my question.
rf_patriot200
Active Member
When I bought my Stridsbergs, you could specify the connectors of your choice, such as my M204-mil with BNC on i/o.
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Yes Stridsbergs you could order them with BNC or N connectors.
Good to know.
All of my Stridsbergs just came (default) with BNC - didn't know you could specify...
As far i know for Stridsberg multicoupler you can chose the connector only for the antenna input the other connectors are BNC.
I have the EDA2800 myself. Highly recommend, works great. I have the 4-port version on the TV antenna so that all three TV ports in the house get more signal.
For scanner use you do have to use F-to-BNC adapters, but a bag of those is cheap enough on Amazon.
You don’t absolutely need the Electroline power supply. I used the 12v power supply for the scanners to run the EDA2800; just a short piece of coax needed, with the 12v wires connected to the bare ends. Works fine.
Best of all, it’s lots cheaper than the Stridsberg, even after buying the adapters. Around $50 on eBay.
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It is nowhere in the same league as a Stridsberg.
Yes, they are not cheap, but as with most anything high quality costs.
A television splitter will be for TV freqs(??)
A Stridsberg MCA404M is 25MHz to 1GHz.
A television splitter will have attenuation with each split.
A Stridsberg will have 0 attenuation - maybe a slight gain.
A Stridsberg is an active device.
The Electroline units are distribution amplifiers; basically a multicoupler under a different name. They have amplification to overcome the port losses you’d find in a simple splitter, just like a Stridsberg. The only major difference is that the Electroline is 75 ohm, versus 50 ohms for the Stridsberg.
I‘ve used both, and actually found the Electroline to perform better, even though it’s a 75 ohm device.
I beg to differ. See answer above.
The Electroline‘s official coverage is 54 MHz to 1 GHz, which for most scanner users is perfectly fine. I find mine to be quite acceptable down to at least 30 MHz.
Ditto the Electroline. It is not a splitter, but rather a distribution amplifier, ie multicoupler.
So is the Electroline.
You should probably try an Electroline, or at least look up the specs before you denigrate it. If you have a Stridsberg and it works for you, great. However, the Electroline is an excellent alternative, especially for people on a budget.
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I keep getting the impression (perhaps wrongly) that you do not realize the TV things being mentioned they are talking about (like the ED2800) are active with an LNA (so amplification multicoupler with gain--so it is the same sort of device as the Stridsberg). They are not simple splitters (and no one here has mentioned such) and most cover 54-1000 MHz. Many also have build-in switchable (on/off) FM broadcast band blocks. I used some model years ago and it was OK before Stridsberg was around. Now I use Stridsberg as well as home-brew.
And as I understand it, the return loss figure only applies to CATV usage in systems where your cable box “phones home” to the mothership, reporting on what you’re watching.
Also, the Electroline units are built like a tank; my EDA2800 is far more substantial than my MCA204M.
Uncle...
Actually, after I shot my mouth off, I looked.
Saw the band coverage and said to myself... "well that leaves the impedance".
You make it work and results are all that matter.
Actually, after I shot my mouth off, I looked.
Saw the band coverage and said to myself... "well that leaves the impedance".
You make it work and results are all that matter.
I do (understand).
Climbed trees up in the mountains to put amps and antennas as high as I could for VHF TV .
Familiar with the gear.
I conceded elsewhere.
People make the ED2800 work.
As long as they can make the 75 vs 50 work.
I should have looked before I posted - mia culpa.
I still will rely on my MCA408M.
Anyone need a MCA404M?
prcguy
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Basically a multicoupler but not really. Electroline is designed for a known number of carriers at a known signal level, which is not very high. The Electroline and similar units were never intended to connect to an antenna with an unlimited number of carriers at levels you can encounter off an antenna. In many areas like where I live they will overload on a Discone and create tons of IMD and ghost signals at many frequencies in addition to greatly raising the noise floor.
A Stridesberg multicoupler is a step in the right direction being designed for 50 ohms and also to be driven from an antenna and not a closed cable TV system. There are better amplifiers available compared to what Stridesbderg uses but that's for another thread.
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Is the MCA404M an earlier version of the MCA204M?
