Splitter question

[737mech]

Ok, I've looked at TV splitters and spec sheets etc. They are listing features like port to port isolation, dc path to one output or all outputs, and something called "Diode Steered". There's a few youtube videos about splitting coax signals for tv and cable to understand the concept of db loss. So I understand the basics. Does anyone have any idea good or bad if "Diode steered splitters" will work for a multi scanner setup? Basically using a splitter you have loss of signal and the port to port interference. So isolation numbers up around 20db or more sounds great. I understand how a diode works but are we only talking about the lnb dc power only or does the diode help isolate the scanners on the return loss as well? This idea would be a four or more scanner receive only setup with one antenna. Before anyone suggests a Stridsberg I know, they are good and people get great results from them. I'm just trying to disect the numbers and features of all the cheap tv/satellite splitters and maybe learn more about the differences.

 

[prcguy]

You don't want or need diode steering and a wide band 5Mhz to 2150MHz splitter is fairly standard these days. Most brands work about the same and an industry price for a known good brand is about $3 or less. Insertion loss above theoretical 3dB will range from about 1dB to maybe 2.5dB at the high end.

A TV/Satellite splitter is usually a transformer on a tiny core with multiple secondaries where a traditional splitter or power divider will be a Wilkinson type with multiple 1/4 wave striplines on a circuit board with balancing resistors and a much narrower band width. These will have much better port to port isolation, less insertion loss and will be generally mo betta.
prcguy
prcguy

 

[zz0468]

The diode steering is used with multiple satellite receivers that provide a control voltage to an LNB. They're neither wanted or needed in your application. The diode is not helpful for RF isolation, return loss, or insertion loss.