8 Way RF Splitter
CATV Signal Distribution
PCT10008V

RF Cable Splitter Chart

Balanced vs. Unbalanced 3-Way Splitters:

A balanced 3-Way splitter has the same amount of loss on each port. An unbalanced 3-Way splitter has lower loss on one port, and higher loss on the other two ports. For most installations, they are interchangeable. However, if one outlet is a longer distance from the splitter than the other two outlets, the higher signal from the lower loss port could help.

dB Loss:

All splitters and coaxial cables have some amount of loss. This is measured in deciBels (dB). The lower the number, the lower the loss. For most installations, a difference of one or two dB is likely not going to be significant. Everytime you add addition output ports (2-way, 3-way etc) you have loss.

Top Frequency:

This is the highest frequency over which the splitter is designed to operated. For over-the-air antenna use, the highest frequency for any off-air TV stations is 602 MHz. Many cable systems are designed to operate up to 1002 MHz, but a growing percentage of them are moving to 1218 MHz, so the higher frequency splitter may be recommended. However, a splitter designed for 1002 MHz will work in a cable network designed for 1218 MHz operation.

Power Passing:

A power passing splitter is required when the splitter is installed between the power source and a preamplifier on an antenna, or between the power source and a drop amplifier. It is always best to insert the power before any splitters, but sometimes it isn't possible, so a power passing splitter may be required. A power passing splitter can also be used in an installation that doesn't use any amplifiers.

Vertical/Horizontal Orientation:

This is the orientation of the ports on a splitter. If the splitter has all ports on the sides when it is sitting on a flat surface, if is a horizontal splitter. If the ports are facing up, it is a vertical splitter (an 8-way splitter almost always is a vertical splitter, but may have the input port on the horizontal side). The main reason for the different configurations is to match different installation requirements. There may not always be room for horizontal ports, in which case, a vertical splitter could be used.