What Kind of Splitter for a Satellite?

Satellite dish

A splitter is a device that allows you to send the signal from a single satellite dish to multiple satellite receivers. There are different types of splitters that can satisfy a variety of viewing habits.

What Is a Splitter?

A splitter is an electronic signal-splitting device that allows you to distribute a single signal to multiple receivers. If you have only one satellite dish and you want to have service on more than one TV, you will need a splitter.

How Does a Splitter Work?

Splitters have a minimum of three inputs ports that take a cable connection from the satellite dish. The output ports on a multiswitch connect to your TVs. Inside the device itself is a mechanism that sends signals to your satellite dish every time you change the channel.

Basic Splitters

Splitters are named by how many input and output ports they have. A basic splitter, a 3x4, has three inputs that receive the signal from the dish and four outputs that connect to the receivers in your home.

Extra Inputs

A splitter with extra inputs (more than three) can receive signals from a cable feed or local service and mix that signal in with the existing satellite service.

Extra Outputs

Splitters that can power sixteen different receivers are called 6x16 splitters. Multiswitches of this size can be bought at electronics or hardware stores.

References

• Satellite Installer: Basic and Multi-satellite Multiswitches