On reflection it would have been a sensible idea to run some good-quality coaxial cable from the comms room to the likely locations of TVs around the house. While video transmission is definitely moving towards Internet streaming services you still get a more seamless viewing experience when you can provide a TV with a good aerial signal.
In particular, it was surprising to find that the ‘All 4’ catch-up app on Android TV needed to be enabled via the YouView setup process – which insists on seeing an aerial, albeit only temporarily.
There are two CAT6 cables running from the comms room to all the likely TV locations, so one of those provides a wired Internet connection and there’s a second one available for other purposes.
While the high frequencies of broadcast television present something of a challenge, using a pair of high quality baluns it’s perfectly feasible to distribute a TV aerial signal over 50 or so metres of CAT6 cable. MuxLab from Canada offer a range of baluns and their CATV units are rated up to 900MHz. They offer shielded and unshielded variants. In the UK they’re available from CPC Farnell and other similar distributors.
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It’s pretty much essential to use an amplifier to help offset the inevitable loss of signal strength. This one from Labgear works well.
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