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.
![](http://www.marshflattsfarm.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/AP03060-40.jpg)
It’s pretty much essential to use an amplifier to help offset the inevitable loss of signal strength. This one from Labgear works well.
![](http://www.marshflattsfarm.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/LDA102R-e1560027838854.jpg)
Broadcast TV over CAT6 Cable by Marsh Flatts Farm Self Build Diary is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Great article, we’ve recently rewired the house with CAT cable, but someone forgot to run aerial cable, not a mistake i can easily rectify, but am just ordering a couple of pairs of these.
How have they performed long term?
Hi Rob,
They’re still working great. Initially I was expecting to just use them to enable the Internet Catch-Up services but I’ve been watching a fair bit of Freeview HD ‘live’ which comes through with a good signal strength and never any sign of picture break-up.
I’m using a second pair of the same baluns for a second TV which doesn’t get much use but it’s good to have it available.
In summary: a good solution and I’ve not seen anything better since I installed these, so no regrets.
David