1-way tap vs 2-way tap

[stuzeeuk]

Can anyone tell me what exactly a tap is ? (I assume some kind of amplifier/splitter or filter). The two producs below are a 1 and a two tap.

1- http://www.zinwell.com.tw/pro_profile.php?productsid=284
2 -http://www.zinwell.com.tw/pro_profile.php?productsid=285


Also can anyone tell me the difference between the two products above ?. If installed a one way 12db tap would this improve the signal strength/quality (as opposed to the 2 way 8.5db tap)?

Also where can I buy one online ?


Cheers

 

[rolfw]

OK, to answer your question, a tap is purely a splitter, but one with a managed output on one side.

If you are setting up a distribution system of say 5 flats or houses, running a single cable and taking feeds off the cable as it runs past the flat/house, the outlet at the beginning of the run will be much stronger than the one at the end, as the one at the end will have gone through several splitters.
View attachment 9239
Using taps, accounts for this, so if you wanted to increase the output at your flat/house, simply use a tap with a lower output attenuation.

Given an insertion loss of 4db per tap, a line of five taps will mean that at the last outlet, the original signal will have been reduced by five times 4db and no extra attenuation is needed on the output. (in real terms 6db is about the minimum output attenuation on a tap)

The difference between a one way tap and two way is exactly that, one will tap off for one point and the other will tap off for two points.

You should be able to buy them from any aerial wholesaler.

PS. the tap values above are not real, just simplified for thsi illustration.

 

[stuzeeuk]

Thanks for this Rolfw, I wasn't trying to be a pain ..... I just used the wrong phrase on my first posting and removed it when it was pointed out I had broken the rules.

Anyway, this is useful.

2nd question

At the moment my signal is pretty awful. I have a two way tap to my house of 8.5db each.

Would I be better buying a single tap 8.5db ? and would this improve the signal ? (or would it be just as rubbish ?)


Stu

 

[rolfw]

It should make no difference whether it is one or two way, it is the 8.5db which needs reducing, you probably can only go to 6db and that would give you a small gain.