Help with coax cables

[XmnwildX12]

I have DirectTV, a VCR and DVD player. I want to be able to have all 3 on my TV and all 3 able to be captured. I have a WinFast2000 XP Deluxe card, I was able to do it easily with digital cable, but DirecTV I am having problems, I got about 6-8 coax cords and two splitters

[lordsmurf]

Try to do it without ANY splits, ONE at most, and ONLY a broadband high-DB split, none of that Walmart junk.

Invest in RG6 wire, invest in coax filters (FM traps and DC blocks as needed), invest in coax amps.

[Duchess]

Use decent coax cable, not the rubbish that most DIY stores sell and make sure it's proper coax and not just screened wire used for audio cabling. You can tell decent coax by looking at the outer screen, the cheap stuff has big holes in it, whereas the best stuff is almost solid screen.

Also use decent connectors, the plastic ones are hopeless, so make sure you use the all metal ones.

If you don't use the correct stuff you'll get pick up of interference which will seriously degrade your signal.

[Bob W]

I would simply buy a switch box.

[Savant]

I agree wholeheartedly. Dump ALL those coax cables and get yourself a switch box. Radio Shack (for sake of example) has a unit that does 4 input and 2 output, all with RCA/S-Video jacks. The unit even allows you to control it with your existing remote controls. For US$44.99 it's not that expensive either.

Using splitters is just asking for problems. Grab a swicth box and save yourself the headache.

Regards,

Savant

[Gazorgan]

High Isolation splitter/amp box. Unless you like mixing all 3 pictures together, you want at least 40 dB isolation between ports. 60 is better and 80 is golden. Odds are Radio Sahck unit won't tell you. To test it, unplug the otehr sources and see if the picture changes. Use a static xhannel like a preview guide so you can see distortion on the CGI colored background. A little bit of noise like this can really eat into your bitrate.