A couple of months ago I went through this entire forum looking for the answer to my question. If it was there I couldn't find it.

I had to join two cables together to make a longer run to reach a setup. Since I didn't have a barrel connector handy, I just used a 5-1000 MHz Antronix splitter with the downstream run coming off of one output and I terminated the other output on the splitter with a 75 Ohm terminator. My question is, am I getting a full strength signal to the downstream cable or will I still get a 3.5 db loss on that run? In other words, does the terminator eat 3.5 db of signal strength?

Thanks for your help.

Ed

A couple of months ago I went through this entire forum looking for the answer to my question. If it was there I couldn't find it.

I had to join two cables together to make a longer run to reach a setup. Since I didn't have a barrel connector handy, I just used a 5-1000 MHz Antronix splitter with the downstream run coming off of one output and I terminated the other output on the splitter with a 75 Ohm terminator. My question is, am I getting a full strength signal to the downstream cable or will I still get a 3.5 db loss on that run? In other words, does the terminator eat 3.5 db of signal strength?

Thanks for your help.

Ed

The terminator doesn't affect your signal at all, the splitter itself is what causes the 3.5db loss. I wouldn't worry about it, but next time you come across a barrel you might as well get it and use it.

It's not what you have plugged in to the splitter that causes signal loss, it's the splitter itself and also the size and type of splitter. Terminators just prevent signal leakage and ingress.

By it's design the 2 way splitter will output 3db less (half power) and it's passive loss .5
per leg.
Yes the 75ohm termination will get 1/2 of the power.
If you don't use the termination you may introduce other problems.

Go to Radio Shack (or somewhere like it) and purchase an F barrel, and get your power back. (there is a little passive loss through the barrel).

If you don't experience any "problems"... leave it alone.

If you do, then get a barrel connector. You can probably get one at Radio Shack, Lowes or Home Depot for a dollar. Or... if you see a cable guy in the neighborhood, ask for one. He will probably give you one for free. (But I'd offer him a dollar anyway ;) )