I know similar threads have asked before but I have a samsung series 9 hdtv with one coaxial input for cable or antenna. At first I tried a Holland diplexer but only the connection on the VHF/UHF side seemed clear. Connecting either cable or antenna to the Sat side was fuzzy. Ideally, I'd like the switch to be as simple as possible, having only to switch through remote control settings and change the channel.

That said, I've tried a physical A/B switcher and that works fine. It's just having to physically go to the tv, flip the switcher, change the settings through remote control, and change it to the right channel is kind of a hassle.

Is there any easier way to do it? Would a splitter or better quality diplexer do the trick?

Remote control AV switch is probably going to be the way to go. You can't combine cable and antenna on the same line. It would seem like you could use a programmable remote to so the A/B Switch, then automatically change the TV to Cable/Ant. Some Satellite and either Cable or ANtenna you can combine with a diplexer (at least certain Sat Receivers), but not Cable/Ant because of the frequency overlap.

I'm assuming you aren't getting any Clear QAM channels over the cable that you could use or maybe just not the channels you want.

I have one tv with a mechanical A/B switch. Right now it is really unnecessary, but could be useful in the future for several reasons. A local station could someday have a retransmission consent dispute with the cable company. A subchannel or low power digital station not carried on cable could come on the air. And of course there are the rare of late but eventually inevitable cable outages.

You could connect the antenna to the coaxial input on the TV & the cable to your DVR, VCR, or other device with a tuner. Connect that to the TV using the red, white & yellow cables. If you have a universal remote that controls the TV & the other device, you're set.

If you have a DVR with digital tuner, you can connect either the antenna or cable to it, then the other to the TV.

You could connect the antenna to the coaxial input on the TV & the cable to your DVR, VCR, or other device with a tuner. Connect that to the TV using the red, white & yellow cables. If you have a universal remote that controls the TV & the other device, you're set.

If you have a DVR with digital tuner, you can connect either the antenna or cable to it, then the other to the TV.
Using a VCR, DVR, etc... will not provide a high definition signal.

Using a VCR, DVR, etc... will not provide a high definition signal.


Ok then, don't connect the antenna to the DVR. If he wants the antenna for the HD signal, he can connect that to the TV. If he doesn't have HD with his cable, connect that to the DVR.

Using a VCR, DVR, etc... will not provide a high definition signal.

Correct for VCRs, but he was on the right track for DVRs or DVD recorders that have HDMI outputs (as long as the Sammy has a spare HDMI input).

Radio Shack has a remote-controlled A/B switch that costs about 45 bucks. It would be a lot easier than getting up to switch signal sources every time!

You may not need it, however. The rear panels of many recent satellite boxes have extra F-connectors for an antenna. If you're able and willing to run two separate coax downleads to the receiver, one from the dish and one from the antenna, forget about diplexers and just run the two cables directly to the appropriate ports on the box. If the port is there, the OTA channels should scan right into the channel lineup and be accessible through the sat-box remote control.