I have a samsung slimfit TXT3093WH and it only has one coax input.
the problem is my satellite cable runs through a coax cable, so my problem is I want to hook up that and i have an antenna to pick up ota hd signals, how do i hook up both

I have a splitter but either im not doing it right or it wont work,

the splitter has an input then it has 5 outputs

im so confused...

From the sat. receiver to the hdtv you have a number of video connection options from worst quality to best quality: rf(coax), composite(yellow video), s-video, component(red,green,blue-hd capable), digital(dvi/hdmi-hd capable).

Some questions: Are you using an ATSC(OTA) tuner integrated into your slimfit, or integrated into your sat receiver? Do you have an HD sat receiver? If not , then do you understand that your only HD programming will be OTA?

You can try a cheap 2-way splitter and reverse it to make it a combiner. In other words, antenna and cable go in the outs, and the input goes to the TV imput. Signal will probably be degraded thorugh.

RCA makes an amped antenna with a "pass thru" coax input that Target sells for $28.

Unfortunately if the chaep solutions dont work you'll probably have to purchase an expensive combiner dedicated for satellite cable + antenna. The problem you're facing is that high-channel cable requires top quality components to carry the signal.

Another option is to use a device like a VCR that accepts RF/coax input as your cable input device, and out put to the TV thru A/V, componenet, etc. Then your antenna can go into the TV coax. Here is a topic on another site dealing with your problem: http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:LPr67Gx9x0UJ:forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/5/4757.html+cable+coaxial+converter&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us

Your STB should have two coax inputs on it. One being for the line coming off the dish and one for OTA stations.

ok i put the coax cable into a vcr input and ran AV cables from the vcr output to the tv, but there is just a blue screen. What am I doing wrong?

ok i put the coax cable into a vcr input and ran AV cables from the vcr output to the tv, but there is just a blue screen. What am I doing wrong?

VCR power on? Correct video channel?

ok i got it to work with both the vcr and the splitter, but with either one the video signal is significantly decreased....

grrrr......

any more cheap$$ ideas?

Sorry, I'm out. Looks like you'll have to go for a quality cable box that can handle your channel load. I guess yuor VCR's internal circuitry just wasnt up to it.

I'm lost here. The op originally stated that he had a sat stb and ota antenna and I assume a multiple input HDTV. He did not answer my important question of whether the sat stb was a HD box. Using the rf output of the sat stb through a vcr or combining with the ota signal is about the worst thing to do. Even a SD sat stb will have composite video output which should be a jump up in quality over rf.

In this case, no cable, the only reason to use the coax input on the set would be for ATSC (OTA) tuning.

I dont see where he mentioned having a cable box, though. I assumed the coax was coming straight from the dish and the channels were nonencrypted, so the box wasnt intitially required? Oh well, whatever, I dunno...

no I dont have a box, just a coax cable coming out of the carpet going into my tv...

Your original post indicated that you have satellite service. Satellite reception requires a set-top-box receiver. Do you have satellite service or cable service?

No STB = no picture. Can you at least give us a brand name and model number of the box?

well there is a box, but its in another room in the house. It has two tuners built into it, so it has the one for the room its in and it has one for my room. There is a little antenna in the back of the box so i can use it in my room.

The RF from the sat stb is the worst signal you can send to your set, but if that's your only option, then the cheapest option to connect it along with OTA is a coaxial A/B switch. Manual switches are fairly cheap.

Have you verified that you can get OTA reception in your location? OTA will be your only option for HD programming with your setup.

I assume the "little antenna in the back of the box" is for the remote to function.

yes and yes

with one of those manual switches will it reduce my signal like the vcr and the splitter did or will it be fine?

The 1 to 5 splitter introduced a significant amount of loss if you used it in your earlier test. A manual coaxial switch will not introduce a significant amount of loss.

ok, thanks for your help guys