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Why or when would i use a powered video splitter vs. a standard tsplitter? Basically what we are trying to do is have the video camera show live video on a public view monitor that is at the door where customers can see themselves coming into the store and at the same time show up on the dvr as well.

 

Our customer loves powered video splitters, but we have to run 18/2 to them to get them to work, wouldn't a standard standard tsplitter with a male in and 2 females out work as well?

 

WHat am I not looking at? When and why would it have to be a powered video splitter? The average run of siemese cable from the camera to the dvr is about 150-200 feet and the public viewing monitor is about 3 feet away from the camera, so the distance remains the same.

 

help me understand please.

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A powered splitter takes an incoming signal and essentially regenerates it so that each output port is receiving a "full strength" signal.

 

A passive splitter takes one electrical input (the signal) and splits it into two, which is going to cause some loss of signal strength. It's not always easy to predict when the loss will be visible, but the longer the cable run, the greater the chance the passive splitter won't work.

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"T" splitters will only work for a short distance. You will need a powered splitter if you want to run any kind of distance. The powered splitters will keep the 1.0Vp-p

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Besides the above comments, a "T" tapped connection is likely to have ghosting in the image if the lines out from the "T" are of any significant length.

 

If the DVR has a looping output (many do not, though), you could use that to go to the monitor.

 

Make sure and have the 75Ω termination off at the DVR, and on at the monitor, though (if you are using a standard TV for a deterrent monitor, they often have a high impedance composite input, a terminator added at the monitor can improve the image)

 

A powered splitter is usually the simplest option, though.

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The SIMPLEST option is a "real" CCTV monitor, which should have looping inputs (meaning, one BNC in, and a level-balanced BNC out), so you would just run the camera into the monitor, and the loop-out back to the DVR.

 

If you're cheaping out by using an LCD TV or something, well....

 

Sure they cost more, but compare the cost of a proper CCTV monitor to a cheap TV + active video splitter + additional wiring for splitter power...

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