How to Use a Coaxial Splitter Off an Outdoor Antenna

Turn off the your primary device (television or computer), and the second device you wish to hook up to the splitter. Locate the coaxial cable wire that attaches to your antennae connection and leads to your primary device, probably your television set. Check to see if you already have a coaxial splitter from the antennae to the television set.

Look for any black cable that comes down from the roof and travels under the eave then descends down into the wall. Look for the splitter screwed to the underside of the roof or in the attic. Use a ladder to help in your search.

Examine the splitter and you will notice that the antennae side has an input screw jack and the other side has two or more screw jacks for output. If it has an open screw jack, pick the shortest route it takes to reach the second device with a length of coaxial cable.

Place a tape measure along the baseboards of the wall or ceiling coping, and measure the total distance from the splitter to the second device. If you want to drill a hole through a wall, take this measurement into account, add only about 5 inches, then continue the measurement on the other side of the wall. Write down your total distance and divide it by three. The number you arrive at will be the total number of plastic cable straps you will need to secure it to the baseboard or ceiling coping.

Purchase enough coaxial cable in a pre-cut length, which has connectors already installed on them. Allow a few feet of excess cable. Use pliers to screw the new cable end into the extra output jack on the splitter. Lay the cable down and use plastic cable straps to secure it to the baseboards or ceiling coping. Hammer the small nails supplied with the cable straps into the wood. Stretch the cable, keeping it taut. Run the cable to your second device, hammering the cable straps about 3 feet apart.

Use a drill and a 1/2-inch hole saw bit to drill a hole through any interior walls. If the splitter was located outside the house, use a spade bit to drill an additional hole through the stucco or wood paneling outer wall. Connect the new coaxial cable to the splitter and run it through the new wall hole. When you have come to the end of your cable, screw the new coaxial cable into the second device with a pair of pliers. Fold up any excess cable with a sturdy rubber band.

If you need to install a splitter, unscrew the coaxial cable from your primary device. Screw the cable coming from the antennae into the input terminal of a splitter. Secure the splitter box to a nearby wall with two self-tapping screws and a Phillips screwdriver. Connect a pre-cut length of new coaxial cable from the primary device to the output terminal on the splitter. Screw both ends together with pliers.

Screw the new coaxial cable into the second output terminal on the splitter and tighten it with pliers. Run the coaxial cable to your second device along your chosen route. Once you come to the cable end, screw it into the second device with pliers.

Turn on both devices and check the reception and operation. Use some silcone caulking adhesive to plug any holes you have drilled in the interior or exterior walls.