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I need to split a PTZ coax cable coming into my DVR system so I can view the camera real-time on a monitor. Right now the cable goes directly into a DVR system and I am only able to access the video from the there. I've looked around in local stores and cannot locate a CCTV or BNC splitter. I know they are available online but that is my last option (long story).

Here are my issues...without a BNC/CCYV splitter available I attempted to use a regular regular digital cable TV splitter and it did not work. I assumed it would being that coax cable is used. I changed the BNC connectors to CATV connectors (I believe "F" connectors) in order to accomodate this connection.

My questions are, is there a way that I can use a regular digital cable coax splitter...the ones commonly used for cable TV? If so, could my connections have been the problem with it not working for me in the first place? Should I just get the CCTV/BNC splitter? What are my best options for my needs?

Thanks in advance!

What are the video connections on the DVR and camera itself? If they're BNC then your best bet would be to stay with that format; it will eliminate the need for adapters or converters, and all you'll have to run the camera through would be a BNC splitter. If the DVR and camera use F-connectors, it would be best to stay with that style instead.

Realistically you probably don't need a digital splitter for what you're trying to accomplish, just a simple "y" adapter would more than likely do the trick, however that also depends upon the distances involved. How far are each of the two monitors from the splitter, and what gauge of cable are you using to run that distance?

I do not know the connections on the camera. I only know that the wire coming in to the DVR is a coax cable that now has a BNC connector on it. The distance from the camera to the DVR is around 300 feet. The monitor I need to connect is about 300 feet from the camera and 30 feet and 3 rooms away from the DVR. Right now the PTZ is connected to the DVR & working fine. I just need to make the monitor work. I have a coax cable run from the DVR to the monitor now and have attempted to make the necessary connections using F connectors and a CCTV splitter but when i did, the video did not work. I could use a BNC Y connector as you suggested. It doesn't matter which way I get it connected, I just need to get it working. I couldn't figure out why the CATV splitter did not work for what I was using it for and what I needed to do to make this work.

I appreciate your time and any assistance you are able to provide.

Thanks so much.

If I were in your shoes, I'd probably just use the BNC Y-adapter. Run your PTZ's video cable into the Y, then run one arm into your DVR and the second arm out to your secondary monitor. Since your secondary monitor probably doesn't have a BNC, you could use a BNC-CATV or BNC-RCA adapter to display your camera on that monitor. You can probably find all of that equipment at a local A\V store such as Radio Shack.

As an alternative, you might also consider using an amplified splitter instead of a Y (also pretty easy to find at A\V stores), to ensure that there's minimal loss in video quality during the split. Were you to go that route, you would need to adapt your PTZ to the connections required by the amplified splitter (usually RCA), then run the video cable out to the DVR and monitor as outlined above. Though the setup would be a little more complex, the advantage is that the amplifier unit would compensate for the loss in video signal strength caused by the split.

Got it. Will do. Thanks for all your help. It's much appreciated.

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