# What is this coaxial cable adapter/something that I have here? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 5, 2017, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-coaxial-cable-adapter-something-that-i-have-here/795557 "2017-09-05T15:01:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-coaxial-cable-adapter-something-that-i-have-here/795557/1 "2017-09-05T15:01:38Z")
What is [this coaxial cable adapter/something](https://goo.gl/photos/hf64gXnbErtdfUDu9) that I have here? Part 1 is a black, cubic, wall-wort type of thing. It plugs into an ungrounded 120V outlet. It’s only outlet is a coaxial, male, f-type screw threads. On it is written: AC Adapter Model YL1200200 Input 120VAC 60Hz Output 12VDC It was attached -via coax cable- to this thing that looks like a splitter. On the splitter, it says ARPI-2000 power inverter. This splitter has 3x, differently labeled, male, f-type screw thread connections on it. Is this a signal amplifier? Additionally, can I use it to amplify my (digital’) TV antenna’s signal? [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1-15rG7Tg88Od4zfID2snFSdTIsT4vY1T7Oz3dpWdkiavZyVc2GF_VxIqDpyDvPV2kdJvmt72qfZav1S92BQQiDDpONEH8lCo-oiTFC6M1q_F5snoCj4H4T4Gq1WJBYJnTcpD3wY_A=w600-h315-p-k "New item by JV S") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPju1upcGNfP2EPss2bBsKk5jWkUydR1IHolJLl5189LkqoDmjVqmI9LJaohRDuFg?key=YXloX2JjNFVLWFA3bUhaRjhnQ1dvSXRib3Z2Vjl3) ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-coaxial-cable-adapter-something-that-i-have-here/795557/2 "2017-09-05T15:19:00Z")
> [@somepumpkin](#): > > It was attached -via coax cable- to this thing that looks like a splitter. On the splitter, it says ARPI-2000 power inverter. > > This splitter has 3x, differently labeled, male, f-type screw thread connections on it. > > Is this a signal amplifier? Additionally, can I use it to amplify my (digital’) TV antenna’s signal? > > [https://goo.gl/photos/hf64gXnbErtdfUDu9](https://goo.gl/photos/hf64gXnbErtdfUDu9) The “splitter” says “power inSerter”. It provides power via coax for other devices (which you don’t show) like amplifiers that are not located near an AC outlet. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-coaxial-cable-adapter-something-that-i-have-here/795557/3 "2017-09-05T15:25:48Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > The “splitter” says “power inSerter”. > > It provides power via coax for other devices (which you don’t show) like amplifiers that are not located near an AC outlet. Yep. It also combines the signal with the power. That’s why you have both a “to tv” and “to amp” coax connector. ---
**Author:** ![Khendrask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@Khendrask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khendrask)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-coaxial-cable-adapter-something-that-i-have-here/795557/4 "2017-09-05T15:44:47Z")
It is probably a power supply for either an inline amplifier on a cable-TV or antenna mast mounted amp, or a power supply for an LNA (Low Noise Amplifier) for an older satellite system. Newer satellite receivers directly provide power to the LNA, so I’m going to stick with the first. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-coaxial-cable-adapter-something-that-i-have-here/795557/5 "2017-09-05T16:26:13Z")
Another vote for having 2 of the 3 components for a TV coax amplification system. Without the actual amplifier part, they won’t do anything. There’s also the issue of what range of frequencies the whole system is intended to work on. It may or may not amplify the range you want. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-coaxial-cable-adapter-something-that-i-have-here/795557/6 "2017-09-05T16:55:45Z")
If you google the part number, the first hit is someone asking the very same question fifteen years ago at ars technica. 😃 [Here’s an example](https://www.amazon.com/Amplifier-Broadband-Output-5-1002Mhz-Adapter/dp/B00ASEB2SC) of what the wall-wart is used with. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-coaxial-cable-adapter-something-that-i-have-here/795557/7 "2017-09-05T19:57:52Z")
Thanks, everyone. I’ll be looking for the (currently missing) 3rd component.