This article will lay out how to set up multiple TVs to show the same signal. All you need to do is connect two or more screens to the same signal source. 

How Do I Set Up Multiple TVs?

The parts to do this will be available at most online retailers and stores with an electronics section. You’ll only need cables and a signal splitter. If you have a clear line of sight between the two TVs that’s unlikely to be broken, consider using a wireless transmitter to keep cable tangles to a minimum.

  • Check the input ports on the TVs you want to connect. Most modern televisions will have at least one HDMI port. These instructions will use that as an example, but the basic idea holds for any A/V port.
  • Plot out where you want your TVs to be in the room and measure the distance from the TV to your signal source. Doing this will tell you how long your cable should be.
  • If you’re looking to use a streaming box, such as a Roku, as your signal source, consider placing it in a more central location, such as on the wall between the two TVs. You’ll be able to use shorter cables and have a neater arrangement.
  • Place the TVs, connecting them to power sources and any other signal sources, such as game consoles, that you might want to use on only one TV.
  • Connect an HDMI splitter to your signal source at the HDMI Out port on the device.
  • Connect each cable to the TVs and power them up one at a time, noting which input you use. Use the remote included with your TV or the “source” button on the side to set it to the appropriate HDMI input.
  • Put each TV on mute or turn the volume as low as possible before setting it to the proper source. Doing this limits blaring audio and other annoyances.
  • Configure the other settings of each TV as needed.

Why Set up Multiple TVs in the Same Space?

There are a couple of reasons you might consider doing this at home. One is that it gives you more ports to connect other signal sources to, so for example, you could set up a private gaming area on one side of the room for when others want to watch TV instead while setting both TVs to your cable box when the game’s on, and guests are over.

Check the input ports on the TVs you want to connect. Most modern televisions will have at least one HDMI port. These instructions will use that as an example, but the basic idea holds for any A/V port.

Plot out where you want your TVs to be in the room and measure the distance from the TV to your signal source. Doing this will tell you how long your cable should be.

If you’re looking to use a streaming box, such as a Roku, as your signal source, consider placing it in a more central location, such as on the wall between the two TVs. You’ll be able to use shorter cables and have a neater arrangement.

Place the TVs, connecting them to power sources and any other signal sources, such as game consoles, that you might want to use on only one TV.

Connect an HDMI splitter to your signal source at the HDMI Out port on the device.

Connect each cable to the TVs and power them up one at a time, noting which input you use. Use the remote included with your TV or the “source” button on the side to set it to the appropriate HDMI input.

Put each TV on mute or turn the volume as low as possible before setting it to the proper source. Doing this limits blaring audio and other annoyances.

Configure the other settings of each TV as needed.

In other cases, you might want to stream a specific video, like a baby monitor or security camera, to locations all over your house without checking your phone constantly. It can also be an excellent way to monitor what children watch without walking back into the room.

Troubleshooting Multiple TVs

Once your TVs are up and running, there are a few common problems you’ll likely need to resolve.

Control

Most remote controls still use infrared “blasters” to send commands, which viewers must point directly at the signal source. This setup can be inconvenient among multiple TVs. 

  • For streaming boxes connected to your Wi-Fi, use a remote app on your phone or your tablet. For cable boxes, consider relocating the box to a convenient place to point your remote during parties or upgrading to a universal remote that uses voice commands or Wi-Fi to control your TV. You also might want to consider “pairing” your remote with each TV so you can tweak individual settings without needing to find a specific remote.

Poor Video Quality

Especially over very long distances, 25 feet or more, you may notice a drop in video quality. A signal will degrade as it travels over a cable due to the material’s resistance in the cable itself.

  • Optical HDMI cables will offer lower resistance for distances over 25 feet to 50 feet.
  • Use active HDMI cables for distances of up to 100 feet. These amplify the signal using electronics built into the cable.
  • For longer distances, use HDMI extenders. These are converters where you connect a short HDMI cable to your splitter and another to your receiver, connect the extenders to the cables, and then connect the two extenders using an Ethernet cable.

Delayed, Blaring, Or Muddy Audio

If you have both TVs in the same room, you might notice a slight delay between the two, that the audio is hard to discern, or just that it’s too much sound in too small a space. 

  • In smaller spaces, mute one TV and use the other for sound.

  • For larger spaces, connect a separate sound system to your signal source, such as a cinema audio system or a soundbar. You can also stream audio to multiple wireless speakers through a transmitter, allowing you to configure the audio setup to your liking.

  • How can I control two Vizio TVs in one room with separate remotes?

  • Vizio remote controls are widely compatible with Vizio TV models and lack coding to a specific TV. To avoid inadvertently controlling one TV with the other TV’s remote, use the SmartCast mobile app as a remote instead. Pair both devices by tapping Add Device and selecting the TV you’d like to control from the Devices drop-down menu.

  • How can I set up two pairs of headphones with my Samsung TV?

  • You could connect a Bluetooth adapter with your TV to use both sets of headphones at once. Plug the Bluetooth transmitter into your TV > put your headphones and adapter in pairing mode > and use the controls on the adapter to use one set or both headphones simultaneously.

Vizio remote controls are widely compatible with Vizio TV models and lack coding to a specific TV. To avoid inadvertently controlling one TV with the other TV’s remote, use the SmartCast mobile app as a remote instead. Pair both devices by tapping Add Device and selecting the TV you’d like to control from the Devices drop-down menu.

You could connect a Bluetooth adapter with your TV to use both sets of headphones at once. Plug the Bluetooth transmitter into your TV > put your headphones and adapter in pairing mode > and use the controls on the adapter to use one set or both headphones simultaneously.

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