Distributors are sometimes called “splitters,” “distros,” “D.A.s,” or “distribution amplifiers.” But they all do the same thing. Wireless microphone antenna distributors receive multiple microphone signals through a pair of antennas, split and amplify those signals, and send each signal to their respective receivers via coaxial cable.
Many distributors will also supply microphone receivers with their own power supply via coax or, like our DISTRO4, through dedicated DC jacks. This avoids the hassle of a rack cluttered with six, eight, or even dozens of whip antennas, and power strips practically smoking with a garden of wall warts.
Crowding a large number of antennas together isn’t just an eyesore, it also increases the likelihood of intermodulation distortion and other problems. And if you want to use directional antennas (like paddles or helicals) with more than two receivers, an antenna distributor is a basic and necessary piece of gear. Distros can be daisy chained together for eight, sixteen, or however many receivers you need to accommodate.