What's the difference between power splitter and power coupler?

Power splitters and power couplers, while similar sounding, have distinct purposes:

Power Splitter

Divides the power of an input signal equally among its output ports.

Often used for applications like distributing a cable TV signal to multiple TVs.

Can also be used in reverse as a combiner, merging signals from multiple sources into one.

Power Coupler

Takes a portion of the power from an input signal and diverts it to another port, with a variable coupling ratio. This means it can split the signal unevenly.

Used for tasks like feeding a small amount of signal to a monitoring device while allowing most of it to pass through.

Can be used alongside power splitters for more complex signal distribution.

In essence, a power splitter focuses on balanced distribution, while a power coupler offers more control over how much signal is directed to each output.