RS-422 encoder signals: "splitter" or "parallel" ?

I have an application I'm considering where I need a device that's generating a master encoder output signal to drive two slave devices at the same time.

The master device is an A-B 2198-ABQE module. Its default output is a 5V RS-422 style encoder signal, so Channel A and Channel B are both differential twisted pairs.

Slave Device 1 is a JVL MAC402 integrated servo motor. When configured for "gearing" mode, it accepts a quadrature encoder input signal with Channel A and Channel B both being RS-422 differential pairs.

Slave Device 2 is an Olympus Focus PX ultrasound analysis instrument. To perform its feature of non-destructive "scanning" of composite workpieces, it usually gets a position input from an actual standalone SICK encoder that has an ordinary RS-422 differential signal output. I want to instead connect it to the same signal from the 2198-ABQE, in parallel with the JVL motor.

I've done applications where I "split" an encoder signal, but those were simpler single-ended HTL type encoders. And the boards were always fragile and got more attention during troubleshooting than I think they deserved.

Are RS-422 encoder signals appropriate for connection in parallel this way ? Can you really do "multi drop" encoder connections ?

The distances would only be a few feet of cable.

Use a splitter
the load in parallel could over load the encoder driver

We have had customer run one encoder to two motion controllers. The trick is that only the last one should have the termination enabled. Sometimes you can't disable the termination. In this case you need a splitter that can drive two terminations

Thanks for that perspective and comments !

Again, this is a one-driver, two-receiver system.

There's no risk of multiple drivers transmitting at the same time, and RS-422 is supposed to support ten receivers.

I suppose when you're dealing with multiple vendors, you have to either test thoroughly or plan for isolator/repeater devices.

Every time a customer tried to get away from the (nominal) cost of a splitter and run in parallel, it failed. So they end up having to add the splitter. Waste of time, you'd think they would learn from their mistakes.