cable internet shared with cable tv line.

[dc5]

im using the same line to share my internet and cable tv. i have a splitter that splits the line into 2, one for internet and one for cable tv. lately i've been getting random internet drops. is it because of the splitter/cable being bad quality or is this suppose to be happening?

 

[jdogg707]

To get the best signal you do not want to split the line from the box to your modem. A higher quality splitter may help, but probably not by much. You want it to be 2.4GHZ if you have to split it, but if you can figure out another way then I would definitely leave it by itself. I had numerous problems with this and have had a narmy of workers from the cable company come out to my house in order to try and fix problems with my modem, only to find out it was because I had it split (Using a nice splitter, Monster 2.4GHZ 2-Way).

 

[dc5]

Originally posted by: jdogg707
To get the best signal you do not want to split the line from the box to your modem. A higher quality splitter may help, but probably not by much. You want it to be 2.4GHZ if you have to split it, but if you can figure out another way then I would definitely leave it by itself. I had numerous problems with this and have had a narmy of workers from the cable company come out to my house in order to try and fix problems with my modem, only to find out it was because I had it split (Using a nice splitter, Monster 2.4GHZ 2-Way).

didnt the cable people ask you why you split your internet conenction? it's illegal

 

[MScrip]

Don't forget... cable TV line is split hundreds of times through miles of cable from the cable company. The very nature of cable TV is that it's shared and split through the various neighborhoods that are near you. If you ask the cable company to give you another line directly to your computer... guess what, they are gonna use a splitter at the outside of your house. I doubt they will run another complete line from the street pole to your computer.

Have the cable company come out and check your signal strength. That's a measure of how good your connection is. Some cable modems have utilities you can access to check the signal strength yourself.

 

[dc5]

i have a motorola SB5100 surfboard. i checked on the cable modem's ip 192.168.100.1 and it showed the following stats:

Downstream Value
Frequency 729000000 Hz Locked
Signal to Noise Ratio 33 dB
Power Level


Upstream Value
Channel ID 5
Frequency 25008000 Hz Ranged

Power Level 45 dBmV

 

[jdogg707]

Originally posted by: dc5

Originally posted by: jdogg707
To get the best signal you do not want to split the line from the box to your modem. A higher quality splitter may help, but probably not by much. You want it to be 2.4GHZ if you have to split it, but if you can figure out another way then I would definitely leave it by itself. I had numerous problems with this and have had a narmy of workers from the cable company come out to my house in order to try and fix problems with my modem, only to find out it was because I had it split (Using a nice splitter, Monster 2.4GHZ 2-Way).

didnt the cable people ask you why you split your internet conenction? it's illegal

It is not illegal to split a line in your house and use it to connect another TV. Charter Communications, my provider, allows up to seven connections before they start to chanrge more.

 

[dc5]

it's illegal if you split it and only pay for internet and not cable tv.

 

[jdogg707]

Originally posted by: dc5
it's illegal if you split it but only pay for internet and not cable tv.

Of course it is, but I pay for both. Anyone who doesn't deserves to get turned in and a cheesy cable theft commercial done about them!

 

[Bleep]

it's illegal if you split it but only pay for internet and not cable tv

Ha Ha you dont know squat. The only way you can get internet over cable is if you register your MAC address with the cable company, this is how you are verified as a customer.

Bleep

 

[nycxandy]

Originally posted by: Bleep

it's illegal if you split it but only pay for internet and not cable tv

Ha Ha you dont know squat. The only way you can get internet over cable is if you register your MAC address with the cable company, this is how you are verified as a customer.

Bleep

Erm, I don't believe so.

 

[Mday]

Originally posted by: dc5
im using the same line to share my internet and cable tv. i have a splitter that splits the line into 2, one for internet and one for cable tv. lately i've been getting random internet drops. is it because of the splitter/cable being bad quality or is this suppose to be happening?

Call the cable company to notify them that you are having problems. Also, check sites like www.broadbandreports.com or similar to see if other users in your area also have the same problems as you describe.

 

[everman]

A splitter shouldn't cause your connection to drop unless it's absolutely terrible quality. Over here the line is split in two places with no problems whatsoever.

There may actually be a problem at the telephone pole your cable line is hooked up at. I initially had a problem which required an adjustment up there, amplifier if I remember correctly (few years ago). However that required a few service calls until they sent out someone qualified enough to do that.

 

[dc5]

i really dont think a splitter could cause random drops. are there special kinds of coxial cables made for cable internet? i just found some old coxial to use.

 

[Slapstick]

I have my line split, one running to the modem and the other to an AWI card. Ran fine for 6 month and then last weekend the modem wouldn't connect. Replaced the cheap coax cable I had running to the modem and now everything is fine.

 

[ggnl]

I've had the same problem in the past and I tend to blame it (maybe incorrectly, I dont know much about this stuff) on the cable modem. When I first got the service they gave me a cheap generic modem. My connection would drop frequently but I just had to unplug and replug the modem to get it working again.

Eventually the cheap modem got fried by a lightning strike at which point they replaced it with a Surfboard 5100. At the same time though, they replaced all the connections on my cabling, with the cable guy claiming these connections had insufficient sheilding or something and they were required to replace them by the FCC. In any case, my service very rarely drops now. It only seems to drop if I leave a bunch of bittorrent streams going overnight. It can still be fixed by unplugging/replugging the modem.

It seems you already have a decent modem though, so I don't know what to tell you.

 

[dc5]

i went back to connecting the cable modem directly (no splits) with a different cable modem. no drops so i know that there is nothing with my cables. i am thinking either my splitter isn't that good of quality or my connection just doesnt allow to be split. do you guys think i should get a better splitter? i saw a monster cable splitter that is 2.4ghz $9.99.

 

[SeTeS]

Check the hZ rating on the splitter... When I got my cable modem installed, the tech told me that if I was gonna use a splitter, to make sure that it handled up to 1000hz. I had tried some splitters that I had already that were rated at 900, but got frequent dropouts on the modem. Switched to some slightly more expensive splitters and the modem connection has been solid.