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Cable TV Amp vs Sat Amp

S

selene

Senior member
I got snowy tv channel due to 4 splits. I like to put an amp where the coax comes in from outside to inside my house. Basically the first split. Are Sat Amp made the same way as a Cable TV amp ? I know they cover different MHz but if I get one that covers 5 - 2000Mhz it should be okay right ? Anyway good recommendations out there ?
 
Snow is a result of noise, not necessarily low signal strength. Keep in mind the amp could actually make things worse.
 
Originally posted by: rahvin
Snow is a result of noise, not necessarily low signal strength. Keep in mind the amp could actually make things worse.
Click to expand...

a poor signal could cause poor images on the screen.
 
your cable company may put one in for you.


we actually complained to comcast recently becuase of the same thing (4 way split-- terrible picture quality and cable internet sucked).... so comcast actually came and installed an amplifier free of charge for us. It improved things a lot.
 
I'd look for a distribution amp. RatShack has 'em but I'd be tempted to look elsewhere.

And, as rahvin stated, it could make things worse.
 
Originally posted by: Lifer
Originally posted by: rahvin
Snow is a result of noise, not necessarily low signal strength. Keep in mind the amp could actually make things worse.
Click to expand...

a poor signal could cause poor images on the screen.
Click to expand...

Unless the snow is on channels 2-5 it's likely noise (If it's on the low channels it's a signal strength issue). Most noise occurs on the channels in your cable system that are the same as the FM band. Those channels are identical to the spectrum being used for FM radio and the cable acts as a big antenna and picks up a ton of noise. An amp will just amplify that nosie. Most of that noise bleeds in through bad connectors/improperly crimped connections. As another example, channel 17 is often on the same spectrum as pagers and is usually relegated to the local information channel because every time a page goes out the channel picks up noise.

An amp will not solve your problem if your problem is noise.
 
Its snow on the high channels.. 61+ which are usually higher frequencies..

Basically

Outside - Split (3) ->

Split 1 - Cable Modem (good)
Split 2 - TV (good)

Split 3 - 1 TV (good)
2ND Split off #3 - another 50 foot run to another TV (snowy one)

I figure if I amp out split 2 & 3, the 2nd split off #3 might have a better pic
 
hmm so would this be why our channel 97 picks up a local radio station and plays it over the tv??

we hace, 3 splits, 4 off of one, 3 off another, and 2 off the other, so in total, 9 splits. i have snowy channels 2 - about 7, and then fm reception on channel 97

MIKE
 
Originally posted by: selene
Its snow on the high channels.. 61+ which are usually higher frequencies..

Basically

Outside - Split (3) ->

Split 1 - Cable Modem (good)
Split 2 - TV (good)

Split 3 - 1 TV (good)
2ND Split off #3 - another 50 foot run to another TV (snowy one)

I figure if I amp out split 2 & 3, the 2nd split off #3 might have a better pic
Click to expand...

Ok you typically have 15db coming off the pedistal. Each 100' run of rg6 will lose 5db. Each 3 way splitter is going to drop 4-5db. A cable modem needs a signal between +15 to -15. You should be able to access your modem's webpage and determine the power level downstream. This will give you the power off the first split (unless it's a special splitter that has more loss off one leg, usually routed to the modem). Taking that power loss you should be able to figure out what the signal strength is to the last tv. I would agree based on your situation that you need an amp but I would buy an amp and insert it right after the modem splitter that has more ports so you don't double split again. I would buy a channel vision amp.
 
Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
hmm so would this be why our channel 97 picks up a local radio station and plays it over the tv??

we hace, 3 splits, 4 off of one, 3 off another, and 2 off the other, so in total, 9 splits. i have snowy channels 2 - about 7, and then fm reception on channel 97

MIKE
Click to expand...

To get FM bleed you have a bad connection somewhere or the cable isn't grounded properly. The sheilding on RG6 should block all FM reception so either you don't have RG6 or you have a bad connector that is allowing the signal in through the shielding.

http://www.mastervideo.com/ntsc_chart.htm

Is a list of channels and the frequency they operate on both CATV and Over the air.
 
A couple points to remember:

-The cable tech should never amp the signal to your cable modem.

-Your digital cable box also needs two-way communication, and the amps installed by techs are the only ones designed to allow it. A rat shack amp may cause you to have problems with digital cable.

If you setup an appointment to have a tech fix the reception on an extra tv (not your primary set) you will probably be billed. Especially if you put the splitter in there. You could try moving your digital cable box onto the set with the bad reception, and then tell them your digital cable sucks. They would probably pull a new wire for free.
 
I found the trek amp-15 - amp for cable/hdtv with cable modem..

going to do more research before buying.. thanks for the help. I might try to run cable all the way up to main split so theres' less splits.. maybe.. lots of work
 
wow channel vision is expensive.. I'll consider it.... thanks.. i just bought a s400 camera so I dont know if I got enough for this project this winter..
 
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