Cable TV experts, I need your help!!!......UPDATE

[guyver01]

<< I was having problems with my cable modem and digital cable box because of a weak signal, so the cable company came and installed this amplifier. (mine is the first pic)

I thought that the amplifier was only to boost signal strength which would only really boost image quality. it really shouldn't have any effect on the cable modem. maybe I'm wrong here? >>



I was just reading the specs... and

"Return Passband 5-42 MHz 5-65 MHz" that should be sufficient for broadband (cable modems)

 

[jaeger66]

guyver-

If you have a weak signal it's probably better to split the main line 3 ways instead of 2 and 2. This way all 3 lines will be attenuated 5.7db. 2 and 2 would have the first set at -3.5, and the 2nd set and modem at -7 each. -7 might be too much for the modem. But really, the cable company should fix this for free.

 

[etech]

frizzlefry, your cable modem is like any other receiving device, it must have a signal of sufficient strength to work correctly. Someone said it earlier, the best way to have your cable modem hooked up is a 2 way splitter from the main line with one of the lines runnign directly to your modem and the other to another splitter to handle the TVs in your house.

I'm still betting that the problem Cougar is having is not insufficent strength but a loss of the signal from the second splitter to his TV. If his TV works on the other outlet then number of splits, ghosting and such is not the problem.

Try changing the cable to your room to another outlet on the splitter, double check the connectors and connections on both ends. If all are good then I would replace the cable.

 

[Cougar]

Real quick update guys.

I just ran out to the garage to see how this place was wired and here's exactly what I saw. The main line comes into the house and hits a 2-way splitter and on the splitter it says this: "Antronix 2-way splitter 5-1000mhz HS2A10S-CM" and on the 2 jacks coming out it reads "-3.5db", now one line comes straight out of there and goes into my cable modem, and the other line goes into another splitter which reads: "Drop Shop DS4-GB 5-500mhz splitter" <----this is a 4-way splitter. Could either of these be my problem? If I were to replace either of these splitters with a better quality splitter do you think it would help much? Or, more importantly, would my cable company be pissed off at me for messing with their equipment?

 

[etech]

Cougar, what channels are you having the snow on?

I do not remember the frequencys that the channels are on but it should be easy to find.

Keying on the fact that your second splitter is not rated at as high a freq. as the first.

 

[Sugadaddy]

<< I thought that the amplifier was only to boost signal strength which would only really boost image quality. it really shouldn't have any effect on the cable modem. maybe I'm wrong here? >>



All I know is my cable modem was dropping its signal during the day (it worked a few hours at night, it was weird...) and that thing fixed it.

The cable guy came and did a few tests in my house and in the box outside, and told me there was a problem in the box or something, and the signal was too low. He said the company would come fix it because it wasn't his job, and he installed that thing so my modem would work in the meantime.This was a few weeks ago and they never came back to get it, so I guess they forgot.

 

[jaeger66]

Are the unused terminals on the 4 way capped?

 

[Looney]

Drop Shop DS4-GB 5-500mhz splitter" <----this is a 4-way splitter

I would bet this is the problem here... Go out and pick up a nice quality 2-way splitter and see if it makes a difference... i bet it will. And it's not too much of a problem, you can always just swap cable lines in whenever you change rooms (unless you change rooms a lot, then that'll be a pain)... or get an ohm terminator like jaeger66 suggested.

Some people have suggested an amp, but from personal experiences, amps weren't that great for me.. but the link that frizzlefry gave with the amp looks REALLY nice (compared to the one i had at least).

It could even be just that one cable line, since you said you tried it in another room it worked fairly well... so perhaps you can go out and buy a small roll of RG6 cable (25' costs like $10 or so i think).

 

[Cougar]

<< Cougar, what channels are you having the snow on?

I do not remember the frequencys that the channels are on but it should be easy to find.

Keying on the fact that your second splitter is not rated at as high a freq. as the first. >>



Well, to be precise, the really bad channels are 2 (local station), 3 (cbs), 4 (upn), and 13 (wb). Other channels that I get some static on are 6 (abc), 8 (fox), 11 (nbc in ohio), 18 (cbs in west viginia), and 21 & 22 (crappy channels that I don't watch anyway). Basically once you hit the upper 20's everything looks pretty good.

 

[Cougar]

<< Are the unused terminals on the 4 way capped? >>



jaeger66....

No, they are all "live-wires". I can go into any room and plug in a tv and I'll get a signal. Like I had said before I really don't want to shut off the cable access in the other rooms even if they're not being used right now. Then again, whatever ends up being the cheapest way to fix this will be the deciding factor.

How much do you think it would cost to buy those 75-ohm terminators, or maybe even a good 4-way splitter? If my cable company does in fact charge for house calls it will definately be cheaper for me to do this myself (or maybe get a friend to help out).

 

[etech]

Time for me to go to bed.

I still don't see how a different or even higher quality splitter will help. The signal strength out of all four outputs will be at the same level. If the TV works fine on another one of the lines then the problem is past the splitter. That is assuming that the output on all four is equal. I've never heard of one output going bad, but that is easy to check. Change the cables to different positions and see if the snow goes away. If it doesn't then the problem is "downstream" of the splitter, changing it will not help.

 

[jaeger66]

Terminators cost about $1 each. Capping 3 terminals would at least verify that the problem is weak signal and not something else. A good 4 way splitter would be about $20.

Monster SPlitters

 

[Sluggo]

Out of curiousity, i went out and inspected how my cable is set up.

Main line is split with a cheap looking little chrome splitter.

One goes straight upstairs to cable modem, where I have it split to a TV and modem.

Next one goes to a big amplified splitter ( like the link shows) and supplies cable to the other 4 TVs in the house. At our main TV there is another Amplifier that is plugged into an AC outlet.

ALL lines are clear and worry free. I agree with etech that the problem lies in the outlet of the splitter, or the cable line to the TV you are having issues with.

 

[rob_b]

They have that terminator you spoke of at Radioshack's site.

UPDATE: Just found terminators for a fraction of what Radioshack charges.

 

[brxndxn]

I didn't feel like reading the other posts.. but here are my suggestions from my experiences:

The cable signal into your house must be fairly strong because you have a working (?) cable modem. If the signal was weak, then the cable modem would drop the connection then reconnect periodically or the connection would be very slow.

Try an amplifier ($15 at Radio Shack) that splits the signal instead of the splitter (the cable modem must go on a splitter before the amplifier because the amplifier only amplifies one-way signals and removes the other). If it looks good, then you're done. If you get a horizontal line that moves up in the middle of the picture, then get rid of the amplifier because the signal is too strong. If it's worse, then try the following:

Try switching out your splitter if it is less than 1000mhz and put a 1000mhz splitter in its place.

Also, check your cable - make sure it is not the cheap RG-59 cable. If it is RG-59, then replace it with RG-6 (Usually cheapest at Radio Shack). Your house should be and is most likely wired with RG-6.

If the TV still is fuzzy, try a different TV if you can. Apply logical reasoning to determine whether it is your TV or the cable.

 

[Cougar]

etech...

I hear ya, I'm tired too I'll have to try moving the wire to see if maybe just the one connector on the splitter is goofy (though I doubt it). I think you may be right that the line needs to be changed. I'll have to stick a tv on another outlet and see how the quality is.

jaeger66...

Thanks for the link. Probably the first thing I'll try is replacing the splitter (since that's the easiest) and if it doesn't work I can return it and take the money and buy some new cable. If I do need to run a new line then what should I look for in coax cable? Can I just pick up any brand or is there something special that I should be on the look out for?

 

[jaeger66]

Buy quality RG-6 cable, but you don't need to go crazy. The main problem with department store crap is totally inadequate sheilding. Still, of much more importance is how well the connecters are attached. If you don't know exactly how to do it or don't have good tools, buy cable with factory applied connectors. Monster RG-6 is nice and is abut 60 cents a foot, plus connectors if you so choose.

BTW, you never said exactly what your picture looks like(or maybe I missed it)...

If it's grainy or snowy, you have a weak signal.

If it's ghosted, you have the over the air broadcast leaking into your line(and you're also leaking your cable signal back into the neighborhood).

If you have 2 lines slowly moving up, you have a bad ground.

 

[guyver01]

<< guyver-

If you have a weak signal it's probably better to split the main line 3 ways instead of 2 and 2. This way all 3 lines will be attenuated 5.7db. 2 and 2 would have the first set at -3.5, and the 2nd set and modem at -7 each. -7 might be too much for the modem. But really, the cable company should fix this for free. >>



In our system the modems can handle a 14db attenuation from normal, which means the modem will work at up to 2 splits, even a 2-1 into a 3-1... which would give the modem a 10.5db drop from ground. If the signal is properly calibrated at tap, there should be no problems. The TV signal can handle a much wider frequency drop so a 2-1 to a 3-1 split should cause NO problems for TV.

 

[Cougar]

I just removed my line off the second splitter and I plugged into the first 2-way splitter and the channel quality was greatly improved. Channels 3 (CBS) and 4 (UPN) still had a great deal of static to them, but every other channel that had the least bit of static was cleared up. So I'm guessing my problem is two-fold:
1. The second splitter degrades my signal too much
2. The line going into my room must be somewhat defective

Does that sound about right?

 

[Cougar]

<< Buy quality RG-6 cable, but you don't need to go crazy. The main problem with department store crap is totally inadequate sheilding. Still, of much more importance is how well the connecters are attached. If you don't know exactly how to do it or don't have good tools, buy cable with factory applied connectors. Monster RG-6 is nice and is abut 60 cents a foot, plus connectors if you so choose.

BTW, you never said exactly what your picture looks like(or maybe I missed it)...

If it's grainy or snowy, you have a weak signal.

If it's ghosted, you have the over the air broadcast leaking into your line(and you're also leaking your cable signal back into the neighborhood).

If you have 2 lines slowly moving up, you have a bad ground. >>



jaeger66...

I guess the best description for my picture quality is grainy/snowy (a few channels are so grainy that you can barely see). The only channel that I notice ghosting on is channel 2. If I flip it to channel 2 I can see channel 3 bleed over to it, but then again I never really watch that channel so it doesn't really bother me.

After the little test I tried (read my update) is it an accurate assumption that both my signal strength is too weak AND I've got a crappy cable line going into my room?

Before I forget, thanks to everyone that's been helping me out. I really appreciate it

 

[Cougar]

1 more thing before I head out for a couple hours. I just checked my cable bill and my cable company now charges $29 for a house call (plus taxes I think) so I figure I can spend up to $29 and I'd be able to do it cheaper than the cable company. So for a temporary fix (until I can run a new wire) I think I'm going to buy a 2-way splitter to replace the 4-way splitter. Once I can afford to buy some new cable, connectors, and a crimping tool I'll run a new line to my room and either buy a new 4-way splitter or just put back the one I took out. I know for a fact that the cable company won't run a new line for me and I have to call the contractor they use to do it (which cost $75 as of 2 years ago).

Does that sound like a decent plan of action?

 

[Emulex]

i pay a buck a month for in-house service plan. I can call them every month for nothing

Get DSS, Get HU Card..

 

[Soybomb]

I havent' read the thread except your post since I'm in a hurry. Too many splits will definatley weaken the signal. Might I suggest you try a splitter from the cable company, they should be alot higher quality than what you get at walmart or radio shack?

 

[Cougar]

Soybomb...

I was planning on getting a splitter made by Monster. I'm assuming they make good stuff right? I know there's always such a buzz to get Monster cables for any home audio/video equipment.

 

[jaeger66]

Stick with the Monster. Cable company splitters are sometimes good, sometimes not. The biggest problem with cheap splitters is that they often don't provide an even 75 Ohms at each terminal.

Your plan sounds good, just make sure you have a good coax wire stripper(about $15) and crimper($35-$100).