Coaxial Amplifier or Splitter

[YaKuZa]

What's the best way to split up a cable connection running through a coax cable? With an amplifier or a simple splitter? Do you notice a big difference if you use an amplifier compared to just a splitter? Tia.

 

[palominon00b]

I used a splitter that I stole off the cable/rr tech when he was here ..

 

[ctowle]

I would say that it depends on how many times you are dividing the signal. If you are just going through a 2-1 splitter than you are cool, no noticeable signal degredation. If you are wiring the 'west wing' of the house with mutiple additions with long cable runs, then an amp might be helpful.

I just did this last weekend, I upped the number of cable outlets from 3 to 5 and I felt an amplifier would be beneficial to my situation, so I added it. I notice no difference, but I didn't try it using a passive splitter.

You can always add the passive splitter and then add the amp later on if you need it. Keep in mind that the amp needs 110 VAC, so you will have to have it near an outlet or bring power to it.

Good Luck

 

[MrHelpful]

The @Home booklet I have tells me not to use splitters or amplifiers. Hmm

 

[Mavrick007]

I have a splitter and an amp since there are four cable connections at our apt. It just makes it a cleaner signal so that my picture isn't so fuzzy to have an amp. I've used one for yrs..

 

[muttley]

A general bigger benefit is that you use the bigger coax if you have a house and your first tap is for the cable modem possibly using its own high quality tap. Cable modem uses 2 different frequencies hence a satellite cable surge supression protector works for the higher frequency (incomming I believe) but the lower frequency (outbound I believe) would not pass very well through a satellite surge supressor. I had a very high quality satellite surge supressor and that was my problem pass through for higher frequency was fine but not lower. The reason that I bring this up is that a booster for cable TV or TV RF may not work or if the gain is to much at certain frequencies and low at others. Some amplifiers have a variable adjustment that helps sometimes.


Bruce

 

[SaturnX]

<< The @Home booklet I have tells me not to use splitters or amplifiers. Hmm >>



And they also tell you not to run servers I have it split right now between my TV Wonder and Cable Modem, not problems whatsoever.

--Mark