getting cable internet

[kloud]

i checked into it and the only options available to me are dial-up, satellite, and cable (dsl doesn't reach the boondocks). i've had satellite tv and every time there was a storm, no channels came through, so now it's dial-up or cable. not much of a fight, huh?

anyways, the cable company i have now Cable Company wants to install another outlet just for the internet. but all i think they are going to do is put in a splitter (which they said if i do will degrade my tv signal). so the question is DOES it actually degrade the tv signal if i put in a splitter myself? i mean, i've split the tv cable already and ran it to the end of the house, and that didn't do much.

just about all the self-installation guides i've seen show a splitter, and don't mention and degregation.

 

[AFB]

No, just use a high quality one.

 

[Texun]

A splitter may or may not work, it depends on the signal strength and the modem's ability to receive and transmit return through the splitters and cable. For a two-way splitter, each leg drops the signal by 3.5dB. For a three-way the drop is 7dB on two legs and 3.5 on one. Add that plus the attenuation of the cable (depending on grade, length and frequency) and you may not have enough forward power for the modem, or it may attenuate enough that your modem won't be able to talk back to the head-end.

Splitters work fine most of the time, but in general you want to avoid them when possible since each one will flat loss of 3.5 to 7dB across the spectrum. Unless you see a clear advantage to doing it yourself I would let them take care of it.

 

[martind1]

its all about the signal strenght. if you split it too many times, of course, the signal own't be there.

 

[SaintGRW]

the cable line at my house is split 4 times before it hits the modem I think you'll be fine, we have it split so each room as cable (when we had cable tv) the modem is in the far corner of the house (my room) from where it comes in from the telephone pole.

 

[martind1]

You shoudl be able to get a tester yourself and check for the right amount (which i don't know what it is)