How should I split my coax?

[watdahel]

Which configuration should I use? Is there any performance difference?

 

[nullpointerus]

Personally, I would use B.

How much signal loss occurs really depends on the splitters being used. Most have the dB loss marked on each port. I'm not sure, but I believe dB is an exponential scale instead of a linear scale, so loss is probably calculated through multiplication/division instead of addition/subtraction. There's probably a guide to this if you want to use Google to find it.

If you have signal quality issues, I would recommend getting a distribution amp. I used one of these to replace all the splitters internally and externally so that each device had a separate, "lossless" signal. This fixed my problems with distortion, ghosting, and failed recordings (w/ PVR-500 cards in SageTV).

 

[Snakexor]

coax signal for digital and hi definition cable is often misconstrued. the ideal goal is to have the signal at anywhere from -10db to 10db. anywhere in that range is usually good.

 

[bendixG15]

In Setup A - 1 output is 50% signal strength and the other 2 are 25% signal strength

In Setup B - All 3 outputs are 33% signal strength

 

[eplebnista]

my cable company chose A when they hooked up my cable modem

 

[Snakexor]

once again, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SIGNAL STRENGTH

 

[vanvock]

I use A, the first split going to modem the second to TV's

 

[hans007]

using more splitters supposedly degrades signal. sometimes HD wont come in when you do them in a chain like that.

 

[nullpointerus]

Originally posted by: Snakexor
once again, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SIGNAL STRENGTH

Just coming into a thread screaming at people is not very helpful. Perhaps if you would explain why "it has nothing to do with signal strength"--and why the distinction even matters to the people with which you will be conversing politely--your post might end up being interesting and useful.

 

[bendixG15]

Thanks nullpointerus

Your post is a lot more tactful than mine was going to be 🙂

 

[watdahel]

Originally posted by: bendixG15
In Setup A - 1 output is 50% signal strength and the other 2 are 25% signal strength

In Setup B - All 3 outputs are 33% signal strength

Really!?

Is there a difference between a bidirectional and regular splitters? From what I've read bidirectional splitters are meant for cable internet and digitalTV because they send and receive info from where ever.

I'm guessing in a bidirectional splitter you can connect your stuff to any of the terminals in any configurations while a regular splitter has a specific input and output terminals?

What if I don't use a bidirectional splitter? I don't know if my splitter is but my internet works. I wonder if a regular splitter slows it down.

 

[Snakexor]

Originally posted by: nullpointerus

Originally posted by: Snakexor
once again, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SIGNAL STRENGTH

Just coming into a thread screaming at people is not very helpful. Perhaps if you would explain why "it has nothing to do with signal strength"--and why the distinction even matters to the people with which you will be conversing politely--your post might end up being interesting and useful.

i did earlier in the thread, and noone listened.

 

[nullpointerus]

Originally posted by: Snakexor

Originally posted by: nullpointerus

Originally posted by: Snakexor
once again, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SIGNAL STRENGTH

Just coming into a thread screaming at people is not very helpful. Perhaps if you would explain why "it has nothing to do with signal strength"--and why the distinction even matters to the people with which you will be conversing politely--your post might end up being interesting and useful.

i did earlier in the thread, and noone listened.

Generally, if you have to tell people that you explained something, you didn't do a very good job of it in the first place. People listened, had no idea what you meant or why it even related to the discussion, and then simply ignored it.

The cable guy who hooked up my SD STBs some months ago also said something to the effect of "it has nothing to do with signal strength." Problem is, he didn't bother to explain (a) why splitters decrease video quality, (b) how to diagnose such problems, and (c) how to fix them. He basically just shrugged his shoulders, said it could go either way, and left.

Just telling people how much they don't know isn't particularly helpful.

Could you explain what a +10dB or -10dB means and how it is calculated?

Also, why are you assuming the OP was referring to digital SD or HD signals? Many people still use analog signals even though they have digital cable.