I'm planning on splitting the coax in my basement to let me setup a TV downstairs...what should I keep in mind?

[Entity]

Right now, my house has a cable modem (on the middle floor), a TV (mid-floor), and another TV (upstairs). I'm planning on putting in another TV in the home gym area, and was planning on just splitting the cable that is already downstairs. I haven't split coax before, so what should I have to keep in mind? Should I have to worry about signal boosting, etc.?

Rob

 

[Colt45]

nah. our cable is split like.. 5 times, and theres no booster.. everything works fine.

 

[bsd]

depends on how far you rae from the cable cos last amplifier and how strong your sig is.

 

[Entity]

What should I get in the way of specific gear? I've already got a spare splitter (the little box) that AT&T left at my last apartment. I'll need a spare length of cable, coax cutters, and how do the fittings attach to the coax? Installing the TV tomorrow, wish me luck.

Rob

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Entity
What should I get in the way of specific gear? I've already got a spare splitter (the little box) that AT&T left at my last apartment. I'll need a spare length of cable, coax cutters, and how do the fittings attach to the coax? Installing the TV tomorrow, wish me luck.

Rob

if you don't have all that equipment it might be cheaper just to buy length of ready-made cable...

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Entity
What should I get in the way of specific gear? I've already got a spare splitter (the little box) that AT&T left at my last apartment. I'll need a spare length of cable, coax cutters, and how do the fittings attach to the coax? Installing the TV tomorrow, wish me luck.

Rob

if you don't have all that equipment it might be cheaper just to buy length of ready-made cable...

I agree. Unless you already have a crap load of coax, it's not worth it. You wiil need to buy a crimping tool, a stripping tool, connectors, and the coax. You will pay at least $20 for the tools, plus roughly another $20 for the cable. You can buy 100 ft of rg-6 with the connectors for $20 or less.

 

[Entity]

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Entity
What should I get in the way of specific gear? I've already got a spare splitter (the little box) that AT&T left at my last apartment. I'll need a spare length of cable, coax cutters, and how do the fittings attach to the coax? Installing the TV tomorrow, wish me luck.

Rob

if you don't have all that equipment it might be cheaper just to buy length of ready-made cable...

I agree. Unless you already have a crap load of coax, it's not worth it. You wiil need to buy a crimping tool, a stripping tool, connectors, and the coax. You will pay at least $20 for the tools, plus roughly another $20 for the cable. You can buy 100 ft of rg-6 with the connectors for $20 or less.

But what will I connect it to? I've already got a cable running downstairs, I just need to cut it in half, install the splitter, and run a cable from the splitter to the downstairs TV.

Rob

 

[Praetor]

Does this thread help you any?

Basic principles still apply with running a new line for cable (analog/digital) or cable internet.

 

[Praetor]

And this one references an amplifier.

Keep in mind that idealy, you'll want everything run to a central location. Meaning, it's usually a "bad thing" to split off of a split off of a split off of a split, ad naseum. Yes, it may work but more than likely it'll cause problems in the long run, plus it's just easier to troubleshoot if everything is home run.

As for the amp, if you do decide to get one, split the signal off once for the modem and the other leg should go to the amp. All of your splitters should be rated at 5-1000 MHz, the amp should be rated at... 5-40, 45-1000 MHz.

Damn. I'm supposed to be on vacation and here I am talking about work.

 

[bubbadu]

just get high quality cable, and high quality splitters and you should be fine

-Bubbadu

 

[Praetor]

Originally posted by: bubbadu
just get high quality cable, and high quality splitters and you should be fine

-Bubbadu

People's definition of "high quality" differs. Like I wouldn't touch Monster Cable coax cable/splitters. Their Coax sucks ass and their splitters lose like 5-6 dB. Go to a typical store Lowes or Home Depot or (gasp!) Radio Shack and they'll prol'ly try to sell you a cheapie splitter that they think is great.

 

[StageLeft]

I'd grab a 1 to 2 splitter from radioshack for a few bucks and be done with it.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: Praetor
And this one references an amplifier.

Keep in mind that idealy, you'll want everything run to a central location. Meaning, it's usually a "bad thing" to split off of a split off of a split off of a split, ad naseum. Yes, it may work but more than likely it'll cause problems in the long run, plus it's just easier to troubleshoot if everything is home run.

As for the amp, if you do decide to get one, split the signal off once for the modem and the other leg should go to the amp. All of your splitters should be rated at 5-1000 MHz, the amp should be rated at... 5-40, 45-1000 MHz.

Damn. I'm supposed to be on vacation and here I am talking about work.

Damn sound advice, but it sounds like Praetor does this for a living, so its kinda like cheating As mentioned above, try and keep the cable modem off the first split (from outside), then use splitters off the other end for your TVs.

I agree about the quality of the splitters. You don't need to go and spend $20 for each Monster 2-way splitter, but you should def. buy 1ghz or 2ghz rated splitters over the plain vanilla "unrated" splitters. I learned this early on when trying to split my main feed at my apt. and ended up with snow on both TVs. Got a nice 2.4ghz splitter and both were clear as day. No need for an amp unless you are running a long feed to your house or splitting it once inside to multiple units (apartment buildings usually require amps).

Chiz

 

[MercenaryForHire]

If possible, ask the cable guys to give you a seperate drop for your modem line.

I can say from experience that running multiple TVs and cable off one line sucks.

Previously, I ran the same: two way split with one on cablemodem, then a 3-way off one of them to TVs. Cablemodem speeds started to reach the level of Suck. I called the cable guys, pulled in some favours and got an aerial drop for the modem.

8MBit download speeds promptly 0wned my harddrive. :Q

Too bad I'm stuck down here with Rogers now. I want my ridiculously fast cable again.

- M4H

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I'd grab a 1 to 2 splitter from radioshack for a few bucks and be done with it.

Yes, all you need is one of these, and 2 pieces whatever size you need. I would hold off on the booster, as you may not need it.

 

[Praetor]

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I'd grab a 1 to 2 splitter from radioshack for a few bucks and be done with it.

Yes, all you need is one of these, and 2 pieces whatever size you need. I would hold off on the booster, as you may not need it.

OMG. :Q NONONONONONONONONONONO and NO Do NOT use this splitter. I can't even count the number of times I've had to replace it at a house.

 

[Praetor]

If you insist on using Radio Shack as your source, then buy this. :|

<--- hates Radio Shack coax/splitters

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: Praetor

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I'd grab a 1 to 2 splitter from radioshack for a few bucks and be done with it.

Yes, all you need is one of these, and 2 pieces whatever size you need. I would hold off on the booster, as you may not need it.

OMG. :Q NONONONONONONONONONONO and NO Do NOT use this splitter. I can't even count the number of times I've had to replace it at a house.

LoL, yah thats the exact one I had to replace. Again, buy 1ghz-2ghz splitters....or you'll just be heading back to get another splitter.

Chiz

 

[psteng19]

Err... 3 TV's (1 on each floor), 5 computers (all in the basement), 1 cable line, everything runs fine, I think.
Could I be doing something better?

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: Praetor

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I'd grab a 1 to 2 splitter from radioshack for a few bucks and be done with it.

Yes, all you need is one of these, and 2 pieces whatever size you need. I would hold off on the booster, as you may not need it.

OMG. :Q NONONONONONONONONONONO and NO Do NOT use this splitter. I can't even count the number of times I've had to replace it at a house.

LOL, always worked for me when I had cable. If you don't like the shack, give him another brand.

 

[Entity]

Woo! I just found took a look at the cable situation downstairs, and there is an unused split coming off the main split box. I'm just going to patch that together. Thanks for all the advice and help, guys.

Rob

 

[Praetor]

Originally posted by: psteng19
Err... 3 TV's (1 on each floor), 5 computers (all in the basement), 1 cable line, everything runs fine, I think.
Could I be doing something better?

One thing I've learned about these things is that splitters are funny. Sometimes a cheap radio shack splitter will work for a while seemingly perfect, others not at all. On analog cable, it doesn't matter as much, but if you're going to do it, you might as well do it right the first time around, y'know? With digital cable or internet service, definately do it right. Buy properly rated splitters (the 5-1000 MHz that I keep harping on about), the few the splits the better, etc.

As for your situation, I'm assuming that you have a router for the computers in the basement, so just as long as your cable modem is only split once from the original source (drop), you should be fine. Yes, it'll work if it's split more than once, but your performance will more than likely improve if it's only done once. I'm just trying to advocate doing it right the first time around.

 

[Praetor]

Originally posted by: Muadib

LOL, always worked for me when I had cable. If you don't like the shack, give him another brand.

Well, the Monster Cable splitter is rated properly, but I know for a fact that the signal loss off of it is too great for my tastes. Besides, it's freaking expensive. If you want to spend $10 on a splitter, send it to me and I'll give you a good one.

The 2-way splitters that I get and use lose only ~3.5 dB compared to around 5-7 dB off of 2-way Monster Cable splitters I've tested. Sure it works if you're signal is smoking hot to begin with, but the loss is still unacceptable IMO if there's something better out there.

 

[chizow]

Praetor, while on the topic, where would you set-up a drop amp? I got a motorola signal booster for cheap ($40) and I want to see if it improves my picture quality and bandwidth. Should I put it before the split from the main line to my room (which is then split again to my router and my TV tuner), or should I put it before the split to my router/tv tuner?

TIA,

Chiz

 

[Praetor]

Ideally, the signal amplifier should be installed at the end of the drop to the house. From the end of the drop, split the signal once for the modem and the other leg should go to the amplifier. From the amplifier, split it off as many times as you want for the TV's.

Do not put the amplifier behind the television; this is a bad idea. All you'd really be doing is increasing the signal strength of a bad signal, plus, you risk the chance of causing harm to a television. Depending on the TV, too much signal can (in theory) do some damage.

Also, check the quality of the jumpers running from the outlet to the TV. Cheap Radio Shack jumpers are a bad thing to use. Yes, I keep knocking Radio Shack. Seriously, just replacing those cables can make a huge difference in picture quality.