Satellite (DirecTV) house wiring question

[ScoobMaster]

I have has my two RCA DirecTV receivers for a year now and I LOVE the picture quality on my primary TVs (hooked to the receivers with s-video cables). However, my SECONDARY Tvs that are feed by coaxial cables are not super clear or sharp and appear "fuzzy". The cable I used to route to these secondary TVs was existing RG-59 from the original Time Warner cable hookup (going through 1 splitter too). Would replacing these runs with quad-shield RG-6 and good ends (like Thomas and Betts snap-n-seal) help to clear this up? I know that the receivers are capable (the s-video output looks FANTASTIC and I don;t have super high-end expensive TVs by any stretch of imagination). I am aware that S-video is far superior to coax, but I don't think the difference in quality should be THIS pronounced.

What are some experienced opinions? Worth the time and expense?

 

[rahvin]

Satellite uses signals in excess of 1ghz, RG59 is only capable of 1ghz. You are getting signal degradation from interference. Put that stuff on RG6 like were told to by DTV.

 

[Electric Amish]

Goes through a splitter?? What kind of splitter is it? You generally can't split Direct TV signals....lord knows I've tried!

amish

 

[ScoobMaster]

I think you guys misunderstood. I am using RG-6 (no diplexers) from the dish to the inputs on the receivers.

Where my problem lies is the connection from the OUTPUT of the receivers to the secondary TVs. This is a standard analog signal (just like CATV) and can be split I think the RG-59 may be too "lossy" or not shielded enough.

 

[ATLien247]

It may help marginally at best. I think the main difference you're seeing in picture quality is that of s-video vs. coax.

 

[huey1124]

Originally posted by: ATLien247
It may help marginally at best. I think the main difference you're seeing in picture quality is that of s-video vs. coax.

I second that. I have one s-video going to my Digital VCR card, and coax feeding my TV directly. The difference is noticeable.

 

[huey1124]

Also, get rid of the splitter, if the signal is passing through it at all.

 

[Looney]

Well, you're losing some degradation because of the splitter itself as well. Get a high quality splitter if you're using a cheap one. And if there are any outputs that aren't being used, CAP them.

And yes, there is a big difference between S-video and normal coxial cable.

 

[ScoobMaster]

Thanks for the replies. I don't think length of run is a problem (they are 40' max). I'll investigate the splitter, but one receiver feeds only a single secondary tv (no splitter) and that looks just as ugly as the one that is feeding two (split coax). I was actually more concerned with the shielding of the RG-59 keeping interference out as all the runs are VERY close to live romex electical wire (can't really avoid it due to proximity of main electrical box)

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: ScoobMaster
Thanks for the replies. I don't think length of run is a problem (they are 40' max). I'll investigate the splitter, but one receiver feeds only a single secondary tv (no splitter) and that looks just as ugly as the one that is feeding two (split coax). I was actually more concerned with the shielding of the RG-59 keeping interference out as all the runs are VERY close to live romex electical wire (can't really avoid it due to proximity of main electrical box)

40' is quite a bit... get some RG6 and see if it makes a difference... they're so cheap anyways.

 

[bunker]

Using Dish Network here and I did the same thing. I originally used rg-59 and the signal was absolutely horrible, switched to rg-6 and it improved a ton. This is on about a 75' run.

 

[ScoobMaster]

Thanks bunker.

I think my buddy accross the street has a 25' RG-6 cable left over from an unused install kit. I'll try that as a quickie "above the floor" test cable to see if it makes a difference. If it does, Home Depot or Radio Shack here I come!