Cable splitter questions

[mugs]

My situation:
cable.gif

I have 5 devices in one room that all need to be hooked up to my cable TV line. I need to figure out how to do this with minimal signal degredation.

I have -
- HDTV
- Cable modem
- External TV tuner (hooked up to a Dell LCD - yeah, I have two TVs right next to each other)
- HTPC
- TiVo

I am willing to give up the external TV tuner and just use the TiVo as the tuner for the Dell LCD if necessary.

Current situation is that the cable is split two ways initially - one goes to the cable modem, other goes to a 4 way splitter that goes to the other 4 devices. It is that way just so I don't have 4 cables running from the area of the cable modem to the area with the TVs. This setup gives me poor reception.

Side note - I am using RG-6 quad shield cable with compression connectors, so I don't think my problem is in the cables.

Other side note - what is most important to me is the signal to the cable modem and the signal to the HDTV. I can deal with poor reception elsewhere, but the HDTV cuts out constantly with the current setup; it doesn't cut out at all if I JUST hook up the HDTV and the cable modem and nothing else.

One more side note - before the cable enters this room it is split two ways in the basement; the other cable goes into the living room, where it is not hooked up to anything.

Questions -
- Would I be better off with a 5-way splitter, or with two or more smaller splitters (keeping in mind that I care most about the HDTV and cable modem's reception)?
- Would a cable amplifier help with my situation, and if so are there any that are highly recommended?

 

[nboy22]

I would probably think that a good quality 5 way splitter is the best option. You wouldn't want to split it too much with two splitters, and you'll want the modem as close to the main line as possible, I've had problems with modem reception after 2 or 3 splitters. Cable amplifiers will only be needed if you have a fuzzy reception on any of your TVs. The amplifiers generally don't help the cable modem at all.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Originally posted by: nboy22
I would probably think that a good quality 5 way splitter is the best option. You wouldn't want to split it too much with two splitters, and you'll want the modem as close to the main line as possible, I've had problems with modem reception after 2 or 3 splitters. Cable amplifiers will only be needed if you have a fuzzy reception on any of your TVs. The amplifiers generally don't help the cable modem at all.

Yeah, amplifiers aren't really that necessary. We have one on our line because it is a 50ft. run from the satellite dish to the multiswitch, and another 150ft. run from the multiswitch to the last television. But you really only need them if your cable goes past 100ft. like ours did.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: nboy22
I would probably think that a good quality 5 way splitter is the best option. You wouldn't want to split it too much with two splitters, and you'll want the modem as close to the main line as possible, I've had problems with modem reception after 2 or 3 splitters. Cable amplifiers will only be needed if you have a fuzzy reception on any of your TVs. The amplifiers generally don't help the cable modem at all.

Yup. If that degrades the signal too much there are pleanty of buffered/amplified devices that can handle it.

Open House
Channel Plus
Channel Vision

All of those companies make devices for handling the task.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: nboy22
I would probably think that a good quality 5 way splitter is the best option. You wouldn't want to split it too much with two splitters, and you'll want the modem as close to the main line as possible, I've had problems with modem reception after 2 or 3 splitters. Cable amplifiers will only be needed if you have a fuzzy reception on any of your TVs. The amplifiers generally don't help the cable modem at all.

I do.

 

[nboy22]

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune

Originally posted by: nboy22
I would probably think that a good quality 5 way splitter is the best option. You wouldn't want to split it too much with two splitters, and you'll want the modem as close to the main line as possible, I've had problems with modem reception after 2 or 3 splitters. Cable amplifiers will only be needed if you have a fuzzy reception on any of your TVs. The amplifiers generally don't help the cable modem at all.

Yeah, amplifiers aren't really that necessary. We have one on our line because it is a 50ft. run from the satellite dish to the multiswitch, and another 150ft. run from the multiswitch to the last television. But you really only need them if your cable goes past 100ft. like ours did.

Yeah man.. seriously in this new apartment I'm in the situation with the cable was so weird. The mud box for the cable is in my walk in closet, and they had an amplifier on it, but there was now power source.. I'm starting to think that whoever lived here before, did not have cable tv service. Keep in mind this is in the wall, so there's basically no easy way to get a power source to that thing with an A/C adapter. Not only that but originally only two of the four runs going out to the rooms were hooked up. I just went to home depot and purchased a 4 way splitter and it works great!

 

[nboy22]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: nboy22
I would probably think that a good quality 5 way splitter is the best option. You wouldn't want to split it too much with two splitters, and you'll want the modem as close to the main line as possible, I've had problems with modem reception after 2 or 3 splitters. Cable amplifiers will only be needed if you have a fuzzy reception on any of your TVs. The amplifiers generally don't help the cable modem at all.

I do.

Ok well I would just go to the store or any video solutions place and buy a coax cable amplifier that can do 15-25 gain of dB.. 15 should be fine, that's what we used at my old house when we had problems.

 

[jordanz]

There also splitters that, for the lack of a better word, suck. So make sure you're not buying chinsy Radioshack barely shieled no innards splitters. You could try using a 4-way to a 2-way. I'd say that because basic regular TV hookups are far less sensitive than hdtuners, modems, and tivos for the most part. Given, usually hooking up devices you need to know the signal strength coming in.

But I'm sure you have no measurement tools, so your best bet is trial-and-error. Hook it up one way, see what happens.

Who do you get your internet from?

And if you do buy an amplifier, I recommend going to Lowes or HomeDepot, I do believe they sell higher quality amps. Radioshack sells amps too, but you better hope they cover your full frequency spectrum and pass return signal. And don't amp your internet.

 

[mobobuff]

Originally posted by: nboy22

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: nboy22
I would probably think that a good quality 5 way splitter is the best option. You wouldn't want to split it too much with two splitters, and you'll want the modem as close to the main line as possible, I've had problems with modem reception after 2 or 3 splitters. Cable amplifiers will only be needed if you have a fuzzy reception on any of your TVs. The amplifiers generally don't help the cable modem at all.

I do.

Ok well I would just go to the store or any video solutions place and buy a coax cable amplifier that can do 15-25 gain of dB.. 15 should be fine, that's what we used at my old house when we had problems.

I do not suggest that. Garbage-In-Garbage-Out.

I suggest pulling out the cable going to the livingroom and routing it to your cable modem instead so it has a "dedicated" cable. Then get a good quality 4-way splitter for the rest of the equipment.

Amplifiers should only be used when you have a run of cable exceeding 150ft. Your poor reception is due to a poor splitter.