I have one cable line into the house. I want to split this into 7 locations for tv. I wired these locations with dedicated cables. I assume at least 1 of these locations also will have computer connected for internet. Is there source for splitters that give more than 4 outlets? Also, I am thinking of buying a signal amplifier from Radioshack. Do these amplifiers work, or is it a waste of money? Thank you in advance for help.
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I recall seeing a 6 way splitter..if not you may have to daisy chain from one device to the next , or make yuor own hub.
As far as the computer, do your self a favor and buy a wireless router for the cable modem..and install a wireless card..the benefit is computer anywhere in the house and a decent built in firewall too..and multiple users if ya have more than one 'puter and only one modem..
amplifers are a good thing if the run is long...Check out Crutchfield for the goodies..
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Sphere,
What constitutes a long run?
Mike Krall
50+ feet from a splitter, every splitter degrades signal strength as does excess coiled cable, at least thats what the cable guy that hooked me up with my modem told me..and he recommended modem FIRST then out to splitter for tv's
In other words.modem at the shortest run possible..
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Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Actually you need a splitter to hook up the modem. Use a 1 to 2 splitter with one port to the modem and the 2nd to other spliter and/or amplifier.
Technically a splitter and a long run of cable does "degrade" the signal, but the main problem is the loss of singal strength.
By dedgrade I am talking about distortion, in this case the relative strenght of different parts of the spectrum.
A splitter is more logically defined as a power divider.
I would have to look up the numbers, but it takes LOTS AND LOTS of cable to match the losses of one 1/2 splitter.
you are right, I forgot that I had 2 incoming cables..from something like a NID outside..one line for modem the other was to the cable box..I was renting temporarily there, while working here..back to no cable now..but we have 2 channels on broadcast...snowy and fuzzy!
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Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
"amplifers are a good thing if the run is long"
Sphere.
They can be if the signal is not strong to start with. When I had digital cable and modem put in, they replaced all the old stuff with much higher quality cables (they over 3/8" thick, no markings on them though) and connectors (they go for $5.00 a piece).
Cable guy also yanked out my amplifier (it was a good one, something like $50.00) which in the past always made for a vastly better picture. Now if I splice it in, the picture gets worse, even on the non digital sets. Now there is no need to run it as all the sets have a great picture.
I'd venture to guess it's over modulating, ie causing distortion.
Jon
right on bro ...digital is a whole different ball of candles..
The guy from Insight BB that hooked me up..get this..left me a handful of connectors and about 100' of coax...I like that in an installer...good thing I already had a clue..other wise all my neighbors woulda been free wheelin..
6 apts. in a 3 story all payin 100.00 a month..do the math..lol.
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Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
I found that asking my cable company that question, they did it for me and paid for the material. In fact, I ended up with 16 tv cable outlets throughout the house all on home runs. They gave me a 16 outlet splitter and matched up an amp for it. No cost. However, they like the cable modem to be split off before the tv's.
In most places if you have digital cable and/or cable modem, you should definitely use a powered amplifier and have the main line "split" before adding cable TV runs (ie, you have the "master" cable line come in, split that into a dedicated run for the cable modem and the other for the TV stuff)
I've got a home wiring panel made by OnQ Technologies (onqtech.com) and their 1x8 ACTIVE CATV dist. module. The passive will more than likely not cut it. I had a passive unit and after adding 3 Tv's on it, the digital cable started cutting out.
Sometimes your cable company will come out and put in a powered amp for you at no charge (it depends).
I used RG-6 with crimp-on connectors and had home runs to everything.
There ARE other vendors out there that make cheaper units now too, but since my "box" is made by OnQ and I've got all their other modules I stuck with them. you can order OnQ products and others from homecontrols.com
--Kevin
Every split, ie. two cables off of one, gives two cables with a 3 db loss relative to the original.
3db is 1/2 of the original signal. doing it for 7 is going to leave you with not
much signal left. probably need an amp.
Channel Vision has the product you need. Model CVT-2/8 PIA amplified splitter.
I have one cable siganl coming in to it split 6 ways (including one run to a cable modem) Some of my runs are 6-70 feet long, although I did go for HDTV quality cable when I installed it all. About $100 from any number of places on the internet.
Works like a charm
History: when the local cable company upgraded to fiber optics my signal at the TV's got worse. Actually I was surprised it worked as well as it did prior to the change, because I have three 4 way splitters in series, so the TV's off the last splitter are down about 20db from the incomming cable. The technician showed up for my low signal complaint, as was amazed that it had worked so well. All he did was add a 15db amplifier on the incomming cable, and the signal at all TV's was back to great.
New data: When I upgraded to cable modem from dial up, I asked if the modem should go at the first splitter for more signal, or before the amp for bi-directional signal flow. The technician said it didn't matter. He was right in my case. I have tried the cable modem at the first splitter, but have it installed now at the last splitter. Speeds are the same. Great performance. So the amplifier does not interfere with data signals going backwards through it.
Frank DuVal
To split that many ways you need an amplifier.
The computer connection should be treated "special", with less splitting than others, and either should be on the "outside" of the amplifier or you need a special (bidirectional) amplifier that can handle computer connections.
Simplest: Go from the incoming line into a 2-way splitter. From there to the computer modem with one output and the amplifier with the other. Get an amplifier with at least 4 outputs (maybe you can find one with 6 or 8), then add 2-way splitters to two of them (if only four outputs) to get you up to the six you need.
Use quality cable and connectors (though don't waste money on gold-plated Monster crap).
Terminate any unused outputs with a 75-ohm terminator.