Splitting Cable Internet

[Geronimo]

I was splitting my cable signal for years. i split it in the attic to go to several room. One of those rooms which I call the Man Cave is where the Cable modem was. In that room I was splitting it two ways to go to the cable modem and to a DVR+D Recorder. i recently decided to split it three ways to also go to the TV.

About two weeks later I started to experience loss of internet connection. I have tried upgrading the 3 way splitter to one handling 5-2400 MHz
For only .30 each when QTY 50+ purchased - PREMIUM 4 way Coax Cable Splitter F type Screw - 5~2400 MHz (for Video VCR Cable TV antenna) | Video Splitters From F-Type

and have tried amps one from rocketfish and one that was recommended bya friend
Amazon.com: 4 PORT CABLE TV / HDTV / DIGITAL AMPLIFIER INTERNET MODEM SIGNAL BOOSTER INTERNET AMP: Electronics


.


None of this solved the problem. Right now I have replaced my old splitter in the attic with the Amp shown above. That temporarily allowed me to get signal in the man cave but eventually the same problem recurred. I finally just went from the wall to the modem with no splitter but that means no cable on the DVD recorder or TV.


Are there any thoiught ona better way to make that final split?

[RandallA]

As you have already found out, going straight from the wall to the modem works because there is less loss. Because your signal is not that high, you should try the amp at the point of entry in the house. The 4 way splitter you bought at Monoprice has too much loss IMO. I have a 3 way splitter that has one leg loss at 3.5 db and the other two at 7 db. You should find something similar so you use the 3.5 db leg for the modem.

What signals are you getting at the modem? With and without splitters. For most modems you can check the signal by going to 192.168.100.1.

[grohgreg]

Yeah, it's a signal loss compounded by confusing signal grounds. The basic problem is that your internet connection is bi-directional, the other signals are uni-directional. I personally wouldn't split them at all, I'd dedicated the internet. But if you have no other choice, use a 2-way splitter at your service entrance. One output for the bi-directional computer modem, the other for the uni-directional video stuff. That way you only lose 3db going to the cable modem. Not that 3db is insignificant, it actually represents half power (as opposed to no splitter at all).

Anyway - then put a 2nd splitter on the unidirectional (video only) port. For my money it's better to suffer a bit on picture quality than it is to squander internet speed. And I wouldn't cheap out on 2.4 GHz stuff either. I buy minimum 3GHz fittings, and the 4GHz hardware has started to become reasonably priced now as well.

//greg//

[rcbridge]

As stated I would take the feed into your house and use a 2 way splitter and use one leg to feed the cable modem and the other for all else.
A higher frequency rated splitter is not needed.
The problem you are seeing is most likely due to the Upstream levels needed to complete the 2 way communication, that amp is actually acting like a 4 way splitter for the return path signal (7db loss).

Just split the signal with a 2 way and run a line directly to the modem take the other and feed the 4 way amp and distribute as needed.

Once your modem is working put 192.168.100.1 into your browser this should give you the modem diag screen, then check the up and downstream levels.

Let us know what they are.

[grohgreg]

A higher frequency rated splitter is not needed.

You're going to have a hard time supporting that position. It's a physical law that - ass frequency rises - so does resistance. So the higher the frequency rating of a fitting - including splitters and amps - the lower the resistance to throughput. Point in case, the old 900 MHz analog cable splitters. Would you have any reservations in recommending one of them? If yes, then the same reservation is applicable to 2.4GHz versus 3.0 or 4.0 GHz rated stuff

Besides that; the negligible cost difference between/among 2.2/2.4/3.0/4.0 GHz rated fittings make it foolish not to overbuild.

//greg//

[RandallA]

Sorry but I agree with rcbridge, there's no need for a high frequency splitter. The cable frequencies go up to around 900 Mhz. Any splitter rated to up to 1000 Mhz should be fine.

[grohgreg]

Moving on. Besides selecting a digital splitter and/or amp with the lowest throughput resistance, all unused splitter/amp ports should be terminated with 75 ohm plugs to balance signal ground.

//greg//

[skynetamit]

Get HughesNet

[harshness]

Get HughesNet

HughesNet is not an alternative for anyone who has pretty much any another option.

[stardust3]

It is possible you have a bad drop also. There are too many possibles here. You have to have good signal/return to begin with @ tap. The drop whether it's overhead or underground has to be in decent shape. Overhead drops can water log in as little as 10 yrs. Quality connectors, cable and splitters are essential also.
Your best starting point is to get on the phone with tech support and have them run an eqa test or the equivalent of their own test. This will point you in the right direction. Intermittent modem sync can also be a modem problem. There is too many variables. There is 1 simple rule I always followed regardless of splitters, +10 To -10. Without having the right test equipment to check signal & return it is just a guessing game. I'd start with a call to tech support & go from there.