do I need an amplifier

[BOTTLEDZ28]

I have Comcast digital HD cable and I currently have a 4 way splitter on the main line. I have two other 2 way splitters on 2 of the output lines on the 4 way splitter as well. So, I have 6 TVs running off one main line from the street. I plan on adding one more line this week. I was looking at a 6 way splitter to use in place of the 4 but was wondering if I will need an amplifier as well. I am only concerned about the picture and sound quality of the one TV in the living room which is the HD TV. All the rest are just bedroom and rec room TV's. I have no choice but to continue to use the two 2 way spliters since I cannot run new lines up 3 floors. When this is all said and done, I will need a splitter with at least 6 outputs. one of which is my only concern with quality. The one line I care about will be the shortest line off the output is it matters. Do I need an amplifier and if so can I just get one to amplifiy that one ouput to the living room HD TV? How would it get it installed and what brands should I stick with for the splitters and amps? Do they offer it all in one box?How must singal lost is there when I add a line off the main line

 

[damaged]

When you hook it up without a amp, you will see whether or not you'll need an amp, without knowing db losses for all your coax lengths (also unknown by us), the splitter(s) db loss, and db loss of any connectors you may have in-line, along with the db total at entry (before anything is hooked up) we can only guess.

The amp should go as close to the point of entry as possible, i.e. before the splitter(s).

 

[BOTTLEDZ28]

well without the proper equipent to measure DB loss, I will have no idea how much is being lost at al. All I have is my eye and ears and Im sure that is not going to help with this. The line comng in from the street is about 60 feet long, then comes the splitter, from there I have:
1.... 8 feet(main TV HD)
2.... 12 feet
3.....25 feet
4.....35 feet (w/ secondary splitter on end and two 10 footers)
5......45 feet(w/ secondary splitter on end and two 10 footers)
6.....12 feet

There are a lot of splitters on the market. Do you reccommend some certainbrands to use and NOT to use or are they all pretty much the same. What about the ones that are splitters and amps all in one unit?

 

[goober22]

Without know what your signal is to start, I would say, yes, an amp will probably help you.

I have 8 outlets all homerun from the entry point. The drop hits my drop amp which gives a 15db gain, then into an 8-way spitter which cuts it 12db, so I have a net db gain of 3db. Then 8 runs to the outlets.

You loose about 4db for every 100 feet of cable run as well. If it was me, I would install a drop amp as close to the drop as possible, then get a good 8-way splitter. Run your 6 lines and cap off the other 2 ports using a terminator. Save the 2 outlets for future expansion.

As far as equipment, Motorola makes a good drop amp as does Scientific Atlanta and Electroline. I am currently using an Electroline with a built-in 8-way split. For splitters, just buy some good ones, not the radio shack or kmart type gold plated, over-priced stuff.

Some links may help:

http://www.hometech.com/video/splitters.html#CV-HS2

http://broadband.motorola.com/catalog/productdetail.asp?ProductID=207

http://www.scientificatlanta.com/consumers_new/Accessories/surgegap.htm

http://stores.ebay.com/Electroline-Cable-TV-Amps