Boosting cable signal......HELP!

digitalwanderer · Jan 8, 2003, 03:47 PM

Another day, another housetweak. Today I randomly chose improving me cable reception for some weird reason, I guess I just got sick of a less than perfect picture and decided to try and do something about it.

Me first thought is that mayhaps a cable line designed to support one TV might be hampered by being split-off to 7 different sets, so I figured why not up the signal on the line a bit?

The only problem is, I don't really know much about these things.

So I turned to me two friends google and pricewatch (a truly deadly combination!) and found a couple of things to waste money on that might help....but I need some advice. (As usual.

)

I can run out and grab this inline booster from RadioShack today down the street, but this motorola-jobby looks a lot sweeter! (And I sort of hate me local RS, long story.)

So what's the verdict? Will either of these help, or what else can I try? Any and all input is welcome, I'm almost back up to speed.

UberLord · Jan 8, 2003, 04:45 PM

Why dont you just jack the full unsplit cable into the TV to find out if your solution would work or not. I think it will as my parents have a TV signal splitter/booster box for their house.

digitalwanderer · Jan 8, 2003, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by UberLord
Why dont you just jack the full unsplit cable into the TV to find out if your solution would work or not. I think it will as my parents have a TV signal splitter/booster box for their house.

Oops, did I not mention that I did that? I did that, it helped a lot.

Oh, I also already have a signal splitter/booster inline of unknown tandy origins. If I disconnect it I notice signal degradation. Can I daisy chain multiple boosters? (Unfortunately I'm serious with that question.

)

Louie6666 · Jan 8, 2003, 05:40 PM

Hmmm wouldn't daisy chaining em introduce noise, would have thought one good booster & Hub would do a better job! I have booster with builtin 4 port hub does good job & have seen variations with more ports!

UberLord · Jan 8, 2003, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by digitalwanderer
Can I daisy chain multiple boosters? (Unfortunately I'm serious with that question. )

Yes you can, but it would only keep the output of the first booster the same into the second booster for the second boosters outputs. So if the first booster isn't upto the existing job, daisy chaining isn't going to help.

I'd say that you need to measure the cable length from your main "in" to the booster box, each cable length required from the booster box and then source a new booster box that exceeds your required spec incase you want - for example - a TV in the toilet

digitalwanderer · Jan 8, 2003, 05:51 PM

...so I should be looking for about an 8 port signal booster box from hell to take care of me problem....pricewatch here I come!!! (The heck with measuring, I'll just see what the most powerful/bestest one is....

)

Louie6666 · Jan 8, 2003, 05:55 PM

Yep go with one booster with loads of ports! Your house must be like mine, makes ppl grimace when they see the cat5 & co-ax everywhere lol!

digitalwanderer · Jan 8, 2003, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Louie6666
Yep go with one booster with loads of ports! Your house must be like mine, makes ppl grimace when they see the cat5 & co-ax everywhere lol!

I'm ordering the motorola 1Ghz booster now & then I'll start hunting for an 8-port splitter. (I think I saw one for $4us earlier.

) It's about time I get me cables all straight and neat looking.

No one grimaces at me house for the wiring, they grimace 'cause of the toys everywhere. Me secret? I don't have a basement anymore, I just consider it a really big cable tray.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jan 8, 2003, 07:36 PM

Check the wireing you useing to if you can use RG6 rated cable it carries a lot more signal (less resistance)..... It's twice the price of ordanary cable though... Or at lest run RG6 from your cable box to where your going to put the booster. You will wanna use a 8 port amp..If you use an amp and then an 8 port splitter once again you be adding a hole buch of resistance (loseing alot f your signal) could give you a fuzzy pic or you loose some calarity . don't get me wrong it might work for ya. But, I learn a long time ago no to try o cut corners when it comes to you booster.. Do you use a cable modem? or think of useing one in the future you must make sure it's a 2 way amp...

good luck

Highwood · Jan 9, 2003, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by digitalwanderer
I'm ordering the motorola 1Ghz booster now & then I'll start hunting for an 8-port splitter. (I think I saw one for $4us earlier. ) It's about time I get me cables all straight and neat looking.

No one grimaces at me house for the wiring, they grimace 'cause of the toys everywhere. Me secret? I don't have a basement anymore, I just consider it a really big cable tray.

Make sure you terminate any unused outputs on your splitter.

Daisychaining two boosters is definitely not a good idea, the amplitude of the output signal from the first booster would probably be greater than the input of the second booster can accommodate. This would cause a phenomenon known as clipping, clipping basically removes the upper and lower parts of the signal greatly reducing both the picture and sound quality.

If the first booster is outputting noise along with the signal the second booster will amplifiey the noise.

Necrosis · Jan 9, 2003, 05:40 AM

Good Lord Dig.!!!

I hope you never plan on getting cable or you may have some big issues. I've had a problem with bleed thru for the past few months which was finally solved a few weeks again. Pain in the ass!!

digitalwanderer · Jan 9, 2003, 06:20 PM

Well, I was up for 3 hours too late last night learning all about 8-way splitters. I think an amplified splitter would have been a better way to go, but I think me booster & a regular splitter will still be a lot better than what I have. (And about half the price.

) I still have to order a splitter and some end caps. (Did you know that if you have an open coax line it'll cause ghosting on your TVs? I didn't know that.)

DriveEuro · Jan 9, 2003, 06:48 PM

So you mean that if you have a coax line not hooked up to a TV it will start ghosting on tvs throughout the house? Wow.... The explains it.

digitalwanderer · Jan 9, 2003, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DriveEuro
So you mean that if you have a coax line not hooked up to a TV it will start ghosting on tvs throughout the house? Wow.... The explains it.

Yup, my reaction exactly too. I had no clue something like that could cause that, they make these .25 cent end-caps to fix that problem on open lines. (I'm picking up a few...

)

It's AMAZING what a little bit of concentrated research can discover ya, I really love that about the net!

sinjin · Jan 9, 2003, 07:13 PM

dig...not sure if this is going to help...but my house has 4 tv's and 3 pc's all hooked up via the same cable. a couple years ago when i first hooked up my boxes to broadband i couldnt get a strong enough signal no matter what i tried. eventually what i was forced to do was dig up a sizable portion of my lawn and replace the wiring from the street to the box on the house. it was just too old and couldnt carry the signal all the way without resistance.

digitalwanderer · Jan 9, 2003, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sinjin
dig...not sure if this is going to help...but my house has 4 tv's and 3 pc's all hooked up via the same cable. a couple years ago when i first hooked up my boxes to broadband i couldnt get a strong enough signal no matter what i tried. eventually what i was forced to do was dig up a sizable portion of my lawn and replace the wiring from the street to the box on the house. it was just too old and couldnt carry the signal all the way without resistance.

Well, as much as I love to hand trench (I do, I really like gruntwork) me cable system here is still all overhead lines.

(Big smilie 'cause I still got some friends in the electrical contracting business who can bring a boomtruck by for a bit if'n I need it.

)

sinjin · Jan 9, 2003, 07:51 PM

might be time to climb up on that ladder.

WyreTheWolf · Jan 9, 2003, 08:06 PM

Get some of that serious looking Coaxial cable made by Monster Cable... Damn stuff roxors! Although it is nearly 3/8 inch in diameter. Then hook that to a Amplified hub... and tada! You will be good to go

Links:

http://www.monstercable.com/custom_i...CI.asp?pin=951

http://www.dbs-online.com/multiamp.htm

Take a look at those... You should be able to increase the quality by a huge margin

digitalwanderer · Jan 9, 2003, 08:09 PM

The cable coming in looks pretty good, it was installed 5 years ago and like I said I get a good picture on a direct connect. I think me hodge-podge of connectors, splitters, and randomly thrown together cables is the culprit. Me booster comes tomorrow so I'll toss that on and see what it does, then take it from there.

digitalwanderer · Jan 9, 2003, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WyreTheWolf
Get some of that serious looking Coaxial cable made by Monster Cable... Damn stuff roxors! Although it is nearly 3/8 inch in diameter. Then hook that to a Amplified hub... and tada! You will be good to go

I didn't find out about amplified hubs until after I had ordered the motorola 1Ghz amplifier, and the company I ordered the motorola from processed me order and had the sucker shipped out within an hour of me ordering it!

(I'm gonna bookmark that place, I'll find the link and post it later. I LIKE fast companies like that.

)

Oh, and I also ordered a cool looking tri-colored lighted 80mm fan that I plan to put on Bubbles side. (I'm taking the monster fan off for a while, the damned breeze dries out my eyes when I'm on her.

) It was on sale for $5.95 and looked neat.

I did look at some of those monster cables though, there site taught me an awful lot about what to look for. (Is it sad that I get a lot of me hardware education by shopping for the stuff?)

sinjin · Jan 9, 2003, 08:15 PM

ever looked closely at those splitters youre using? i bought a couple from the local drugstore and it wasnt until the cable guy showed up and told me that they were underrated for what i was trying to use them for. its so true you 'get what you pay for'.

he hooked me up with some that are 1000mhz rated...the ones i had were only 400mhz.

WyreTheWolf · Jan 9, 2003, 08:26 PM

I updated with a couple of links

digitalwanderer · Jan 9, 2003, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sinjin
ever looked closely at those splitters youre using? i bought a couple from the local drugstore and it wasnt until the cable guy showed up and told me that they were underrated for what i was trying to use them for. its so true you 'get what you pay for'.

he hooked me up with some that are 1000mhz rated...the ones i had were only 400mhz.

Yeah, that's another one of them interesting bits I learned last night too. (And also the reason I can't get the monster cable 8-way splitter, it only does 750Mhz where as there are a couple out there that are true 1Ghz 8-way splitters.

)

Oh, and the ones in me basement are CRAP! I'm hoping for an actual improvement in picture quality now the more I'm finding out that's wrong with me current set-up.

Louie6666 · Jan 9, 2003, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by digitalwanderer
Yup, my reaction exactly too. I had no clue something like that could cause that, they make these .25 cent end-caps to fix that problem on open lines. (I'm picking up a few... )

It's AMAZING what a little bit of concentrated research can discover ya, I really love that about the net!

so at moment I only have 3 tv's connected to my booster/splitter so I should terminate the unused ports? picture seems fine but there agin my eyes ain't too shit hot atm lol...too much VDU time without glasses

EcPercy · Jan 10, 2003, 10:59 AM

well most all cable companies can supply whats called a house amplifier.... it can be put wherever you want it i.e. right before the main splitter outside to boost the signal at least 12db

digitalwanderer · Jan 10, 2003, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EcPercy
it can be put wherever you want it i.e. right before the main splitter outside to boost the signal at least 12db

The one that should be here in a couple of hours will boost it 15db according to this ad.

Question, what's a db? I thought it meant decibel, but why measure signal strength in noise level. (God, that even sounds dumb to me after asking it.

)

ToshiroOC · Jan 12, 2003, 12:55 AM

Well, I'm not sure WHY they use db for cable signals, but I think I know what they mean... You see, there is only one wire, analog, inside your coax... and it operates by sending multiple signals over multiple frequencies - it looks like a really really insane sine wave if you see it on a volt meter. So why db? Sound is sort of the same... its a really really crazy sine wave, at different frequencies. So maybe db is really a measure of amplitude, and since the coax signal has similar characteristics to sound, they use db there too as a measure of amplitude... keep in mind that this is probably totally wrong - 100% gedanken, 0% evidence..

Jan 8, 2003, 03:47 PM	#1
digitalwanderer Colour Commentator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Highland, IN USA Posts: 5,619 Rep Power: 0	Boosting cable signal......HELP! Another day, another housetweak. Today I randomly chose improving me cable reception for some weird reason, I guess I just got sick of a less than perfect picture and decided to try and do something about it. Me first thought is that mayhaps a cable line designed to support one TV might be hampered by being split-off to 7 different sets, so I figured why not up the signal on the line a bit? The only problem is, I don't really know much about these things. So I turned to me two friends google and pricewatch (a truly deadly combination!) and found a couple of things to waste money on that might help....but I need some advice. (As usual. ) I can run out and grab this inline booster from RadioShack today down the street, but this motorola-jobby looks a lot sweeter! (And I sort of hate me local RS, long story.) So what's the verdict? Will either of these help, or what else can I try? Any and all input is welcome, I'm almost back up to speed. __________________ WTF is up with the sigs?

Jan 8, 2003, 04:45 PM	#2
UberLord A Legend in Underwear Join Date: May 2002 Location: Unknown Posts: 5,255 Rep Power: 0	Why dont you just jack the full unsplit cable into the TV to find out if your solution would work or not. I think it will as my parents have a TV signal splitter/booster box for their house. __________________ Gentoo Linux - Developer (baselayout) Read my blog "I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." Stephen Roberts

Jan 8, 2003, 05:40 PM	#4
Louie6666 Just One Sick-Lizard Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 501 Rep Power: 0	Hmmm wouldn't daisy chaining em introduce noise, would have thought one good booster & Hub would do a better job! I have booster with builtin 4 port hub does good job & have seen variations with more ports! __________________

Jan 8, 2003, 05:51 PM	Thread Starter #6
digitalwanderer Colour Commentator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Highland, IN USA Posts: 5,619 Rep Power: 0	Hmmm... ...so I should be looking for about an 8 port signal booster box from hell to take care of me problem....pricewatch here I come!!! (The heck with measuring, I'll just see what the most powerful/bestest one is.... ) __________________ WTF is up with the sigs?

Jan 8, 2003, 05:55 PM	#7
Louie6666 Just One Sick-Lizard Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 501 Rep Power: 0	Yep go with one booster with loads of ports! Your house must be like mine, makes ppl grimace when they see the cat5 & co-ax everywhere lol! __________________

Jan 8, 2003, 07:36 PM	#9
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	Check the wireing you useing to if you can use RG6 rated cable it carries a lot more signal (less resistance)..... It's twice the price of ordanary cable though... Or at lest run RG6 from your cable box to where your going to put the booster. You will wanna use a 8 port amp..If you use an amp and then an 8 port splitter once again you be adding a hole buch of resistance (loseing alot f your signal) could give you a fuzzy pic or you loose some calarity . don't get me wrong it might work for ya. But, I learn a long time ago no to try o cut corners when it comes to you booster.. Do you use a cable modem? or think of useing one in the future you must make sure it's a 2 way amp... good luck __________________

Jan 9, 2003, 05:40 AM	#11
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Good Lord Dig.!!! I hope you never plan on getting cable or you may have some big issues. I've had a problem with bleed thru for the past few months which was finally solved a few weeks again. Pain in the ass!!

Jan 9, 2003, 06:20 PM	Thread Starter #12
digitalwanderer Colour Commentator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Highland, IN USA Posts: 5,619 Rep Power: 0	Hmmm.... Well, I was up for 3 hours too late last night learning all about 8-way splitters. I think an amplified splitter would have been a better way to go, but I think me booster & a regular splitter will still be a lot better than what I have. (And about half the price. ) I still have to order a splitter and some end caps. (Did you know that if you have an open coax line it'll cause ghosting on your TVs? I didn't know that.) __________________ WTF is up with the sigs?

Jan 9, 2003, 06:48 PM	#13
DriveEuro HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gurnee Illinois Posts: 4,677 Rep Power: 0	So you mean that if you have a coax line not hooked up to a TV it will start ghosting on tvs throughout the house? Wow.... The explains it. __________________ [color=orange]ASUS P4P800 Deluxe [color=black]-[/color] 2.4C --> 3300mhz [color=black]-[/color] Mushkin PC3200 at 220 5-2-2-2 (cpu limited) [color=black]-[/color] BBAti 9800Pro at 430/375 [/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]01[/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]03[/color] 16001200 12801024

Jan 9, 2003, 07:13 PM	#15
sinjin the last samurai Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,086 Rep Power: 0	dig...not sure if this is going to help...but my house has 4 tv's and 3 pc's all hooked up via the same cable. a couple years ago when i first hooked up my boxes to broadband i couldnt get a strong enough signal no matter what i tried. eventually what i was forced to do was dig up a sizable portion of my lawn and replace the wiring from the street to the box on the house. it was just too old and couldnt carry the signal all the way without resistance. __________________

Jan 9, 2003, 07:51 PM	#17
sinjin the last samurai Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,086 Rep Power: 0	might be time to climb up on that ladder. __________________

Jan 9, 2003, 08:06 PM	#18
WyreTheWolf Wolfish Bastard Join Date: May 2002 Location: Cave; Ozark Mountains Posts: 2,110 Rep Power: 0	Get some of that serious looking Coaxial cable made by Monster Cable... Damn stuff roxors! Although it is nearly 3/8 inch in diameter. Then hook that to a Amplified hub... and tada! You will be good to go Links: http://www.monstercable.com/custom_i...CI.asp?pin=951 http://www.dbs-online.com/multiamp.htm Take a look at those... You should be able to increase the quality by a huge margin

Jan 9, 2003, 08:09 PM	Thread Starter #19
digitalwanderer Colour Commentator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Highland, IN USA Posts: 5,619 Rep Power: 0	I dunno. The cable coming in looks pretty good, it was installed 5 years ago and like I said I get a good picture on a direct connect. I think me hodge-podge of connectors, splitters, and randomly thrown together cables is the culprit. Me booster comes tomorrow so I'll toss that on and see what it does, then take it from there. __________________ WTF is up with the sigs?

Jan 9, 2003, 08:15 PM	#21
sinjin the last samurai Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,086 Rep Power: 0	ever looked closely at those splitters youre using? i bought a couple from the local drugstore and it wasnt until the cable guy showed up and told me that they were underrated for what i was trying to use them for. its so true you 'get what you pay for'. he hooked me up with some that are 1000mhz rated...the ones i had were only 400mhz. __________________

Jan 9, 2003, 08:26 PM	#22
WyreTheWolf Wolfish Bastard Join Date: May 2002 Location: Cave; Ozark Mountains Posts: 2,110 Rep Power: 0	I updated with a couple of links

Jan 10, 2003, 10:59 AM	#25
EcPercy HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Iraq Posts: 1,535 Rep Power: 0	well most all cable companies can supply whats called a house amplifier.... it can be put wherever you want it i.e. right before the main splitter outside to boost the signal at least 12db

Jan 12, 2003, 12:55 AM	#27
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	Well, I'm not sure WHY they use db for cable signals, but I think I know what they mean... You see, there is only one wire, analog, inside your coax... and it operates by sending multiple signals over multiple frequencies - it looks like a really really insane sine wave if you see it on a volt meter. So why db? Sound is sort of the same... its a really really crazy sine wave, at different frequencies. So maybe db is really a measure of amplitude, and since the coax signal has similar characteristics to sound, they use db there too as a measure of amplitude... keep in mind that this is probably totally wrong - 100% gedanken, 0% evidence.. __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)