Splitting Cable Connection

[ddeleaumont]

Hey all!

I'm just about to move into an old house and we only have ONE cable hookup upstairs. This is where I need to have both Cable TV and Internet. Can I get a splitter and run both off of one cable outlet or do I need to pay the extra 90 bucks and have them put in another outlet? If I can avoid them putting in another outlet, I'd like to since we are renting.

Any info would be appreciated!

thanks,
Don de Leaumont

"Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most..." - Steven Tyler

 

[daronwilson]

The most correct way would be to have a new run installed properly, splitters should not be cascaded together as the loss gets pretty bad.

However, if you have enough signal strength at that outlet upstairs, adding a splitter (a drop of -3db) should still give you a useable signal. If you signal is marginal at that outlet already, it may not work. Remember the splitter cuts your signal in half.

I would get a splitter and try it, knowing that if it doesn't give you a reliable solution you may have to spend the money for a new drop.

Good Luck!


It is only my opinion, based on my experience and education...I am always willing to learn, educate me!
Daron J. Wilson, RCDD
daron.wilson@lhmorris.com

 

[ThePug]

i think that's what cable companies recommend. you always have to do the splitting from the source. connect one end to your PC for internet then the other end would be for cable tv. then do all the splitting on the cable TV line. i used to have connection problems which got solved by doing what i just said.

 

[AvayaNovice]

I can't remember what the exact range is for a cable modem to work properly, but I think the minimum is -11 or -13DB? Anyhow. As long as your signal level is in that range, no worries. Remember everyone... from about 1995 and before, most electricians that did the coax IW work in new construction used the loop method (stringing from one jack to the next) which is terrible where signal level is important. So each jack had a splitter in it, and by the time you got to the end of the line -- you were screwed. Radio shack made plenty of cash off of amplifiers after that. Anyhow. You should be OK if you've only got two splitters on top of one another (providing that the tap has plenty of signal strength).

If not, you could pay them 90 bucks to put one in -- or if I were you, I'd just do it yourself. 90 dollars is a lot of cash to run some coax and crimp a few ends (although you may need a larger splitter from the tap).