question about splitting cable

e980238 · 02-05-2002, 01:24 PM

If i split my cable line with 5 other people besides me but only 2 of them will use the internet, will that effect my speed? To clerify: all 5 of them will be watching tv possibley simutaneously. The 2 of them that will be using the internet may possibly be using it simutaneously. Will all of the people watching tv slow down my internet connection?

02-05-2002, 01:37 PM

No, not that I know of, but your signal will suffer from being on the other side of a splitter like that. Every time you split a signal, it's db drops. Modems are above the rest of the analogue channels so no matter what they're watching, it won't affect your signal. Sharing a connection, even on the bad side of a splitter will affect your connection though. Those analogue channels, and even digital can only take so much throughput. I should never be noticeable unless you're both downloading mega files from a fast server though. My cable line is capable of 200K/sec but I've only ever gotten that once from a provider. Usually I get between 20/50K/sec. The line should be able to handle two of you easily.

-Whir

e980238 · 02-05-2002, 02:13 PM

so then when i split it i want to make sure my meden is closest to the line coming into the house? if it is split after the modem will that lower the modems db rate?

02-05-2002, 02:35 PM

In general, the less distance you have to travel from the tap at the pole to your modem, the better. Any distance under 150' is negligable though. It's the splitters that really kill your signal. Especially something like a fiveway, which to date, I'm not sure I've ever seen. What I would do, which would be best for the modems, but not as good for the TVs is to put one three port splitter on the line coming in the house. Run one line to each of the modems from that splitter. Run the other line into another three way for the TVs. Your cable reception is going to be crap either way, but that way at least your modem has a few more db. I think most standard house splitters have a 3 or 5 db loss at the line out. I could be mistaken. I work for a CATV system design firm, you'd think I'd be a little better at this. :P You might consider investing in a second drop. Most of the time the company will do this for a small charge. Then you can run the modems off one and the tvs off the other. That's how my place is. I only have one modem and one tv too. :P Good luck! Any other questions, I'll try to answer in a short and concise answer instead of these books I tend to write. :P

-Whir

e980238 · 02-05-2002, 02:45 PM

actually there is just 1 modem. i will be using a router to split that. And the land lord want to split the cable thoughout the whole house so getting another line would be out of the question. Hes a cheap b*deleted*. its 55° F in here right now. Thanks for your help

*edited for language..Please follow forum rules concerning this issue in the future* - Mntsnow

02-05-2002, 02:50 PM

How big is your building? Sounds like you need to find a better place to live. Just keep your modem as close in line to the first splitter as you can.

-Whir

osprey4 · 02-06-2002, 06:41 AM

e980238:

The well known rule of thumb is to get a good quality two-way splitter (-3.5 dB per channel), and install it where the cable comes into the house. Run all the TVs off one side, using additional splitters downstream as required, and install the cable modem on the other side. Then plug the router into the modem and off you go! The length of the cable is less important.

Some people do not see signal problems using multiple splitters but when there are signal problems, this is one of the most common reasons.

John

Arjay13 · 02-06-2002, 09:05 AM

If you don't run the modem off the first split you are asking for trouble from intermittent signal loss to total signal loss. Any degredation on the TV side (through I haven't seen such at my house) could be made up with a small cable TV signal amplifier on the TV side of the split (~$20 at Radio Shack).

e980238 · 02-06-2002, 01:03 PM

thanks!