Cable Amplifiers

I've been wondering if I need one of these...
Lately, my HTPC has been giving error messages (occasionally), saying that I have a weak signal.
I'm not sure if an amp would help or if I just need to call TWC for a service.
My incoming cable is split (using high quality "Monster" splitters) as follows:

When the cable enters the house it goes through a 2x splitter. One output going to the DVR, and the other going to a 4x that feeds the following devices:
1) An Internet cable modem (Surfboard)
2) Motorola Phone modem
3) SiliconDust HD Prime (CableCard Tuner)
4) TWC's (Cisco) tuning adapter

I'm assuming that since I have a DVR (w/PPV) and a cable phone, I would need an amp that's bi-directional?

I've been looking at one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Signa...ble+amplifiers

I'm hoping one of my XS brothern works for a cable company or at the very least is more familiar with this stuff than I am.... :D

Thanks,
Dave

Might just try getting a better splitter, monster is typically junk.

Im not a "cable guy", but it seems like a good idea to me to get that higher quality amplifier/splitter. Many Monster products are junk, some are actually pretty decent, but either way it is still splitting the signal 4 ways and is not an amp. One thing though with cable that I know of is for internet use, too high of signal will actually degrade your performance. You should try and get into your internet modem and look at the actual signal level values and see what you are at.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Daveburt714

I've been wondering if I need one of these...
Lately, my HTPC has been giving error messages (occasionally), saying that I have a weak signal.
I'm not sure if an amp would help or if I just need to call TWC for a service.
My incoming cable is split (using high quality "Monster" splitters) as follows:

When the cable enters the house it goes through a 2x splitter. One output going to the DVR, and the other going to a 4x that feeds the following devices:
1) An Internet cable modem (Surfboard)
2) Motorola Phone modem
3) SiliconDust HD Prime (CableCard Tuner)
4) TWC's (Cisco) tuning adapter

I'm assuming that since I have a DVR (w/PPV) and a cable phone, I would need an amp that's bi-directional?

I've been looking at one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Signa...ble+amplifiers

I'm hoping one of my XS brothern works for a cable company or at the very least is more familiar with this stuff than I am.... :D

Thanks,
Dave

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Still having issues?

Type 192.168.100.1 to see the Cable Modem's status / signal strength... more than -10dbmv is an issue.
The phone modem can't be accessed from the LAN.

I can't help with the CableCard Tuner but for the DVR, if it is a Scientific Atlanta / Cisco 8000 series, then hold down the power button on the remote until the light blinks on the box, then press it again and you will get the diagnostic pages. Use the PAGE +- buttons on the TWC Remote to flip through the different diagnostic pages, I think there are about 20 of them. One of the pages will show what frequency each tuner is locked at and the signal strength. If the signal is below -10dbmv then the splitters are probably causing too much signal loss. Our TWC DVR starts blocking and skipping around -12. :(

Thanks for all the suggestions folks!

I finally got the situation sorted, and the Amp DID help...
After a bit of trial and error, I bought a 3 way "Low Loss" splitter (whatever that means) and split the incoming cable in the following manner:

Incoming cable to the 3way, with one leg to the Cable modem, one to the Phone modem and one to the Amp.
Then from the amp (4way), I sent one leg to the "HD Prime/Cable card tuner", one to the "Tuning Adapter" and one to the Samsung DVR, terminating the last leg of the amp.

Not sure if this will help anyone else... But it did fix my problems and everything is running smooth now!

Dave