Philbert
Banned
bigbadbrody...about your modem problem
Cable Modems need about 15 db to function correctly. In apartments, they use strange ways to provide signal...multiple splitters in the lines, etc.
One splitter leg takes out 7 db on 3 and 4 way splitters, they are marked. On a 3 way there is one 3.5 and this is used for a passthru to feed other splitters. (Do the math, 3.5dbs + 7dbs is 10.5 dbs removed from the line with just the 2nd splitter), In apartments, signal is usually not amped enough to feed apts further down the line.
A local amplifier would fry the modem if it exceeded the dbs it needed by much. Not usually a good idea, and amps boost "noise" as well as signal, not useful.
When a house recieves signal fron one incoming line, the low db leg on the first splitter is dedicated to the modem, tvs get the high loss db legs. Digital cable boxes don't work well with all the signal loss, so your modem, which needs more dbs to work than Digital boxes, is at a disadvantage.
If the modem worked well when you bypassed the splitter to the tv, this indicates you are recieving a low signal, and one more splitter is lowering the db level below the threshold.
The only way to know is to have a tech put a meter on the line to the modem, and see how many dbs are survivng the journey to your modem.
Often, a solution for an apt is to run a line from the main tap for your building to the apt and feed the modem directly, this needs to be done with creativity as most complexes don't allow outside lines, and their cables are run in the walls from one splitter to another.
I worked for Time Warner and Cox running lines, both res and commercial. I have put in many a modem, and these are some of the things that turned my hair grey.
Tech help by phone is useless, an "on site" hands-on tech can solve the mystery if it persists with a meter on the line at the modem.
Cable Modems need about 15 db to function correctly. In apartments, they use strange ways to provide signal...multiple splitters in the lines, etc.
One splitter leg takes out 7 db on 3 and 4 way splitters, they are marked. On a 3 way there is one 3.5 and this is used for a passthru to feed other splitters. (Do the math, 3.5dbs + 7dbs is 10.5 dbs removed from the line with just the 2nd splitter), In apartments, signal is usually not amped enough to feed apts further down the line.
A local amplifier would fry the modem if it exceeded the dbs it needed by much. Not usually a good idea, and amps boost "noise" as well as signal, not useful.
When a house recieves signal fron one incoming line, the low db leg on the first splitter is dedicated to the modem, tvs get the high loss db legs. Digital cable boxes don't work well with all the signal loss, so your modem, which needs more dbs to work than Digital boxes, is at a disadvantage.
If the modem worked well when you bypassed the splitter to the tv, this indicates you are recieving a low signal, and one more splitter is lowering the db level below the threshold.
The only way to know is to have a tech put a meter on the line to the modem, and see how many dbs are survivng the journey to your modem.
Often, a solution for an apt is to run a line from the main tap for your building to the apt and feed the modem directly, this needs to be done with creativity as most complexes don't allow outside lines, and their cables are run in the walls from one splitter to another.
I worked for Time Warner and Cox running lines, both res and commercial. I have put in many a modem, and these are some of the things that turned my hair grey.
Tech help by phone is useless, an "on site" hands-on tech can solve the mystery if it persists with a meter on the line at the modem.
