Running coax 135 ft and having horrible image - HELP

[BMORIN]

Running coax 135 ft and having horrible image - HELP

I have run some regular coax 85 ft before splitting and going another 50 ft in 2 different directions to 2 different projectors.

Obviously, I am an idiot and am doing this for the first time, so please be kind, but I have a horrible image quality and would like to know what is necessary to get a perfect picture.

Do I need to run something different than coax? Do I need video signal boosters set in series throughout? Any ideas would be greatly, greatly appreciated. I know of nowhere else to turn except this forum.

[garrisonkw]

Go to Radioshack and buy a coax signal booster. They're relatively cheap. Also, remember that it's always best to amplify at the source, not the destination.

[MikeV]

Wait, before you run out and buy anything lets get a little more information about what you are connecting.

1. What type coax cable RG-6, RG-59, etc.
2. What are you connecting to, antenna input, video input, RGB, etc
3. How did you split the original cable, what type splitter.

[BMORIN]

1. Just the cheapest coax that Radio Shack sold
2. Connecting to 2 projectors on either side and they accept multiple different types of inputs. I have just been plugging into the RCA Video Input
3. I split the cable with a $.99 Y adapter

[Bigdaddybrat]

If I may add my two cents.

Another huge problem is the connectors at the end of the wire... You can get a lot of problems (noise) if not done right or if you cheap out.

I had a problem with my signal at home and called our cable company, luckly he fixed all of the bad ends with the ones that they used and it dramaticly cleaned up the signal. The quality of adaptor is also a factor too.... here I find you do get what you pay for.

Also, the type of cable is a huge contributor... however Im sure that there are alot of other guys out there that know more about cable then I. However, all the cable I have used I was able to get off my local cable company through a job I was working on.

Good luck!

[ApolloCreed21]

garrisonkw -

Just curious if you (or anyone else) has experience with those coaxial amplifier and how they work ? I have coaxial coming in and it is split multiple times, and some lengthy runs as well.

[oldfart13]

First thing to do is get a single length cable that is high quality. I had originally used cheap RG-6 cable in 15 and 25 foot lengths to go from my satellite LNBs to the receiver. That was a big mistake as I was getting a 2.0 to 3.0 db loss with each connection. That meant my signal was borderline at best and I would get constant signal losses and problems even with light rain showers. I ditched those cables and ran 100 feet of high grade RG-6 (like the kind the local sat installer companies use) directly from the LNBs to the IRD. The result is about a 20 db gain in the signal and I don't get rain fade unless I have a heavy thunder storm. No amps needed in this case...

[MikeV]

BMorin
Since you are running composite video to the projectors you may want to try a video distribution amp, Radio Shack has them. http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F003%5...5Fid=15%2D1172

ApolloCreed21
A standard coax amp will have a 10-20 db gain, i.e. if your signal coming in is 5db, going through the amp will boost it to 15-25db, a standard TV requires between 10 and 17db for good signal reception. Any time you put in a splitter you will drop the signal level, normally 2-4db per tap depending on the manufacturer of the splitter. Also make sure for cable TV your splitters have a frequency range of 5-1000mhz to cover all channels on the cable band.

[garrisonkw]

I use a 4way splitting coax amp in my apartement. It definitely helps out. I used it to replace a 4way splitter that was in place where the cable comes in from outside. Cleaned up my higher channels.

[BMORIN]

Well, I thought I should give you an update on how I fixed my problem. I had to get a scaler to convert everythign to run through 100ft of VGA cord then into a VGA distribution amplifier that had 50ft VGA cord coming out of it to each of my projectors. It's crystal clear now.

[lordsmurf]

Use RG6 for longer runs.
RG59 will almost always look like crap.

Spend money, about 50 cents a foot.

[LSchafroth]

Try using RG6 quad shield. I have long runs from multiple walls in every room going all the way to my wiring closet in the basement. I tried the cheap stuff at first and the quality sucked. Ripped that out and used RG-6 withe the quad shielding and it lloks great.

LS