Can I split a cable telephone cable?

[larrym]

I have the Comcast package that includes cable tv, internet and phone. There is a coax that comes from the outside Comcast box, to my house, then to an Arris Touchstone telephone modem/router. I connect a local computer directly through one of the ports on the router and connect a wireless modem to another port, supporting other computers in the house. The home television is in another room and has a set top box connected by coax to a coax wall outlet.

On one of the computers in another room, I connect from a Hauppauge PVR-150 through a coax to an additional wall cable outlet in that room. I am recording video on that machine.

The issue is that I want to move the Hauppauge card into the computer near the telephone modem, but then I don't have an open coax port to get signal directly to the card.

Should I get a cable splitter? Will it screw-up the phone line or the cable connection? What kind of splitter? Is there a better option?

Thanks for any suggestions you can give.

Larry

[victoriabears]

Here in BC I have found the cable company very helpful, in a way, it is THEIR installation, not yours, thats why you pay them, usually they will give you a splitter which they support and reckon is better quality than you would buy.

[johns0]

Just buy a decent splitter and cables.

[victoriabears]

I did that and my digibox became unknown to the cable company, why pay for something if they will help you for free.

[johns0]

If you know what you are doing its much quicker to get done.

[larrym]

Thanks to both of you.

How is the line split originally? The coax comes into the house as a single line, then has to somehow be split for each of the coax outlets around the house.

Larry

[redwudz]

Then you probably already have a splitter in the line. You might just replace it with one with more outlets. But splitters have losses. Too much loss and you may have problems. One alternative is a small distribution amplifier instead of a splitter.

[larrym]

I took a closer look. There is a splitter outside, before coming into the house, -3.5 dB for each side according to the graphics. One side comes into the house, as I explained before, and goes to the telephone modem/router. The other goes around the house and then penetrates the wall for the nearby coax outlet.

I could split the secondary line, but it's already down 3.5dB, so is that ok to do?

I did call Comcast. They said that the line could be split up to 3 times and they offered to have a tech do this for $17.73. Pretty good deal, but question how many times you can split the signal and get good quality.

Larry

[redwudz]

Cable usually has a pretty strong signal. If they will do it for $17, I would let them. They will also likely test it and check your cable and connectors condition at the same time. If you do end up with low signal level, you can just remove the splitter and put in a male to male connector. My cable goes through two splitters and no problems.

[larrym]

Thanks for the advice. I have scheduled the install.
Larry

[edDV]

I took a closer look. There is a splitter outside, before coming into the house, -3.5 dB for each side according to the graphics. One side comes into the house, as I explained before, and goes to the telephone modem/router. The other goes around the house and then penetrates the wall for the nearby coax outlet.

I could split the secondary line, but it's already down 3.5dB, so is that ok to do?

I did call Comcast. They said that the line could be split up to 3 times and they offered to have a tech do this for $17.73. Pretty good deal, but question how many times you can split the signal and get good quality.

Larry

There are two issues; maintaining adequate gain and maintaining bandwidth equalization. Unfortunately cheap active distribution amps can affect equalization causing problems with higher digital channels or digital services. For TV sets you are better off splitting downstream of the main splitter. This keeps levels to the telephone and intenet devices where the cable company set them. TV sets and capture cards have a wide range of RF AGC.

If the cable company installs a larger primary splitter (more outputs), they compensate by increasing gain up on the pole. You can't do that.