Looking for a cable splitter that lasts a long time.

[natr0n]

I got cable modem (coaxial cable). I also run a splitter to my tv. Long story short these splitters degrade quickly.

Is there any brand or special type to look for ? I live in FL so weather could be a culprit.

My questions hardly ever get answered here...worth a shot to ask if someone knows.

 

[Durvelle27]

Will it be inside or outside

 

[natr0n]

Will it be inside or outside

inside

 

[Xzibit]

The cheap option is if you have a provider with a service center near you. They might just give you splitters for free. With proof of my account I've asked for HDMI cables, splitters and coax cable all free.

 

[natr0n]

The cheap option is if you have a provider with a service center near you. They might just give you splitters for free. With proof of my account I've asked for HDMI cables, splitters and coax cable all free.

That never came to mind thats a great idea.

 

[Durvelle27]

inside

What service do you have

 

[newtekie1]

The cheap option is if you have a provider with a service center near you. They might just give you splitters for free. With proof of my account I've asked for HDMI cables, splitters and coax cable all free.

Honestly, this is probably the best option. I don't know what brand the ones that my cable company gives out are, but in all the years using them I've never had one go bad. Even the ones in the box outside my house.

 

[natr0n]

What service do you have

comcast

 

[FordGT90Concept]

1->2 splitters are pretty much all the same and nothing to write home about. They can't really degrade because there's really nothing to them. Just make sure it can handle the high frequencies cable uses.

Three-way or more splitters is where you get a distributor/amplifier. I have a ChannelPlus model I've been using for at least a decade. They run for about $100 but largely depends on features. Again, make sure it handles the high frequencies cable uses.

The best solution is to not use any splitters. There should be a distributor/amplifer already installed by Comcast and you should have direct cable runs from it...

I assume it is DOCSIS and you need equipment that can handle at least 1 GHz for that.

 

[Durvelle27]

comcast

Just go into the comcast store and ask for one.

Also note the more splitters you use it affects the signal and increases the transmit levels

 

[newtekie1]

1->2 splitters are pretty much all the same and nothing to write home about. They can't really degrade because there's really nothing to them. Just make sure it can handle the high frequencies cable uses.

The only thing I can think of is since he lives in Florida, the salt air might be corroding them.

 

[Dirty Butler]

I've been doing cable for 17 years. The company that supplies most of our gear now is Arris. If you have a comcast store near you they should be able to give you one, your other option would be to have them send you a self install kit, that will have a splitter and cables inside. Another option would be to flag down a comcast van, they'll have plenty to hand out. The main thing is to make sure all the connectors are tight, if they're loose it will cause an ingress issue and mess up your speeds. You shouldn't need a house amp unless you're pushing 6 outlets or more and then you'd want to make sure it works to 1 Ghz, has a moca filter and a return pass through so it doesn't push your transmit levels too high.

 

[advanced3]

Comcast...Free....I almost choked.

 

[Grog6]

Those splitters are more properly called Baluns.

They are just an impedance matching transformer; each leg of the output is 3dB down from the input, plus losses.

If they keep frying on you, check if the main cable is grounded where the line comes into the house, to the same ground as the power.
There should be a pass thru ground block with a ground wire to the power box, or ground rod.

If that's good, make sure the ground at the modem and cable box(es) are grounded to the ground lead of the power outlet.

The balun goes bad when HV arcs the wire insulation, making it short.

If all that's good, look into a "spark arrestor"

Like this:

 

[silkstone]

Those splitters are more properly called Baluns.

They are just an impedance matching transformer; each leg of the output is 3dB down from the input, plus losses.

If they keep frying on you, check if the main cable is grounded where the line comes into the house, to the same ground as the power.
There should be a pass thru ground block with a ground wire to the power box, or ground rod.

If that's good, make sure the ground at the modem and cable box(es) are grounded to the ground lead of the power outlet.

The balun goes bad when HV arcs the wire insulation, making it short.

If all that's good, look into a "spark arrestor"

Like this:

Unrelated to the OP, but how would one go about grounding TV coax connections? The coax connection coming into my house is ungrounded, as is common where I live and the lines give me a painful shock when I touch them.

At the moment, I just have them grounded via the appliances they are connected to, so they basically ground themselves through the TV in our living room.

 

[AsRock]

The cheap option is if you have a provider with a service center near you. They might just give you splitters for free. With proof of my account I've asked for HDMI cables, splitters and coax cable all free.

I got one of mine for free as the Comcast guy was checking the pole outside to find the whole lot up their had fried, i asked him if i could have one and did not seem like a issue.

But some time's they do turn you down.

I got one of mine for free as the Comcast guy was checking the pole outside to find the whole lot up their had fried, i asked him if i could have one and did not seem like a issue.

But some time's they do turn you down.

If ya like i could have a hunt around for if you like ?, i know kinda were it is .

 

[Grog6]

Unrelated to the OP, but how would one go about grounding TV coax connections? The coax connection coming into my house is ungrounded, as is common where I live and the lines give me a painful shock when I touch them.

At the moment, I just have them grounded via the appliances they are connected to, so they basically ground themselves through the TV in our living room.

That's really bad for them, the input is similar to the balun I was talking about, and the wire insulation won't stand much voltage.
It will kill your stuff eventually.

Putting the surge protector right at the ground block is best.

Amazon has them, this is an expensive one, with weather seals.

Amazon.com

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61Ohf6Kjj6L._SL1500_.jpg

You run the ground wire to the ground rod at your power box, or to the ground on an outlet.
The ground wire doesn't have to be big; 20awg is fine.

 

[silkstone]

That's really bad for them, the input is similar to the balun I was talking about, and the wire insulation won't stand much voltage.
It will kill your stuff eventually.

Putting the surge protector right at the ground block is best.

Amazon has them, this is an expensive one, with weather seals.

Amazon.com

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61Ohf6Kjj6L._SL1500_.jpg

You run the ground wire to the ground rod at your power box, or to the ground on an outlet.
The ground wire doesn't have to be big; 20awg is fine.

Thanks for the info. I always wondered why my living room TV died since moving here.

I've just double checked and it now seems to be grounded, it wasn't when we first moved as it'd give a nice little jolt, though not as bad as ungrounded appliances (floating neutral is common here).
I live in an apartment building and 3-prong plugs are the exception so, I guess at one point, I was grounding the whole system for them!

That is unless there was just a faulty device on the apartment's installation that has now been removed and the system remains ungrounded. How would I go about testing?

 

[AsRock]

Those splitters are more properly called Baluns.

They are just an impedance matching transformer; each leg of the output is 3dB down from the input, plus losses.

If they keep frying on you, check if the main cable is grounded where the line comes into the house, to the same ground as the power.
There should be a pass thru ground block with a ground wire to the power box, or ground rod.

If that's good, make sure the ground at the modem and cable box(es) are grounded to the ground lead of the power outlet.

The balun goes bad when HV arcs the wire insulation, making it short.

If all that's good, look into a "spark arrestor"

Like this:

Comcast around here install them by default around were i live, the company he is with might do too.


I found a 1in 4 out @7db and a 1in 2 out@3.5db if your interested, but i guess you can just buy them but they are doing nothing for me so .

 

[Grog6]

I buy good ones, ground my system, and use surge arrestors.

I haven't lost one in years.

I had a lightning strike nearby that took out a bunch of stuff, so they can die even with proper grounding and suppression.