Signal Amplifier...is it necessary for my setup?

[inmypjs]

I currently split the signal coming in from my Cable company, one port to a digital set top box and another port going to a 4-way amplifier. The 4-way amp is split to amplify signal with one port going to the TV and another port going to the DVR. The other two ports are not used.

My thought is that signal might be degraded if I just use an ordinary splitter instead of the signal amplifier. What I was told is that I don't need a signal amplifer if i'm not splitting the signal to two or more TVs around the house and that the cable is less than 9 feet. Is that correct?

 

[MBauer]

Thoughts

I currently split the signal coming in from my Cable company, one port to a digital set top box and another port going to a 4-way amplifier. The 4-way amp is split to amplify signal with one port going to the TV and another port going to the DVR. The other two ports are not used.

My thought is that signal might be degraded if I just use an ordinary splitter instead of the signal amplifier. What I was told is that I don't need a signal amplifer if i'm not splitting the signal to two or more TVs around the house and that the cable is less than 9 feet. Is that correct?

Splitting the signal will cause a loss. Since most cable signals aren't exactly clean, the amplifier boosts the entire signal, noise and all.

I would tend to agree that you don't need an amplifier but the easiest approach is to have the cable company come out and test the signal strength. Also have you tried it wthout the amp? One other possibility is to put the signal amplifier first in your circuit

 

[inmypjs]

Thanks for your response. I guess I have to do a trial and error. I will try it without the amp (connect the TV direct from the cable out and see if signal would improve). If it improves, it probably means that my splitter is junk or/and my signal amp is amplifying the noise coming out from the source. I'll try it also with just the splitter and then try it with just the signal amp.

BTW, according to this electronics store I asked, one should only use shielded RG6 cables and not the inferior RG59 to get improved signals. I thought this is only good for longs connections. My connections from the source to the TV is below 15' in length so would an RG6 make any improvements?