Signal Boost/Powerstrip

[MikeDylan]

I want to split my basic cable coax in two. I'm using a Tripp Lite Surge Suppressor and a PHILIPS 24dB Dual Output VHF/UHF/FM Amplifier. My question is should I use the splitter right before the powerstrip or after. I don't know if it will make a difference on how the signal booster works.

 

[f0am]

If you split it befor the surger supressor then you will be loosing supression on your incoming line. Defeats the purpose then doesnt it.

 

[MDS]

In general, you want any video amplifier as close as possible to the source and that would mean running the cable from the wall to the amplifier and then taking the two outputs of the amplifier into the surge suppressor and from there to the actual components. That approach requires the most number of cables - 1 from the wall to the amp, 2 out of the amp and into the surge suppressor and then 2 more out of the surge suppressor to the actual components.

The other way around will probably work just fine too. There will be a slight loss going through the surge suppressor but with 24 dB of gain from the amplifier it likely won't matter at all.

 

[MikeDylan]

Would hooking up a signal amplifier before my cable modem help or will it screw up my modem? Also what will carry a signal better for around 25', the coax tv cable or an ethernet cable.

Lets see if I can do a crude diagram


(1)ATM

....................-Cable Modem - 25' ethernet to Router
Wall-Splitter -|
....................-25' to Powerstrip - Splitter/Signalbooster - 2 Tv's


(2)Maybe?
......................................- 25' to Cable Modem-Router
Wall-Splitter/signalbooster -|
......................................- 25' to Powerstrip - Splitter - 2 Tv's

Will option (2) be better?

 

[HiJon89]

I've heard that amping the signal going into your modem is bad.

 

[MikeDylan]

I called my cable/internet provider and they couldn't give me a straight answer to any of my questions.

 

[MDS]

Yes, HiJon89 has it right. Amping the signal to the cable modem is bad. I figured there might be more to it than just amplifiying the basic cable feed.

It's kinda hard to visualize from the diagram but option 2 looks correct.

If a cable modem is involved, you want to use a 1 to 2 splitter with one leg going straight to the modem and the other going to the amplifier (or another splitter if that is what you have). You may need a bi-directional splitter if you have only 1 feed coming into the house and it serves both the modem and the video to other wall plates in the house (cable modem needs to communicate back to the head-end and it does so on low megahertz frequencies below the cable video frequencies). I have two separate feeds so don't need the bi-directional splitter.

Ethernet cables go from the cable modem to the router and don't affect the cable/modem feed. I'll tell you how mine is configued if it helps - I had to modify slightly the way the structured wiring in my house was run because the installers did it one way and I wanted it my way; ie the 'correct' way.