What Cable Amp/Splitter do you use?

[bowtomecha]

I was curious about what means you people that have multiple tuners use to split your cable. I was planning on getting a simple 4 or 6 coaxial splitter with built in amplifier form Radio Shack. I have a bunch of Adaptec 3610 dual tuners and I'm trying to put them to good use. I was thinking about wiring my router and cable modem by the media server I'm making and I'm thinking about using the splitter to feed the cable modem too. The one I'm eyeing has that bi-directional system for cable modems.

Any thoughts?

[mlomker]

Just did this last night. I bought a 4-way amplifier and some better cables. I did A/B testing and I was shocked by the signal drop that I experienced with some cheap cables and a splitter that I had bought at Target. I have read good things about the Radio Shack amp but it was out of stock at the store that I stopped at.

I recently bought one of the HDHomerun QAM tuners and it has a signal quality meter that allowed me to easily tell the difference. The upside is that both my analog and digital signals are improved. I'm thrilled!

[ClamsTheCat]

If I have digi cable boxes, would I gain anything by using an amp? How about on the HD cable box that uses QAM?

[Joe The Dude]

I'm currently using the EDA-UG2402 4-port Unity Gain amp from http://www.cabletvamps.com/drop%20amps.htm.
It seems to work okay with my current setup.

However, planning for the near future, I recently purchased an
EDA-FT08100, 8-port, 3dB Foward Gain (with 0dB return loss) amp
from them, but I haven't tried it out yet.
I plan to connect it to:
Five Hauppauge PVR-500's (Type A) and
Two Cable Boxes.

Be sure to purchase one F-Terminator for each Coaxial CATV Plug/Outlet in your home to prevent them from spewing out or letting in interference.
This includes any unused ones on a TV, VCR, the Amp itself, and your Tuner Cards. http://www.cabletvamps.com/accessories.htm

Snapstream uses Channel Vision amps in-house, and they also sell them at: http://store.snapstream.com/adapters.html
I haven't tried them, just yet.

On a side note, you can also purchase:
RG-6 Quad-Shield F-F Cables with Compression Connectors,
in lengths ranging from the hard-to-find "3 Ft", up to to 150 Ft,
online from:
http://cableorganizer.com/home-theat...sual-cable.htm
If you feel the need to do so.
They're in the second table from the top.

[Joe The Dude]

Originally Posted by ClamsTheCat

If I have digi cable boxes, would I gain anything by using an amp? How about on the HD cable box that uses QAM?

The benefit from using an amp with a cable box is that it won't degrade the signal, unlike non-powered splitters.

However, if you like to order Pay Per View or use On-Demand, it's best to get an amp that has the least amount of "Return Loss" that will work with your Cable Box so the signals it sends back to the Cable Company over the Coax will not be degraded too much.
Methinks that it is a non-issue for Sat Boxes that communicate back over a telephone line.

As to how well Zero Return Loss Amps work with a Cable Modem, I can't say for sure, as I don't have a Cable Modem, but I read that they work really good with em.

[GeorgeH]

There are 2 types of splitters. One goes up to 1000mHz the other only up to 700mHz. You always want the former.

I bought a $32 8-way amp splitter on the internet. It works so well.

[kramsauer]

I use one of those crappy GE ones you can get at Target.

[radioouman]

I have not had good luck with pre-amps and digital, over-the-air signals. Has anyone here had luck with them? Even though my analog channels suffer, digital is better without the preamp.

[mlomker]

nevermind.