A question from a lay person. I'm looking for information on what kind
of CATV splitter to buy. I have Time-Warner analog CATV and don't use
any cable box. All my devices use coaxial RF cable as input. Here's my
setup...

Cable comes into my house's outside junction box into a 4-way splitter
with each output saying 7dB (whatever that means), then goes to four
rooms.

Room 1: Bedroom without any TV. Coax not terminated.

Room 2: Office with cable modem and TV. Cable company used a 2-way
splitter with each output saying 3.5dB.

Room 3: Bedroom with a TV.

Room 4: My main media room. Here's where I need the right coax splitter.
I currently have a 2-way splitter connected to a VCR and a TiVo. I'd
like to add a DVD recorder with a cable-ready tuner. All 3 devices would
have coaxial RF cable input.

My two questions:

1. Should I get a 4-way coax splitter with each output at 7dB and
terminate the unused output? This would leave an output free for future
expansion in Room 4. I saw such a splitter at Radio Shack. Is there a
better brand?

2. Should I terminate the cable in the unused Room 1?


Thanks for any suggestions.

Jerry

Generally the splitters are installed by "professionals" without even
considering termination of the unused ports. I normally put the splitters
closest to the main feed line coming into the residence. use high quality
coax (RG-6) and high quality crimped connectors. Termination at the unused
ports with a 75 ohm terminator available at most supply outlets and
occasionally Rat Shack. The I take a nice portable tele to each final
location, check the quality of the supplied signal at that point, if
necessary, installation of a high quality distribution amplifier rather than
the passive splitter in required. May want to contact a person who does this
ona commercial basis and askk theire source of materials, etc.
"Jerry" wrote in message
...
A question from a lay person. I'm looking for information on what kind
of CATV splitter to buy. I have Time-Warner analog CATV and don't use
any cable box. All my devices use coaxial RF cable as input. Here's my
setup...

Cable comes into my house's outside junction box into a 4-way splitter
with each output saying 7dB (whatever that means), then goes to four
rooms.

Room 1: Bedroom without any TV. Coax not terminated.

Room 2: Office with cable modem and TV. Cable company used a 2-way
splitter with each output saying 3.5dB.

Room 3: Bedroom with a TV.

Room 4: My main media room. Here's where I need the right coax splitter.
I currently have a 2-way splitter connected to a VCR and a TiVo. I'd
like to add a DVD recorder with a cable-ready tuner. All 3 devices would
have coaxial RF cable input.

My two questions:

1. Should I get a 4-way coax splitter with each output at 7dB and
terminate the unused output? This would leave an output free for future
expansion in Room 4. I saw such a splitter at Radio Shack. Is there a
better brand?

2. Should I terminate the cable in the unused Room 1?


Thanks for any suggestions.

Jerry

"Jerry" wrote
Room 4: My main media room. Here's where I need the right coax splitter.
I currently have a 2-way splitter connected to a VCR and a TiVo. I'd
like to add a DVD recorder with a cable-ready tuner. All 3 devices would
have coaxial RF cable input.

One device input for cable (the DVD) can feed all other devices, including
surround sound theatre system when you later add that. If for some reason
you want to record separate events simultaneously, then you could use a
passive splitter between the DVD cable output and the VCR. If not, an AB
switch between VCR and TiVo would work fine.

Jack

On Wed, 3 Nov 2004 05:31:20 -0500, Art wrote:

Generally the splitters are installed by "professionals" without even
considering termination of the unused ports.

I use the correct splitter. If there were ever a reason to do
otherwise, I'd terminate.

I normally put the splitters
closest to the main feed line coming into the residence. use high quality
coax (RG-6) and high quality crimped connectors. Termination at the unused
ports with a 75 ohm terminator available at most supply outlets and
occasionally Rat Shack. The I take a nice portable tele to each final
location, check the quality of the supplied signal at that point, if
necessary, installation of a high quality distribution amplifier rather than
the passive splitter in required. May want to contact a person who does this
ona commercial basis and askk theire source of materials, etc.

Real CATV amps cost too much to consider for the average single
home.

CATV co's usually spec the max outlets per outside drop to 4. It's
better to have another drop after that.

Off the shelf boosters... I'd like to see a cheap one that handles 1
GHz *and* passes the return channels.

snip
--
Best Regards,
Mike