dB per foot plus a joiner?
nousndthem
Enthusiast - Level 3

I'm seeing about a 4dB difference between STB #1 and STB #2, the result being
6 unavailable channels and 2 or 3 weak ones.

I can probably eliminate about 25 ft. of cable and 1 connector, but if it's not
going to let me reclaim 4 or more dB, then I'd rather not bother and just get an AMP.
V. Tech said an AMP would be OK but I've seen some bad reports on the forum
so I wanted to ask here.

So ... Should I go for shortening my distance and removing the connector,
( will need to drill a hole in a closet floor ... no big deal ... just annoying )
or just get an AMP?

If I should get the AMP then can you recommend one,
and also tell me the best place to put it in the wiring?


Thanks!
-Steve

My coax wiring:
From the cellar close to the ONT Box:...
1 splits to 2:
those 2, which are about 20 to 30 feet long, go to first floor:
One goes to First Floor STB (good signal) the other goes to a connector, then a 100 Ft. run.
The other far end of that 100' run goes to a 1 to 2 splitter.
One of those splits goes to the Actiontec router, and the other to the second STB (weak signal)
and both of those shortest cables are about 2 to 3 ft. in length.


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Re: dB per foot plus a joiner?
PJL
Master - Level 3

If you get an amp, it must pass bi-directional for MoCA/IP signals.

The signal loss over the distance seems excessive.  Usually an ONT can handle this sort of drop.  Perhaps you have a failing splitter?  What type of coax do you have?  That last splitter to the problem STB has a 3dB loss.

Re: dB per foot plus a joiner?
nousndthem
Enthusiast - Level 3

The coax is what the original Verizon tech gave me on the day he installed the first floor.

I didn't want to make him do the 3rd floor so he just gave me a 100' run with ends on it,

a splitter and 2 - 3 foot cables, so I'd have to assume the coax is what is required.

All channels were good up here for quite a few months and then things started getting strange.

I did change the splitter up here a while back but there was no change in the problem.

Possibly it's the splitter in the cellar?

Can one side of a splitter be good and one side bad?
(light bulb !!!)

Ahhh ... You've given me some more trouble shooting ideas.

So ... I'll swap the cables on it and see and get back to you.

Re: dB per foot plus a joiner?
PJL
Master - Level 3

@nousndthem wrote:

The coax is what the original Verizon tech gave me on the day he installed the first floor.

I didn't want to make him do the 3rd floor so he just gave me a 100' run with ends on it,

a splitter and 2 - 3 foot cables, so I'd have to assume the coax is what is required.

All channels were good up here for quite a few months and then things started getting strange.

I did change the splitter up here a while back but there was no change in the problem.

Possibly it's the splitter in the cellar?

Can one side of a splitter be good and one side bad?
(light bulb !!!)

Ahhh ... You've given me some more trouble shooting ideas.

So ... I'll swap the cables on it and see and get back to you.


Yes, one output of a splitter can be bad and the other good.  And it could be that more than one splitter has a problem, although low probability, but it could happen.

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Re: db per foot plus a joiner?
nousndthem
Enthusiast - Level 3

Update:

 

OK. Everything has been changed except the cable run.

Now just to recap,

There are some channels that show 0dB.


At one time, after the initial install and for quite a few months after the initial install, everything was perfect,
all channels were good with no signal loss or any pixelation.

The cable has not been damaged or pinched.
It is run in a way that there's no way to get to it or damage it.

So, should I change the cable run, and if that doesn't do it, what then?

Thank you!

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Re: db per foot plus a joiner?
nousndthem
Enthusiast - Level 3

Update:

I've made no other changes (have not changed the cable) and all but one of the bad channels have become watchable again with good signal strength.

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