Cable signal acceptance

[mfabien]

In order to provide cable service to a new TV in the house, I:

First installed a splitter (3 outputs) at the existing connection between the cable length supplied by the provider (20 feet) and the extension to the HDTV (another 30 feet).

That was ok for weeks. Then the audio started to dropout and saw errors were varying at both tuner 1 and at FDC x/sec (avg). Signal Level changed from -5 dbmv to -9 dbmv with an occasional - 11 dbmv.

Purchased a new splitter with amplifier and that was too powerful (Level 9 dbmv and RDC at 59 dbmv) so I re installed the non amplified splitter upstream of the amplified splitter and got signal level 4 dbmv and RDC at 55 dbmv.

Then after a week or so, I lost my IP address on page 4 (of 22) and no matter the frequent booting, could not re acquire IP.

Yesterday I removed the amplified splitter, kept the non amplified splitter and I now have the following readings:

Tuner 1 is at -5 dbmv level
Tuner 2 is at -5 dbmv level
RDC has a frequency of 19 MHz, Power of 50dbmv with 0/sec (avg)
FDC has frequency of 72.750 MHz with -13dbmv level (amber) and 0/sec (avg)
FDC S/N is 23 db

I did get the IP address back and the signal is very stable at the above readings. My only concern is the FDC level of -13dbmv. The RDC power of 50dbmv could be questionable but without the splitter, it never was below 44 dbmv.

I will take daily readings and see how stable these measures remain. I presently have a schedule tech call for early January. I rescheduled that call because if ever the cable company needs to replace my SA8000HD, I do want to have my present recordings for the holiday season.

Any comments?

[57U]

The amp you installed may have been "one way", therefore the STB could not communicate back to the head-end, consequently, you lost your IP address.

-13 is not a horrible signal. Usually there are no major issues until about -19, but you've got the service call scheduled, so they may be able to bring it up to proper levels.

[mfabien]

Thanks, 57U, my readings this morning were the same as yesterday. So there is stability and Video/Audio coming in fine.

The only exception to 100% satisfaction concerns ABCHD (coming from Detroit as in your case)...Video dropouts, pixelation...been like this for a week or two. My sense is that it concerns the Detroit feed to our cable service.

Note: Should have replied earlier...forgot to subscribe to the thread (you would think that a thread starter must also subscribe).

[mfabien]

Good signal stability remains after 4 days of monitoring.

Yes the splitter/amp I had before was unidirectional (which should not be used for a DVR). Returned that to Radio Shack yesterday.

But the improvement with the non amplified splitter took place after I removed the incoming cable run from the the Monster Power and Cable filter. The Videotron DVR installer did mention not to run the cable in that filter, when he installed the SA8000HD, but after he left I did connect the cable to the filter. That cost me a good 4 dbmv.

Note: After returning the splitter amp yesterday, I saw a beautiful "Finding Nemo" bedspread in a main ally temporary store in the Shopping Center...
I will use that to cover up a 2 place sofa in the HT and when the family comes down the HT, on Xmas eve, the TV will have a Finding Nemo aquarium screen saver on the TV display complete with water sound (will select 6 ch. sound)!