Question for Cable people

[Jimm]

Ok so I'm finally movin into the cable stage for internet...yay, but I can't quite get it to work. Heres the deal:

Ran a cable line from outside right to my room. Outside its connected to a 3-way splitter. Both ends of the coax cable are topped with twist on connectors. Connected it to the modem (yea I paid for the service from the company) and it doesn't work. So, I connect it to the tv and see if it works there. TV comes up with great picture but really poor sound (all the other TVs in the house are fine...and the sound on my TV works fine when I turn on the PS2 on Video or anything like that). Staticy sounding and you can only hear it if you turn the volume up higher than normal. I went back outside and switched the 3-way splitter back to the 2-way splitter that was originally there. Still same problem. Sooo I check the connections on my connectors and fix those to make sure theyre good. Still no good ; \

Anyone on this board know what the problem might be? Perhaps the coax cable is the problem? Although It shouldn't have any kinks in it or anything. Its only stapled to the wall outside and not hard.

Anyway, thoughts and suggestions welcome ; )

 

[Sindarkus]

Let's say that the modem and the TV with the sound problem are in your bedroom, just for explination purposes.

Is this the first time you've run the cable line to your bedroom?

If it's a new line, then it can really be several problems. First, like you said, I'd check the coax that you've run to your bedroom. Look for bends or cuts in the cable. You said you used twist-on connections? Make sure none of the 'metal fiber' that's inside the coax is touching that connector, as that can sometimes cause problems, and make sure it's a good connection in the first place (I never liked to use twist-on, they would never hold as well as crimp-on would). Touch the central piece of metal inside the coax with something like a pocket knife and make sure that there's no static on the line (although that usually causes snow on the screen, not sound problems). If you don't find a problem there, you might consider replacing that length that runs from the splitter to your bedroom, since the other TVs are fine. Sometimes cable can come from the store/company in a bad condition, and just can't be used.

If that still doesn't fix the problem, you might call the cable company to come out and boost your signal, which they can do without coming into your house, or buy a signal booster from some place like RadioShack or wherever you got your cable from. Sometimes running a cable over a long distance can cause signal loss. As you're probably aware, the more spliters you have on a line, the more signal loss you'll have, even if you aren't using one of the splits.

When you say the cable doens't work, I'm assuming that means you aren't getting a decent signal to the modem, by the way.

Those are usually the most common problems, though. If none of that will fix it, say something and I'll try to think of something else, short of having the cable people come out and look at it for you haha

 

[masterorion]

is the cable light on the modem solid or flashing?
if the cable light is flashing, you dont have a cable signal coming in
if its solid, then you have a good cable signal but have other possible config issues

 

[Darkdante]

Usually when you install a cable modem you need a dedicated line from the street. This is to insure enough power is coming from the line to your modem to support the high speed connection with no interference. Everytime you add a split you get a weaker signal. Even if you do succeed in what your doing, your connection will prob be weak and intermitant at best. And you won't be getting what you are paying for.

ONe thing you can do is ask them to come down and install it, (like they supposed to do). Or you can ask them to add a inline signal booster. Don't use the ones from radio shack and such, they do not help much. And sometimes the feedback makes things worse.

And most of all don't split the dedicated one they install. Use a router and run another line for the TV, TV tuner etc...

BTW: We have 3.5 meg downloads here, not every one has that, but I wouldn't have that with a split line.

You can check your bandwidth here
http://reviews.cnet.com/7004-7254_7-0.html?tag=cnetfd.dir

 

[Trippyhippy]

I had a problem very similar to this when I moved into my last apartment. Eventually, what I had to do was call the cable company, and they had to upgrade the equipment on the OUTSIDE of my apartment. They gave me some sort of explanation about the old style cable wires aren't able to handle the signal. They ran a new wire from the Pole to my building and it worked like a charm after that.

 

[Chadd]

Like they said above, you want to split the line as little as possible, but even so you can still get it to work if its split once or twice, just might be a poorer conneciton and harder on the modem.

I didn't see you mention anything about giving the cable company the mac address of your modem. They need this in order to give you service. Call them up, tell them your installing a cable modem and the mac address is blah blah blah, they should help with any other problems you have as well.

Also, make sure to keep the modem plugged in for up to 15 minutes they say (more like 2 from what I understand) until it gets an IP address for the first time. Syncroization issues and all.

If all else fails have them install it.

 

[Pascal]

The standard Time Warren made us follow was all cable must be RG6 or RG11. No more than two splits in the line. First being the ground block, second being the splitter. The splitters must be 900 MHz (Which it should say on it). The cable modem should go on the first lead of an unbalanced splitter (3 ways). Though Twist-Ons are not the best choose of connectors, the fact you are getting clean video suggests you have them on correctly. Generally Video degrades before sound.

I don’t think single loss is your issues. As it has already between suggested, make sure you have activated the modem with the cable company. If you have then place a service ticket, as you may have a single trap at the tap (at the Street) blocking the single or the tap its self may need replacing. The line feeding your house may also need upgraded if it is not RG6 or RG11.

 

[alanon]

Here's an Idea. Im going to assume that you already have a working cable line somewhere in your house. If this is the case, instead of spiltting and running coax, put the actual modem near the working line and run ran catV wire from the modem to wherever your PC is.

 

[Jimm]

Thanks for all the comments guys. Was alot more than I expected. : ) Anyway, been kinda busy with work and Gym but I messed with it a bit more. My friend's dad was gonna hook me up with a booster but hes been kinda slackin on gettin around to that so I just called the company to come out and look at it. Turns out theres a filter on my line which is causing problems. So I guess the guy is comin out tomorrow morning to take it off. Hopefully that does the trick.

 

[ghaleon]

I had a similar problem. I had cable internet for awhile however when this happened. I came home one day and found that the cable internet would not work at all and the digital cable tv was outta wack. I called Comcast up they had to do something on the pole outside my house because they got complaints from a few people in my area. I had to wait for 3 days with no internet and a gimped cable tv setup I couldn't get an appointment for a sevice guy to come.