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[MAJORAHOLE]

im finishing my basement, and i dont have an hd box for down there yet, but i want to be ready, so i can have one, not for everyday viewing, but like sports events/shit i need to see live(not downloaded)
i have comcast with the 16mbps internet, and 2 boxes, my plan is just to bring down the HD box when it is needed (superbowl ect.) then take it back up to the bedroom when done.
now when the guys came to install it they said i shouldnt split it for another room, because it can mess up my internet speed (which tests at 25mbps btw) and picture quality.....hmm not so sure i trust these douchers.
so, any opinions are welcome. im pretty sure i can just get a good splitter and good cable and it would be good.

[jagojon3]

Yes if you split the signal from the line that goes into your cable modem then you will decrease your SNR, which could affect your internet connection and speed. If the signal is strong enough already it can take a bit of a split. Every splitter has the signal loss in decibels listed on the back or on each connection. The easiest way to find out is just split it. If it works fine then it's fine, you aren't going to do any permanent damage if it screws up your connection, just don't split it without using a signal booster if you have issues.

[bigwig]

You can take your signal coming in to your house and use a 2 way splitter.  Split directly to your cable modem and then the other line can go to your "TV Splitter".  Then use a huge splitter to go to the rest of the house.  Worst case scenario if you notice signal noise on your picture, buy an amplifier.

[SgtB]

There is at least a 2 way splitter at the beginning of the run, or your termination box outside has the split in it. One line runs to the modem, and the other runs to the rest of the outlets with more splitters. You can get a biased splitter with 3 or more jacks, and one will be marked with a higher signal level. Use that one for the modem.

[Jorsher]

I forget the recommended mhz rating for the splitter (I used to work for Comcast), but as long as you don't buy the cheapest walmart/china special, you should be alright.

Obviously a splitter will increase noise.  When Comcast prepares to roll out VOIP in a town, they pay contractors to go home to home and check the signal.  If there is too much interference, they disconnect the cable, so the people have to call Comcast and have a tech come out to find the source of the noise...the noise usually comes from the customers daisy-chaining a ton of splitters.

You can also by powered/amplified splitters which use an external power source to prevent signal degradation, but honestly if the signal is strong enough going to the house, one little splitter isn't going to cause a problem.

[SgtB]

Good point. You want a 1ghz. Old cable internet tech myself. I hated that job. Raised houses suck! $75 per modem was nice though.

[MAJORAHOLE]

it was installed in nov. and they ran all new in the house from my pole in the back yard. a total of 3 lines in the house 2 tv and 1 modem.
i guess i'll just try and test it.
also i want to relocate my modem to the basement also, but i wouldn't think that would be a big deal, as i can just disconnect the cable and pull it through the wall down to the basement without adding or removing line.

[jay]

yep theres a reason the dollar store sells splitters for a dollar and radioshack sells them for 40 bucks...

[PhilStubbs]

so, it sounds like one splitter with enough outlets for all of my tv's would be better than using multiple small splitters. is that correct?

also, how much affect does price have on the quality of the cables that i run to the tv's? i plan to rip out all of the cable wiring in my house and do it over and i want the best, but i dont want to spend more than i have to. any recommendation on what and where to buy supplies?

[HiProfile]

Have the best of both worlds. Buy a coupler (couple 2 male cables together) and run a line from your normal spot back to the man cave. When the event comes up, move the box downstairs, then hook the coupler in place of it's normal spot. You're basicly routing the signal from the normal spot to the basement, and you don't use a splitter in normal circumstances.

You will only have a sliiiight signal degradation while it's setup like that. 1 split is barely anything though, 1-4db max for a 2-way splitter.

[MAJORAHOLE]

thats a good idea.  the tv the hd box is on isn't hd anyway, well it is, but not connected hd. just s-video with rca's for audio