HDTV Forum

Hi -

I have basic Comcast CATV coming into the house and we recently bought a Samsung HD TV - live in NH.

When I installed the TV and setup the Autoprogram for the channels the TV found all of the Digital stations for the channels that I currently get.
So at this time I do not think i will need to signup for the expensive Comcast digital service and digital box....

My question is related to the actual splitter they installed when we first moved in.

Since I also have a cable modem they took the line from the street and split it 2 ways - 50~1000MHZ range. One to the cable modem and the other to the TV.

Will I be able to improve my chances in receiving additional stations if I swap out that splitter with a 50-2300MHZ (local electronics store carries a wider range splitter)?

Does Comcast even offer channels in that higher frequency range, above 1000MHZ?

Thanks!
-Mike

The highest frequency Comcast uses is 1g. You already have all you will need.

Thanks

Bobby_c is right -- Comcast and other cable companies will top out at 450, 750, or 1000 MHz, depending on the amplifiers they use in your area. It sounds like they installed a bad splitter if your replacement made a material difference. The 2.5 Gz splitter you got is intended for satellite systems, not cable systems. (It probably has a line printed on it showing which port has a DC path.)

I don't install splitters with cable modems. While TVs generally want about 0 dBmV each, cable modems prefer much less than that. I install a 9 dB or 10 dB directional coupler (DC) for cable modems. Just like splitters, DCs have frequency ranges so you need one that goes to 1000 MHz. DCs are the same size as splitters or smaller and cost about the same. I buy them wholesale, but you may have a problem finding them retail. I found one on Google for $3.99, which is about right, by entering the search string "directional couplers cable modem taps".

Word to the wise: when the cable company comes calling to install Internet service, ask them to use a DC rather than a splitter.

Connect the DC's "Input" to the cable coming into the house, the "Output" to the TV and the "Tap" to the cable modem. The DC loss will be the 9 dB for the cable modem but only about 2 dB for the TV. That's an improvement of 1.5 dB over a splitter, which has a 3.5 dB loss on each leg.

The DC is more frequently called a tap.