Bad Recordings

[joh3004]

I'm having trouble with my recordings. Some channels I record are fine, while others are either degraded or a fuzzy black screen with a little audio.

I am running windows xp on a 3 pvr 250's on 2.0 Ghz Athlon 64 processor (3200) w/ 1.0 gb of ram. I have a GeForce 6600 GT card and I am subscribed to charter's basic service in the Monterey Park, CA area.

I'm using the cyberlink video decoder and the default setting for video render.

Last week this machine was working fine, but ever since I set it up in my new home something has gone wrong.

[joh3004]

I've tried to connect each card directly to the cable line (avoiding the 4 way splitter) and for two of the cards it helps. I am definitely able to get a clearer signal. My cable is being split twice before it even reaches the four way splitter. The line comes into my home and it is split between my living room and office. Then, the office line is split again between my modem and my htpc. Then, the signal is split 3 ways between my 3 cards.

Do i need an amplified splitter?

[SHS]

Yes need an Cable amp
Read FAQ here
http://www.cabletvamps.com/

[joh3004]

Where should i place it? Should put the signal amp at the first split or right before it gets to my htpc?

[GKusnick]

You want to amplify as far upstream as possible, where the S/N ratio is highest. Otherwise you're just amplifying noise too. However you may need to split off your modem connection first, in case the amp won't pass those signals.

You should also try to minimize the number of splitters. Instead of a two-way splitter feeding a three-way splitter, use a four-way splitter in the first place. Or get an amp with four outputs and remove the splitters altogether.

[SHS]

Usely it at the first 2 way split where main come in where one line to cable modem and other line is feed for TV or STB or etc.

[joh3004]

Will using the amplifier hurt my cable modem in any way? My htpc is split off of the cable modem line.

[SHS]

Nope not at all

[joh3004]

Ok, I'm thinking of replacing my first splitter (2 way) with the EDA-2200 (two port amp) and then replacing the second splitter (2 way) and third splitter (3 way) with the EDA-2400 (four port amp).

EDA-2200
-------------> TV
-------------> EDA-2400
EDA-2400
-------------> Cable Modem
-------------> pvr-250 #1
-------------> pvr-250 #2
-------------> pvr-250 #3

Over kill?

[lovingHDTV]

Originally Posted by joh3004

Ok, I'm thinking of replacing my first splitter (2 way) with the EDA-2200 (two port amp) and then replacing the second splitter (2 way) and third splitter (3 way) with the EDA-2400 (four port amp).

EDA-2200----> TV
-------------> EDA-2400 ----> Cable Modem
-----------------------------> pvr-250 #1
-----------------------------> pvr-250 #2
-----------------------------> pvr-250 #3

Over kill?

I doubt that you will need the second amp as the EDA-2200 has a 11dB forward gain. The second amp may overdrive your tuner cards and actually degrade performance.

BTW a 11dB gain is 12x the power! So if your tuner worked by just removing a 4-way splitter this will provide plenty of gain for you. The reason you want to put it as close to the source is that all the noise on the line is multiplied by 12 also.

[joh3004]

Thanks so much for all the help. One of my pvr-250s gives a black snowy picture even if I remove the splitter. Should I just give up on it as broken? It's about 4 yrs old. Could there be another problem?

[GKusnick]

It's possible that something was shaken loose during the move. Before giving up on that card, try opening the case and re-seating all cards and connectors.

And as others have said, you don't need two amps. What you want to shoot for is one amp as early in the chain as possible, with enough outputs to feed everything directly without further splitting.

[joh3004]

I tried re-seating all the cards, but to no avail. I might need to look for another card.

Also, I wish I could just split once, but that would mean running four lines through my hall way--way too messy. Does the quality of the splitter make a huge difference? Also, are the electroline amplifiers the best? They seem to be available only online. Would an RCA amp from best buy or one from radio shack not do the trick?

[SHS]

1st option
First splitter (2 way)
-------------> Cable Modem
-------------> EDA-2400
EDA-2400
-------------> TV
-------------> pvr-250 #1
-------------> pvr-250 #2
-------------> pvr-250 #3

2nd option which is the best option is go with 8 port output
EDA-FT08100
-------------> Cable Modem
-------------> TV
-------------> pvr-250 #1
-------------> pvr-250 #2
-------------> pvr-250 #3

Your Option has change to this if have no other chosse
First splitter (2 way)
-------------> TV
-------------> EDA-FT08100
EDA-FT08100
-------------> Cable Modem
-------------> pvr-250 #1
-------------> pvr-250 #2
-------------> pvr-250 #3

2nd way
EDA-2200
-------------> TV
-------------> splitter (4 way)
splitter (4 way)
-------------> Cable Modem
-------------> pvr-250 #1
-------------> pvr-250 #2
-------------> pvr-250 #3

[SHS]

Electroline and PDI amplifiers just few that are the best made
Online they buy huge vol which it eazy for you and I to get unlike your local store which alway by the cheapest stuff

Does the quality of the splitter make a huge difference

No matter how good of quality splitter is you still end up losing 3.5dB or about HALF of your original signal just with reg 2 way

RCA amp from best buy or one from radio shack not do the trick?

Junk and junk

[joh3004]

Thank you very much. I will get an eda amplifier.

I can't do options 1 or 2 because both my htpc and my cable modem are in the office, while the tv is in the living room. The cable line comes in through my living room and that's where my first splitter is. Doing either options 1 or 2 would mean running multiple 50 foot lines through my living room and hall way.

Out of options 3 or 4 which one is best?

[SHS]

As which is best option it really dosen't matter both about thet same in over spec you need.
Hit eBay look for Electroline and can save some cash as much as half sometime.

[joh3004]

Thank you so much!