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I'm having some problems with my cable setup, and I was thinking that someone here may be able to help me out. The problem is that I can't get both my cable modem and TV cable working at the same time (in the room that my computer is in, at least.) Here's an image to help describe the layout:

<img src="http://drocket.net/images/cable_setup.gif">

I've had this setup running perfectly fine since I got cable internet, probably about 2 years ago. A couple of weeks ago, though, my cable modem stopped working: the 'cable' light flashed, indicating that it couldn't connect. I spent a few days cursing the cable company, figuring that it was a problem on their end, until I got sick of it and did some investigating. After fiddling with the wires a bit, I discovered that it seemed to be a problems with the wires (or something) - everything worked fine if I connected the modem directly to the outside wire (which is, honestly, the way that its supposed to be.)

So, I bought a new wire and a new splitter, figuring that it was just a problem with the old ones. After much more fiddling around, though, I've discovered that anytime I attempt to split the signal, the cable modem won't connect. The exact way it works is rather strange, though...

Putting the splitter in the wire (but not having the second output hooked up, it works fine. If a wire is attached to the second output (*even if the second wire isn't attached to anything*), though, it will not work. The presence of the wire alone (even the new wire) causes problems, regardless of whether its hooked up or not. That doesn't make sense to me... Isn't it already split with the splitter? Why would a longer branch on the split be the thing causing problems?

Any advice would be appreciated (beyond 'call the cable company'. That's what I'm trying to avoid doing. I'm not in the mood to wait for them sometime between 6AM November 23rd and 9PM February 7th )

D-man,

I had a similar problem. It turned out the signal strength coming in from the street wasn't high enough (or strong enough, or whatever) to accomodate both the modem and the cable tv. I finally whined long enough that they came out and re-wired the street to the house and voila!, I had both cable tv and a cable modem.

Good luck!

PS: Is it Time Warner?

perhaps a signal booster tween the outside cable and the splitter box would help?

I used to have cable (DSL now, and satellite TV) and the signal was so weak it wouldnt even stay on just on the computer all the time. ( no TV even in the room )

Yep what Atei said, call em multiple times a day all day and all week, they will come do something about it.

You could also be getting signal loss from the outside wire due to age..... How long has it been since it has been replaced? If it has been replaced recently ask if they have the right type of wire connecting to your splitter..... Wrong type of wire definately takes away signal strength. Should probably check all of your wires while you are at it......

Also what you wanna do is check your splitter, make sure it doesnt have a high resistance on both lines, because when you split the signal your basically hacking of one end of it, see if you can find a low db splitter to test with, and also the amp on the wire(line outside where ever they have the box on the pole) could be going out which is not uncommon, which would again decrease your signal strength from the external line to your splitter, and then even more reduction at your splitter.

Hope this sorta helps, as I'm not the best at explaining things.

Sorry, thought I posted about this already: I'm guessing that the problem is, as was mentioned, a weak cable signal, since lately there's been quite a bit of interference on some of the channels (on other sets that are hooked up elsewhere in the house.) Probably just have to break down and complain to the cable company...

Thanks everyone

I'd have them check their amp on the pole. Only other thing would be how many splitters ya got between the first one(line in split) to your other tv's. i was going off the fact that you posted a pic with a line in to splitter, then 1 split to modem 1 to tv and thats it.

Send me a PM drocket with a lil better layout of how ur actually setup, and I'll try and give ya an idea of what's ya can do before waiting on them. Cause god know's it'll be a while.

PieCe