Continuing my habit of starting threads on topics already discussed... :) As always, if there's another thread on this topic please direct me to it.

When I bought my house, I had Comcast run in an entirely new drop. It was split to my cable modem and my standard-def TV. I installed a 37" LCD HDTV, and so I used a high-quality 3-way splitter, but with the 100' run to the new LCD, I was getting a lot of distortion and artifacting. I picked up a motorola bi-directional signal amp from circuit city (Motorola 484095-001-00 Signal Booster). The drop into the house now connects to the amp, which connects to the splitter, which obviously goes out to my various devices. This cured the problem entirely - I get beautiful HD on the LCD, and my SD set never looked better - I'm even getting faster internet response times.

That said, I am now installing 2 more HD sets - 20" LCD's. I am planning to replace the 3-way splitter with a 4-way, running a single coax cable to my rec room, where it would be split a second time into two so I could run each of the new LCD's.

Question is, with the amplified signal now split five times, will there be enough juice to give good signal to five devices? Should I look into an amp with 4 (or 8) individual amplified outputs?

The Motorola claims to increase signal strength "up to 32 times". I'll assume they mean 15db. A four-way splitter reduces signal strength about 8db, and a two-way about 4 db, so on your worst leg you'll still be up 3db over what you have coming in.

ok -- I'm technical, but maybe not that technical... :o So, is 3db up from what I have coming in an adequate signal or no? Thanks.

Depends on what the original signal coming in is.

The amp should be more than adequate for the splitters assuming they are good. In theory it's 3dB drop for every power of 2 splits (i.e. 2 way -> 3dB drop, 4 way -> 6dB drop, 8 way -> 9dB drop) reality is closer to 3.5-4dB drop as power is consumed through heat as well so its 3.5-4dB, 7-8dB, and 10.5-12dB. The 4way -> ~7.5dB drop and then the 2-way another 3.5dB for an 11dB drop giving you close to 4dB gain over all when w/o the amp and having the original 3-way splitter you were at about 4.5-5dB drop. That's 8.5-9dB effective gain over your original non-amplified input at your two LCDs and12-12.5dB effective gain to your modem and 37" LCD.

This should be more than adequate even w/ the 100' runs, given that the amplification level at the outside of the house is within normal ranges.

CCourtney