I am having a hard time with our cable modem service through Time Warner Cable. For the most part, our internet signal is decent, but we experience periodic dropouts where we lose the signal. I do quite a bit of online gaming, and this is very frustrating when you repeatedly get dropped from a connection due to no signal. Usually after a few minutes, I can reconnect and continue on, only to be disconnected 15-20 minutes later.

I am getting several television cable channels I am not currently paying for, so I would love to be able to fix this on my own without having TWC come out to my house. So in an effort to figure out if my problem, was my signal or my modem, I went by and switched out my cable modem. But I get the same problem/performance.

So I also thought my issue might be my splitter arrangement, so I hook my cable modem line straight into my source cable coming in from the street (via a barrel connector). I still had the same problem, so I think I've traced the problem back to the main signal coming in.

My setup is this, I need 4 ports: one for cable modem, one for HDTV, and two for analog televisions. My HDTV is also finicky about being on a splitter, as it begins to pixelate and have audio dropouts if I put it on more than a 2-way splitter.

So in researching about purchasing an Electroline amplifier, I am looking at an EDA-2200, EDA 2400, or EDA-FT08100. A couple of questions.

1) I am not sure what my return signal level is to TWC on my modem. I know the receive signal is low, as I can tell that via my signal strength meter on my HDTV. So are the 2200 and 2400 good choices given my modem circumstances?

2) If I decided either the 2200 or 2400 was sufficient, would the 2400 still have enough signal at each port (since it is split 4 ways) for my modem and HDTV. ( I am willing to live with a little granier picture on my analog sets.)

3) If I get the EDA-FT08100, is the 0dB loss on the return signal worth the extra money and having to get 3-4 additional ports (since it is an eight port amp) that I won't be using?

4) Finally, I guess this applies to all amps, if I attempt to cram this in my existing cable box hanging on the back of my house, will I just need to drill a hole through my wall to run the power adapter through? I assume I will just have to plug it in my basement, run through the wall, and then ground the connection somewhere outside?

Thanks for any help!

I am having a hard time with our cable modem service through Time Warner Cable. For the most part, our internet signal is decent, but we experience periodic dropouts where we lose the signal. I do quite a bit of online gaming, and this is very frustrating when you repeatedly get dropped from a connection due to no signal. Usually after a few minutes, I can reconnect and continue on, only to be disconnected 15-20 minutes later.

I am getting several television cable channels I am not currently paying for, so I would love to be able to fix this on my own without having TWC come out to my house. So in an effort to figure out if my problem, was my signal or my modem, I went by and switched out my cable modem. But I get the same problem/performance.

So I also thought my issue might be my splitter arrangement, so I hook my cable modem line straight into my source cable coming in from the street (via a barrel connector). I still had the same problem, so I think I've traced the problem back to the main signal coming in.

My setup is this, I need 4 ports: one for cable modem, one for HDTV, and two for analog televisions. My HDTV is also finicky about being on a splitter, as it begins to pixelate and have audio dropouts if I put it on more than a 2-way splitter.

So in researching about purchasing an Electroline amplifier, I am looking at an EDA-2200, EDA 2400, or EDA-FT08100. A couple of questions.

1) I am not sure what my return signal level is to TWC on my modem. I know the receive signal is low, as I can tell that via my signal strength meter on my HDTV. So are the 2200 and 2400 good choices given my modem circumstances?

2) If I decided either the 2200 or 2400 was sufficient, would the 2400 still have enough signal at each port (since it is split 4 ways) for my modem and HDTV. ( I am willing to live with a little granier picture on my analog sets.)

3) If I get the EDA-FT08100, is the 0dB loss on the return signal worth the extra money and having to get 3-4 additional ports (since it is an eight port amp) that I won't be using?

4) Finally, I guess this applies to all amps, if I attempt to cram this in my existing cable box hanging on the back of my house, will I just need to drill a hole through my wall to run the power adapter through? I assume I will just have to plug it in my basement, run through the wall, and then ground the connection somewhere outside?

Thanks for any help!
Or, you could get one of these PCT 4-port amps http://www.cencom94.com/gpage4.html.

Log into http://192.168.100.1 to see what your cable modems signal levels are. Cable modems should always be on their own, dedicated splitter prior to any amplifier. The correct configuration would be: CATV feed to 2-way splitter with one leg going to the cable modem and the other leg going to the drop amp. From the amp, of course, to the TV outlets.

On the powering, drop amps can usually be powered remotely. You install a power inserter http://www.cencom94.com/gpage4.html (below the PCT drop amps) at one of your outlets and connect that outlet to the output port on the amp labeled RF OUT/PWR IN

Ed - He stated the problem still occurs when he bypasses everything in the house and connects the cable modem feed out to the street, he's trying to boost the feed to the cable modem.

Personally I think if the problem is with the feed into the house, you're gonna need to get TWC to fix it.

Very true -- Have TWC come out first and correct their line issues. You may very well do just fine without an amp.

Whether with or without a drop amp, though, the cable modem should always be on its own, dedicated splitter and be the first device in the line.

Thanks for the help guys. I really would like to try and resolve this without TWC coming out to my house since I am currently getting some extra cable channels I am not paying for. I would rather not lose those, so I am willing to take a chance on wasting some money to try an amplifier if that may fix it.

Here are my cable modem levels:

Downstream Signal to noise ratio: 34.0 db (should be > 30.0)
Downstream Signal Strength -10.4 dBmV (should be -12.0 to 12.0)
Upstream Power Level 54.0 (should be < 55.0)

It would appear my signal is on the borderline, even when I attempt to direct connect via a barrel connector straight into the line coming in from the street.

I was reading on some other forums that hot temperatures may cause additional signal loss as well. It has been 90-95+ degrees here in North Carolina over the last several weeks, so I am wondering if the hot temps may cause my signal levels to fluncuate. Since they are close to the thresholds already, could they tip them below acceptable levels causing me to drop packets and have intermittent signal loss?

If I do choose to get an amplifier, would I need a model similar to the Electroline EDA-FT08100 that has 0dB return loss? Because it would appear my upstream signal is borderline at best also.

Or would the EDA 2200 or 2400 be sufficient? Thanks for any help.

http://www.cabletvamps.com/drop%20amps.htm

Given that your levels are somewhat borderline with the cable modem being the only device connected at the main feed from the street, I don't think an amp would help much.

I have the Electroline EDA-FT08100 and I'm very happy with it. That would be my suggestion if you do decide to buy an amp. Connect the input to the main feed from the street, then every other device, including your cable modem, off each output. Also, I use quad-shielded cable. Terminate unused ports on the amp with 75 ohm terminators.