Hey Guys…

I was curious if Inline Cable Amplifiers really work or not. The Standard Definition channels on my Panny 77u plasma look pretty poor. My main coaxial line is split between my cable modem and 3 TV’s. The line to my Comcast HD cable box is 50 feet. These inline amplifiers claim to transmit a stronger signal so you get better PQ. True or BS? Basically I’m looking for better PQ for my SD channels.

Also does switching from RG-59 to RG-6 coaxials make a big difference?

Thanks

Hey Guys…

I was curious if Inline Cable Amplifiers really work or not. The Standard Definition channels on my Panny 77u plasma look pretty poor. My main coaxial line is split between my cable modem and 3 TV’s. The line to my Comcast HD cable box is 50 feet. These inline amplifiers claim to transmit a stronger signal so you get better PQ. True or BS? Basically I’m looking for better PQ for my SD channels.

Also does switching from RG-59 to RG-6 coaxials make a big difference?

Thanks

I have the same situation (main line entering the house is split 5ways), and am considering giving a powered amp a try. Anyone here have any experience with this? I do know signal strength is definitely lost when it's split multiple times, the question is how much.

I have a 15db video amp on my non-stb display and it does improve the image quality of my sd channels. I also have a 15 db amp connected to my stb, and it improves the video quality of the stb, on sd channels..on my other display. I would not go any higher than 15db on amplification as it could lead to over-amplfiication. The video amps that I have are at the display..not where the connection comes into the house.

fwiw, i was having signal problems with hd in my main room (mine is also split to 3 sets and a cable modem)... also probably about 50 foot run to the main box (maybe a tad longer, actually)....

comcast came out and replaced the rg-59 with rg-6 and took OUT my powered amp and the PQ improved a bunch...

so... i don't know whether or not it was old crappy wire, or the rg-6 or the amp was garbage that made the difference... the tech who came out said if i still had problems, to get them to come back out and they'd put a booster in...

ymmv... call your friendly cable company and tell them you are having signal strength problems and have them send a tech out...

all that being said... sd still looks cruddy... :) but that's not a signal strength issue, it's an "in comparison to hd" issue...

I have a 15db video amp on my non-stb display and it does improve the image quality of my sd channels. I also have a 15 db amp connected to my stb, and it improves the video quality of the stb, on sd channels..on my other display. I would not go any higher than 15db on amplification as it could lead to over-amplfiication. The video amps that I have are at the display..not where the connection comes into the house.

...so are these all "in line" amps installed directly before the device?