[GRLUG] Slightly OT - Charter Service

[Bob Kline]

On Thu, Sep 1, 2011 at 8:44 PM, Mike Williams <knightperson at zuzax.com>wrote:

> On 09/01/2011 08:38 PM, L. V. Lammert wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 1 Sep 2011, Mike Williams wrote:
>>
>>  Unless things have improved dramatically, you might have problems with
>>> that many cable drops.
>>>
>>>  Ahh, .. that was the original question - HOW does one find a
>> distribution
>> amplifier that WILL work.
>>
>>        Lee
>>
>>  I'm not entirely sure you can. If the problem is signal to noise ratio
> rather than sheer signal strength, then an analog amplifier will not help.
> You'll amplify the noise just as much as the signal and the ratio won't
> change. Of course, if the "amplifier" is technically more of a "digital
> repeater" then you might be in better shape. I'm not sure anyone but Comcast
> could provide such a thing, though. Some of the channels on DOCSIS cable
> modems are used for upstream data, some are TV, and some are downstream
> Internet. Unless the repeater knows which is which, it's likely to cause
> problems. I know almost nothing about DOCSIS, so it's possible that there is
> some kind of autoconfiguration channel that the hardware can listen to.
>
>
>
Seems right.  Each amplifier adds noise,
under the best of conditions.  The cable
system places amplifiers  so as to optimise
S/N.

But I'd repeat, if you don't have enough signal,
call Comcast.  A tech comes out with a gizmo
and measures the signal, noise, and other things
on the spot.  Too hot a signal and he adds a
splitter, for example, with one side open.  Too
weak and he has to climb a pole somewhere.

It's not worth beating yourself over unless you
have the equipment.

   -- Bob

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