| [LA] Signal strength declined The signal strength from the street was about +8dB when I moved here, but it's gone down to about +2dB as they've built out the neighborhood. This is making some of my inside connections marginal, to the point where I'm considering adding an amp. Is Cox likely to be sympathetic to this? Is there a minimum signal strength they guarantee from the street? |
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| What service do you have? Which reading is +8? |
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| I have Cox Digital Cable and HSI. (I am in the Cox HSI forum, yes?) Maybe "the street" terminology was unclear. Let me try again.
The signal strength at the cable's entrance into my house (i.e. in my attic, before any splits) was about +8dB when I moved here, but it's gone down to about +2dB as they've built out the neighborhood. This is making some of my inside connections marginal, to the point where I'm considering adding an amp. Is Cox likely to be sympathetic to this? Is there a minimum signal strength they guarantee for the cable entering the home, before any splits?
My main problem is in my computer room. In the attic, an asymmetric 3-way splitter feeds the computer room from its -3.5dB port. From the wall, I split two ways, with one cable going to the cable modem and the other to a symmetric 3-way splitter. (All splitters are brand new Regals with 130dB EMI isolation.) These ports go to a Motorola set-top box and HD HomeRun. The HD HomeRun is reading 83% or so for signal strength, which they say is not really adequate for Clear QAM. Indeed, I do observe occasional pixelization events. If I were to replace these two splitters with one 4-way, I would drop my cable modem from its current (-5,-6) dB to (-9,-10) or so, and I will only improve the HD HomeRun and STB by 1.5 dB or so, which is not going to be enough.
I replaced all the original splitters this evening, and nothing improved, except the HD HomeRun is doing a little better since it formerly was on the end of a 2-way. IOW, I had three 2-ways chained together before I ordered the Regals. This small improvement (about 1.5 dB) due to replacing two 2-ways with one symmetrical 3-way was completely expected. (This is why I said going to a single 4-way wouldn't be enough.) Thus, I don't believe there are any more gains to be made by playing with unamped splitters. I calculated the signal strength in the attic, before any splits, by using the signal strength reported by the cable modem, which has gone from 0 dB to -5 dB since they started building more houses out here. My calculation is consistent with the HD HomeRun signal strength percentage, as I'm told 80% ~ -12 dB. |
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1 edit | I meant what cox service. What model of cable modem do you have? Can you post it's signal levels?
Have you tried calling for a tech? |
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 Fubar
join:2001-02-20
Phoenix, AZ
kudos:2 | reply to dhar
How are you measuring this Signal strength?
The acceptable signal at the home depends on a lot, One of the main things is how far away you are from the Tap,
And building out the neighborhood should have nothing to do with your signal strength.
And if your signal is Low Cox will increase it at the street, or if need be install an Amp at no charge to you....
Call them out, Let them check and install the amp if necessary |
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| reply to dhar
Are you having any service problems? |
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 CoxTech1VIP
join:2002-04-25
Chesapeake, VA
kudos:65 | reply to dhar
If you could PM me your cable modem MAC address I can check the reading the modem is getting. |
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| reply to dhar
I'm just wondering what device are you using to measure your signal strenght. Also what channel are you taking the reading from? I would get a tech out asap if your signal is 2db from the street. There might need to be adjustments to the tap or a amp installed. |
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| said by James_RI:I'm just wondering what device are you using to measure your signal strenght. Also what channel are you taking the reading from? I would get a tech out asap if your signal is 2db from the street. There might need to be adjustments to the tap or a amp installed. It is a Motorola SB5100 (I forget there are other kinds ), and like I said, "I calculated the signal strength in the attic, before any splits, by using the signal strength reported by the cable modem, which has gone from 0 dB to -5 dB since they started building more houses out here. My calculation is consistent with the HD HomeRun signal strength percentage, as I'm told 80% ~ -12 dB." If you read my prior description of the splits leading to the cable modem (-7 dB total), it should add up. |
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| reply to maxpower
said by maxpower:Are you having any service problems? "The HD HomeRun is reading 83% or so for signal strength, which they say is not really adequate for Clear QAM. Indeed, I do observe occasional pixelization events." |
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Fubar
join:2001-02-20
Phoenix, AZ
kudos:2 | reply to dhar
+2 on the modem carrier at the home is completely acceptable.....
Where do you get that 83% is -12 on the HD Homerun....
If so they need to tweak their signal scale.. |
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| reply to dhar
quote:
"The HD HomeRun is reading 83% or so for signal strength, which they say is not really adequate for Clear QAM. Indeed, I do observe occasional pixelization events."
Sorry I missed that first time through. |
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| reply to Fubar
said by Fubar:+2 on the modem carrier at the home is completely acceptable..... Please read again. I said several times that +2 is in the attic, before any splits, and the cable modem reports -5 dB. The cable modem is not the problem! It's the HD HomeRun, as I've said. |
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Fubar
join:2001-02-20
Phoenix, AZ
kudos:2 | said by dhar:said by Fubar:+2 on the modem carrier at the home is completely acceptable..... Please read again. I said several times that +2 is in the attic, before any splits, and the cable modem reports -5 dB. The cable modem is not the problem! It's the HD HomeRun, as I've said. Please reread mine again, +2 is fine on the modem carrier, The frequency that the modem runs on. That is the only true signal that we know of and it is OK. You need a tech out to check the rest with a meter.
Where do you get that 83% = -12 on the HD Homerun.... |
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| said by Fubar:Please reread mine again, +2 is fine on the modem carrier, The frequency that the modem runs on. That is the only true signal that we know of and it is OK. You need a tech out to check the rest with a meter. I'm not following you. The modem reports -5 dBmV as its downstream power level. It's going through -7 dB worth of splitters, so the level must be about +2 dB as the cable enters my house, before any splits, yes?
said by Fubar:Where do you get that 83% = -12 on the HD Homerun.... See the post from jafa in this thread:
»www.silicondust.com/forum/viewto···p?t=5417 |
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1 edit | reply to dhar
If you are taking the reading from the cable modem, then that is only one channel that the cable modem is on which is 747MHz, levels are different on other channels, which anolog is 2-70 which thoose levels should be higher. I would get a tech out asap, might need a AMP or the tech might have to 5C the tap, only way to truly see what the problem is in your home/area.
Also, -12dB on your HD Homerun is low on Digital Stations which will cause titling, try to reconfigure your cable setup so the HD Homerun has a signal between +5dB and -5dB. |
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| said by James_RI:If you are taking the reading from the cable modem, then that is only one channel that the cable modem is on which is 747MHz, levels are different on other channels, which anolog is 2-70 which thoose levels should be higher. I would get a tech out asap, might need a AMP or the tech might have to 5C the tap, only way to truly see what the problem is in your home/area. Also, -12dB on your HD Homerun is low on Digital Stations which will cause titling, try to reconfigure your cable setup so the HD Homerun has a signal between +5dB and -5dB. Thanks, I suppose the frequency dependency would account for my HDHR currently reporting 82% at 639 MHz, and a whopping 98% at 117 MHz? These are HD channels, ABC and FOX, respectively. Unfortunately, there's no way I can reconfigure cables/splits to make a meaningful difference for the HDHR without sacrificing something at this point.
P.S. What is it to "5C the tap?" |
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| 5C the tap means the Tech sends in a report if the tap levels are off on certain channels and then the bucket trucks will come out to fix the issue. |
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CCLA
join:2002-06-17
Baton Rouge, LA | reply to dhar
Dhar, I'm a local Baton Rouge Rep. There are quite a few assumptions being stated in here and some incorrect info also being posted. 1st off our modems in Baton Rouge dont operate @ 747Mhz like someone else stated. We also dont "5C the tap". If there is a plant issue a tech will write it up for a plant tech though. Also there could be 20 different reasons the modems signal level dropped. PM me your modems MAC and I'll look into it from a local level. Also, have you had a tech out the the house to check eveything out? A bad connector on the ouside, a bad drop, etc etc etc could be causing those issues. |
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CCLA
join:2002-06-17
Baton Rouge, LA | I was sent your MAC from CoxTech1. I didnt see any drop in levels but my history only goes back about a month. Best bet is to get a tech into the home for the Tiling you're seeing. If there is a signal level issue on the plant they'll give it to a plant tech. If an Amp is needed they usually have them on the truck too. |
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