Poor digital signal, analog signal okay, need an amp?

[archcommus]

I have an AVerMedia M780. My analog signal is always okay but my digital signal is horrible, it comes in every now and then for a few moments and that's it. My configuration is: outside the house 1 split, then my computer (1 split for the tuners), the other split outside the house leads to a 3-way split in the basement, one of which leads to another split into another tuner card and our modem.

Is an amp'd splitter the recommended course here? Would it do any good to be behind the first split outside the house or will it need to go outside before any splits? Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

[freedml]

I would check what reception you SHOULD be getting on www.antennaweb.org. If you're getting good analog reception, you might actually have to REDUCE (attenuate) your digital signal to get good reception. Maybe test that theory with a small indoor digital antenna first before making any big changes.

[gjvrieze]

Better yet, go to tvfool.com and post your results for pre and post transition, and let a expert help with amp spec out! (if I do not check back in, PM me, I will gladly help spec out an amp)

[freedml]

I bought an amp with a gain knob and adjusted it until I got 100% signal showing on STV...

[archcommus]

Oops, I'm sorry guys, but this is for cable, not antenna. I mentioned the modem towards the end of the post, but I forgot to actually state this is coax not OTA. We have two analog tuners, one analog TV, a TV with a Comcast STB, and a modem that all do just fine, so it seems weird that the signal would be completely too weak for the digital tuner after only the first split. I appreciate your help!

[freedml]

So, either the signal is weak from the cable company or your digital tuner isn't working right. An amplifier might solve the problem and would be the easiest solution.

[gjvrieze]

Originally Posted by freedml

So, either the signal is weak from the cable company or your digital tuner isn't working right. An amplifier might solve the problem and would be the easiest solution.

Log into your cable modem at 192.168.100.1 and report the signal down stream, upstream, and SNR (signal to noise ratio) and we can see what is happening!

[gjvrieze]

Ran out of time earlier to say, but unlike OTA, QAM in the cable world, has NO error correction or very very little, so you need a very good signal to keep dropouts at bay. I use a Channel Master distribution amp for cable at home and that works wonders with both the analog cable and the QAM channels.

[archcommus]

Sure thing, gjvrieze. Signal downstream is 591 MHz -7 dBmV with a 35 dB SNR and signal upstream is 36 MHz 55 dBmV. I understand that is starting to get a little weak for the upstream, but internet seems fine. The modem is also at the very tail end of the chain (behind a double split then a triple split then another double split) versus the digital tuner which is only behind one split, although I don't know if that makes a difference. I also know the tuner is fine as when I lived closer to the city in a different apartment I got a great picture all the time, and that apartment also had 4 TVs and a modem just like now, so amount of devices/splits shouldn't be the problem, perhaps it is just too weak from the pole. Maybe that Channel Master amp you speak of would do the trick?