Why are Cable Splitters so bad?

Question

I am going through coaxil cable splitters every single week! If my computer won't shut down or I can't access the internet, guaranteed it's the splitter. I have to replace them every week and although the cost is not much, the hassle IS a hassle. Does anybody make splitters that are going to last longer? Thanks.

Answer 1

A splitter will not cause a problem with your computer shut-down process.



Regarding the issue of not being able to access the internet: Without being there I can't say for sure, but I suspect one of two problems.



1. The capacitor effect. Where coaxial cable with a brass connector is connected to a splitter made of aluminum, if ANY water, even from the natural humidity in the air, gets in the connection the dielectric effect of dissimilar metals will cause a type of corrosion. That corrosion will create a capacitor which interferes with the signal. When you disconnect the cable from the splitter the capacitor discharges, so the signal issues go away when you reconnect. The capacitor effect will be more pronounced if there is current on the shield (which I will address in #2). To diagnose simply disconnect the cable from the splitter then immediately reconnect. If the problems go away for a while, you're experiencing that capacitor effect. Fixing it can be trickier. You would probably want to call the cable company and arrange for a service call.



2. AC voltage on the shield. If you have a bad power ground, and if some device like a VCR or TV also has a grounding problem, then the some or all of the stray current will travel on the coaxial cable shield, which is grounded at the pole or pedestal at the street. That can play havoc with low-quality splitters. You say that the cost of replacing the splitters is not much, but a good splitter will cost around $10 retail, so i suspect you're not using high-quality splitters. Of course, the real problem isn't the splitter, it's the current on the shield, which should not be there. This is easy to diagnose with a volt meter and basic electronics knowledge. If you don't have that knowledge, you will need help. Again, a case where you should arrange for a service call. A cable technician can determine if you indeed have a bad power ground, and identify the bad equipment that is feeding that voltage onto the coaxial cable. He or she cannot fix the power ground, however. That is a job for a qualified electrician. This can be a potentially dangerous situation, and needs to be repaired.



Bottom line- You need to call the cable company. The real issue in not the splitters failing, it's electricity making the splitter fail.

Answer 2

Splitters are supposed to last for years, so if you're having that sort of problem, you've got a much more dangerous problem.

The usual time a splitter fails is if the cable also has a voltage on it other than the signal voltage. The most extreme example would be a lightning strike, but if somewhere your cable is touching (or even near!) a power line, that could have a bad effect on your splitter.

I'd get a professional in to test your line, and make sure that your coax isn't live.

Answer 3

Theres no way a coaxial splitter will make your computer shut down a hardware issue with the programs your useing with the cable yes the splitter no its just not the splitter.

Answer 4

Recently, we have had a problem with our modem and the internet connection. Our landline phones made a horrible crackly noise whenever we tried to call people, or recieved calls ourselves. Our router used to flash like mad and stop recieving anny connection. Apparently the problem was that we were using two cable filters (the kind that has a little socket for a phone on one side, internet cable socket on the other and a tip that plugs into the wall), and it was weakening our internet connection to such an extent that we could hardly do anything! We got a technician in and we had to pay him £99 because it was our fault and not our providers :s Judging by your question, it seems that you may be using more than one of these things and that could be your problem. Try just using one, and see what happens :)

Answer 5

you need to get one from the cable co. i had one and had nothing but problems, the cox tech measured the signal coming into my house and all was good but when he checked the signal coming from the splitter it was reduced by 10khz(wrong/bad splitter), after he installed a boosting splitter +10khz(correct splitter) all of the problems went away. you need a tech to measure you signal before the splitter and past the splitter and he will know the correct splitter to install,a reducer,booster or neutral and by how much your signal needs correction. that's the only way that I know of to deal with that issue correctly.

Answer 6

I never had this problem in all my 20 years I've been using the internet