Signal Booster Necessary?

Daedra · Post by **Daedra** » Fri Aug 16, 2002 8:41 pm

Im getting ready to purchase a Motorola SB-4200 Cable modem and every place I look on line to but keeps saying that they recommend that I also purchase a motorola signal booster. Is this necessary or will I be ok with out it?

Thanks

mnosteele52 · Post by **mnosteele52** » Fri Aug 16, 2002 8:42 pm

You don't need it unless there are really long cable runs from where it comes into your house to where your modem is.

onnyxs · Post by **onnyxs** » Sun Aug 18, 2002 5:20 am

What benefit will a booster provide for me. Where the cable come from the street and runs to my pc is totally on the opposite side of my home, thru the attic, and the loft, then comes back to the outside of the house where it is drilled into the side of the house where the pc is and finally to my pc(whew!!!!) I still get around 220-245 KB/S but if I can get more with this let me know!!!!

Soporific · Post by **Soporific** » Sun Aug 18, 2002 2:15 pm

My cable line runs from near the street, loops around the backyard and then comes into the house on the opposite side where it goes into an 8 way splitter and then is distributed throughout the house, and I had a problem with having too strong of a signal. I would highly doubt that your cable run is too long, unless it is going through some 1970's cable wiring, and even then it should be OK.

~S

onnyxs · Post by **onnyxs** » Sun Aug 18, 2002 2:43 pm

From what I know this is how it is done. Lat year I got Road Runner and it was a hot morning and my attic was blazing so the installer didn't replace the wiring in the attic, he cut it where it came out on the other side and put new cable there and ran into the house where my pc is. The woman that had the home before I bought it had cable for years and just maybe I don't have the new fiber optic cable in the attic...............ya never know

zxc47 · Post by **zxc47** » Mon Aug 19, 2002 8:57 am

I am on roadrunner about three weeks ago I got a new 51in. HDTV and got a digital box from the cable co. The digital box didn't work very well. I call them out to test it. They told me that my signal was too weak at the splitter, were it hit the house. I ask them if they were going to put a signal booster on my line they said no. They came out and ran a new line from the road to my house. They told me the line was too small to carry the load. The new line they put in was 3 times bigger around and was orange in color. What I found to be odd is the old line was only about 2 years old; it was put in when they added roadrunner to their system. I would think there is a reason why they didn't just add a signal booster it would have been so much easier for them and cost less.
I am about 50 ft. from the road and have three TV plus roadrunner with 3 IP’s; you would think that the old line would have been enough to do the job. I was not having any problem with the cable modem only the TV signal. I was happy to see the big fat orange cable ran to my house!!! Every thing works now.

legalmind · Post by **legalmind** » Wed Aug 21, 2002 8:59 pm

Booster=signal noise..............
AOL hand book, page 13.

MtCableman · Post by **MtCableman** » Wed Aug 21, 2002 10:42 pm

Once again.

Signal coming into the modem should be between -15dbmv to +15dbmv.

Signal coming out of modem should be between +34dbmv to +54dbmv.

If the above is true, nothing you do will help you get a better service or speed! It could make it worse though.

True, "booster" or amplifier means extra noise. Too much noise cause retransmissions and packet loss which means SLOWER speeds.

f1ipm0dsqd · Post by **f1ipm0dsqd** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 3:09 am

i get this with my linksys modem on ATTBI service.. thats when i get connected.. i get disconnected all the time.. cant connect in the morning to about 9pm.. it really sucks.. i hate calling them everyday..
Locked Modulation QPSK
Channel ID 3 Symbol rate 2560 ksym/sec
Upstream Frequency 19504000 Hz Max Bit Rate 256000 bps
Upstream Power 58.00 dBmV

MtCableman · Post by **MtCableman** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 9:23 am

Originally posted by f1ipm0dsqd
i get this with my linksys modem on ATTBI service.. thats when i get connected.. i get disconnected all the time.. cant connect in the morning to about 9pm.. it really sucks.. i hate calling them everyday..
Locked Modulation QPSK
Channel ID 3 Symbol rate 2560 ksym/sec
Upstream Frequency 19504000 Hz Max Bit Rate 256000 bps
Upstream Power 58.00 dBmV

Your UPSTREAM power is too high. You should call the local cable company and get a tech to find and fix the problem.

f1ipm0dsqd · Post by **f1ipm0dsqd** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 9:42 am

i have called them numerous times.. this has happened the last 4 weeks already.. i had the service since March. the tech people already came 4 times..the past 2 weeks.. and theys uppose to be here again tomorrow..

it kinda strange that i can connect from about 9pm-9am.. so i only get service half the day..
im just glad they will give me 20bux refund this month..

Docsta · Post by **Docsta** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 10:26 am

Originally posted by legalmind
Booster=signal noise..............
AOL hand book, page 13.

roflmao