Question for the A/V experts regarding HD channels and reception

[hockeybc69]

I have a modified 2 story house.

Cable comes into the basement and I have a splitter down there.

On the main level I have the living room with a convertor box to get the full cable package.

I have 1 other TV on the main level that is getting the straight coax signal from the splitter in the basement. I get the HD local channels and a few cable HD ones.

Now here is the question. I have 3 TV's on the top floor. All of which are HDTV's. But none of those TV's gets any HD channels.

Its one of two things or a combination of both.

1. the splitter I know reduces the signal

2. cable length

Or a combo of both more than likely. What can I do to "enhance" the signal so that HD channels are able to be tuned in?

[witgey&water]

Is the splitter a 1 in and 5 or more out? How are the other TVs getting their signal? In a perfect situation all of the TVs would have a home run to the splitter.

[hockeybc69]

It is a single input, with more than 5 outputs on it.

[witgey&water]

Is the TV that displays HD channels that is not hooked to a box a Full HD TV or a HD ready TV? If you move any of the TV up stairs down what happens then?

[hockeybc69]

They are HDTV's. LCD's. You can input 11-1 for example which is the HD channel for Kare 11.

But it just says no signal.

Havent taken one down stairs yet. Great idea. I will do that tonight and test each one out. Not as if they are like moving a big old tube TV any more!

[PierBridge]

Not sure you can get the OTA HD signal just through the cable line with no conveter box if the rooftop antenna is not involved?.....otherwise like posted above your Tv's that don't work are HD ready and do not have a tuner built in thus needing a box or converter!

[LightningBG]

that 11-1 is a antenna channel. your cable shouldn't have that.

maybe check the input on tv in the menu screen and try to switch from "air" to cable.

I'm not sure any of this would work, but its worth a try.

[Jim Almquist]

A lot of good info so far and the only thing that I would add is to be sure the coax is RG6 and not RG59. RG59 is good for short runs but they recommend no farther then 50' because of the signal loss or degradation.

[hockeybc69]

My TV in the kitchen(1st level) gets the xx-1 channels in HD, while the tuner is set to cable TV.

I just brought down a TV from upstairs and hooked up to that coax connection, and it gets all the HD channels.(Its set to cable too, not antenna) Man what a difference for example from channel 11 to 11-1!!! Wow.

So my issue is clearly a signal strength problem getting up to the top floor. Or it would sure seem the only reason for the problem.

jimalm,

Cable is RG-6U 18 gauge coming out of the splitter going to every room in the house.

[LMITOUT]

Did you try moving the coax to a different output of the splitter and then trying it? Move the coax that goes to the kitchen TV to another output on the splitter and then try the kitchen TV again.

[hockeybc69]

I have not, but its an awful coincidence that all the TV's on the top level do not get any HD channels at all.

[Jim Almquist]

I have not, but its an awful coincidence that all the TV's on the top level do not get any HD channels at all.

Makes me wonder if there is a feed to another location that needs to have another splitter installed to get the upstairs locations hot. I find it hard to believe that all the jacks could be bad. They all should have been direct runs to the basement but they might have been lazy and ran them into the attic with one run down to the basement. I'am guessing none of the cables are labeled. It sure would be helpful to find out if there is enough cables in the basement to account for all the jacks in the house.

[hockeybc69]

I wired the house.

Every cable is labeled in the basement at that junction location.

They are direct runs from every room to the basement as well.

So I have one input to the splitter. Then from the splitter its direct runs to all the junctions boxes in the rooms throughout the house.

[Swimmer]

Go to Radio Shack or Best Buy and ask them if they have a signal amplifier. Try to get a guy who knows what he's talking about and if this would work for you.

[LMITOUT]

I seriously doubt that it's a signal strength issue.

[hockeybc69]

If its not signal, what do you have for an idea?

I'll ask about signal amplifiers. Cant hurt to ask about it.

[LightningBG]

How about....

Check the back of each wall plate and make sure its connected to the line.

Try moving the position of a bedroom line to the kitchen line (bad splitter).

Goofy ideas, but things happen.

[hockeybc69]

They are all connected. The TVs work fine. They just dont get any of the HD channels.

I'll start swapping stuff and make a bigger mess. LOL!!!!

[Jim Almquist]

That is really strange!

I find it hard to believe that there is not enough strength but stranger things have happened.

The one way you might just be able to prove it is to connect only one upper bedroom cable to the input cable from the cable company and use a single connector and see if it makes any difference.

[LMITOUT]

Have you tried moving the kitchen TV to the locations that are having issues?

[LakeDocktor]

hockeybc, where in central MN are you located? I wouldn't mind coming over and taking a look at it if you are relatively close to me.

[hockeybc69]

In Big Lake. So not real close.

I am going to try a few things and see what happens first. thanks for the offer!!!!!

[LakeDocktor]

Shoot me an email with your phone number and I should be able to talk you through it on the phone. Rhino0018 at yahoo

[CJH]

We are in a 2 year old house and have had multiple problems with signal strength, so that could be an issue. We have the Comcast Triple Play with HD and a higher speed of internet, and let's just say, its baffled more than one of the "experts". Needless to say it works fine now, but several things have been done. The point being is, signal strength COULD be the problem. I don't know if you have something to measure the signal strength, that's what the Techs did here.

Not sure if a signal amp will work, I thought those were only for analog signals?