Shortening/Shorter cables? - Blu-ray Forum

shihtzu2002 · 05-24-2009, 10:58 PM

I'm hoping somebody can help me out, I'm not a tech pro, so I don't know all the correct terms.

Basically I'm trying to find out if there is a way to shorten (or buy a shorter one) the cable that runs from the cable hookup (on the wall) to the television.

When the cable was installed the guy said that it had to run through these splitters, so that it wouldn't effect the quality of the signal in the rest of the house/or something about boosting it. I can't quite remember. Anyways, the point is that the cable that comes from the wall is very short, it then connects to a splitter (looks like a T) where it is split into 2, 1 goes to a little black box that is plugged into the power strip, the other goes on a couple feet then it hits another splitter that splits into 3 and there is only 1 cord that comes out of that and thats the one that connects to the TiVo box.

Basically I'm stuck with a lot of white wire that isn't easily hidden, and the cord seems to be longer then it needs to be. So much so that it loops several times. So here is the question, is there a reason the cable is so long? Is there a way/place to get a shorter cord? And will having a shorter cord affect the quality at all?

Any help is appreciated

Hammie · 05-24-2009, 11:58 PM

A shorter cord will not affect the PQ at all. However, all those splitters surely can affect the PQ. Each split can cause you to loose precious db's.

In your case, that last 3-way splitter is causing the signal to be divided by 3 even though there is nothing connected to the other two ports.

mtbkr · 05-25-2009, 12:32 AM

i have ALOT of experience with this!!! any way to take a picture or two so i can help you out a little better? otherwise the cable does not need to be that long. it sounds like you got a lazy cable guy. using a splitter instead of a female to female connector is just stupid

shihtzu2002 · 05-25-2009, 09:26 PM

As you can see from below, it connects from the wall to splitter (photo #2), where it then splits to connect to the black box that connects to the power strip, and the other connects to the 2nd splitter (photo #3)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/DSC_1080.jpg

That connects to this splitter (close up): http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/DSC_1082.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/DSC_1083.jpg
Close Up: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/DSC_1086.jpg

From that it connects to the TiVo box

shihtzu2002 · 05-26-2009, 07:15 PM

DavidAg02 · 05-26-2009, 07:47 PM

Making your own coax cable is pretty simple. Home Depot and Lowe's sell everything you need.

There are 3 different kinds of connectors to choose from: Screw, Crimp and Compression. The screw on ones are cheap, but not very good. Compression is supposedly the best connection, but requires a compression tool which runs about $20-30. Crimp-on connectors are what I use. If done properly, they are very secure and the cost on them is minimal. An coax crimper costs about $5.

I recommend getting:
Coax Stripper (about $10)
Coax Crimper (about $5)
Coax Cable (RG6 preferably, cost depends on length)
Crimp-On connectors (less than $5 for a pack of 10)

Get that stuff, and you will be able to make your own custom length coax cables any time you need. Plus, get some different ends and you'll be able to make your own subwoofer cables too.

mtbkr · 05-26-2009, 11:17 PM

take the one cable that is on the output of the 3-way splitter, plug into to the other splitter/amp tv output. the cable that goes from the 2-way to the 3-way does not need to be there as well as the 3-way. what was the reason the tech told you, you even needed the splitter/amp? my guess is that your signal is to weak comming in but then the splitter/amp overdrives the signal so it needed to be attinuated with the signal loss of the 3-way splitter.

jomari · 05-28-2009, 04:43 PM

ouch.

the cable guy was pretty much lazier than i thought. he pretty much overcomplicated something simple.

bongzilla · 05-28-2009, 04:56 PM

Sounds like my apartment when I moved in, I must have had 20 feet
that I ditched for a 2 foot piece.

shihtzu2002 · 05-30-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtbkr

take the one cable that is on the output of the 3-way splitter, plug into to the other splitter/amp tv output. the cable that goes from the 2-way to the 3-way does not need to be there as well as the 3-way. what was the reason the tech told you, you even needed the splitter/amp? my guess is that your signal is to weak comming in but then the splitter/amp overdrives the signal so it needed to be attinuated with the signal loss of the 3-way splitter.

So I should just take the cable that comes out of the T-shaped splitter and plug that into the TiVo? And get rid of the three way splitter all together?

If I remember correctly the cable guy said something about the signal being weak and that it needed to be boosted. Will changing this cord set up have any effect on the signals that are going to my other TV's around the house? He said something about this signal affecting the other tvs, like if the little black box gets unplugged... Basically I would love fewer cords but not at the cost of messing up my signal =) Thanks for any help!

mtbkr · 05-30-2009, 07:21 PM

as long as the cable coming from the 3-way splitter is not feeding anything other than your tivo it should be ok to remove the 3-way and go directly to the tivo. as far as the amp is concerned.....how many cable outlets do you have? you generally do not need an amp unless you have alot of outlets, if your drop from the street to the house is TO long, or if your outlet is to long causing to much attenuation. alot of lazy cable guys will just slap in an amp if the wiring is in bad condition or its really old because its a quick bandaid and keeps him from spending two hours rewiring everything.

05-24-2009, 10:58 PM	#1
shihtzu2002 New Member Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Arizona Blu-ray collection:15	Shortening/Shorter cables? I'm hoping somebody can help me out, I'm not a tech pro, so I don't know all the correct terms. Basically I'm trying to find out if there is a way to shorten (or buy a shorter one) the cable that runs from the cable hookup (on the wall) to the television. When the cable was installed the guy said that it had to run through these splitters, so that it wouldn't effect the quality of the signal in the rest of the house/or something about boosting it. I can't quite remember. Anyways, the point is that the cable that comes from the wall is very short, it then connects to a splitter (looks like a T) where it is split into 2, 1 goes to a little black box that is plugged into the power strip, the other goes on a couple feet then it hits another splitter that splits into 3 and there is only 1 cord that comes out of that and thats the one that connects to the TiVo box. Basically I'm stuck with a lot of white wire that isn't easily hidden, and the cord seems to be longer then it needs to be. So much so that it loops several times. So here is the question, is there a reason the cable is so long? Is there a way/place to get a shorter cord? And will having a shorter cord affect the quality at all? Any help is appreciated

05-25-2009, 09:26 PM	#4
shihtzu2002 New Member Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Arizona Blu-ray collection:15	Photos As you can see from below, it connects from the wall to splitter (photo #2), where it then splits to connect to the black box that connects to the power strip, and the other connects to the 2nd splitter (photo #3) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/DSC_1080.jpg That connects to this splitter (close up): http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/DSC_1082.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/DSC_1083.jpg Close Up: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/DSC_1086.jpg From that it connects to the TiVo box

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05-24-2009, 11:58 PM	#2
Hammie Blu-ray Champion Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:May 2008 Location:Washington, DC Metro Home Theater Gallery:53 Blu-ray collection:545 DVD collection:12 Trading Score:12	A shorter cord will not affect the PQ at all. However, all those splitters surely can affect the PQ. Each split can cause you to loose precious db's. In your case, that last 3-way splitter is causing the signal to be divided by 3 even though there is nothing connected to the other two ports.

05-25-2009, 12:32 AM	#3
mtbkr Active Member Member since:Apr 2009 Location:washington(state) Blu-ray collection:65	i have ALOT of experience with this!!! any way to take a picture or two so i can help you out a little better? otherwise the cable does not need to be that long. it sounds like you got a lazy cable guy. using a splitter instead of a female to female connector is just stupid

05-26-2009, 07:15 PM	#5
shihtzu2002 New Member Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Arizona Blu-ray collection:15

05-26-2009, 07:47 PM	#6
DavidAg02 Senior Member Member since:Dec 2008 Location:Houston, TX Home Theater Gallery:16 Blu-ray collection:46	Making your own coax cable is pretty simple. Home Depot and Lowe's sell everything you need. There are 3 different kinds of connectors to choose from: Screw, Crimp and Compression. The screw on ones are cheap, but not very good. Compression is supposedly the best connection, but requires a compression tool which runs about $20-30. Crimp-on connectors are what I use. If done properly, they are very secure and the cost on them is minimal. An coax crimper costs about $5. I recommend getting: Coax Stripper (about $10) Coax Crimper (about $5) Coax Cable (RG6 preferably, cost depends on length) Crimp-On connectors (less than $5 for a pack of 10) Get that stuff, and you will be able to make your own custom length coax cables any time you need. Plus, get some different ends and you'll be able to make your own subwoofer cables too.

05-26-2009, 11:17 PM	#7
mtbkr Active Member Member since:Apr 2009 Location:washington(state) Blu-ray collection:65	take the one cable that is on the output of the 3-way splitter, plug into to the other splitter/amp tv output. the cable that goes from the 2-way to the 3-way does not need to be there as well as the 3-way. what was the reason the tech told you, you even needed the splitter/amp? my guess is that your signal is to weak comming in but then the splitter/amp overdrives the signal so it needed to be attinuated with the signal loss of the 3-way splitter.

05-28-2009, 04:43 PM	#8
jomari Moderator Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Home Theater Gallery:18 Blu-ray reviews: 2 Trading Score:2	ouch. the cable guy was pretty much lazier than i thought. he pretty much overcomplicated something simple.

05-28-2009, 04:56 PM	#9
bongzilla Active Member Member since:Jan 2009	Sounds like my apartment when I moved in, I must have had 20 feet that I ditched for a 2 foot piece.

05-30-2009, 07:21 PM	#11
mtbkr Active Member Member since:Apr 2009 Location:washington(state) Blu-ray collection:65	as long as the cable coming from the 3-way splitter is not feeding anything other than your tivo it should be ok to remove the 3-way and go directly to the tivo. as far as the amp is concerned.....how many cable outlets do you have? you generally do not need an amp unless you have alot of outlets, if your drop from the street to the house is TO long, or if your outlet is to long causing to much attenuation. alot of lazy cable guys will just slap in an amp if the wiring is in bad condition or its really old because its a quick bandaid and keeps him from spending two hours rewiring everything.

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