Cable modem signal with multiple splitters

[VEFF]

I just finished (almost) moving into my new place.
I had cable TV and cable internet installed last Sunday.

Internet performance seemed fine last Sunday, and I didn't have
time to fully test it this week, with all the moving, work etc.

Anyway, this morning I tried it out and my ISP's homepage was very slow to load.
I also tried their speed test and it came in "below our normal range".
The popup said to check a number of things; the only one that applied in my case is that I had more than one splitter between the primary cable line from the street and m cable modem.

There is a 5 way splitter in the garage, and then it goes into at least one more splitter, but more like TWO more splitter before going into the cable modem.

I called the tech this afternoon, and he said it looked fine on my end (i.e. was set up correctly), but they he had to "reset it on (his) end".
He said based on my signal strength that it seemed like I had one or less splitters. The speed was also great.
I just ran the speed test and am getting a very nice 9.4 - 9.5 Mbits per sec! I think the cap is 10 MbPS.
I guess I won't try to fix what isn't broken by trying to remove some splitters and run longer wires, or replace them with gold-plated splitters (my bro told me that gold-plated splitters have as much signal loss/degradation over time as plain silver splitters.

I also noticed that there is a connection OUTSIDE the garage that isn't even inside a weatherproof rubber sleeve: the coaxial cable comes from the street, and is then connected to an extender(?) (i.e. a piece of threaded metal which has one coaxial cable going in and a different one going out; i.e. it connects two coaxial cables) , which feeds the wire that then goes into the garage through a small hole. It is also grounded there.
Shouldn't I weatherproof this?

It has been raining a lot the past few weeks and it seems to have done no harm, but I am worried about rusting etc, although this may have been like this for years
Has anyone else goe the same outdoor connection?

When I mentioned it to the security system installer, he mentioned that I should ask the cable installer to cover it with a weatherproof jacket
or just have the street cable go into the garage and THEN and there hook up the "extender" piece etc.

I showed it to the cable guy, and he said since the metal wires were covered (i.e. only the threading is exposed to the elements such as rain and snow), that it was fine.

Thanks for any feedback!

[JamieW]

There is an FAQ which actually answers most of your questions:

http://www.broad-band.net/onlinehelp/faq/index.php?articleid=28

[VEFF]

There is an FAQ which actually answers most of your questions:

http://www.broad-band.net/onlinehelp/faq/index.php?articleid=28

Thanks.
That was the best FAQ

[TheWizard]

I'll try to be more helpful than Jamie.

Anything outside of the house should be covered by the cable company. Therefore, if the splitter outside does rust, the cable company should replace it for free. Unless, of course, you or the previous owner of the house tampered with the splitter outside already. Then the cable company is not responsible. As you said, if it is working fine now, I wouldn't mess with anything.

If you want to spend the money, you can have a cable technician come out and drill a new jack solely for the cable modem. Then you won't have to mess with splitters. That is, if you are positive the splitters are ruining your cable modem connection.

[hoxlund]

now that you got your modem all going good, want to hack your modem's firmware? hehe im always here to help

[VEFF]

I'll try to be more helpful than Jamie.

Anything outside of the house should be covered by the cable company. Therefore, if the splitter outside does rust, the cable company should replace it for free. Unless, of course, you or the previous owner of the house tampered with the splitter outside already. Then the cable company is not responsible. As you said, if it is working fine now, I wouldn't mess with anything.

If you want to spend the money, you can have a cable technician come out and drill a new jack solely for the cable modem. Then you won't have to mess with splitters. That is, if you are positive the splitters are ruining your cable modem connection.

Thanks for the info Wizard.
Since everything is working great, I'll cover it myself.
I already have a plastic cord cover (meant to keep audio cables from looking unsightly) that I got as a gift years ago.
It is a tube with a slice going all the way through that allows you to "wrap" it around cords.
I will cover the point where the coaxial cables meet (where the metal ends are located) and just use plastic ties I bought at Home Depot to keep it from slipping or coming off.
The technician didn't do his job then because I specifically asked him about them getting wet and covering it (or he didn't fully understand, which I doubt). He said it was normal.

To answer your questions, no, I didn't do anything with them, and I don't think the previous owner did either.

[VEFF]

now that you got your modem all going good, want to hack your modem's firmware? hehe im always here to help

Hack it for what purpose though?

I am not familiar with cable modem hacks.
Is it a speed hack or something?

I am already getting almost max throughput.

[hoxlund]

yeah it uncaps your speed limits, but i said it kinda half joking

[TheWizard]

Don't listen to hox. Be smart, be legal.

If your speed calculations were correct, it sounds like you have Optimum Online. Enjoy it, my friend.

[hoxlund]

yeah were im located i get my isp's max 3Mbps down speeds

[VEFF]

Thanks hox and Wizard.

Yes, I was only curious as to what the hack was for.
Since it turns out that it is used to unlock the speed, I obviously don't need it.

[VEFF]

Update:

The wired PC was getting close to 10 Mbps, as previously mentioned. I haven't checked it lately.
The wireless connection that I use for my 2nd PC, is getting right around 4 Mbps, which is ample...

Does this perfomance (ratio) sound reasonable (i.e. 10 Mbps for the PC that is connected to the router using a NIC card and 4 Mbps for the PC connected using wireless technology?
Occasionally I get issues, but a restart of the components fixes that.

I did have persistent speed issues when I first connected the wireless adapter, but after several attempts to reinstall and/or upgrade the driver (first BSOD in ages) I think a driver upgrade fixed that.

[Ian]

You using 802.11b? If so, that sounds about right.

[VEFF]

You using 802.11b? If so, that sounds about right.

Sorry, yes, I was going to specify that, but forgot as I was editing the post.

I know 802.11b supports up to 11 Mbps.
I doubt going to 802.11g would help much, if at all, given that my maximum on the wired section is 10 Mbps which I think is my ISP's maximum anyway.
Or am I mistaken?

[TheWizard]

The WAN (Wide Area Network, i.e. the connection to your ISP) should be limited to 10Mbps, so you are getting the full stream on your wired PC. As for the wireless laptop, well, wireless is wireless. 4Mbps is still indicative of a good signal, therefore I wouldn't worry too much about it. In fact, quite the contrary, I would be very pleased with 4Mbps, if I were you. Rarely are you going to get the optimum from a wireless connection.

[VEFF]

The WAN (Wide Area Network, i.e. the connection to your ISP) should be limited to 10Mbps, so you are getting the full stream on your wired PC. As for the wireless laptop, well, wireless is wireless. 4Mbps is still indicative of a good signal, therefore I wouldn't worry too much about it. In fact, quite the contrary, I would be very pleased with 4Mbps, if I were you. Rarely are you going to get the optimum from a wireless connection.

Thanks Wizard.

(It's actually a wireless desktop; not that it matters )

Yes, I am pleased with 4 Mbps.
I figured I would see if others agreed about it not getting much better, even if one were to upgrade to 802.11g

[UALOneKPlus]

I agree!

Anyway, I don't think you'll be getting more than 4Mb from your cable modem anyhow.

[VEFF]

I agree!

Anyway, I don't think you'll be getting more than 4Mb from your cable modem anyhow.

Thanks.
Actually I am getting almost 10 Mbps from my cable modem (connected to one PC).
The 4 Mbps is only for my other PC which is connecting to the router via a wireless USB adapter.

[TheWizard]

Ahhh yes, Optimum Online. Gotta love it. As I said earlier in this thread, enjoy it, my friend.