How to split cable three ways
 

My friend has currently split his cable thing and is looking to get another TV. He is using the cable for the one TV he has now and for his internet. How would he be able to get cable on the third TV?

BTW: He doesn't want to get another outlet because it costs too much.

I simple cable splitter would do.

Head to radioshack, and grab a 2-way splitter. Don't get the cheapest, grab the middle ground one.. say $10 prolly.

Try to avoid splitting the line that the internet is on, that should be a direct link. Just split the cable wherever it's convienient, and run a line from your splitter, to the new tv.

http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...t%5Fid=15-2582

Cable TV and cable internet are usually two separate trains. If it's legal where you live, you can use a cable splitter for tv. It's better not to use it for internet access.

I agree with ashaman00, because the cable and tv line are one in the same in my area. A simple 2 way splitter will work, however watch how far and how many times you split your line it can affect service. Longer the cable line is the farther the signal has to travel without a boost, which inturn affects the service (a cable booster can be purchased through RadioShack, but I wouldn't advice it). Atleast thats what I have learned in my dealings with the cable company.

My friend split his cable line, but he can't change the channel on the one without the box.....I would do the same except for that problem. Any way around that?

my friend split his cable for internet and free tv. He heard all those stories about how the cable company can detect if you have split your cable from as far as blocks away. It seemed like a myth until one day, some guy with some device with two huge antennas strapped to his chest was knocking on his back door.

My friend had split his cable line with a very cheap splitter on his balcony. The meltling snow caused water to go into the splitter and it was sending what the technician said was horrible feedback, which was affecting the quality of internet connection of the entire block. :crazy:

The technician told my friend that he could agree to remove it right there and then, or he could come back with a legal mandat. My friend kindly tossed in the garbage.

So, make sure you use a decent quality splitter.

Jim...depending on your cable provider...the cable box isn't necessary to watch the channels. So you will need to split the cable before it gets to the box. The TV w/o the box won't have the same functions as the one with (aka PPV and Schedules) but it should still have the general channels.

First, try disconnecting the cable that goes into the cable box and then connecting it directly to your TV. If you can still watch TV without the box in the middle then you are in luck. Now you can put in a splitter and split one to your new TV and the other to your cable box.

Always remember (as many other people have said) use a high dB splitter (more expensive) and the shortest cables you need (less expensive :) )

Have fun! and enjoy the freedom of multiple TVs

Along the lines of kolila's post:
My sister-in-law used to live on the approach path to the local airport. Before the cable company in this area switched to fiber-optic, they had to put terminators on any unused lines. They also supplied her with esd boots to slip over the connections coming out of the wall and the back of the set. They said it had someting to do with airplanes may pick-up some signal anf fuck with their instruments. It would suck for a jet to land in her front yard.

it will deminish quailty, the more it is split, i urdge you to get a cable booster thing you notice anything.... at my house, its like night and day, without the booster you can bearly see the picture with all the fuzz, and with it, it's perfect

My experience with cable boosters have been very bad just talk to the guys at radio shack and make sure to use a decent splitter.

Speaking of catching cable splitters, I've heard stories of the cable company around here using a device to listen into the home of un-subscribers to hear the TV. If they hear them watching a cable show and they have no satellite dish, then they check into it. I don't know if its true though, sounds like it would be illegal and I've never seen anyone doing it.

when i think of it... they do go 3 way splitters

...might just even things out a bit

http://www.murphyjunk.bizland.com/si...tures/1930.JPG

AquaFox - you beat me to it. I was wondering if someone else would post it!

Make sure that if you use a splitter, your have good quality cable and ends on that cable. When I got my cable modem, I ran the line from the wall to a splitter and from the splitter to my modem and to my TV. Every night for no apparent reason, I would lose my internet connection for like 5 hours. I did some testing on one of those broadband websites and found that the problem was probably stemming from a loose or bad connection on a splitter. I took out my trusty leathermen multitool and tightened the cable ends on as far as I could get them, and the probelm cleared up. It was wierd too, when my internet connection was working, all the lower channels on TV were kinda fuzzy, but when the connection popped out, they were all very clear...

wow its not legal everywhere THAT IS INSANE!!

sounds like an urbanmyth to me sorry

You might diminish the internet signal by splitting it so much. Had to have the cable company install a booster on ours because of that exact problem.

A booster can also be bought at radio shack. It just plugs inline at the source and amplifies the signal.