Any Sparks on here???

[bertberr]

Any sparks on here?  Trying to figure out an issue with our internet connection.  When router is connected to the wall outlet (coax) directly, we have a good internet connection.  But when we use the 2-way splitter to enable one coax to router and one to Tivo box, we get nothing?  I've checked continuity on all the cables (centre copper core and also connector housing/shield) and all good. Also, there's no shorts between connector/shield and centre core.  BUT... should there be continuity along centre core when there's a splitter in between the two cables???  i.e. if i touch multimeter probe to core of input cable, then touch other probe to unconnected end of the other (output) cable, should my MM register an open or closed circuit?  I know nothing about how these splitters work, but I'd guess there has to be some sort of 'physical' connection inside the splitter between the input port and all the output ports?

 

Any help appreciated, thanks 👍

[Captain Howdy]

My 2 cents 

 

Have you tried plugging in the coax cable from your wall outlet to your splitter.

Then attach  (via coax cable) your router to the splitter (nothing else connected) and see if you can get online, try both outputs of the splitter!

If you cant get online, it would suggest the splitter isn't working properly

Edited December 30, 2021 by Captain Howdy

[Captain Howdy]

@BigGinge would probably know about this ?

Hope you get it sorted dude.

[Redback]

I think you need a filter on the tivo side, maybe internet has changed in the years since i did support but maybe its that.

Socket
^
Splitter <- Filter box <- Tivo
^
Router

Hold on your internet goes into a coaxial plug not a telephone jack? Are you on cable? Maybe a coaxial booster is needed?

Edited December 30, 2021 by Redback

[BigGinge]

It’s been a while since I’ve used a cable internet connection but I think you might need a specialist splitter/impedance matched T-piece for this. 
 

Are you trying to connect this up using the cables/parts listed in the guide linked below or just some random parts that you had to hand from something else?

 

https://my.virginmedia.com/content/dam/virgoBrowse/docs/Virgin-TV-V6-QuickStart-Guide-for-New-Customers.pdf

[bertberr]

First of all, thanks to you all for offering assistance on this problem.  I'll try the trouble shooting process listed above, and look into the filter thing too.

 

Re the kit I'm using, basically its the same splitter that Virgin fitted when they connected everything up couple of years back, likewise the cable that goes from the router into the Tivo box.  We had some work done in the lounge and the router now sits on the other side of a fireplace, about 12 feet or so over from where VM originally placed it.  We had a load of other electrical work done, and they chased out the wall up where the coving used to be, and then down other side of fireplace and fitted a coax wall socket for us to plug it all into.  It's been temperamental ever since, but seeing as the connection works when plugged directly into the router (as per my original post), it's clearly nothing to do with their new cable / wall socket.  And as they weren't exactly the neatest sparks I've ever used (crooked line of power sockets, untidy wiring in cupboard etc, I'm loathe to have them back in the house.

[BigGinge]

1 hour ago, bertberr said:

I’m  it's clearly nothing to do with their new cable / wall socket. 

Unfortunatly with this being an RF electrical connection I’d not rule out a problem with this just because it works when only one thing is plugged in. If the connections are a bit marginal (ie. ****) then they could easily

be the cause of the trouble you’re having when you try and connect up both the tv and router. 
 

Do you still have access to the original virgin media entry point to the house? If so it might be worth trying to see if your kit works when connected directly to this rather than on the other end of your newly installed cable. 

[bertberr]

So, could it be a splitter issue?  Do they ever fail?  I tried swapping out the three coax cables I have, to see if any one of them were bad.  Two had F connectors each end, so I could test them by plugging them directly into the router from the wall socket - all OK there.  I couldn't test the third cable this way, as it only had an F connector one end, the other end had a sort of push fir/interference fit connector on it that pushed onto the relevant socket on the back of the Tivo box, so I just tested this one by connecting it directly from the wall socket to the back of the Tivo box - all good...

 

So, I then connected everything back up as it was a few days ago when it was playing up, and... its working OK... at the moment!  So, it seems the problem is intermittent.  Could it be heat related?  Is that possible?  Do these things break down with heat?  Or could it be something up with the splitter?  

 

Thanks for your help on this 👍

[Stormbringer]

If it works and then doesnt it could be heat or a loose connection somewhere

[BigGinge]

It could be a dodgy connection on one of the cables or splitter. F-type connectors are designed to be cheap above all else so aren’t the most robust or reliable things in the world. 

[Shergar]

I’ve always found this site helpful, the parts they sell are usually a good quality too.

 

https://www.aerialsandtv.com/knowledge/splitters-amps-and-diplexers

 

[Captain Howdy]

Did you try my initial suggestion to determine if the splitter was working properly?  connect the splitter to the wall and see if your router works when connected to the splitter, don't plug anything else into the splitter at the same time  (try both splitter outputs ) Does it work/can you get online?

 

Try the same thing with the Tivo box (nothing else connected to the splitter) Does it work? Try both outputs of the splitter.

 

If you can get online or the Tivo box working through the splitter, Do you loose everything (the connection) when you connect up the second output of the splitter?

 

Edited January 4, 2022 by Captain Howdy