Basic Internet Connectivity And Modem Help

[szhosain]

The reason I ask is that I want to attenuate my Downstream channels (by about 6 to 9 db) since it is going from about 8dBmV and 15dBmV (sometimes at night) and causing "Correctable" errors and occasional (albeit hours apart) modem resets.

But I want to leave the Upstream channels alone - they show as 41dBmV or so and I am afraid that putting in a basic wide-band 6dB or 9dB attenuator may push this to near 50dBmv and cause problems with upstream traffic.

Thanks!

[EG]

Perhaps it would be best to get a tech to properly balance the line.

[szhosain]

That makes sense, of course!

But, I would love to know how they do the balancing? Do they use simple wide-band attenuators too? Or some other approach that makes it less of an impact on the power in one direction?

Thanks!

[EG · Accepted solution]

These prove to be diffcult to find at retail as they are typically a "tech only" tool but yes, forward only or return only attenuators do exist. It may be easier to track down a Comcast truck and ask the tech for one.

[szhosain]

Very nice! I will have to contact Comcast for these ... thanks!

[i-am-nerdburg]

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szhosain wrote:

Very nice! I will have to contact Comcast for these ... thanks!

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No one at Comcast will have any idea what you are talking about. It's not the kind of thing even a premise tech would have in his/her truck.

[EG]

Some guys do, some guys don't.

[szhosain]

i-am-nerdberg wrote:

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No one at Comcast will have any idea what you are talking about. It's not the kind of thing even a premise tech would have in his/her truck.

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I'll print a picture of the above one that EG posted ...

I also found some for sale on the Internet, but the company is in the Uk ... need to find one here in the US.

Z

[MelvinTheGrate]

Judging from the results of my Google search, a "forward path attenuator" is pretty much unknown, at least by that name, outside of the UK.

[EG]

Yeah, maybe by the general public.

[szhosain]

I think that some places here in the US call it a "Band Attenuator" with some qualified phrase as to whether it is forward or reverse band attenuation ... I am still researching this a bit.