choppy/robotic call quality

[murphy]

Your downstream power levels are lower than optimum which is 0.
Your upstream power level is higher than I like to see.

Is your cable split where it enters the house using a two way splitter with one side going directly to the modem and the other side feeding TV sets? The splitter should be a bi-directional splitter good from 5 MHz to at least 1000 Mhz.

[turtlebud]

The main cable box is inside the house. This is a picture of the splitter https://photos.app.goo.gl/uyRNBHZJ0ZlTsGx82.

There is a service line coming in (5-1002MHz) and then 4 lines going out. 2 for TVs and 2 for cable outlets. I had him run a second cable/internet outlet because I may be moving the cable modem in the next few months.

Would these downstream and upstream power levels cause the choppy/robotic audio? And is that something that comcast would be willing/able to adjust (or come out if necessary)?

[murphy]

I said a two way splitter for a reason. A two way splitter drops the signal by about 3.5 dB.
The SV-4G has an insertion loss of 8 dB for downstream and an upstream insertion loss of 25 dB.

http://www.commscope.com/catalog/splitt ... x?id=45335

That is not a bi-directional splitter. The 25 dB return loss is forcing the cable company to set the upstream transmit power very high to force enough signal through to work.

For reference 3 dB cuts the signal in half, 6 dB cuts the signal to 1/4, 9 dB cuts the signal to 1/8.

I have a 4 port powered bi-directional amplifier (typically called a drop amp) where my cable enters the house. One output of the amplifier goes directly to the cable modem.


This is not what I have but it is similar.

https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Amplifie ... Src=detail

[turtlebud]

thanks murphy.

is it pretty good chance this splitter and the resulting insertion loss is likely what is causing the poor call quality?

and if I call comcast, would I request a them to replace the SV-4G with a bi-directional amplifier (assuming they are willing to do so)? I'm a little afraid of response as I expect them to try and sell me on their triple play package rather than fix my line.

[murphy]

I don't know if it will fix it. All you can do is fix everything that can be a problem and see what happens. Comcast is unlikely to care that Ooma doesn't work right when they have their own phone system. They will definitely try to up sell you.