Coaxial cables are used in a multitude of different settings in telecommunications equipment, like cable modems, digital cable converter boxes and standard wall-to-TV cable connections. A coaxial cable that is not transmitting a strong enough signal to the device it is attached to can cause static or missing channels on TVs, intermittently dropping Internet on a cable modem and pixelization through digital cable boxes. Luckily, it only takes a few steps to troubleshoot low signal strength and restore full functionality to your coaxial devices.
Step 1
Verify that a loose coaxial connector is not causing the signal degradation. Check both the device and the wall jack and tighten any coaxial connections that may have come loose.
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Step 2
Detach any coaxial cable splitters you may be using on the coaxial cable line and plug one cable directly from the wall jack to the device you are trying to use. If your signal returns to normal strength with the coaxial splitter "bypassed," you will need to replace the coaxial splitter--or, better yet, continue to use your coaxial device with the splitter.
Step 3
Replace any particularly long pieces of coaxial cable with shorter ones. The longer the coaxial signal must be sent the more the signal degrades, so it is always best to use the shortest possible coaxial cable from the wall to the device you are trying to use. If the closest cable outlet is more than 100 feet from the device you are trying to use, it would even be worth your while to have your cable provider install a new cable "drop" close to the device.
Step 4
Purchase and install a house amp. Coaxial amplifiers are made specifically for boosting coaxial cable signals to coaxial devices. Purchase one and install per the manufacturer's instructions; some cable providers may even offer an install technician to set up the house amp for you if you are not comfortable doing it on your own.
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