Comcast main splitter

planesguy2004 · Dec 11, 2016

Hi, so I currently have Comcast tv, and I am wondering if what I am going to try to do is legal and safe. Ok, so, there is a main coax cable going from the telephone pole to a box on the side of my house. The main cable then goes into a splitter, then the wires go from the splitter to my cable boxes. Would it be ok to unplug the main coax (the one that goes into the splitter from the pole) and plug my own display into the splitter. When I'm done, I would plug the Comcast one back in.
*I also have xfinity Internet and phone. Would it mess that up too?
Thank you in advance!

Wolfshadw · Dec 11, 2016

What you are trying to do, likely won't work. Your display would need a compatible tuner (cable tuner and decryption). It is the decryption that makes the set top box required.

-Wolf sends

planesguy2004 · Dec 11, 2016

Wolfshadw :

I am trying to display footage from my analog camcorder that has coax output, to all of the TV's in my house.

Wolfshadw · Dec 11, 2016

Ah. So you're just changing the source from Comcast to your camcorder. That may work, but not sure if it has the power to send the signal to each display. Nothing wrong with trying it, but while Comcast is disconnected, you will lose Internet and Telephone.

-Wolf sends

Solandri · Dec 11, 2016

Not sure what you're trying to accomplish. Unlike ethernet, you can attach multiple devices to a single cable TV cable. That's what the splitters allow you to do.

If by "display" you mean a TV with coax in, you don't need to do it at the main coax going into your house. You can just add a splitter to one of your existing outlets and run a cable from that to your TV. Unfortunately, Comcast is one of the cable TV services which eliminated all ClearQAM (unencrypted) channels. You won't be able to tune into anything with just your TV. You need a settop cable box or a cablecard box.

planesguy2004 · Dec 11, 2016

Wolfshadw :

Ok, is this legal to do?

Also, what will I have to do to get the signal on my TV's? Scan for channels?

planesguy2004 · Dec 11, 2016

Solandri :

Not sure what you're trying to accomplish. Unlike ethernet, you can attach multiple devices to a single cable TV cable. That's what the splitters allow you to do.

If by "display" you mean a TV with coax in, you don't need to do it at the main coax going into your house. You can just add a splitter to one of your existing outlets and run a cable from that to your TV. Unfortunately, Comcast is one of the cable TV services which eliminated all ClearQAM (unencrypted) channels. You won't be able to tune into anything with just your TV. You need a settop cable box or a cablecard box.

What do you mean by "existing outlet"?

Wolfshadw · Dec 11, 2016

I don't see any reason why it would not be legal, All you're doing is temporarily disconnecting the cable. As for the signal, not sure actually. I've never tried it, myself (or I don't remember trying it). If it doesn't come up, then scanning for channels might work, but I'd just check channels 3 and 4 first.

-Wolf sends

planesguy2004 · Dec 11, 2016

Wolfshadw :

Does all of this have to be from the main splitter?

Wolfshadw · Dec 11, 2016

If you want it to go every TV connected to the splitter, then yes.

-Wolf sends

Solandri · Dec 11, 2016

planesguy2004 :

Ah, you posted your followup while I was typing my first response.

If you unscrew the wall plate for an existing coax outlet, you'll find one coax cable inside going to the outlet. You buy a splitter and two short coax cables. Then you buy a wall plate with two coax outputs. And now you can inject a signal into your home coax system at an existing outlet instead of via the outside of your house.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-2-F-Connector-Plastic-Wall-Plate-White-73223/202699692

It's not like water which only flows in one direction. Most splitters are actually bi-directional. So adding a second output this way and plugging your camera into it should allow you to transmit video to the other coax outlets in your house. Just as if you'd plugged it into the main coax leading into your house.

You may or may not have to unplug the main coax line coming into your house. There's a chance the frequency your camcorder broadcasts on isn't being used by Comcast (especially if it's analog). I've seen cable frequency charts before, but wasn't able to find a recent one for Comcast in a quick search.

The other worry is signal backflow from your camcorder onto Comcast's network. I'm pretty sure the cable companies add filters specifically to prevent this sort of signal backflow (other than upstream cable modem data and PPV requests). Otherwise noise in your neighbor's home coax could affect your cable TV signal. But you may want to call Comcast and ask to speak to a tech to confirm (not customer support - they'll be clueless). A tech who installs cable TV in your house would probably know as well, if you can track one down (just stop your car if you see one of their vans outside someone's house).

planesguy2004 · Dec 11, 2016

Solandri :

planesguy2004 :

Ah, you posted your followup while I was typing my first response.

If you unscrew the wall plate for an existing coax outlet, you'll find one coax cable inside going to the outlet. You buy a splitter and two short coax cables. Then you buy a wall plate with two coax outputs. And now you can inject a signal into your home coax system at an existing outlet instead of via the outside of your house.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-2-F-Connector-Plastic-Wall-Plate-White-73223/202699692

It's not like water which only flows in one direction. Most splitters are actually bi-directional. So adding a second output this way and plugging your camera into it should allow you to transmit video to the other coax outlets in your house. Just as if you'd plugged it into the main coax leading into your house.

You may or may not have to unplug the main coax line coming into your house. There's a chance the frequency your camcorder broadcasts on isn't being used by Comcast (especially if it's analog). I've seen cable frequency charts before, but wasn't able to find a recent one for Comcast in a quick search.

The other worry is signal backflow from your camcorder onto Comcast's network. I'm pretty sure the cable companies add filters specifically to prevent this sort of signal backflow (other than upstream cable modem data and PPV requests). Otherwise noise in your neighbor's home coax could affect your cable TV signal. But you may want to call Comcast and ask to speak to a tech to confirm (not customer support - they'll be clueless). A tech who installs cable TV in your house would probably know as well, if you can track one down (just stop your car if you see one of their vans outside someone's house).

There isn't any coax outlets in my house. They all just run through the floors/walls.

planesguy2004 · Dec 12, 2016

Are there any AV to coax , and HDMI to coax converters you recommend?

planesguy2004 · Dec 13, 2016

Solandri :

planesguy2004 :

Ah, you posted your followup while I was typing my first response.

If you unscrew the wall plate for an existing coax outlet, you'll find one coax cable inside going to the outlet. You buy a splitter and two short coax cables. Then you buy a wall plate with two coax outputs. And now you can inject a signal into your home coax system at an existing outlet instead of via the outside of your house.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-2-F-Connector-Plastic-Wall-Plate-White-73223/202699692

It's not like water which only flows in one direction. Most splitters are actually bi-directional. So adding a second output this way and plugging your camera into it should allow you to transmit video to the other coax outlets in your house. Just as if you'd plugged it into the main coax leading into your house.

You may or may not have to unplug the main coax line coming into your house. There's a chance the frequency your camcorder broadcasts on isn't being used by Comcast (especially if it's analog). I've seen cable frequency charts before, but wasn't able to find a recent one for Comcast in a quick search.

The other worry is signal backflow from your camcorder onto Comcast's network. I'm pretty sure the cable companies add filters specifically to prevent this sort of signal backflow (other than upstream cable modem data and PPV requests). Otherwise noise in your neighbor's home coax could affect your cable TV signal. But you may want to call Comcast and ask to speak to a tech to confirm (not customer support - they'll be clueless). A tech who installs cable TV in your house would probably know as well, if you can track one down (just stop your car if you see one of their vans outside someone's house).

Ok my final question before I do this, is that I am wondering if everything is safe to touch. Like all of the coax wires. Also, does sending my own signal through that coax line interfere with my neighbors tv? Am I even allowed to do that? Thanks IA

Wolfshadw · Dec 14, 2016

Yes, it's safe to touch and it should not interfere with anything else.

-Wolf sends

planesguy2004 · Dec 14, 2016

Wolfshadw :

Sorry for all of the quoting, but does Comcast own any of it? Or just the main wire from the pole?

Wolfshadw · Dec 18, 2016

I think Comcast owns everything up to where it enters your home. How it gets to your home is Comcast's decision. How it is dispersed throughout your home is your decision.

-Wolf sends

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