New comp distorting TV signal

[jussi]

I have att uverse and get my signal via ethernet cable. In my room I use a splitter and split the signal between my comp and the stb. I didn't have a problem with my older slower comp but with the newer one, the tv signal glitches occasionally. Consistently happens right when I boot up. I thought it replacing the cat5 with cat5e might help and it did somewhat but still happens. Any suggestions?

[dbhost]

I am unfamiliar with U-Verse, so I am a little bit confused. I thought Uverse provided the TV signal through a coaxial cable, not ethernet.

[Cochese]

An easy thing to check is that the power supply is properly grounded to the chassis.

Outside of that, next thing to try would be a ferrite bead on the ethernet cable or to try an ethernet PCI card. Your port might be faulty where it creates feedback.

[dbhost]

Okay, I have had a few minutes to wrap my head around this. And I need to verify a few things here...

#1. What exactly do you mean by "splitter"? I am assuming, and actually very much hoping you mean a proper ethernet switch.
#2. Since you are using U-Verse, I am assuming you use them for DSL internet as well. What components are between your computer, and the DSL modem? Is the DSL modem itself a router?

Checking ground to PC chassis from the power supply isn't as simple as it sounds. The path goes through the power supply connector, to the motherboard, and then back in several direct current circuits. The power supply and chassis should NOT be grounded to each other electrically, HOWEVER, physically the power supply is typically bolted to the chassis, metal touching metal, so IF the case were energized, the two would be effectively the same circuit.

#3. Are the TV, the "splitter" and the Uverse tuner / DVR on separate 110 circuits?
#4. Is the computer on a UPS? (Or a laptop)?

If I had to venture a guess, I would say possibly flaky ground in the home wiring circuit causing noise when the load of the newer, faster and presumably more CPU cores machine hits its current inrush when the power button is pushed. Old computers often had 250 or 300 watt power supplies. Modern quad, 6, and 8 core machines often have 500, even 800 watt power supplies... They don't pull that much all the time, but they can, and do when at full load like when crunching video, or booting up...

Also still possible, but FAR less likely is the power supply itself has a defective capacitor that is causing noise on the circuit impacting everything on the circuit then it is booting. Trying the comp on a different circuit, particularly from the "splitter" which again, I am hopeful is a proper switch, whether it be integrated into the router, or stand alone...

If it's ground, well, make sure that outlet is grounded well... If it's power supply, replace the power supply with similar or better rated than what you are pulling out.

Lastly, and I have heard of this once, and only once, but assuming the cables are known good, it is possible, although very, very, very unlikely that a defect in the ethernet controller circuit could be at fault. You would see other problems with the ethernet operation, and with most systems having ethernet controllers integrated, it is likely other areas in the system would be non functional or malfunctioning as well.

[dbhost]

An easy thing to check is that the power supply is properly grounded to the chassis.

Outside of that, next thing to try would be a ferrite bead on the ethernet cable or to try an ethernet PCI card. Your port might be faulty where it creates feedback.

I would think if the port was faulty, and I have to assume he is using an integrated ethernet controller, that he would see other problems as well... However, I am intrigued by the ferrite bead thing. I have heard of guys using ferrite beads to make Cat5e carry 10G ethernet in a lab environment. Sure is cheaper than going all category 6 rated stuff!

[Cochese]

I would think if the port was faulty, and I have to assume he is using an integrated ethernet controller, that he would see other problems as well... However, I am intrigued by the ferrite bead thing. I have heard of guys using ferrite beads to make Cat5e carry 10G ethernet in a lab environment. Sure is cheaper than going all category 6 rated stuff!

It's not a common thing, but I've seen it happen. Trying to lift the mobo out by the back panel connectors when you've forgotten a screw. Kinda a crapshoot that it would provide feedback but not a noticeable loss in I/O speeds, but with DSL on a heavy node one might not put the two together.

There's not a whole lot of 'need' for Cat 6 in residential applications outside of long runs, but the cost right now is pretty similar. Under a dollar for a 75' run. It can add up, though. Just got a coupon from Monoprice that reminded me I need to buy supplies so I can finally wire the house. For that small of a price difference, I'll go 6 and never worry about it again.

[trungdok]

It's the TV. You need to get a bigger TV :P

[LCHIEN]

the very first thing to do is determine the path whereby the interference (INTF) is ocurring.

Do the following:
disconnect the Ethernet cable temporarily from the Computer and boot the computer, see if INTF occurs

Reconnect ether net to computer, disconnect ethernet from TVBox and see if INTF occurs. tehn replace cable


Plug the comuter into a different AC Circuit (not just receptacle) and see if it occurs.

let me know the results of these.

[cabinetman]

I have att uverse and get my signal via ethernet cable. In my room I use a splitter and split the signal between my comp and the stb. I didn't have a problem with my older slower comp but with the newer one, the tv signal glitches occasionally. Consistently happens right when I boot up. I thought it replacing the cat5 with cat5e might help and it did somewhat but still happens. Any suggestions?

We have AT&T U-verse for both internet and TV. Our signal comes in via the phone line to a central box. We have 3 boxes that are connected via coax. That's it. We can't split the signal via the coax for another TV. You say it's a new computer, it should be wi-fi. Recently they have wireless boxes, for the TV signal, so I'm not familiar with that option.

.

[dbhost]

You say it's a new computer, it should be wi-fi.
.

Bad assumption. I have 2 new computers, both wired ethernet, not WiFi... Generally speaking desktops are wired, laptops are WiFi, although both can and often do either and both...

[cabinetman]

Bad assumption. I have 2 new computers, both wired ethernet, not WiFi... Generally speaking desktops are wired, laptops are WiFi, although both can and often do either and both...

Not an assumption. Our setup is that the phone line goes to the main box (a desktop). Coax connects desktop to the box.

.

[jussi]

Hey guys thanks for all the suggestions. Uverse stbs can take both coax or ethernet. Technician installing it said they prefer using ethernet when possible because (ironically) it gives a more consistent signal. The strange thing is I have 2 wireless uvervse stbs which, if anything I would expect to give me more signal problems, and both those work great.

I am in fact using a switch. I have no idea why I said splitter. Must have had a brain fart. In fact I went as far as buying the switch they use just in case there would be some sort of comparability problem.

Loring, I did unplug the ethernet cable from the comp and turn off the comp all together. Both result in fixing the problem so I'm sure the new comp is the culprit. Come to think of it the ups itself is old and probably isn't rated for the psu. I planned on eventually upgrading but was just waiting for a sale.

Line goes from the modem to switch. Nothing in between. The stb is on one line, the comp, switch, and ups on another.

I'll go down the list of suggestions and see if any works. I am using a ups and everything is plugged into to that so I'll try plugging the switch to the outlet directly. Hopefully it's a simple as that. Nothing more frustrating than getting home to watch a game you'd dvr'd and the dang video go out in the last 3 minutes of the 4th quarter !!!!!

[dbhost]

Could you give some details on the new computer? Is the ethernet integrated to the system board? And is this system a custom built machine or something factory made like a Dell, HP, Acer etc?

[jussi]

Custom built PC. Integrated ethernet.

mobo - ASUS P8Z77-V PRO
psu - corsair hx750

[dbhost]

Just a thought. Do you have a WiFi router? If you have 802.11n it might be better to connect to your network wirelessly instead of through the cabled network. I am assuming your network isn't gigabit however...

I am a bit surprised though. Asus usually builds top notch stuff, seeing a problem with their hardware is pretty rare. (My favorite Motherboard / video board MFGs are Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte FWIW, very, very few problems with any of them...

Okay dumb thought...

Have you tried turning OFF the WiFi in the BIOS? It is POSSIBLE that the WiFi signal being that close to the wired LAN might be inducing some inductive noise on the cable during boot up. Perhaps update the firmware to a newer revision if available. Sorry, never had WiFi onboard a desktop so I am not sure...