Howdy all. I recently upgraded my internet connection from dial-up tohigh speed via cable (about time, I know). Since installing the cableI have been having problems getting connected to the internet. If Iconnected the modem straight to the cable drop coming in the house Iwould get a good connection, but when I run a cable from the drop tothe computer (about 25', no splitters) I would fail to get aconnection. Sometimes it would connect, but most the time it wouldnot. So, I got to looking at the cable run (finished basement, dropceiling) and discovered that in two places the cable was running alongside and sitting right on top of some romex. Hmmm, I thought tomyself. Could I be getting interference on the cable from the romex?So, I moved the cable several inches away from the romex and low andbehold a got a good internet connection.I have a cable guy coming out later this week to check my signals soI'll ask him if the electric lines could cause enough interference toaffect my internet signal. It appears so and makes sense to meespecially if the cable is right on top of and running parallel withthe romex. Has anyone had any similar experiences?-Felder

Also, using a good quad shield RG-6 will help the situation. Make sure the shield is grounded somewhere along the line.

Electrical Interference on Cable Internet???

Feb 20, 2007 21 Replies

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avid_hiker 19 years ago

It is "common " when running a "Cable" line parallel to an AC line to use this "mode" -use sheilded cable. The sheilding in the cable helps to protect it from any magnetic fields.

Other than that........nope :-)

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BillGill 19 years ago

Yep, I know what it is. It applies only to balanced circuits, not coax. Coax is single ended, so common mode doesn't apply. Also, all balanced circuits reject common mode signals only up to a given point. Too high a common mode signal will disrupt balanced communications signals.

Bill Gill

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