8-Port Bi-Directional Cable TV HDTV Amplifier Splitter Signal Booster with Pa... by PCT
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Digital camera reviews of 8-Port Bi-Directional Cable TV HDTV Amplifier Splitter Signal Booster with Pa...
Digital camera Review: Cleaned up my cable picture nicely
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently moved into a larger house and signed up for cable internet. DSL wasn't going to cut it with 4 other housemates. However, my new cable connection was less than half of its advertised speed, even in the middle of the night. I live in a densly-subscribed cable area, so the hub that services my neighborhood is often taxed to capacity - this causes predictable lapses in speed, but nothing as severe as what I was getting (according to friends and neighbors who live nearby. Cable is not like DSL; with cable, there is a finite (albeit large) amount of bandwidth available to one particular geographical area. After several days of testing, googling, troubleshooting and researching, I discovered that a low signal strength might be to blame for my slow internet speeds (and not every one of my neighbors maxing out their connections).
So, I bought this little box. It was actually cheaper than the 4-port version (go figure). Physically it's very well-made: all-metal casing, solid coax ports and even a green LED to let you know it's working. Currently it's mounted outside my house and the humidity, dew and heat that we've had over the past few weeks hasn't bothered it at all. The additional signal strength also cleans up the picture on my TV, and even on the TV upstairs which is at the end of a long, awkward chain of insufficiently-long coax cables spliced together with a splitter. My internet speed and reliability also has improved. In the course of learning all about cable modems and their optimal signal strengths and power levels though, I have discovered (and determined) that a stronger signal does NOT equal faster downloads; I was able to get my signal strength in the optimal range using this amplifier, but there is such a thing as too strong of a signal (which just confuses your cable modem and makes it run very slowly). Think of it this way: you can't put more gas in your car to make it go faster, but you can put better gas in to make it run more efficiently. I say this here in hopes of saving someone out there who's frustrated with their cable connection the hassle of going through the long trial and error that I did.
Don't get me wrong, this amplifier is still excellent. What's really excellent about it is that you can supply it with power from anywhere on the coax network. This means that you don't have to run an extension cord outside to where your cable comes in from the pole (where the amplifier should be installed); you can use the included power injector to simply plug in the amplifier "remotely", and it works. I've even tried both ways and there is no discernible difference in picture quality or cable modem signal strength.
Before you go buying one though, DO YOUR RESEARCH! Learn what the optimal signal strength is for your cable modem (different modems vary). Find out what DOCSIS version your cable company uses in your area and if your modem supports it. If you do determine that an amplifier is necessary, this is your ticket. Very well made and easy to install. Remember to install it "as close to the pole as possible" - amplifying a good, clean signal will take you places but amplifying a noisy, bad signal will just cause frustration.
Digital camera Review: Digital booster. Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm still trying to figure out how to boost analog side without waves on the old tv's. The LCD tv has a perfect digital side and really clear analog side. It's impressive. I recommend this device. It's changed my entire home run system. I now am looking for a cable signal stregnth meter. If I can level the signal at each outlet, I couldn't ask for any more. It's a great buy.Digital camera Review: Does the job
Summary: 5 Stars
I tend to be skeptical of glowing reviews. But this thing does the job as advertised. Our cable signal was getting worse and worse with our two upstairs TVs, on a split and resplit signal, very long cable runs (for some insane reason, the builder took the cable to the other end of the house, then up to the attic, and from there back to the various upstairs rooms), and using the crappy Comcast digital adapters they had to provide free when they went all-digital, unable to receive three particular channels almost 100% of the time (and when they could be received, lots of pixellation). Used this to replace the first splitter and we've had a very clear signal (no pixellation) ever since. It sure beat taking a day off from work to have Comcast come out and then tell us there was nothing they could do.Digital camera Review: Donna12
Summary: 1 Stars
As a signal splitter it probably works but from what I believe I read in Consumer Report (cant remember which issue) it was given a failing grade as it is welded together and there is no way to check what is inside that is supposed to amplify the signal. There is a small LED light that shows green when it's plugged in to power outlet but that doesn't mean it's doing anything to amplify signal. I returned the one I ordered when I realized what it was. I'm out the cost of shipping to me but Amazon did pay return shipping.Digital camera Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
Did the trick. Improved picture quality and helped to organize my tangled mess of cable and splitters.