![]() ![]() The four basic types of cable amplifier that you can leverage as a solution to this problem include the forward gain, return gain, 2-way active-return, and bypass amplifiers.Ī forward gain amplifier compensates for low signal strength from a cable provider before a splitter is connected. This splitting action is responsible for that football player looking fuzzy on the big screen when an amplifier is not in use. ![]() However, as this signal is distributed more widely throughout the home, it gets split into many different directions, making it weaker each time such a split occurs. When the signal first enters the home, it starts out quite strong and will reach a couple of televisions without any issues. While an amplifier is not a relay racer, it is responsible for boosting a cable signal at various points throughout the house to prevent its degradation. When the first athlete completes his portion of the race (and essentially runs out of steam), he passes the baton off to the next racer who continues on without any loss of endurance as a result of the first racer getting tired. I like to think of a cable amplifier functioning as a team of relay racers. To improve that signal quality in time for the big game, you're going to need a handy cable amplifier to fix those visual anomalies. In preparation for the party, you notice ghosting, picture degradation, and other static problems on at least two or three of your televisions throughout the house. You've got each room equipped with its own large flat screen television connected to a cable box that will pick up the signal and display the game on each TV. Imagine that you're planning a gigantic Super Bowl party in your home. ![]() If you have a large multi-port PR device, and you find that your ability to access cable features is slow or your DVR is lagging, then you may need to swap out your passive for an AR model like Arris 4-Port and use an additional coax splitter if necessary. Ironically, passive return amplifiers with multiple ports significantly increase return signal losses, which almost makes it better to use active returns in these situations, provided you aren’t hooking up to an antenna or dish system. You also need a decibel level that is relatively close to the signal strength of your incoming cable signal in order to avoid further distortion, but most high-quality models like the ones we recommend should be fine. You may, for instance, only be experiencing issues with your channels at higher frequencies, because of long cables - a situation which would call for a tilt amplifier, not a PR amplifier. While it’s alright to go amplifier shopping if you’re versed with technicalities of the subject, if you’re inexperienced then my honest advice would be to contact your cable company regarding any signal quality issues, as they will help diagnose your issues and recommend the right amplifier for your needs. Do note however that AR amplifiers are not designed to be used with satellites and antennas, as they can end up blocking the signal. I’ve therefore swapped out some of the old PR amplifiers and added some newer options like the PCT-MA2-2P and Antennas Direct CDA4, and I’ve also included the compact PCT MA-B1015 as an AR amplifier. However, an AR (Active Return) bi-directional model, which amplifies both the upstream and return bands, may be useful in certain situations, like when your home has multiple TV systems and you find that you’re having problems with DVR or accessing certain features from your cable provider. ![]() These models are the most commonly-sold type, and they’re what you’d be looking for to boost your TV signal. Secondly, this list had only PR bi-directional models, which means that the amplification only occurs on the upstream. So, in place of the 1byOne model, I’ve introduced the Channel Master CM-3410 Mini, which is an ultra-small, single-output PR (Passive Return) bi-directional model. Aside from the fact that cheaper models like the 1byOne High Gain 0570, which I had to remove are often built poorly and can end up adding a lot of noise to your TV signal, they are also only made for signal-boosting antennas and satellites, and are incompatible with cable services, since they don’t support the return frequency band that is essential to using a cable box. At the other end of the spectrum and meant for more large-scale setups, the AllAboutAdapters RFMP-W50 has the power to overcome all the passive signal drain from multi-unit buildings.įirstly, you need to ensure that any amplifier is bi-directional, meaning that it supports both the upstream frequency band (~54-1000Mhz) and return frequency band (~5-42Mhz). The PCT VC-9U is ideal for homes with multiple devices to connect, while the Antronix MRA1-15 is perfect for those with just a single cable box and TV to hook up. We made three additions this time around, and one of them should satisfy just about any needs. ![]()
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