Home > Consumer Reviews > Electroline EDA FT08100 8-port TV Signal Booster/Amplifier with Active Return Path

I've been using a combination of the 2-Way amps from Radio Shack to boost my Comcast cable signal for 2 HD + 4 Plain Digital Cable boxes + 1 Cable Modem. The results were spotty and inconsistent at best. I knew I needed to invest in a real professional grade amplifier in my new house, but had no really good source for good information and feedback about the various products out there. Actually, now I'm glad I put off the decision until now, because this particular model is very new and the only consumer-level amp I could find with the 0db Active Return feature. You need to read up on this function and understand why it's so important. I replaced all my old amps with this one 8-way and the difference is AMAZING! Channels that were fuzzy and sometimes unavailable on some boxes are now all crystal clear from 2 - 800+ consistently. My On-Demand services that were hit-and-miss before the amp are now 100% available every time on every box! The other great result is a 2x - 3x jump in the performance of my cable modem service. The importance of having proper Bi-Directional amplification with today's cable technology cannot be over-stated! This amplifier does the job...for the investment of a 1/2 month cable bill. Fantastic!

Save the time and money (in the long run) and just invest in a quality box that will make your investment in cable services perform the way they should. I think a lot of people who think they have "cable service" problems actually have "cable signal" problems. Save yourself the frustration and install this amp where the cable enters the house and let it give you the signal strength you really need to all your cable boxes and your cable modem. I'm so glad I took a chance on this one and that's why I wanted to share my experience. I hope it will save someone the time and frustration that I went through to get a great solution!

I purchased this unit because I have two analog feeds and two QAM digital capture feeds (via an HDHR unit) that I use in conjunction with SageTV for recording television. I also have a cable modem so there's a couple splitters involved. I did purchase good passive splitters (Monster 2 and 3 ways), however the QAM signal quality levels and the modem performance were not ideal.

I got this model because of the cable modem support. Imagine my surprise when the first thing to pop out of the box is a note from the manufacturer that it's best to put your cable modem on it's own line off a splitter and not hook it up to this unit because some signal loss may occur. What the..?!?!? After ranting for a while and generally annoying my wife with my whining I hooked it up anyway and took some measurements. Fortunately their warnings are not necessary - they may want to think about rewording that little note a pinch.

Here's the hard numbers:

The QAM capture signal strength using a Monster 3 way split off the single line coming in my house (I have no up stream splitters - it's all centralized in closet) for the HD ABC feed had a strength of 88 and a signal quality of 92. Putting the one line as the feed into the 8 port amplifier and running the QAM ports off of it the strength jumped to 92 and the signal quality hovered around 94. Nice. Doesn't sound like a huge deal but for HD QAM captures it makes a difference.

I didn't notice any different before or after with the analog channels - I wasn't having a problem with those.

The cable modem was the item I worried about. Downstream from the splitters it was pretty bad - anything would be an improvement. With the outside cable plugged into the Motorola modem directly downstream signal to noise ratio was 38.6 dB (higher is better, anything over 30 and you're aces), the down stream power is .2 dBmV (fine) and the upstream power was 42 dB (anything less than 50 and you're fine). After running it through the 8 port amp the downstream noise ratio was 38.3, down stream power 1.7 and the upstream power stayed at 42. All dandy numbers. I checked the speeds at several sites before and after and they all averaged about 10 meg down and 1.5 meg up across the boards - virtually no difference. Just about exactly as good as a direct connection and much better than down stream from a passive splittler, even a good one.

So - short version I'm extremely happy with the purchase but I'd suggest to the fine folks at Electroline that they rethink their warning note in their box so as not to tick folks off too quickly for no reason.

This product fills a gap in cable technology caused by the new Digital Cable Services. If you have more than one source of Digital Cable, DVR, or Cable Modem you need this product. Here are some key points learned:

*Digital services require a return signal for access permission by the cable company. The return signal must not be amplified.
*Splitters reduce both incoming and outgoing signals.
*Long runs also reduce signal strength
*Amplifiers coupled with splitters still interfere with return signal.
*Cable modems should be split off before everything.
*75 ohm Terminators should cap off all unused connections.
*Install a lightning surge protector for your incoming line. Make sure it's grounded.
*Unsupervised Outsourced Cable Service companies do not have the customer's best interest in mind. I have a collection of 4 unsuccessful splitters that were installed by their technicians.

This RF amplifier/splitter provides strong signal to 8 sources without interfering with access permission. My cable modem access speed has increased, not because of this product but because previously it was connected through a 4 way splitter. This product is industrial grade, looks tough and works well. Standard cable wire connections on the unit and the low voltage power adaptor gives great flexibility in locating the device by allowing you to run coax cable from a power source to the unit.

NOTE: ELECTROLINE RECENTLY DISCONTINUED THE EDA-FT08100 AND REPLACED IT WITH THE Electroline EDA-FT08300 8-Port TV Signal Booster/Amplifier with Active Return Path, AN UPDATED MODEL.

The Electroline EDA-FT08100 is the workhorse of the Electroline product line. It provides bulletproof performance with GUARANTEED compatibility to all cable services.

This is not so much of a review as some guidance to understanding whether or not this product is for you. CableTVamps has been selling this product since it was first introduced by Electroline back in 2005. We are Electroline's longest running retailer, so we have a lot of experience with the use of Active Return amplifiers.

First, if you are using a Satellite system - just walk on by. None of Electroline's products are for use with satellite TV, and you should not expect it to work when hooked up to your satellite system. The product will get damaged if connected to satellite, and will block the satellite signal.

Second, if you have an ANTENNA and are looking for an HD amplifier, this is not a good choice. The FT08100 should only be used for Cable TV. There are lower cost options for pure HD amplification like the Electroline EDA-2800 Eight Port Cable TV HDTV Signal Booster/Amplifier (Retail Package) or Electroline EDA-2400 Four Port Cable TV HDTV Signal Booster/Amplifier (Retail Package). In addition an Active Return amplifier should never be used with an antenna.

Third, Active Return is generally only needed when you get up past 4 connections. When you have fewer connections, the Return Path Insertion Loss (which is your cable modem's enemy) is generally not a problem. Cable converter boxes and TVs are not as sensitive to return path problems, so in general you can get by with a less expensive product unless you already have problems with your interactive services (pay per view, On Demand). When you have a cable modem and a bunch of other connections, The FT08100 provides a guaranteed way of resolving TV picture problems and keeping your cable modem happy.

We always suggest to our customers to do a little homework and see if they need The EDA-FT08100. The way to find out if you need EDA-FT08100 active return is to get your cable modem's signal levels. We can't share any links in our review, but if you Google CABLETVAMPS CABLE MODEM you can find our User Forum page with detailed instructions on finding out the health of your cable modem. If your cable modem signal levels are healthy without this amplifier installed, you will probably not notice any major improvement in internet speeds or reliability.

The FT08100 is safe to use with all of your cable services - you just take out your splitters, hook up everything to the amp, plug it in, and enjoy faster Internet and a better TV picture.

Lastly you need to keep things in perspective. If the picture or cable modem problems are caused by cabling issues inside your home, an amplifier might not help. We have generally found that amplifiers help in most situations - but if your purchase does not help resolve your problems we can help you - just email us.

I installed this unit October 2008 at the cable entry point to our house. I routed Comcast's main feed directly into the unit without a splitter. This unit enabled us to get 1080i signals without static. I connected one output to our cable modem while additional leads ran unsplit to the cable boxes. The internet service seemed to improve.

In January 2009, a comcast service truck arrived unannounced and the tech said they detected problems with our internet service signal. The Comcast signal strength is set expecting splitters at the customer home to reduce the strength into the cable modem. Without splitting it, he said the signal was too strong and overdriving the modem electronics. (no details as to exactly what the proper signal strength should be but he had a network analyzer) He said the electroline unit was a good piece of equipment.

Here is where the instructions need modification. Rather than splitting the cable before this Electroline amplifier and cutting your TV signal, he installed a 9dB two-port splitter AFTER emerging from the this 8-port unit THEN connected the cable modem. He even boosted the main signal into the house from a remote Comcast-owned repeater box. Try this configuration to preserve your main line signal for TV reception while maintaining the proper modem signal.

Summary: Get it and you will not be disappointed!