Motorola Signal Booster 484095-001-00 Bi-Directional RF Amplifier
by Motorola
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Motorola Signal Booster 484095-001-00 Bi-Directional RF Amplifier
Customer Review: Great signal booster!
Summary: 5 Stars
I just upgraded my cable at home from analog basic to digital with the HD package. The tech who came to my house tested the signal strength at the locations where the HD boxes were going to be installed and said that the signal strength was borderline between acceptable and non-acceptable due to multiple splits, not only at the cable feed entry point into the house but also in two other locations throughout the house. He recommended getting a booster because he didn't have any in his truck (yeah right). I should mention that the one connection with the highest signal strength is reserved for my cable modem because of their finicky nature with signal strength. I was able to test my signal strength throughout the house by accessing my cable modem via my home network (http://192.168.100.1) and logging into via the default username and password which is "root".
The tech said that most everything would probably work but I might have issues with OnDemand and certain channels due to the low power signals. We hooked everything up and it seemed to be working alright. After a few days the OnDemand and channel guide were working intermittently so I decided to get a booster like he recommended. I purchased the Motorola Booster from Amazon because of the high ratings and its ability to allow return signals from DOCSIS cable modems. The installation is straightforward, simple and fast. I installed it before the main splitter like most people recommended in these reviews, in fact, I don't know what the instructions said because I didn't read them. That's how simple this thing is.........
I tested the signal strength again (with my cable modem) after installation of the booster and received a 12db gain in signal strength (-18db signal strength without the booster went to -6db with booster)! Works great and resolved all the issues I was having with my digital services mentioned above. In addition, I know that that the signal strength does not give you "faster" Internet speeds from your ISP, persay, but after conducting internet speed tests I noticed a significant increase in download speeds after installing the booster. I believe this is in part to the original signal strength being somewhat weak to the cable modem which prevents it from performing at its maximum potential.
Bottom Line: This booster works great, is easy to install, and works with cable modems.
Customer Review: Motorola and Philips Signal Boosters Work Equally Well for HDTV
Summary: 4 Stars
I compared two signal amplifiers in an over-the-air antenna situation. The antennas (both VHF/UHF - digital) are outdoor type with from about 50' to 75' of coax cable connected to an HDTV. Also tested on an analog TV.
The Philips PH61111 is meant for indoor use, is black, and has two output terminals, a convenience. It's lightly built, and reminds me of the boosters that have been available at Radio Shack for years (decades). Has a convenient power on light. Connects directly into AC via two pronged cord. Comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Made in China. Amplification is 24 db (very nice); not adjustable. Recommended only for TV applications.
The Motorola Signal Booster (BDA) is also black, has only one output terminal. Besides the input terminal, there's a terminal for DC power via an AC adapter. It could easily be plugged into one of the other terminals by mistake. It's ruggedly made of die cast aluminum. Box contains two 6' coax cables with connectors. Has a limited 1 year warranty. Made in China. Amplification is 15 db; not adjustable. Can be used for multiple broadband applications. Is bi-directional, so more versatile than the Philips for non-TV communications applications. The three cables with adapter makes it a bit clumsy to work with in an enclosed space.
THE TEST
Used both units on a Toshiba 40XF550U and an older Panasonic superflat CRT. Units were placed in cabinets close to the TVs (not at the antenna source). Digital channel signal strength was measured using the TV's signal strength indicator for approximately 30 channels in the San Francisco bay area (north and south from Mountain View).
FINDINGS
Both units performed equally well. They substantially boosted signal strength from a non-amplified situation. Even though the Philips claimed higher amplification power, it did not boost signals from distant stations any more than the Motorola. Fringe signals were exactly the same strength. The analog TV also received benefits that were, subjectively, equivalent.
CONCLUSIONS
The Philips is roughly half the price, more compact, with two signal outputs, and works just as well at TV signal amplification as the Motorola. If that's the only application required, the Philips is an adequate choice.
Customer Review: Works well with indoor antennas
Summary: 5 Stars
You may have noticed that most of the reviewers of this product are technically proficient and know what they're talking about. I do not fall into that category, but thought it might prove helpful to write a review for the technically challenged, like me
Dissatisfied with several Phillips and Terk indoor antennas, I bought a Winegard SS-3000 Amplified Indoor UHF/VHF Antenna, which has been the Gold Standard in indoor antennas, and comes with its own ammplifier. It significantly improved my reception. Six months later, and still seeking even better reception, I disconnected that amplifier, and attached this one to the SS-3000. My reception again improved significantly.
This amplifier is very well made and easy to install, so you'll be up and running within 15 minutes. Moreover, the strength of my signals, VHF and UHF, digital and analog, improved significantly, although I am still having problems with analog VHF channels under 9.
More recently, I've read some positive reviews on the Antennas Direct antennas, and have just purchased a Antennas Direct DB2 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna, to see how it compares with the Winegard. Once I know, I'll update this review.
UPDATE: Antennas Direct offers HD antennas of One, two and four panels. Because of a cramped attic, I bought the one-panel one (DB2). It works as well as, or slightly better than the Winegard at better than half the price. The instructions say that if you install it indoors, as opposed to outdoors, you'll cut your reception in half. So you'll get significantly better reception if you mount the antenna outdoors and (presumably) buy the Antennas Direct DB4 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna or Antennas Direct DB8 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna. Another option is the Antennas Direct CLEARSTREAM4 Antenna.
Customer Review: EXCELLENT Signal Booster
Summary: 5 Stars
Before the service we have now, we had a terrible cable television service. When they 1st installed it to One TV the picture was good. As they split the cable to add to our other TV's the picture got worse. They said that it is just the way it works. The more TV's, the lesser the picture quality.
(We lived with this mess for about 6 months)
Then a friend turned us on to the Motorola Signal Booster....WOW!!! It changed our service from a slightly grained quality to picture perfect!
Important Note> The Signal Booster should be installed as close to the point of entry into your home from the pole before it starts to split to the different locations.
LSS>We finally got sick of the outages with the cable system and went with satellite so we didn't need the Signal Booster any longer. However.....
After we had the satellite system we noticed that the signal would go out anytime that there was a severe thunder storm that passed in between our receiver and the satellite transmitter. (not very often, but....)
That got us thinking about adding an antenna to pull in the free digital over-the-air signals while we waited for the storm to pass.
(My wife is a TV addict:)
So we installed a cheap outside antenna and made it our secondary input. It worked OK and then we remembered the Motorola Signal Booster that had been sitting in a box in the attic.
Reconnected it where the coaxial entered the house from the outside antenna and, not only did it make the picture MUCH BETTER, it made stations that weren't available before come in perfectly!
I have No Idea how this little black box works, but It Just Works!
NOW, it only lasted 5 years and that is because I was lazy. We had a VERY EXTREME lightning storm a while back that fried the Booster and I'm sure it was because I didn't install the ground that the instructions said that I should have.
After that we tried to replace it with cheaper signal boosters and I have to say: "DON'T !" NONE OF THEM worked as well as the Motorola.
As of this writting I have ordered another Motorola Signal Booster. And while I'm waiting for it to arrive, I'm installing a ground wire:)
Fantastic Product.
Customer Review: This product did its job BUT..... Also a tip for those unfortunate to have Comcast.
Summary: 4 Stars
I had a 10db Radio Shack two way signal booster that the Motorola replaced. I'm prepping for my HDTV that will arrive next week. The Moto is rated to 15db. I found the signal from my Comcast cable box was low, -9db for some channels, 0 for others. I figured a 5db boost would help do the trick without overboosting which can cause signal degredation (overboost can make the image worse).
After installing the Moto the signal only increased by 1db from -9 to -8 a whopping 1db difference between the +15db Motorola versus +10db Radio Shack! I'm not sure what happened to the 5db's it was supposed to be over the 10db Radio Shack job. THE GOOD NEWS... the moto booster did improve signal quality over the Radio Shack. Potentially from the newer cables or the booster itself. The problem for me is to many splits. I have only a single cable coming to my house that runs into a Comcast provided 8 way splitter. Imagine -5-7db loss per split. Then one split going to the first floor I have a 3 way splitter to cable box, VCR, and DVR. On second floor another split I have a 4 way splitter which handles cable box, DVR, and Slingbox. I know where six of the eight splits from the Comcast external box go but the other two are a mystery in my house. Hence why I need extra juice coming in and Comcast refuses to boost me since the single cable coming to the house has good signal mind you it splits eight ways and then individuals splitters through the house. At some point, I plan on pulling the single comcast inside to my own box which has a power amplified 8 way that I can manage.
TIP FOR COMCAST CABLE BOX USERS. Hold the || pause button on your remote until the "Email" light comes on. Then press the page up button on the remote and it will say "please wait". This will gain you access to see the signal strength screen. You can then flip through the channels using the numeric buttons or changel +/- to see the differences in signal strength between channels. Usually the bad channels you noticed before have weak signals. Pressing the page up will flip through other Comcast screens that won't make sense. Press the "exit" button on the remote to leave the service mode.