When would I need an in-home amplifier (SIGNAL BOOSTER) to improve the signal?
You would probably need a SIGNAL BOOSTER amplifier if you have three or four splits (three or four TV's) connected to the incoming cable or output of your Satellite receiver.
If you have a home antenna and need to improve signal strength of your off air signals. TV picture quality of distant channels will be "snowy" or granular. A SIGNAL BOOSTER amplifier placed at the antenna output can improve picture quality decreasing granularity and making distant channels viewable.
Is there a way to evaluate in home cabling and splitting without expensive equipment?
If you have a small portable TV you can start at the cable entrance to the premises. Tune the TV to the lowest and then highest channel carried by your cable system and evaluate the picture quality. If it appears reasonable then continue to next splitter and do the same at the input and output of the device. Continue this procedure through your home cabling and splitting. If you continue to loose picture quality as you progress through your cabling then you probably could use a SIGNAL BOOSTER amplifier.
With a home antenna follow the same procedure noted above but from the antenna.
With a satellite receiver you will only have to observe one channel and that is the one chosen for the output of the receiver.
***The SIGNAL BOOSTER amplifier should not be used between the receiver and dish antenna.
Where would you install the SIGNAL BOOSTER amplifier?
Best results will be achieved when amplifier is placed as near as possible to cable entrance or home antenna.
My cable modem stopped working after the installation of the SIGNAL BOOSTER amplifier what could be the problem?
First always recheck cable connections. The SIGNAL BOOSTER has a patented fitting at all its inputs and outputs. This fitting clamps onto the center conductor of the cable with a good quality (recommended) cable fitting. Note you can push on the protruding plastic and the metal inside the fitting closes or clamps onto the center conductor. Some of the lower quality fittings do not have enough metal at the back end to exert force on this plastic mechanism.
If the above doesn't solve the problem there are some cable modems that are sensitive to input level and the SIGNAL BOOSTER amplifier could have improved the signal above the modem threshold. Place a splitter in front of the SIGNAL BOOSTER and attach one output to the modem output and one to the amplifier input.
I have a good quality picture on the highest channels and poor quality on the lower channels.
This could indicate a poor fitting connection and removing and reconnecting cable connections is recommended.
I have a good quality picture on the lowest channels and poor quality on the higher channels.
This could indicate the need for a SIGNAL BOOSTER amplifier due to long runs of cable that decrease signal strength at these higher channels more than lower channels.
SIGNAL BOOSTER green indicator light is on but no signal to TV.
Remove amplifier and connect cable ends together and if there is still no picture then call cable provider and inform of system cable failure.
SIGNAL BOOSTER green indicator light is out and no signal to TV.
Check to see if transformer is connected to AC outlet and the outlet is active. If the outlet is active then unplug transformer and remove and reconnect cable at transformer and amplifier. Plug transformer into outlet and recheck for signal at TV. If there is no signal then the SIGNAL BOOSTER could have malfunctioned and a replacement is necessary.
My cable provider wants only amplifiers that are two-way capable. What are they talking about?
The SIGNAL BOOSTER amplifier is two way capable and all that means is that it amplifies TV channels (forward) and provides a passive or low loss return (5-40 MHz) for signal traffic back to the cable company such as cable modem and pay-per-view services.
Can the SIGNAL BOOSTER reduce the quality of my TV pictures?
Yes, there may exist situations where TV picture quality is reduced but probably only where there is already enough signal level for good quality pictures. An amplifier is not recommended or needed in these situations. You could also run into a problem if there is excessive tilt across the TV channel band. All this means is that the lower channels are at or above the level for good pictures and the higher channels are below the level for good pictures. What is needed in this situation is an equalizer or a passive device that attenuates the lower channels but not the higher ones. After this device is inserted you will have what is known as a flat input level and the amplifier will do the rest.
I have good pictures during the day and poor pictures at night or in cold weather.
Most cable systems have Automatic Level Control and sometimes they do not hold or adjust for signal level changes. When this happens there is a degradation of signal when the weather is hot or cold and the cable provider should be informed of the problem.
What is Motorola's refund policy for broadband products?
Unfortunately, Motorola does not provide refunds for returned products. All requests to return products and obtain a refund must be handled at the place of purchase consistent with the retailer/reseller returns and refund policy. If you believe that the product is defective and is covered under a Motorola warranty as provided in Motorola's Warranty Information Statement accompanying the product, you will need to follow Motorola's warranty return procedures. Proof of purchase is required to ensure the product is under warranty.
*** Remember the small portable TV is your best trouble-shooting device for determining where the problem resides. Check the signal coming into the house to determine if the problem is in your home or with your provider. If it is in your home, work from the home entrance to your last TV to determine where the problem is. It is always recommended that in-home cabling follow a hub configuration where each device gets its cable directly from the first split at the cable entrance. This helps facilitate troubleshooting and minimizes cable loss due to excessive splitting.
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