Electroline EDA-FT08300 8-Port TV Signal Booster/Amplifier with Active Return Path (Retail Package with 5-Year Warranty)

by Electroline

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B00299G80Q
• Item model number: EDA-FT08300
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #4 in Electronics > Accessories & Supplies > Audio & Video Accessories > Satellite TV Equipment
  • #7 in Electronics > Televisions & Video > Satellite Television
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 9, 2009

Product Description

The EDA-FT08300, 8 port cable TV amplifier is the newest product produced by Electroline. For customers with Cable TV Internet, the active return feature reverse amplifies the modem signal to its original strength, providing optimal modem performance. The Electroline EDAFT08300 also improves the signal delivered to the TV, as no splitters are used in the signal path. Electroline Cable TV amplifier part number: EDA-FT08300 replaces the older Electroline EDA-FT08100 The Electroline EDA-FT08300 8 port cable TV amplifier, amplifies your cable signal and provides ZERO return signal loss*. This means that the Electroline EDA-FT08300 cable TV amplifier is fully compatible with ANY TV or cable device in your home. The EDA-FT08300 cable amplifier works with TVs, Digital Boxes, Cable Modems (DOCSIS 1.0, 1.1, and 2.0), On-Demand, TIVO, HDTV and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EDA-FT08300 the Best Cable TV amp you can buy - Do you need it?, May 9, 2009

By 

CableTVamps - See all my reviews

This review is from: Electroline EDA-FT08300 8-Port TV Signal Booster/Amplifier with Active Return Path (Retail Package with 5-Year Warranty) (Electronics)

NOTE: ELECTROLINE RECENTLY DISCONTINUED THE Electroline EDA FT08100 8-port TV Signal Booster/Amplifier with Active Return Path AND REPLACED IT WITH THE Electroline EDA-FT08300 8-Port TV Signal Booster/Amplifier with Active Return Path (Retail Package with 10-Year Warranty), AN UPDATED MODEL.

The Electroline EDA-FT08300 is the NEW workhorse of the Electroline product line. It provides bulletproof performance and reliability with GUARANTEED compatibility to all cable services.

How does it work? The EDA-FT08300 incorporates two high quality amplifiers inside one package. One amplifier boosts the forward path (for TV reception and modem downloads) while the other amplifier boosts the Return Path (used for interactive services and modem uploads). By having both high quality amps in one package it becomes the perfect solution to problems with cable modems and TV reception inside your home. It is the only product on the market that can handle the full power required to support cable modems, and it's design (inherited from the EDA-FT08100) has a proven track record of over FIVE years of favorable operation and reviews.

This is not so much of a review as some guidance to understanding whether or not this product is for you. CableTVamps has sold the EDA-FT08100 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 FT08300 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 FT08300 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-FT08300. The way to find out if you need EDA-FT08300 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 FT08300 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. In order to achieve the best results the amplifier must be installed as close as possible to where the cable comes into the house - before splitters and cabling have a chance to degrade it. 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.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great product to boost CATV signal, August 29, 2010

By 

Andre J Maue (Westfield, IN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Electroline EDA-FT08300 8-Port TV Signal Booster/Amplifier with Active Return Path (Retail Package with 5-Year Warranty) (Electronics)

Bottom line: it works.

Comcast recently made changes which forced us to put digital boxes at every TV. This is not the FCC switch from analog to digital (which was over 2 years ago ??) although that's what Comcast tried to convince me. Until recently we've had one TV with a digital box (including DVR) from Comcast, one TV with a built-in cable tuner which only received the basic channels, and a new TV which had a built-in digital tuner. Suddenly, our 1-year-old TV with the digital tuner was worthless, without an external box. What Comcast actually did was to encrypt all signals, which forces law-abiding bill-paying cable customers such as us to have a tacked-on box. Now we have one remote for changing channels, volume or power on/off but we still have to use the TV's original remote for all other features. But many features of the TV are defeated, such as 'deleting' the channels that we'd prefer our kids not to see while channel surfing. Thanks a lot, Comcast. We were ready for "full digital" with our new TV, but not fully-encrypted "Comcast" digital.

Worse, many channels clipped in and out. Sometimes the video would pause and restart. Sometimes we just got a message that the signal was interrupted. This occured on all 3 TV's - even the one with the Comcast HD/DVR box. I tried various cables and checked connections multiple times, because Comcast kept blaming the problems on wiring. No explanation, of course, on why the TV with the DVR box (no wiring changes at all) suddenly experienced problems also.

Among the other issues (some mentioned briefly above) it appears that the hardware Comcast forces us to use is garbage. We had not problems with the TV's built-in tuner, until Comcast disabled that method. Yet the boxes they provide apparently demand a much stronger signal AND created probelems with the box that had been working before.

Along comes the Electroline signal booster. We have home runds from each outlet to a central distribution box for our CATV signal. We've had 2 splitters: one provides a dedicated run to our broadband modem and the other side for TV's. That second side is split for each TV location. These were high-end splitters, and we never had a problem with digital services. But apparently, not good enough anymore since we need to insert the Comcast converters (junk).

Inserting the Electroline drop amp cleared up everything. No change in broadband speed; it was already blazing fast and I don't think there's anything further I can do on my end to boost speed. And the digital services at our main TV works just as it used to, before the converters were added to the other two. Now all 3 TV's have a clear signal. And if there are any future problems, I can be 100% confident that if Comcast ever has to send a truck that they will find the problem on their end.

If it wasn't for the great internet speed, I'd dump Comcast. No way I'd pay for TV from them, with their pitiful service and unfair practices. But at least the Electroline did like it was intended, and compensated for Comcast's garbage.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kick-ass amp! Works exactly as expected., September 12, 2010

By 

Nobody Special (Great White North) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Electroline EDA-FT08300 8-Port TV Signal Booster/Amplifier with Active Return Path (Retail Package with 5-Year Warranty) (Electronics)

If you have a bad signal coming into your home, call your cable company. Neither this amp or any other amp in the world will take a bad feed and turn it into a good one.

That said, if you have a good signal, but want to feed up to 8 devices including TV, DVR, Cable Modem, etc., this is exactly what you need. Evey output is as flawless as the input.

It's a heavy-duty unit built into some sort of molded metal case, and uses a transformer with a cable TV connector on it, so that the power feed is done with sturdy coax instead of cheesy thin wire that breaks at the first tug.