Entered CNET Catalog: 05/26/2004
SKU: 079000324690
Manufacturer: RCA
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5
User Rating: 
9/10
Great Product Overall...
Pros: Hasn't dropped signal yet.
Cons: Had to buy a power strip to include it on my outlet.
User Rating: 
2/10
Reception poorer after installing this product
Pros: None that I can think of
Cons: $40 more for a poorer signl?!
User Rating: 
1/10
Uni-directional AMP
Pros: 4 db downstream gain
Cons: 7 db upstream loss
4 db gain
bi-directional amp
What the online descriptions fail to mention is the gain only applies to downstream.
Too bad the graphic isn't a GIF - the label on the unit clearly says 7 db loss return path, but the JPG dithering makes it impossible to read.
This unit cut my upload speed by about 15%. My download speed was already OK, but my upload speed sucked compared to neighbors, which is why I bought this so-called bi-directional amp.
Time to find another one - hopefully, one which specifies the return path gain.
Beware!
User Rating: 
8/10
Very good product
Pros: Works very well with cable modem. Significantly improves speed.
Cons: Relatively expensive and requires 12v external power
User Rating: 9/10
Very Effective
Pros: Splits a cable signal with minimal or no signal degradation; Includes mounting screws
Cons: More expensive than a regular splitter; Doesn't come with a ground wire
Before installing the unit, I did two types of internet speed tests (one was a common third-party speed test, the other was a large-file download provided by Road Runner explicitly for speed testing). I did this with no splitter at all installed. After installing the splitter, I repeated the speed tests. They were exactly the same! The picture quality coming in from my TV tuner increased pretty dramatically as well.
Never buy an ultra-cheapo splitter, like I did before. And if a high-quality normal splitter doesn't work well enough for you, the RCA DT140M may very well be exactly what you need. It works great for me, and also for the person I recommended it to, who then installed it and also noted very good results.
