Leviton 1 X 8 Video Splitter Mod/Passive 2GHz, 47690-8C2

I purchased this product as an expandable upgrade to the 4-way splitter provided by DISH, as their service requires a passive/ non-powered splitter. Contrary to another review, this device has worked flawlessly with the DISH satellite system and without any noticeable signal loss. It was simple to install into a Leviton Media Center. The only issue was the plastic plugs they use for attachment, which usually break. Since my media center is mounted to a wood backing, I replaced the plugs with screws. This also made it more secure and easier for moving should it be required in the future.

It's expensive, but it's worth it. Here's the breakdown: If you have a Leviton Structured Media Center, this device mounts into the cabinet using the customary hole/pin mounting system. It provides 8-way splitting with downstream amplification (from the antenna/cable company to your TV) for frequencies up to 1GHz (52MHz to 1000MHz/1GHz to be exact), which covers most cable TV services and over-the-air antenna signals. It does NOT work with newer satellite systems, which have 3GHz frequency requirements. Check with your provider before purchasing to make sure it will work for you. It also has an active return in the 5Mhz-42MHz range, for cable modems, On-Demand, and Pay-Per-View functions that require your equipment to talk to the cable company over the same wire your services arrives on (the return feed is NOT amplified). The larger 1x16 module has a dedicated bypass for cable modems (next to the main input), but the smaller ones do not. Why is this unit better than the passive versions of the same thing (like the Leviton 47690-8C2 1X8 Passive Video Splitter Module )? Quite simply: every time you split a video signal, it will suffer from something us datacomm folks call 'insertion loss', which is the reduction in signal strength by some level (measured in dB). The coaxial cable you use to run the signals also has an insertion loss value, typically measured in dB per foot. In other words, the longer your cable runs are, and the more you split them, the more likely you are to suffer signal degradation (what you will see as pixellated images, audio cut-outs, and weird image artifacts showing up on your TV). This can be resolved by installing a Drop Amplifier (or "drop amp") with active return before your splitter(s) to boost the signal before your splitter and cable runs reduce it, but this product incorporates that technology into the splitter itself, AND it mounts really nicely into your Leviton Structured Media Center cabinet. In short: Less parts, better integration, good performance. This amplified splitter does require 12VDC power, which is provided from an included 120VAC adapter that you plug into a standard outlet, or you can spring for the Leviton 47605-PSC Versatile Power Supply (which mounts to the bottom of your Leviton cabinet), and connect the 12V cable directly to a 12V output on the power supply. As a datacomm installer, I have installed many of these units over time, and have yet to field a service call on a single one. In addition to my customers, I have them in my home, my parents' home, and several other family members' homes which I have wired, and they all have worked flawlessly for several years. In addition, whenever I install these (or any other splitter), I install a 75-ohm male F terminator (like the Klein Tools VDV814-610 ) on any unused tap (these are different than the plastic thread protectors that come on the unit) to reduce the introduction of system interference. A word of caution, however: some cable installers will (A) not know what this is, and/or (B) freak out when they see it (or when they see a structured media center in general). For pre-wired homes, I have had local cable TV installers cut the carefully routed and terminated cable, completely bypass this amplified splitter, and install a rat's nest of passive splitters and patch cables, shove all that in the cabinet, and force the door closed. Despite what the cable installer may tell you, from my personal experience, this device works just fine with HD Digital cable, On-Demand, and a cable modem (max system frequency: 1000 MHz). If you pre-wire with this device and have a panel with a hinged lockable door, I recommend locking it when the cable installer comes. If you don't have the locking door, you can get the lock on Amazon: Leviton Structured Media Center Hinged Cover Add-on Lock and Key

Fast delivery. Took 15 min to do the whole job...take the old one out, put the new one in & hook up the coax cables. Not quite plug-n-play but pretty close. -Not inexpensive but works fine & fixed the problem with my home network stellite TV distribution.

This unit along with the additional power supply greatly improved the signal strength to all seven branch cable lines.

We love the Leviton Structured Media systems and this is the standard Coaxial component. Works fine with CATV, but understand the satellite people will likely install their own duplexers and splitters so this component may not be necessary.

High quality item. I purchased for the structured wiring unit it was designed for. Ultimately I didn't like the cost of all the plastic inserts for the whole design. Plus the box size was too constricting for my needs. Ultimately I ended up returning this item before actually using it so I do not have any actual usage information.

See photos for before and after. This module was easy to install and works great!

I'll acknowledge that I haven't tried this with every major cable operator in the US, only Comcast/Xfinity on the west coast. However I will say what I have experienced will carry over to any cable operator using MoCA: 1 - The cable modem pass through is flaky. I noticed a bunch of T3 timeouts, No Ranging Response Received errors, T4 timeouts, etc. from my cable modem, all related to the upstream channels. After monitoring the power levels for a few days, the power on the upstream channels would spike as high as 48 dBmV, leading to loss of the channel, etc until power levels came down. After re-routing everything through a truly passive (cheap-o) splitter, the power levels stay at a nice range between 41 - 43 dBmV with no additional errors. 2 - I am not sure what would cause this but the number of errors on the downstream channels - correctable and uncorrectable - spikes when going through this module. 3 - When routing my Xfinity X1 cable boxes through this, the remote boxes (the ones that don't have dvr) perform excessively slow - UI is sluggish, everything. Occasionally the boxes will just shut down. Again, what I observe are power spikes that I'm guessing result in errors and the cascade of failures I see from my cable modem, but i can't look inside the logging of the cable boxes to be sure. I just know the symptoms and they lead to failures. After routing a few boxes through a passive splitter, I see much better performance. So now my search is on to find amplifiers, which are required for my configuration, that don't mess things up like this one does.

Works as expected! I was able to get rid of the cable guys mess which included a signal amplifier, and several signal splitters. This device was easy to install and takes up very little room in the panel.

Works 100% with videotron equipment in Montreal Quebec

I have had this installed and running for 4 years now and it is a very solid device.

Good product

I have 4 port installed from Rogers but the TV with a long length signal is week and sometimes drop in picture. I can see the guide but no picture. When i installed this, all 4 TVs are working with better strong signals. i added 2 more tV 1) with Splitter and 2) Direct to a total of 6 TVs (5 connected to this leviton) and i do get clear pictures in all 6 TV's