Digital Broadband HDTV and Hi Speed Cable Modem 1 GHz 15 dB Gain Signal Booster
Viewsonics VSMA-601C Digital Broadband HDTV and Hi Speed Cable Modem 1 GHz 15 dB Gain Signal Booster
This Emerson / Viewsonics Product is a Quality Indoor/Outdoor 2-way Services 15 dB Gain Amplifier and is used by Comcast and other Cable TV companies in Installations of HD and Broadband Internet Services. The new VSMA-601C Mini Drop Amplifier from Viewsonics is a full-featured drop amplifier in a space-saving, compact design. The VSMA601C is only half the size of prior designs while providing the features required for expanded broadband services. It is 2-way Services capable for PPV Programs and High Speed Internet connection to the Cable TV Modem. Install this Amplifier Inside or Out, comes with a Power Supply, but get an Optional Power Inserter for even more flexibility (Not included), each featuring "F" Port connections to facilitate multiple installation options using the same RG-6 cable used in the Cable TV Install (See "Install Guide" below). Install this Amplifier before the splitter that feeds to multiple TV set locations as to negate the loss of signal. The VSMA601C features include 6kV combination wave surge protection on the RF input port and 6kV ring wave surge protection on RF output/remote power port. This is the highest level of surge protection available and meets the requirements of IEEE C62.41-1991 Cat. B3 and A3. All F ports are nickel-plated, precision-machined brass with 360 style F Port inserts and meet the requirements of ANSI/SCTE 01-1996 (SCTE SP-400). All ports are hermetically sealed to withstand 30psi of pressure for 60 seconds. The zinc die cast housing is triple plated for maximum corrosion resistance, even in the harshest environment. The VSMA601C is powered by a low noise GaAs MMIC that provides consistent downstream gain over the life of the amplifier. The internal diplexer provides a full 52-1000MHz amplifier forward band and a true 5-42 MHz passive return band. All 600C series amplifiers can be powered by our 110VAC/12VDC power adaptor directly or with an optional power inserter. The power adaptor is manufactured with PTC technology or over current protection and has 6kV surge protection on the AC input port.
 Spec. Sheet |
Install Guide |
Too many times, you're stuck trying to fix the no man's land between your Home wiring, and the Cable TV Company Feed from the Pole or Pedestal. Old Installation cable and years of Up-Grades, Additional Outlets, Bandwidth Changes, Modems and High Definition leaves you with a distribution system beyond what was originally envisioned. The Cable TV Company will be happy to Charge you to go through and Re-Install your Home, or you can do it yourself! With HD Digital Signals, the Signal Level is actually lower than the analog, and with increased Channel Capacity, not enough is there to feed your Home. Check Your Picture quality where the Cable TV feed enters your Home, if it's good there, you can replace connectors, cable and splitters to bring your installation up to the newest specifications. If you are feeding numerous TV sets, Cable Modem and/or long Distances, use this Amplifier before the Splitter to maintain Signal Quality. What's nice about an Indoor/Outdoor In-Line amplifier is you can put it in anywhere, and move it to anywhere else later! Just use a Barrel Connector (F-81) or short jumper to reconnect the cables together in absence of the Amplifier you removed. If the Picture quality is Poor at the Feed point of your House (the Cable Company usually has a gray box used as a Demarcation Point for this Purpose), call your Cable TV Technician and Demonstrate to him your issues, so he can effect repair.
All of these Amplifiers will Pass VHF/UHF, FM, HDTV, DTV and Analog Signals.
If the Amplifier has a Start Frequency of between 50 and 54 MHz, and a Stop Frequency of up to 1000 MHz (1 GHz), then they are good for amplifying Off-Air TV or Forward Cable TV Signals for distribution around the Home, Apartment Complex, Hotel or Motel.
If the Amplifier is 2-way capable, or is "Return Passive", then it passes the 5-42 MHz. Return Band (in Addition to Amplifying the Forward Band) utilized by the Cable TV System for 2-way communication with your High Speed Internet Modem, Pay Per View Subscriber Terminal or Digital TV Converter Box.
If the Amplifier has a Start Frequency of between 50 and 54 MHz, and a Stop Frequency of up to 2150 MHz (2.2 GHz), this means that the Amplifier is Wide Band (Satellite mixed with Off Air Antenna TV or Cable TV) and will also Boost Satellite Signals in addition to the TV antenna Signal or Cable TV feed.
If the Start Frequency is around 950 MHz, and a Stop Frequency of up to 2150 MHz (2.2 GHz), then they are Solely for Satellite Signal Carriage, as this is the Frequency Range (or Bandwidth) Satellite TV Dish signals typically operate in.
An Amplifier doesn't give you anything more than what you already had. If you had good Signal level coming into your system and are losing it through excessive cable or splitter loss, then you should back up and an amplifier should be placed in the system ahead of this loss, as to pre-emphasize it as to counteract the loss and come out even Steven at the other end. If you've already lost good signal, placing the amplifier at that point in the system will only amplifier the bad signal, and more than likely, make it worse.
The New Digital Signals in Cable TV Systems (and Off Air) are typically -12 dB (less) in peak amplitude than when compared to their Analog counterparts. They have the same Power, and carry more Data, it's just that the Duty Cycle and Modulation rate is always higher on the Digital Carrier. Where as the Analog Signals have just about a 1 to 1 ratio between Carrier to Noise and the Signal to Noise Ratios (meaning that more signal Level increased the Quality of the Picture), the Digital Carrier is Packed with the predetermined Resolution and Quality of the Signal at the source, and a long as it arrives at the Receiver above the Dynamic Threshold (and without Interference) it will yield the Picture as intended from the Programming source. Though a HDTV Receiver or TV set can accept lower levels and yield the desired result doesn't mean that this lower limit should be depended on. The FCC required analog input levels of 0 dBmv into a TV set, Modems and HDTV sets can operate down into the negatives, but again, I wouldn't accept that as business as usual. Unfortunately, a lot of Systems out there were never fully prep'ed to handle the outer Bandwidthes of the increased Channel Capacities and Line-Ups before they started cramming digital carriers on them. As Most Cable TV Companies still use Analog carriers at the Low and High end of the Carriage Spectrum for Monitoring and AGC/ASC Circuits, just ask your Cable TV Technician to check them and tell you what the levels are coming into your Home, Office or MATV/SMATV Distribution System. Neither High or Low should be below +10 dBmv at the Demarcation point (the little Gray box or Ground Block). If it is, tell them they got some work to do. If you have good Signal Level and Picture Quality at the Hand-off point, then you should be able to maintain that with Quality cable, connectors, splitters and amplifiers placed at the proper locations to anticipate and off-set the loss ahead of time.
The Gain or "Boost" of an Amplifier is Rated in dB (decibel) and really should be selected on the Signal Loss of the System that they are Intended for use with... In other words, Total the loss of the Cable and Passives (Splitters) that are in line to the Location that You need extra Signal to, and select an Amplifier whose Gain comes close to matching the Loss you are Desirous of Overcoming. Bigger is NOT always Better (You don't want to much Gain as it may Lead to Distortion), and ALWAYS check your Connections and Splitters for Problems or Faults that may be the Source of Your Problems First, before automatically assuming you need an Amplifier.
