Cables To Go 21471 Cat5E 350 MHz Snagless Patch Cable, Blue (100 Feet/30.48 Meters) Review

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(More customer reviews)This 50' cable was a great price and worked well for my purpose of connecting from hub to blu-ray player (running it through the attic). The snagless protectors work well, particularly when fishing through holes.

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Classic Straight USB Cable for the Cowon iAudio X5 with Power Hot Sync and Charge capabilities - uses Gomadic TipExchange Technology Review

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(More customer reviews)Works great-- It doesn't have all the extra functions of the "dock" that came with the XL5, but it gives you a far less delicate way of connecting to your computer and keeping it charged-- all things most users will need anyway.
One minor drawback-- the end of the cable that actually plugs into the media player is itself an adapter to a more generic cable. This adapter "head" is something else that can come loose and be lost. I wish the cable was all one piece.

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Electroline EDA FT08100 8-port TV Signal Booster/Amplifier with Active Return Path Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this unit because I have two analog feeds and two QAM digital capture feeds (via an HDHR unit) that I use in conjunction with SageTV for recording television. I also have a cable modem so there's a couple splitters involved. I did purchase good passive splitters (Monster 2 and 3 ways), however the QAM signal quality levels and the modem performance were not ideal.
I got this model because of the cable modem support. Imagine my surprise when the first thing to pop out of the box is a note from the manufacturer that it's best to put your cable modem on it's own line off a splitter and not hook it up to this unit because some signal loss may occur. What the..?!?!? After ranting for a while and generally annoying my wife with my whining I hooked it up anyway and took some measurements. Fortunately their warnings are not necessary - they may want to think about rewording that little note a pinch.
Here's the hard numbers:
The QAM capture signal strength using a Monster 3 way split off the single line coming in my house (I have no up stream splitters - it's all centralized in closet) for the HD ABC feed had a strength of 88 and a signal quality of 92. Putting the one line as the feed into the 8 port amplifier and running the QAM ports off of it the strength jumped to 92 and the signal quality hovered around 94. Nice. Doesn't sound like a huge deal but for HD QAM captures it makes a difference.
I didn't notice any different before or after with the analog channels - I wasn't having a problem with those.
The cable modem was the item I worried about. Downstream from the splitters it was pretty bad - anything would be an improvement. With the outside cable plugged into the Motorola modem directly downstream signal to noise ratio was 38.6 dB (higher is better, anything over 30 and you're aces), the down stream power is .2 dBmV (fine) and the upstream power was 42 dB (anything less than 50 and you're fine). After running it through the 8 port amp the downstream noise ratio was 38.3, down stream power 1.7 and the upstream power stayed at 42. All dandy numbers. I checked the speeds at several sites before and after and they all averaged about 10 meg down and 1.5 meg up across the boards - virtually no difference. Just about exactly as good as a direct connection and much better than down stream from a passive splittler, even a good one.
So - short version I'm extremely happy with the purchase but I'd suggest to the fine folks at Electroline that they rethink their warning note in their box so as not to tick folks off too quickly for no reason.


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Cisco-Linksys BEFN2PE EtherFast Cable/DSL Voice Enabler Review

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(More customer reviews)At the time of this review, I just received and set up this product. Here's a quick summary of pros and cons:
Pros:
1. It's got the Linksys look-n-feel, if you know what I mean. Simple, sturdy packaging, stacks well with other Linksys peripherals (I also have their cable/dsl firewall, 10/100 auto switch, and wireless hub), decent instructions, configuration is transparent if you stick to the tried and true, the right set of diagnostic LEDs on the front panel.
2. The product set up was a snap with DHCP enabled. The only snag I ran into is that the ethernet port on the box is a crossover port by default (Ethernet, like many communications standards, has "hub" connections and "client" connections. Crossover connections let clients talk to clients or hubs talk to hubs...). Fixed easy enough by flipping the little "Am I a crossover port" toggle on the back and hitting the reset button (also on the back).
Cons (mostly net2phone):
1. You cannot use your existing net2phone account. There's a special account number assigned specifically for these devices.
2. The rates for these devices are higher than the other net2phone rates.
3. Don't expect to replace your regular telephone with this phone (as indicated in the manual). It does not support important features such as 411, 911, Caller ID, etc.
Recommendations:
1. This is probably the product to get if you want net2phone service but you have either (a) incompatible equipment, (b) are having a hard time getting your audio peripherals set up, (c) you want a cordless set up for use with net2phone (although there are solutions for this from Plantronic, e.g.).
2. Don't get it for cheaper phone service like I did.
Hope this helps!

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Linksys Network Optimizer for Gaming and VoIP Review

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(More customer reviews)I was having some issues with VOIP quality dropping if our PC's were in heavy use on the internet. So I picked up this device hoping to fix the issues, and sure enough, it worked!
Setup was PAINLESS beyond belief! I plugged it in, waited 3 mintues, and it was done, completely automatic exactly as described.. A 5 year old could hook this thing up!
In testing, it works perfect.. I saturated my internet connection with downloads and video streaming, then tried to make a VOIP call, and the call was crystal clear. This device squeezed down the other things, and allocated more space for the VOIP, and once the call completed, it increased back up the other items.

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The SPA400 features the ability to connect up to four (4) standard analog telephones lines to a Linksys Voice System (LVS) VoIP network and includes the additional benefit of an integrated voicemail application. The SPA400 utilizes multiple analog phone lines and automatically routes calls to and from your existing PSTN telephone service. Designed to be implemented with the LVS IP Telephony System, the SPA400 enables cost-conscience business users to leverage the high value features generally found only on more expensive PBX equipment. The SPA400 also includes an integrated voicemailapplication supporting up to 32 voicemail accounts or boxes with customized greetings, providing LVS users the ability to receive and playback voicemail messages from their Linksys IP Phones. The SPA400 supports four (4) RJ-11 FXO ports to connect to the PSTN and also includes one 10/100 BaseT RJ-45 Ethernet interface that is used to connect to the local IP network. Compact in design, the SPA400 is perfectly suited for a small business in providing reliable operation for both VoIP and PSTN voice communication service.

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Phone Power Broadband Phone Service Review

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(More customer reviews)I transferred my Vonage phone service to Phone Power. After about a month of service, I couldn't be happier. The call quality is great compared to Vonage and I no longer have audio problems which constantly plagued us where the audio would only work in one direction. We even tried switching the Vonage adapter and my cable modem and router without any success. Phone Power on the other hand worked immediately, my phone number was transferred on the day that they stated and is staffed and operated in the US, unlike Vonage which outsources tech support overseas.
Another great benefit is the free virtual 2nd line option which allows you to make and receive two calls at once with your primary phone number. The USB phone adapter for your computer is also very handy and you can plug a standard phone into it just like Magic Jack or use a headset and mic. Another little known fact is that you can get a soft phone which support will provide if you ask and you just install the software on your computer (does not require the USB adapter) that allows you to make and receive phone calls with your headset and mic.
Phone Power has a voice mail fax option as well which will send you a fax even if you don't have a physical fax machine and picks up during a voice mail if it hears a fax tone.
So far I highly recommend Phone Power, the service has been excellent and customer service great as well. I am on the two year plan for $199.00, not including taxes and haven't looked back at Vonage and don't miss it at all. Additional lines are reasonable also, unlike Vonage which charges the same price as your primary line.


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Classic Straight USB Cable for the Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera with Power Hot Sync and Charge capabilities - uses Gomadic TipExchange Technology Review

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(More customer reviews)Bought this to interface Kodak to PC and charge the camera without AC adapter.
People are being told you cannot charge through the USB port but that is not true.
I get sick and tired of big corporations screwing consumers. People don't need more cables etc. They could have included a similar cable but intentionally chose not to?This cable has adapter ends available in kits to plug in almost anything newer small electronics item you own .

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