Updated TV Antenna Thoughts

[Oldpath05]

I did some antenna improvement this afternoon hooked up one of these amplifiers>> Channel Master CM-341 1-Port Ultra Mini Distribution Amplifier for Cable and | eBay <<<<<Got the idea on here somewhere, hooked it up behind the tv. I have the Channel Master preamp already on for a couple years.

I plugged the preamp into the amplifier then to the antenna signal combiner from the other antenna, then to the tv. Before the hook up I had 58 on the signal strength indicator on the tv, then after the indicator went to 62 so I gained a little, sometimes this antenna stuff is hard to figure out..........

 

[sixdogs]

This is the one I went with. Woman said they have had great results with this brand and are selling a lot of this model.

Are you refuring to this one>>>> Terk Omni Tower Amplified multi-directional TV antenna at Crutchfield.com <<<<I never seen anything like that.

 

[Oaktree]

I plugged the preamp into the amplifier then to the antenna signal combiner from the other antenna, then to the tv. Before the hook up I had 58 on the signal strength indicator on the tv, then after the indicator went to 62 so I gained a little, sometimes this antenna stuff is hard to figure out..........

What makes it even harder is that with a digital signal it's not just signal strength that matters, but signal-to-noise ratio is at least as important. Often a preamp (or amplified splitter) will introduce enough noise to counteract any increase in signal strength.

 

[Oldpath05]

What makes it even harder is that with a digital signal it's not just signal strength that matters, but signal-to-noise ratio is at least as important. Often a preamp (or amplified splitter) will introduce enough noise to counteract any increase in signal strength.

When you say "signal-to-noise", are talking about noise that can be heard from the tv speaker? All I know is on my LG tv I have a Signal Strength bar, it went from 58 to 64, and on the Signal Quality bar, it stays at 100% now instead of fluctuating up and down, but the real test will come when it clouds up and rains, those Porland channels always drop out.

 

[aczlan]

When you say "signal-to-noise", are talking about noise that can be heard from the tv speaker? All I know is on my LG tv I have a Signal Strength bar, it went from 58 to 64, and on the Signal Quality bar, it stays at 100% now instead of fluctuating up and down, but the real test will come when it clouds up and rains, those Porland channels always drop out.

Signal-to-noise is probably what is called the signal quality meter on your TV.

Aaron Z

 

[riptides]

I just took out my satellite dish with the tractor. LOL. I bent it back, got it pointed in the right direction. No signal.

I am hearing and reading that bends and creases in these new dishes are a show stopper. That looks to be the case now. Thoughts?

 

[Oldpath05]

Signal-to-noise is probably what is called the signal quality meter on your TV.

Aaron Z

No wonder I get kunfused............Usually that signal quality meter stays higher than the signal strength meter, when the SS goes down to around 20, then the SQ starts fluctuating<<<<<<<<<<thats a hard word to spell.

Right now on this hardest to get channel 23.1 that's been out for a month for some reason, the SS is at 52-ish,<<<that moves up and down the most and I never get 100% out of that on any channel. The SQ is at 100% AKA>>>Signal-to-noise.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Think of it as a hearing Aid.. Sure it's good to amplify "sound" but in a noisy room, you will amplify all the noise as well and it won't help you to hear a conversation.

It's also usually desirable to amplify signals as close to source as possible, otherwise you also amplify the noise entering your feed line. Also, desirable to send amplified stronger signal down your feed line then straight (weak) antenna signal.

 

[sixdogs]

Are you refuring to this one>>>> Terk Omni Tower Amplified multi-directional TV antenna at Crutchfield.com <<<<I never seen anything like that.

As mentioned, this is the indoor antennae that I went with and I'm glad I did. I get channels that show on the edge of my receiving capability and get almost 40 channels total. For someone who doesn't want to jerk with an outside antennae and just wants a no-brainer for the local weather and simple things like that, this is the one. I plugged it in, hooked it up and 90 seconds later was watching. Take that, fancy satellite dish.

 

[sseelhoff]

As mentioned, this is the indoor antennae that I went with and I'm glad I did. I get channels that show on the edge of my receiving capability and get almost 40 channels total. For someone who doesn't want to jerk with an outside antennae and just wants a no-brainer for the local weather and simple things like that, this is the one. I plugged it in, hooked it up and 90 seconds later was watching. Take that, fancy satellite dish.

How far away are the towers?

 

[Oldpath05]

Could you draw a diagram of what you have. If I'm reading this right, it's not connected properly for the best results.

I'd have to wait for one of my kids to show before I could be able to post a drawing, best I can do is post a mental picture with a lot of ish, you might need good reception to understand it though but I'll try.

From the Channel Master Balun to the CM 7777 preamp about 6' of coax) Then from preamp to house behind TV, 75'-ish> into preamp power supply) Then about 12" into CM Amplifier ) Then 12"-ish into Signal Combiner<<<<This has another antenna plugged into that) THEN from that Signal Combiner>> 3'-ish into TV.

Not sure if you got that or not, I can just barely understand the hook-up myself and I'm looking right at it, that set up is from my garage and that signal has increased 4-6 digits. The other antenna on the Signal Combiner is from on my house, 50'-ish of coax.

One thing I did learn is that not all Baluns are created equal even though they say the same numbers, I tried several and this last one from Channel Master worked the best, it cost about $8. the other three was $4.ea

 

[buickanddeere]

Think of it as a hearing Aid.. Sure it's good to amplify "sound" but in a noisy room, you will amplify all the noise as well and it won't help you to hear a conversation.

It's also usually desirable to amplify signals as close to source as possible, otherwise you also amplify the noise entering your feed line. Also, desirable to send amplified stronger signal down your feed line then straight (weak) antenna signal.

The antenna amp is more about overcoming the signal loss in the coax and connections between the antenna and the TV. Certainly true that amplifying noise is undesirable.
There is a FM broadcast tower about 3 miles away from my place. It messed up TV reception with noise and overloaded the TV tuner input if the antenna was pointed in it's general direction.

 

[bunyip]

You could put in an attenuator.

 

[sixdogs]

How far away are the towers?

30-35 miles or so.

 

[buickanddeere]

You could put in an attenuator.

Antennuator would gain nothing as it also reduces the desired signal. The device to use is a FM broadcast band filter . They are often built into pre-amps and are selectable on and off .

 

[bunyip]

Yes, I didn't read it properly

 

[Oldpath05]

I follow that OK and you have it hooked up OK. I'm not totally sure you would need the CM distribution amp in the house (trial & error). The signal combiner will cost you about half your signal strength due to its loss. A slightly better solution would be to use some type of A/B selector switch that can be had at many TV supply places for $5-8. I use an old Radio Shack infrared remote controlled A/B switch for switching between two antennas at my location. They come up on eBay monthly for about $30. Mine is catalog number 15-1968, but 15-1957 is similar.

As an experiment, you could try the combiner before the CM distribution amp in the house and see if it is any better. Also note that if your TV meter comes up a few points, the scale may not be linear.

Yes, this has been a two year trial and error two antenna production and is on going. never thought of that A/B switch, an (infrared remote controlled A/B switch) dont sound like a bad idea until I spent almost an hour looking for one, when I do find one, the websites says (DISCONTINUED)

I did find this one on ebay>> OTA TV Antenna Cable Satellite Coax Selector Combiner Remote Control A/B Switch | eBay <<<But it says switch from cable to antenna, I just want antenna A to antenna B, not cable, not sure if that matters or not, but these are hard to find and I think becoming extinct..........I did find plenty of manual ones but who want to get up out of a comfy chair and move a switch, not I....

The combiner I'm using now behind the TV is this Channel Plus 2512

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Channel-...75035&wl11=online&wl12=19622610&wl13=&veh=sem

 

[buickanddeere]

I'd have to wait for one of my kids to show before I could be able to post a drawing, best I can do is post a mental picture with a lot of ish, you might need good reception to understand it though but I'll try.

From the Channel Master Balun to the CM 7777 preamp about 6' of coax) Then from preamp to house behind TV, 75'-ish> into preamp power supply) Then about 12" into CM Amplifier ) Then 12"-ish into Signal Combiner<<<<This has another antenna plugged into that) THEN from that Signal Combiner>> 3'-ish into TV.

Not sure if you got that or not, I can just barely understand the hook-up myself and I'm looking right at it, that set up is from my garage and that signal has increased 4-6 digits. The other antenna on the Signal Combiner is from on my house, 50'-ish of coax.

One thing I did learn is that not all Baluns are created equal even though they say the same numbers, I tried several and this last one from Channel Master worked the best, it cost about $8. the other three was $4.ea

Ain't supposed to butt the amplifier up to the amp's power supply. Amp is installed at the antenna to overcome losses in the coax down to the splitter(s). Amp's power supply goes as close as possible to the TV's tuner.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Finally got around to trying the antenna, could not get any signal. cable checks out ok, and antenna was tested higher up than my temporary antenna sitting on by deck. Not sure what to try next. maybe I should put my temp antenna up on the pole, but it's huge.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I think you mentioned earlier that you had a Winegard FL-6550A. Those flat panel antennas are rather poor and only good for strong signal areas like in the city and near suburban areas. Since I don't know your situation, height, what you're trying to receive, I can't say much more than bigger is better, and height is your friend in TV and FM reception.

Yea, i thought id try it. It claimed 60 miles or so.

I knocked down my pole mounted antenna trimming tree branches. Had this antenna in my barn, so temp install on my deck. It's a huge antenna, dont have half of it assembled, dont need the longer elements. Its doing good on the deck, but want to get one up on the pole. Just too big to put up on my pole, so ordered a smaller one. HD7694. Will see how it does, or go larger, or amp it.

Pulling stations from DC 40 miles, 172°, or turn it some for baltimore 30 miles, 116°. Got a close ridge to the east, better shot south to DC.