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?