All the attention at improving DTV reception to this point has focused on the end points: either the receiver or the antenna. It was time to do something about the "in between". The RG6 coax leading down from the preamp on the roof is of good quality, the same as the coax originally installed for the (now defunct) satellite receivers. Rather than rip it out and start over with quad shielded RG6, I decided to just be happy with it.
However, the VHF/UHF preamp on the antenna mast had been there almost 10 years being weathered by the elements. I replaced it with a new Channel Master UHF only preamp for $50. As my wife likes to say, I'm a sucker for advertising and the promise made was for better performance from reengineered circuitry. I was a bit wary buying a UHF only preamp but, at the moment, no local TV stations are broadcasting digital signals on VHF, so what the heck. (I may regret this later).
I also decided to focus on what to me was a weak point in splitting the antenna's signal throughout the house: the Radio Shack indoor distribution amplifier in the basement. Prior to this, I had tried adding individual amplifiers (some cheap and others not so cheap) near each TV tuner, but they made no noticeable difference. This new Channel Master amplifier made a marked improvement to reception, compared to the old Radio Shack model. Definitely worth the $50.
However, the VHF/UHF preamp on the antenna mast had been there almost 10 years being weathered by the elements. I replaced it with a new Channel Master UHF only preamp for $50. As my wife likes to say, I'm a sucker for advertising and the promise made was for better performance from reengineered circuitry. I was a bit wary buying a UHF only preamp but, at the moment, no local TV stations are broadcasting digital signals on VHF, so what the heck. (I may regret this later).
I also decided to focus on what to me was a weak point in splitting the antenna's signal throughout the house: the Radio Shack indoor distribution amplifier in the basement. Prior to this, I had tried adding individual amplifiers (some cheap and others not so cheap) near each TV tuner, but they made no noticeable difference. This new Channel Master amplifier made a marked improvement to reception, compared to the old Radio Shack model. Definitely worth the $50.
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