1-1 of 1 Answer
Tom- There are no limitations as to how many TV's can be connected to an antenna. You want to connect your antenna to a TV, with as short of coax cable that is possible. Now you fine tune the direction that you point the antenna. Now you can start adding other TV's. If you no longer get the same channels as you did with the short coax cable to 1 TV, then you could benefit from a preamplifier. Preamps (And all amps) are designed to take the 'good usable signals' from the antenna and amplify them to a level where, while going through your cables and splitters, the signals will not deteriorate to a point where they are no longer 'good usable signals'. If the signal has already deteriorated to a point where they are no longer 'good usable signals', then amplification cannot fix your signal. SIGNAL; Do I need an Amplifier? 1. Check the TV signals at your antenna without any signal amplification. a. Ideally you’d have an RF spectrum analyzer, but if you have a small ATSC HD TV, you could bring that to your antenna. Adjust your antenna for the best reception for the channels that you want to receive. a. Document the channels received and the signal strength and signal quality on each channel.b. You will use this as your baseline to use throughout the rest of your system. Now, check the signals/channels at all of your TV(s) that are connected throughout your house. If you don't receive the same channels at your TV’s, compared to the stations received at your antenna, then you will need to determine why. You know what signals you can receive at the antenna, (Baseline measurements documented) and you want to get the same results at all of your TV’s. You have a long RG6 Coax cable connected to your antenna that goes into your house. Locate the end of that antenna cable in the house. Test and document the signals/channels you receive at the end of the cable.a. If you don’t receive all of the same channels that you were able to receive right at the antenna, then you will need to install a “Preamplifier” at your antenna to compensate for the signal lost while going through the connectors and long cable.b. If you still get all channels at the end of that antenna cable that you were able to receive right at the antenna, then you know that you do not need to install a “Preamplifier” at your antenna. If you have long cable runs and/or signal splitters in your antenna system, then you may require a preamplifier or distribution amplifier to properly distribute the signals from your antenna, to your TV’s. Choosing the proper equipment. 1. Your amplification must occur/start at a point in your system where the signal is still good and you are able to receive the same channels that you were able to receive right at the antenna. 2. The cable lengths, splitters, connections, and number of additional runs to TV's will dictate your decisions on how much amplification is needed. . Things to consider before deciding on signal amplifiers; 1. The TV signals are measured in dBmV. a. TV signal deteriorates as it goes through long coax cable runs. i. The amount of signal loss per foot, can be obtained from the manufacturer of the coax cable. 1. Most RG6 coax will average about a 5db loss in 100ft. (@500MHz) ii. When using signal splitters, the signal deteriorates. 1. The signal loss (In dB's) is normally printed on the splitter. a. For a quick calculation you could go with a 5dB loss through a splitter. b. Rule of thumb is that you desire 0dBmV (dB) signal at your ATSC HD TV Tuner. c. Signals levels that are considered acceptable are +11dBmv to -11dBmv. d. Too high of a signal at your TV tuner can overload the TV tuner and cause problems or no signal at all. 2. Too high of a signal at the input of your amplifier can cause problems and pass no signal at all.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.