Anonymous wrote:
My low channels and high channels are coming in week (I especially would
like to improve channel 49). I like in a small city of 130,000
population. We have Toronto aprox 40 miles north and Buffalo 40 miles
south of us. I would to find a way to improve my TV signal. One of
the
things I would like to try is put a preamp on the antenna, but not sure
what
dB rating to use so I don't over amplify my signal (I don't want to
improve
some channels at the expense of other good channels). Any ideas?

TV preamps are mainly intended to overcome feedline losses. They typically
have rather high noise figure (6 dB or more). I doubt that a preamp alone
will improve your reception significantly.

What type of antenna are you using now and how high is it? Is your house on
a hill or in a valley? What is the terrain between you and the stations? TV
signals are basically line-of-sight. Antenna height is a huge factor in good
reception.

The Radio Shack antennas that have a log-periodic VHF section and a
corner-reflector UHF section are pretty good. The bigger the antenna, the
better it will work. Don't trust the "range" figures in their catalog. Get
the antenna up at least 25-30 feet (a chimney mount works well). Use RG-6
coaxial cable to feed the antenna.

You can probably get a good idea of what you need by looking at your
neighbors' roofs!

Since you're trying to receive signals from two different directions, you
will need a rotator. There's no way around that (unless you want to install
two separate antennas).

Then, there's always cable TV. ;-

Art Harris N2AH

On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 14:03:45 GMT, "Arthur Harris"
wrote:



snip
TV preamps are mainly intended to overcome feedline losses. They typically
have rather high noise figure (6 dB or more). I doubt that a preamp alone
will improve your reception significantly.

I think mine have a nf a bit lower, but regardless of the noise figure
you are correct. The amp is primarily for over coming feed line
losses. It *might* make some difference with the received signal.

What type of antenna are you using now and how high is it? Is your house on
a hill or in a valley? What is the terrain between you and the stations? TV
signals are basically line-of-sight. Antenna height is a huge factor in good
reception.

The Radio Shack antennas that have a log-periodic VHF section and a
corner-reflector UHF section are pretty good. The bigger the antenna, the
better it will work. Don't trust the "range" figures in their catalog. Get
the antenna up at least 25-30 feet (a chimney mount works well). Use RG-6
coaxial cable to feed the antenna.

I've seen little difference in the performance between the high priced
and low priced antennas in the same category. The range figures are
pretty much for comparisons only as it's gonna be a rare day and with
a very tall tower that any one comes near the range of their biggest
antennas. I do actually come near the range listed for the big UHF
antennas, but I have them mounted in the neighborhood of 90 feet.

I used to install TV antennas for a business, but that was long ago.

You can probably get a good idea of what you need by looking at your
neighbors' roofs!


Very sensible approach.

Since you're trying to receive signals from two different directions, you
will need a rotator. There's no way around that (unless you want to install
two separate antennas).

At UHF two antennas will probably be cheaper than a rotor, but that is
assuming all channels can be received well with two permanently
mounted antennas.

When using two antennas, *don't* tie them together with a combiner.
Use separate feed lines (RG-6) and switch at the TV set. Most sets now
days have at least two coax inputs any way.


Then, there's always cable TV. ;-

At one time I had cable, satellite (C-band) and a big outside antenna
with the ability to switch instantly between them.

The satellite reception was head and shoulders above the outside
antenna. The outside antenna was good for local stations (out to about
60 miles). Of the three the cable had by far the poorest signal and
it was a fairly recent system install, not just our home.

After two weeks we called the cable company and canceled.

With cable you are going to receive your local channels. With
satellite you won't unless they are one of the *major* metropolitan
areas and most stations won't give out waivers to allow you to receive
the networks off satellite. I receive the national networks off
C-band, but they required a wavier to move to the small dish...Without
exception the stations said no even though I already do receive the
networks.

So, I no longer watch any of the local stations. My antennas are
high enough I can watch the network affiliates out of other areas. and
I still receive "Prime time" (national networks) off C-band.

BTW Quality of cable signal varies greatly from one company to
another.

You'll have to fix the return add due to dumb virus checkers, not spam
Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair?)
www.rogerhalstead.com

Art Harris N2AH