Digital TV question

S

SlitheryDee

My grandfather is setting up an aerial antennae to receive OTA digital TV. One of the components that he purchased was a mast-mounted 2-piece signal booster of the type normally used to amplify analog OTA television. He asked me if he should use the amplifier or not after the digital conversion, and after thinking about it for a bit, I realized that I didn't know. One concern I had was that an analog booster might somehow "garble" the digital signal rather than enhancing it.

Surely this has come up before somewhere on the internet, but I haven't been able to find a satisfactory answer by googling. Does anyone know whether a signal booster would be beneficial or detrimental to his ability to resolve weak digital signals? If it would have no effect or a negative effect we would like to return the booster.
 

PurdueRy

Lifer
Nov 12, 2004
13,837
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The bandwidth of digital amps and splitters have just slightly higher bandwidth typically than the old analog splitters. I believe its 900MHz vs. >1GHz. It shouldn't have a significant affect on the digital signals from my experience.

Is this a passive amplifier or is it actually a preamplifier? Do you have a model number?
 
S

SlitheryDee

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
The bandwidth of digital amps and splitters have just slightly higher bandwidth typically than the old analog splitters. I believe its 900MHz vs. >1GHz. It shouldn't have a significant affect on the digital signals from my experience.

Is this a passive amplifier or is it actually a preamplifier? Do you have a model number?

I believe that it's a preamplifier. It has 2 components. One is mounted on the mast of the aerial antenna with the coaxial cable running through it while the other is mounted near the television and requires power. I don't have a model number on hand. So you think it likely won't make much difference whether we use the amp or not?

Your answer raises another question though. Will he require a special splitter to route the signal to the various tvs in his house or will the preexisting wiring and splitter that he used for his old aerial setup work?
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
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If it isn't a long run I wouldn't bother with the amplifier on the mast. I would use a distribution amp at the bottom on the inside to split off the signal to the other tv. One like this:
http://www.summitsource.com/34...t-pctma24p-p-7588.html

Just connect it to the cable and then to the other tv, splitter built in.
8db gain should be more than enough for most runs.
 

PurdueRy

Lifer
Nov 12, 2004
13,837
4
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Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
The bandwidth of digital amps and splitters have just slightly higher bandwidth typically than the old analog splitters. I believe its 900MHz vs. >1GHz. It shouldn't have a significant affect on the digital signals from my experience.

Is this a passive amplifier or is it actually a preamplifier? Do you have a model number?

I believe that it's a preamplifier. It has 2 components. One is mounted on the mast of the aerial antenna with the coaxial cable running through it while the other is mounted near the television and requires power. I don't have a model number on hand. So you think it likely won't make much difference whether we use the amp or not?

Your answer raises another question though. Will he require a special splitter to route the signal to the various tvs in his house or will the preexisting wiring and splitter that he used for his old aerial setup work?

The prexisting splitter will work, maybe not as well as new ones but most people don't need to go about replacing all their pre-existing wiring.

It definitely sounds like he has a preamp. Just an FYI, the power box does not need to be placed close to the TV. It should be placed before the first splitter unless you have splitters that allow power through which most don't.

I would use it if possible. I have found good preamps to be very helpful in avoiding channel breakup and getting those difficult stations to be received perfectly. I have heard some people complain that certain models have hurt their reception. So, try it both ways and check the signal strength on the TV.
 

zzuupp

Lifer
Jul 6, 2008
14,866
2,319
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Two questions for you

How far away is he from the TV towers? you can use antennaweb or tvfool to confirm your guess.
Has he been using and needs an amplifier to receive analog tv with a decent picture?
decent = little or light snow

One point I'll add to PurdueRy's excellent advice. If you do test with and without the amp, you have to take both pieces out for the without test. An amp without the power injector ends up being a signal killing filter.