Amplifier for ota, advice

[godai]

hi i need advice for a good amplifier for ota, i try this one without success

8-Port Bi-Directional Cable TV HDTV Amplifier Splitter

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WDR94U/ref=oh_details_o09_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1




thanks for any help!

[usually_quiet]

hi i need advice for a good amplifier for ota, i try this one without success

8-Port Bi-Directional Cable TV HDTV Amplifier Splitter

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WDR94U/ref=oh_details_o09_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1




thanks for any help!

What do you mean by "without success"? It is hard to diagnose a problem without a better description and more information.

Did you make sure your antenna the right kind of product for all the channels you are trying to tune and that is it positioned correctly?

No amount of amplification will help if the signal is too weak and noisy. Did you measure the signal strength without the amplifier? How many TV tuners are you trying to send a signal to? You don't want to split the signal any more than is necessary. Are the coax cables in good shape with enough shielding?

[godai]

hi thanks

i plug 3 tuners cards [hvr 1600, hvr 2250 [2]] , and one tv, i bought terminators for 4 ports free with this amplifier - splitter,
, my signal its good im close of towers, i just expect good signal for channels that i can reach, [i loss some channels splitting antenna signal]


i test amplifier with and without terminators, first case i get less channels comparing with holland splitter [not powered] [before this splitter i usually used one holland splitter], and with 4 terminators, 0 signal.

i have one antenna outside with rg6 cable

hope you understand my english. not its my first lenguague.

[usually_quiet]

hi thanks

i plug 3 tuners cards [hvr 1600, hvr 2250 [2]] , and one tv, i bought terminators for 4 ports free with this amplifier - splitter,
, my signal its good im close of towers, i just expect good signal for channels that i can reach, [i loss some channels splitting antenna signal]


i test amplifier with and without terminators, first case i get less channels comparing with holland splitter [not powered] [before this splitter i usually used one holland splitter], and with 4 terminators, 0 signal.

i have one antenna outside with rg6 cable

hope you understand my english. not its my first lenguague.

You are supposed to use terminators on a spltter's unused ports whether it is amplified or or passive. Terminators are supposed to keep noise from strong RF sources from entering the system.

If I understand you correctly, and adding terminators reduces your TV signals to 0, then I'd remove all the splitters and check to see if the antenna is still providing a good signal. If it is providing a good signal, then add one splitter (properly terminated) at a time to see if that one is faulty.

[godai]

i used terminators in splitter [unused ports], with them i get 0 signal in 4 ports in use, without them [terminators] i get channels but less if i compare with holland splitter [not amplifier and not powered]

holland splitter works and antenna works actually [ but i loss some channels with it because of split], problem occurs with splitter amplifier.

holland splitter is cheap i get better results, with amplifier i get worst results.

[usually_quiet]

Well, if you are convinced that your amplified splitter is bad, and just want to try a different one then these are supposed to be good.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008QH14SQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2G3P...I39YWRIYG667EC


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001222256/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2G3PI...I3GI0BDSMFINJB



If you only need a 4-way splitter, don't get an 8-way splitter.

[Bjs]

If signal is fine from antenna and its lead then simply use an rf splitter with enough outputs for connected devices.

Amplifiers are useless and can in fact be the direct cause of loss of channels

[godai]

actually im using a this splitter
http://www.hometech.com/hts/products/video/satellite/accessories/hl-hfs.html

hfs 3d


and im lossing channels when i split signal.

[usually_quiet]

If signal is fine from antenna and its lead then simply use an rf splitter with enough outputs for connected devices.

Amplifiers are useless and can in fact be the direct cause of loss of channels

Amplifying a strong signal can cause problems, but the OP's signal appears to be too weak to split 4 ways with passive splitters. (He originally tried using only passive splitters.)

Amplified splitters are definitely not useless for distribution purposes if a cable run is fairly long and a using a passive splitter weakens the signal to the point where it isn't usable at the destination. I have personally experienced the positive difference that an amplified splitter can make.

[godai]

im close of towers here, probably signal is strong, but after check im losing 6 channels after split.[far distance signals]

[usually_quiet]

im close of towers here, probably signal is strong, but after check im losing 6 channels after split.[far distance signals]

You are connecting an amplified splitter to the ouput from a one-in-two-out passive splitter correct?

Your passive splitter cuts the signal strength by a little more than half, and you say that you lost 6 channels, correct?

Get rid of the passive splitter and the dead amplified spltter. Replace them with one new amplified splitter that has enough outgoing connections for the number of tuners/TVs it has to feed.

[godai]

You are connecting an amplified splitter to the ouput from a one-in-two-out passive splitter correct?

No.

i use either holland splitter or amplified splitter.

Your passive splitter cuts the signal strength by a little more than half, and you say that you lost 6 channels, correct?

yes.
connecting one only i get all channels that i need. but splitting get this results. [here i get 76 ota channels,splitting 70........yes i need 6 ]

Get rid of the passive splitter and the dead amplified spltter. Replace them with one new amplified splitter that has enough outgoing connections for the number of tuners/TVs it has to feed.

i dont know if that splitter its dead, i mean last week it arrive,brand new, i just returning it tomorrow , i purchased it in amazon.

[usually_quiet]

The amplified splitter you have is defective. Other than that, I can't help you except to suggest the two amplified splitter brands I mentioned. Goodbye and good luck.

[godai]

thanks for your help

you have any experience with any of amplifiers?

[usually_quiet]

Yes. I installed the Viewsonic amplifier at my mother's house. The Electroline is supposed to be a better product with a five-year warranty. I would have used that instead if I had known about it.

I use amplified indoor antennas in 2 rooms. I can't use a roof antenna because I'm not a homeowner.

[nic2k4]

First, make sure that 8 port amp (a.k.a. drop amp) is designed for antenna signal; cable drop amps do not have enough headroom and will cause all sorts of odd behavior.

FYI, if you need to amplify a weak signal it's best to do it with a mast mounted booster amp. Even better, use a high gain antenna; depending on your needs choose a directional (<15° coverage angle) or wide aperture (about 60°) type. Refer to the TVfool site for a map of the transmitters in your area.

There are different ways to handle near and distant sources, easiest is when the distant transmitter is in opposite direction of the near source, just aim the antenna toward the far source and the natural gain curve of the antenna will prevent signal overload from the near source. Sometime it's better to use 2 antennas, when you have a transmitter that requires a lot of amplification use a directional antenna coupled with a smaller antenna or a set top antenna. Use a diplexer with two 50-1000MHz inputs to couple the antennas.

[pandy]

What is your signal level - amplifiers, especially home can have issue with signals to strong and they can distort signal (saturation point).

First verify signal level before any splitter, later use correct way to distribute signal - if you not using DOCSIS (return path) then one way amplifier can be used - i would advise to go for single output amplifier and passive splitter - each tap introduce loss around 3.6dB (with connector loss it will be around 4dB).
Not sure about your country standard and modulation standard (sorry im to lazy to search on mentioned cards names and perform educated guessing) usual level at input each frontend should be kept between 56 and 75dBuV (this cover all modulations - also 8-VSB).

[SHS]

Godai go here http://cabletvamps.com/ and you find lots good useful info and there is a forum there to also the best drop amp on the market are Electroline.
Are you running any kind of ant booster? maybe cable dc block