Video Amplifier or not

[mysts]

I have been helping an elderly neighbor set up her TV for the digital age.
She lives in a rural area and only has a roof antenna. Some of the snowy channels she had been watching did not show up at all when we hooked up the digital converter box.
1. Would a video amplifier help at all?
2. Should it be connected between the antenna and the converter box?
3. Should it be connected between the converter box and the TV.
4. If any of the above is yes can someone recommend a good amplifier?

[JohnnyMalaria]

There's a good discussion here:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080412231024AAYmtaX

[edDV]

I have been helping an elderly neighbor set up her TV for the digital age.
She lives in a rural area and only has a roof antenna. Some of the snowy channels she had been watching did not show up at all when we hooked up the digital converter box.
1. Would a video amplifier help at all?
2. Should it be connected between the antenna and the converter box?
3. Should it be connected between the converter box and the TV.
4. If any of the above is yes can someone recommend a good amplifier?

I can help you figure out where the transmitters are and the types of antennas needed.

One key issue is small market stations are running their digital transmitters on temporary channels and temporary equipment at lower power until the big switch on 17 Feb. Many simply can't afford the power bill for two transmitters.

If you list the call letters of the stations in question, I can look up their FCC transition filings.


PS: The good preamps (e.g. Channel Master and Wineguard) mount up on the antenna like this. There is a power supply that goes indoors.

[bendixG15]

Does she have a decent roof antenna ?

Back before cable was invented, we used to put our money into the antenna, then a rotor before we messed with an amplifier.
She may get better results with a better antenna.

(And while you're at it, check that her antenna is grounded against lightening from electrical storms, I can attest that it's required)

[INFRATOM]

The way you explain I can imagine they also have old cabling probably kinked too. Signal loss in a bad or small size cable like RG59 is a lot. A good RG6 cable is needed specially if it runs more than 100 feet .. next to electrical wires may need a quad shield or better cable . I think checking the cable is the first step.

[kimco52]

First, NO, a video amplifier will not help. That is the first response.
An RF amplifier may help. As has been noted, It depends on the signal you are getting from the station, distance, antenna quality, feedline quality, obstructions between antenna and transmitter, objects which can give multipath reflections which diminish a digital signal, etc. Welcome to the world of digital RF.
If you put an RF (not video) amplifier in the line, it should be at the antenna as edDV noted. You want to increase the signal before the noise, not amplify the noise along with the signal.
If you get too much signal, that will cause tv's to be overloaded and that will show up as no signal.

If the antenna is old, you might want to replace it with a new better one. Same with the feedline. Corroded antenna terminals and improperly routed coax can also cause problems.
Provide edDV the info he is asking for and he may have more info.

[SingSing]

The way you explain I can imagine they also have old cabling probably kinked too. Signal loss in a bad or small size cable like RG59 is a lot. A good RG6 cable is needed specially if it runs more than 100 feet .. next to electrical wires may need a quad shield or better cable . I think checking the cable is the first step.

Hey, i like RG59. They are small enough to wire thru tough spots.