Signal dropped after a splitter and 5M cable, will a amplifier help?(Got it working)

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › Signal dropped after a splitter and 5M cable, will a amplifier help?(Got it working)

pstar008

338 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 5

Topic # 30477 10-Feb-2009 03:32

Hi, I currently got weak signal for freeview DVB-T and can only watch C4 and TV3 on my USB TV tuner. If it connected directly to a RG6 cable from aerial without the splitter and a 5M Titanium series TV cable, it works better(get all the channels, but reception still kind of weak). So my question is will a amplifier working in my situation? And which one of these from DSE are recommanded if any? I think I am going to find a cheaper one from Trademe.
1. PowerBooster Antenna Amplifier http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/en/product/L2105
2. Amplified Indoor Antenna http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/en/product/L4016
3. Indoor Amplified TV Antenna http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/en/product/L4660
I am planning get the first one and replace the splitter I am using.

My previous post provided more information about my current set up, but th title is irrelevant to the topic now, and it's
kind of long winding and very easy to miss the point.

Thanks in advance.

Legion

20 posts

Geek

Reply # 195165 10-Feb-2009 18:35

To be honest I wouldn't recommend any of the ones you've linked to. The problem with any type of amplifier that plugs in just before the TV is that you're amplifying any noise that has made it's way into the signal, as well as the signal you want to boost. The rabbit ear types usually make things worse rather than better.

You're much better off with a masthead amplifier that installs just after the aerial (though it is a bit more work, and you need to make sure you terminate your cable correctly). Something like this one - http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4991102b017f79702740c0a87f3b06de/Product/View/L0040

That amp, or any other like it will give you a much better improvement in signal levels, and quality over any indoor type I've ever seen, and for a similar price.

stevenz

2784 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 121

Reply # 195170 10-Feb-2009 19:30

Either a good masthead amp, or a powered inline one with separate power-injector and amplifier units will do a world of good.

Amplified aerials from what I've seen tend to be so much snakeoil. The unit Legion linked to is basically the same as I'm running here, but better quality and higher gain, and even the little one I'm using does a great job.

Brunzy

717 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 80

Trusted

Reply # 195179 10-Feb-2009 20:05

To be honest,rather than buying hardware that may or may not work,you'd be bettter getting someone in to do it properly.

I come across this often,and people end up with amplified ears etc,that are of no use to them.
Cost's you more in the long run

pstar008

338 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 5

Reply # 195196 10-Feb-2009 21:12

An masthead amp looks like a good idea, but I am not sure I can do it myself. So a better idea will be have somebody know what he is doing come in and check my situation and install whatever suitable for me. Anyway, thank you guys for the suggetions.

pstar008

338 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 5

Reply # 195750 13-Feb-2009 20:46

Just an update, I finally decided buy a antenna amplifier this afternoon in DSE. As I decided that since I already spent that much time and money(had an UHF aerial installed and TV tuner card), I should at leas give a simple amplifier a try, and if it not working just return it.

It just that I had so much bad experience of buy somthing, not working, then comeback for something may make it working, still no luck after several times back and forwad, make me loss my patient and really been putting off. But really, think about that: the idea of instead of a splitter, an amplifier will improve my signal which is good enough before the spliter to the point that I can get roughtly the same signal if not better are totally making sense to me, and I got a really straight forward situation--good signal become bad after a splitter and a good quality 5M cable means that if the idea of a amplifier ever going to work, it should work in my case. And it actually working great, once powered on, with the smallest amount of gain, I got signal quality meter full instead of nothing, and I am using the first Powered Indoor Antenna Amplifier I linked in my first post, which I think is arguably better than others.

Anyway, thank you guys for the suggestion, and what else could I say: DSE got the best servce around the town, so I can simply try without much risk.