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jlewv
29-Apr-2015, 1:53 AM
I've just installed an Amazon Basics 60 Mile Antenna (link below) on my roof. Please see the link to my TV fool report below. It is a fixed direction antenna and I have it facing East. Right now I get WVNS and WVVA. When I installed the antenna and ran 100 feet of cable to one tv I was able to to get WSWP which is PBS. When I installed a inline amp and a splitter I lost WSWP.

Would a preamp allow me to receive WSWP? Is there anything I can do with my current antenna (a bigger antenna on a rotor is not an option for various reasons) that would allow me to pull in more stations?

Thanks in advance.

My TV Fool Report: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3df1f06132a04ccb

My Antenna: http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Amplified-Indoor-Outdoor-Antenna/dp/B00MFXNQBU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1430271362&sr=8-3&keywords=amazonbasics+antenna

ADTech
29-Apr-2015, 2:27 AM
Your antenna is a private label Mohu Sky 60, a product that I believe to be a triumph of enthusiastic marketing but an abject failure at being a good antenna. The included amplifier isn't much better, depending on which version you have. The stupidity is compounded by putting the amp indoors, at the wrong end of the 30' coaxial cable. That's before it's excessive 25-26 dB gain on VHF (box says 15 dB), overload susceptibility, and the COMPLETE lack of any filtering above 45 MHz despite the marketing claims of some kind of filtering. Also despite the manufacturer's marketing, the antenna does need to be aimed. It's broadly bidirectional with HPBW of an estimated 60-70°. That means it must be facing broadside to the signals and that it will tend to reject signals arriving from the general direction of its points.

Since you've already preemptively eliminated the one type of system that would most likely do the job for you, you're going to have to determine what the minimum requirements (which stations) are going to be for a "successful" install.

jlewv
29-Apr-2015, 3:22 AM
I considered the installation to be a success when I was able to receive WVVA. I was surprised when I was able to get wswp at all; as I was when the antenna was hooked directly to the tv. No amp and no splitter. I then added the amp and the splitter to run the cable to the other TV in my house. As this time WSWP became very pixilated and essentially unwatchable. I am trying to determine if adding a preamp would improve the WSWP signal.

After reviewing your post I'm wondering if removing the amp that came with the antenna might be advisable? If I am understanding you correctly it may be introducing noise into the system?

ADTech
29-Apr-2015, 10:17 AM
Are you adding an inline amp in addition to the stock amp?

jlewv
29-Apr-2015, 10:30 AM
No. At this time the set up is strictly the stock antenna, the stock amp and one 2 way splitter. The amp is placed at the end of 30 feet of cable that came with the antenna and then the splitter.

ADTech
29-Apr-2015, 11:14 AM
If you added the amp and then lost reception, that suggests either that the amp isn't operating (defective or un-powered) or it's amplifying a nearby FM station or other RF signal and that extra amplified signal is causing issues.

You might have a defective splitter or coax.

Also, while you're at it, aim the antenna to the southwest (or northeast), not to the east. As I earlier mentioned, the antenna does have an aiming characteristic.

tclearinghouse
29-Apr-2015, 7:38 PM
Just my 2 cents since it might be relevant. Below is a link to my thread on the Mohu Sky 60 (as to which ADTECH says you have the private label version of) vs the Clearstream 2V. I ditched the Mohu and have not looked back. The mohu is really just an overpriced "average" antenna.

http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=15499

In my setup I used a distribution amp in my setup instead of a splitter and that made all the difference in the world for me. This is the exact amp I use:

http://www.rcaantennas.net/accessories/?sku=VH140R