Which amplifier to complete my cable cut

[holdbyedges]

Hello all,
I am a newb and hope I'm providing the right info and asking the right questions for the help I need.

Recently, we (wife & I) decided to cut the cable and go to OTA and internet for TV viewing. We live in a 1.5 story home built on peers/beams. (Rear half of the house has a second story.) We have 4 flat screens throughout our home. The orig cable comes into the attic and the signal sees 3 splits. The first split has one side going to upstairs TV nearest the attic and the other side goes to a second splitter. The second split has one side going to downstairs front Tv in kitchen (longest reach, ~30+') and to a 3rd split between main room TV & master bedroom Tv, both on lower level. We're ~40 miles N of broadcast antennas for the stations we're most interested in. TV signal analysis:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d36169d40d2a153


I purchased a Terk FDTV1A amplified antenna and put in the attic above our 2d story and plugged in distribution where cable was. I bought it at a brick and morter store b/c it was omni-directional, amplified, and specs said it had a 45 mile radius. The TV signal analysis shows all the stations of interest are to our south. Amazingly, the Terk, with supplied 10dB amplifier, is doing a pretty good job running all 4 TVs "most" of the time. Some days sees channel drop outs and pixelation mainly with the VHF band stations (8, 11, 13), esp with the front kitchen TV. Channel 8 (PBS) is the toughest and the channel I'm most interested, followed by 13. I was thinking that maybe all I need to seal the deal is a little more oomph than the supplied 10dB amp can provide. I was considering a Channel Master CM 3410 or CM 3412. The former would give me one output 15dB boost, adding 5dB to what I've got; the latter two outputs providing 11.5dB each. Am i on the right track?

(In hindsight, perhaps should have gone with an RCA ANT751, but be that as it may.)

Thanks!
Jim

[Dave Loudin]

First, we have a saying about amplifiers: one may be too many; two definitely are! Extra amplifiers do not improve rotten signal capture on the part of the antenna.

Looking at your TVFool report, you can see that the last thing you need is an omnidirectional antenna. So, I hate to say this, but you need to start over with a new antenna. The RCA is still a decent choice, and may capture enough signal to not need an amplifier to drive everything. If you were to go a little larger, like a Winegard HD-7694P or AntennaCraft HBU-33, then you certainly would not need a preamp.

[Electron]

The first situation to deal with is the mulitpul splitters , a splitter and another splitter and another splitter. Ganging splitters like that really reduces signal strength at the end of the line. The correct way to do it is use one splitter , a 2 way splitter for 2 tv's , a 3 splitter for 3 tv's , a 4 way splitter for 4 tv's. Try that with the Terk FDTV1A. Even so I am not in favor of the FDTV1A. A better solution is the ANT751 or better yet a Winegard HD7696P antenna aimed at about 170 degree magnetic compass , mounted above the roof. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. The Winegard HD7696P will supply signal to 2 tv's with no amplifier. If KVQT-LD 21 is too weak to receive on 3 or 4 tv's using a 3 or 4 way splitter , then use a CM3414 four way distribution amplifier. If only 3 tv's are connected to the CM3414 then put a 75 ohm screw on terminator cap on the unused output.

[Electron]

Here are some antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com. Buy the ronard mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box or buy from ronard. Here are places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.channelmasterstore.com , http://www.amazon.com .

[holdbyedges]

Thanks for the great advice.

I will look into doing the cable splitting better as suggested. (I did not install original config. Though, if I had, I may have done worse : ) From your suggestions, I'm leaning toward replacing the Terk, which if I did, I'd go with the ANT751 or the Winegard HD7694P b/c I'm confident the space in my attic (not all that large) would accommodate either. I like that the ANT751 comes with mounting hardware, but I suppose I should go with the 7694P since it has a bit more range, and I really want to get the job done. As for mounting an antenna above the roof, that would run afoul of neighborhood association restrictions.

Thanks again,
Jim

[Electron]

Here is the Federal Law that says Yes you can install and use a antenna above the roof. http://www.fcc.gov/guides/over-air-reception-devices-rule

[holdbyedges]

Thanks again for the help. Due to the limited space in the attic, and wanting to keep it an attic installation, I just installed the RCA ANT751R. Super results. ~40miles from broadcast antennas, and I could nearly drive all 4 TVs in the house thru the existing cable network without any amplifier help. Channel 49 and 13 a bit of problem on the farthest TV in the house. Used the 10dB amplifier from the Terk I replaced, and, voila! all TVs are now getting all the local channels just fine. This is great! Cable successfully cut!

Jim

[Electron]

Very good you did fine , glad it worked out. I collect information about the reception of weak Tv stations the antennas being used and mounting locations of antennas , are KVQT-LD 21 Urban Houston Network , KDHU-LD 7 Daystar being received ??