PLEASE HELP!! With Selection of PreAmp - TV Signal Booster - Is CM7777 a good choice?

[turrmoil]

Dear all,

I am a newbie to the OTA world.
I have a ClearStream 2 50 mile antenna... details below:
Antenna Specs (http://www.amazon.com/Antennas-Direct-C2-ClearStream-Television/dp/B0017O3UHI/ref=dp_return_1?ie=UTF8&n=172282&s=electronics)

The antenna is installed on a mast left behind by Dish Network which is about 5.5 to 6.0 ft from the ground.

Below are the results from TV fool as well:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d9900d85611c7c1

I get channels like GPB Knowledge or GPB Kids which keep cutting in and out.

Based on some reading I was hoping to place a signal preamplifier right close to the antenna mounted outside and hope that these other stations will begin to be received.

I added the GE signal amplifier inside in my distribution box and it seemed to help a little, not a whole lot... I started getting the channels listed above... earlier I was not getting these at all.
Link to GE Signal Amplifier (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&locStoreNum=6175&productId=202698886&storeId=10051)

Thanks all in advance for your help.
Will the CM7777 be a good addition in my case?
If not, what pre-amplifier will be best suited for me.
The GE manual says its boosting signal strength by 4DB or so.

Thanks again for the help and suggestions.

[GroundUrMast]

To understand which channels are having problems, it would help if you referred to them by call sign and real channel number.

The CM7777 is a good amplifier in selected applications. It's not appropriate for you because it is intended for weak, fringe area signals and would very likely overload in your situation. WATC, real channel 41 is only 1.1 miles from your location. They transmit 330,000 Watts (ERP). That is a lot of signal power at your location.

I would suggest that you consider mounting the antenna higher and add a C2-VHF-Reflector-Assembly (http://www.antennasdirect.com/store/C2-VHF-Reflector-Assembly.html) which will improve the antennas ability to receive real channels 7 through 13. Avoid aiming the antenna at buildings or trees if at all possible.

You may also consider replacing the antenna with a more directional antenna such as the Antennacraft HBU-33 or Winegard HD7694P. But before doing so, I would experiment with better mounting locations for you existing antenna.

[teleview]

The first 2 Tv stations/channels are Over The Top Strong Signal Strength.

WATC-DT channel 41 IND. is high lighted red , 81.7 NM (dB).

WPXA-DT channel 51 ION is very strong signal strength , 60.8 NM (dB).

Amplifiers are being over loaded by the Over The Top signal strengths.

Remove ALL amplifiers , Remove ANY and ALL parts of the amplifiers.

Remove the amplifiers.

Remove the amplifiers power supplies.

Remove the amplifiers power injectors.

Remove any and all parts and pieces of any type or kind of amplifier.

[teleview]

Is this a , house , townhome , condo , apartment , mobile home , motor home , cabin , or etc. ??

If a apartment or such , what floor ?? and what is the top floor number ??

[teleview]

With the VHF antenna kit installed on the CS2 antenna.

With the antenna at about 5 feet above ground level.
The antenna height in the tvfool radar plot report.

Aim the antenna at about 138 degree magnetic compass.

Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Do a channel scan.

The Tv Must Channel Scan for Broadcast Tv Channels sometimes named the 'Air Channel' or 'Antenna Channels' in the Tv setup menu because the Tv transmissions travel through the air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.

DO NOT channel scan for cable tv channels.

[turrmoil]

Thanks all.
I'll get the reflector and report back in a week to two weeks.

[ADTech]

The VHF reflector will only be beneficial for channels 8 (PBS) and channel 11 (NBC). It will not helpful for other stations.

[turrmoil]

humm...
In that case, I will explore replacing my antenna first.
Thinking about going with CM 4228HD

Good idea?

[GroundUrMast]

The CM4228HD is a capable UHF only antenna that is a bit more directional than the CS2. You would still be missing out on several high-VHF signals.

I would start by trying new mounting locations... Why replace a good antenna if you don't need to?

The CS reflector kit lists for $19.99. It will improve your high-VHF capability. But, again, experimenting with mounting locations seems the most appropriate 1st step.

[turrmoil]

The CM4228HD is a capable UHF only antenna that is a bit more directional than the CS2. You would still be missing out on several high-VHF signals.

I would start by trying new mounting locations... Why replace a good antenna if you don't need to?

The CS reflector kit lists for $19.99. It will improve your high-VHF capability. But, again, experimenting with mounting locations seems the most appropriate 1st step.

Ok...
From a mounting standpoint, the only thing I can change is the height by adding another pole to the one I already have. The antenna is mounted in my backyard facing away from the home. My home is on the side of a slope... so the direction I am looking in should not be obstructed by many homes (only a few), instead there are a few trees in the LOS.

Even if I mount the antenna high, adding the reflector will not get me VHF highs.. correct?

[GroundUrMast]

If I were in your situation, I would not abandon the CS2 until I had exhausted all alternate mounting heights and locations (including attic and roof top). If I located a mounting / aim combination that produced good results for the real UHF channels but still had poor results on real channels 8 & 11, I would spend $20 on the VHF add on kit.

When you say,
so the direction I am looking in should not be obstructed by many homes (only a few), instead there are a few trees in the LOS. It's unclear which way the antenna is aimed. Is the antenna facing 160° per a compass? If not what direction? Have you tried aiming it other directions?

If you simply want to buy a new antenna, then I would suggest it have High-VHF and UHF capability, and that it be more directional than what you presently have. The Winegard HD7694P fits all of those criteria. Reiterating my previous comments, I would not use any sort of amplifier.

Still, if you aim into trees, buildings, or in the wrong direction, the new antenna will produce disappointing results as well.

[turrmoil]

It's unclear which way the antenna is aimed. Is the antenna facing 160° per a compass? If not what direction? Have you tried aiming it other directions?

If you simply want to buy a new antenna, then I would suggest it have High-VHF and UHF capability, and that it be more directional than what you presently have. The Winegard HD7694P fits all of those criteria. Reiterating my previous comments, I would not use any sort of amplifier.

Still, if you aim into trees, buildings, or in the wrong direction, the new antenna will produce disappointing results as well.

The antenna is aimed 160° per my iphone compass. Tried in other directions but loose signal. Thinking I will try it at 140° angle since there are many channels in 137° and 148° range.

Attic and roof are out of question... not my cup of tea (:confused:)

Its sad that the VHF reflector will only get me 2 channels !!!!

Looked up the antenna you mentioned on Amazon... the price is all over the map... best I found is:
link to antenna (http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-HD7694P-High-Definition-Antenna/dp/B001DFTGR4/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top)

Also, what's the draw back of using an amplifier? With digital TV I gues you either get the TV or you don't, is there a shade of gray that the amplifier will restrict?

[GroundUrMast]

An amplifier has some maximum output level, depending on the design. If you put a strong signal in, that would drive the output beyond the maximum level, you'll get distortion and mixing of signals. The result will be less usable signals, not more.

The extremely powerful signal from WATC, just a mile from you, will certainly overload most, if not all amplifiers.

The primary purpose of an amplifier is to overcome cable and splitter losses downstream of the amplifier. Amplifiers can not 'pull' signal out of an antenna or the air. In fact, all amplifiers generate some amount of noise, which degrades the quality of the signal as it passes through the amplifier.

If you had weak signals, I'd be happy to suggest an appropriate amplifier. But in fact, you have one overpowering signal and many strong signals.

Signal strength is not the same as signal quality.Your problem has nothing to do with signals being too weak, rather I believe you need to improve the quality. That starts with antenna selection, mounting and aim. Only then would you begin to consider the need for amplification.

Antenna gain is better than amplifier gain. With antenna gain, you get more signal from the direction the antenna is aimed while receiving less noise and interference from other directions. The antenna is a passive devise, therefor it dose not add noise or distortion to the signal. Amplifiers amplify both the desired signal as well as the noise and interference. As already mentioned, amplifiers generate some noise and interference as well.

Until you have a quality signal at the output of the antenna, an amplifier will only complicate the problem.

FWIW, the price for the HD7694P at Amazon looks quite competitive, especially if you get free shipping.

[turrmoil]

Thanks for the clear explanation. I'll try to add height to the antenna and add the VHF reflector. Will report back the results.

When I add the height to the antenna, I'll be patching a cable in the new section of height. Any precautions to take when doing that?

[GroundUrMast]

As a test, no worries. If there is any threat of rain, seal the connection.

You can find Coax-Seal at Amazon and other sources. Scotch 2228 sealing tape is at my local Home Depot. http://www.homedepot.com/buy/electrical-electrical-tools-accessories-electrical-tape-wire-connectors-electrical-tape/scotch-1-in-x-10-ft-2228-rubber-mastic-electrical-tape-124472.html

Both are permanent, and need to be cut away to access the connection in the future.

I would consider buying a new 100' RG-6 cable with factory installed connectors. Who knows, your trouble may be that you've got water in the existing coax.

[ADTech]

Its sad that the VHF reflector will only get me 2 channels !!!!

Why would you be sad? There are only two VHF channels within reception range. You might already be getting them anyway; you haven't mentioned as either being received or not received with the basic C2. If you are already getting them, then you don't need the kit. See post #7.

Check your PM.