[StephanieS]

Greetings from Cheney, Matter!

If I am reading your post correctly, you do receive the translators at magnetic 263 well and you have two goals:

1. Recommendation of a new preamp.

2. Improvement of Tri-Cities signals.

For one, I'm a fan of a RCA TVPRAMP1R preamp. I use one in tandem with an Antenna's direct 91xg for reception of KLEW's Moscow/Pullman translator at 56 miles.

KFFX is very weak and may not improve much. If I were to attempt to increase reliability, I would purchase a second antenna, specifically an Antennacraft Y10-7-13 for high-band VHF coverage and orientate it to magnetic 133. I would repurpose your CM4221 HD to magnetic 263 to focus on KSPS, KAYU, KXLY, KYVE, and KREM translators. KHQ may require a Antenna's direct 91xg to have any chance at reliable reception at this heading.

Via RCA TVPRAMP1R, connect Y10-7-13 coax to VHF input, then connect CM4221 coax to UHF input. Run lead from preamp into home as usual.

KVEW is very weak and has even lesser likelihood of reliable reception. See above comment about Antenna's Direct 91xg being necessary for any chance at this signal and other Tri-City broadcasts.

When you start getting around -82 to -85 dbm at your location, variances in atmosphere can effect the signals and knock it below reception threshold.

If I were you, I'd concentrate on translator farm at magnetic 265 and have a little fun with KFFX while having a realistic expectation that any other Tri-Cities signals are severely compromised by hills south of town and may never be fully reliable.

Good luck!