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Old 2-May-2014, 6:45 AM   #5
GroundUrMast
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Greater Seattle Area
Posts: 4,773
Quote:
Originally Posted by zonaman View Post
Thank you. Rabbit ears were an early option the didn't work well, hence the current setup. When I removed the booster both sets loose reception. Now that I think of it, the booster was included with the GE Futura so I just used it from the get go.
Ah... I'm fairly confident that the 'booster' you've mentioned is actually not an amplifier (AKA 'booster') but a power supply for the amplifier that's built-into the outdoor antenna assembly. Most amplified antennas will pass very little signal, virtually none, if the power is disconnected.

Indoor reception may be very poor, if you have wire reinforced stucco, foil-faced insulation or any other signal blocking/reflecting building materials.

I'd suggest you try one of the outdoor antenna options we've offered above.

My theory about the symptoms you've described is that either:

1) The antenna power supply is being shorted out when the cable is fully connected to the tuner. This would suggest that the splitter is installed in the wrong location. The splitter should be down stream of the power supply for the antenna. If needed, move the power supply to a location between the antenna and splitter.

2) The antenna power supply is disconnected and the antenna is inactive when the cable is loose... And the the loose cable connection allows signal on the outside of the coax to enter the tuner. If there is enough signal power in the air, that a loose wire stuck into the tuner connector gives marginal reception, you don't need or want an amplified antenna (which is already obvious from your TV Fool report).
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If the well is dry and you don't see rain on the horizon, you'll need to dig the hole deeper. (If the antenna can't get the job done, an amp won't fix it.)

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Last edited by GroundUrMast; 2-May-2014 at 8:00 AM. Reason: A theory re. the 'loose connection'
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