You don't know for sure if you have no way to measure the signal strength, and neither do we because RCA doesn't give the antenna gain figures.
There is a simple test you can do. Insert a variable attenuator between the antenna and the preamp input to see if the system behaves any better.
https://www.antennasdirect.com/store...ttenuator.html
http://www.3starinc.com/drop_in-line_attenuator.html
http://mjsales.net/collections/atten...ant=1083705673
•Attenuation values 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20dB (FAM)
click on 1 dB for other values; the up and down arrows are faint
You are going to have to do some experiments if you want any improvement.
There is no way we can give you a guarantee.
If you want some numbers:
Channel Master says the 7777 is only for weak signal areas.
http://www.channelmaster.com/TV_Ante..._p/cm-7777.htm
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This antenna amplifier is a high gain, low noise preamplifier used to allow weaker signals at the antenna to be amplified to a viewable strength, and is ideal for installations in which all broadcast towers are located at a distance of more than 80 miles......Due to the high gain output of this product, it can result in over amplification if not used in the appropriate scenario. Over amplification can cause issues with the television tuner’s ability to receive and display some or all channels.
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Gain 30dB
Max input level 15 dBmV = -34 dBm
WHUT signal power is -45 dBm
-45 dBm + 12 dB antenna gain = -33 dBm, which is more than -34 dBm max input
-33 dBm at input + 30 dB preamp gain = -3 dBm preamp output to tuner input
tuners are not designed to handle signals stronger than -8 dBm with multiple high-level signals, which means a 5 dB overload
ATSC Recommended Practice:
Receiver Performance Guidelines
Document A/74:2010, 7 April 2010
RECEIVER PERFORMANCE GUIDELINES
5.1 Sensitivity
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A DTV receiver should achieve a bit error rate in the transport stream of no worse than 3x10E-6 (i.e., the FCC Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service, ACATS, Threshold of Visibility, TOV) for input RF signal levels directly to the tuner from –83 dBm to –5 dBm for both the VHF and UHF bands.
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5.2 Multi-Signal Overload
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The DTV receiver should accommodate more than one undesired, high-level, NSTC or DTV signal at its input, received from transmission facilities that are in close proximity to one another. For purposes of this guideline, it should be assumed that multiple signals, each approaching –8 dBm, will exist at the input of the receiver.
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