Troubleshoot Antenna

Hohenstauffen · 2-Oct-2011, 12:31 AM

I've been getting around 15 stations including HD broadcasts with an antenna mounted on my roof, which includes a signal booster box. After a recent electrical storm, I can only get a couple of close stations, which still come in in HD. I can't climb to the booster box. I unplugged the receiver box in the basement, and plugged it back in to no avail. Can anyone offer a solution except to take the antenna down? [ it took 4 of us to raise it and fasten it to the chimney.]
Thanks,
Don

Dave Loudin · 2-Oct-2011, 12:47 AM

When the "booster box," otherwise known as a preamp goes bad, it no longer passes much in the way of signals. What you're getting is being picked up by the cable. You need a new preamp.

By the way, whenever you unplug the power to a preamp, it acts like yours does now.

John Candle · 2-Oct-2011, 1:05 PM

I invite you to provide information of , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=4. With exact address and about how high the antenna is and how many tv's are/will be connected. Perhaps some suggestions can be made that will make reception easier.

Hohenstauffen · 3-Oct-2011, 12:28 AM

Hello,
I think that Dave confirmed my problem in that the pre-amp is blown; probably in the electrical storm. One of the lightening strikes was very close; scared me and I could feel the static electricity; glad I had disconnected my cable connection from the antenna to the TV.
I had installed the antenna as high as I could get it without using a tower. I don't think I can reach the pre-amp from my longest extension ladder and think it would be foolhardy to try. I have the pole mounted on the flat 2nd story roof against a 4 flue chimney with 2 brackets secured into the chimney and 2 cables coming from near the top of the pole and anchored into eye-bolts lagged into roof rafters. Unless someone has a better suggestion I suppose I'll have to disconnect the cables and brackets and lower the whole thing in the reverse of how we raised it. It was harrowing and we just got it up with 3 or 4 of us working together. Maybe it's time to have a pro come in and do the job. It'll cost more in medical bills if one of us is injured or we drop the antenna.
Thanks for the help. I was getting terrific reception before the pre-amp was fried. The antenna is grounded. Is there any better way to protect it if I can get a new one in place?
Don