The amplifier provides a fixed amount of gain, so the signal boost weakens with each cable you add. The output ports in a distribution amplifier will all have the same strength signal available, but the actual signal boost (gain) is determined by the number of outputs on the amplifier. You install them mid-way between the antenna and your TV to boost the signal and prevent signal degradation. If you have an outdoor antenna, make sure you buy a preamplifier designed to withstand the elements.ĭistribution amplifiers work more like extenders. Mounted on or close to the antenna, preamplifiers generally have a higher “gain,” so they boost the signal more. Preamplifiers, or “mast amplifiers,” amplify the signal before it runs through the cable to your TV. ![]() There are two types of HDTV antenna amplifiers–preamplifiers and distribution amplifiers. Before you run out and buy the first one you find, there are some important technical considerations that you should keep in mind to ensure it works as intended. If you find that you need an HDTV antenna amplifier, it’s a small, affordable, and relatively easy upgrade to install. What to Consider When Buying an HDTV Antenna Amplifier Taking these steps should give you a good idea of whether you’d benefit from an amplifier. If you need over 100 feet of cable to hook up all the TVs in your home, make sure to use a high-quality coaxial cable to help minimize signal degradation. A signal can weaken over a long cable run–we’re talking hundreds of feet. You should also take stock of how much cable you’re running, and if you plan to split the signal to multiple TVs in your home. If you’re getting a fuzzy picture on every channel, make sure your antenna is placed as high as possible, without any physical obstructions that could prevent it from getting a clear signal. You can also check, which will tell you the signal strength of free over-the-air channels available from local television broadcasters. Check the locations of nearby broadcast towers and signal coverage maps to figure out what channels you should receive, and which ones are on the edge. We recommend assessing the signal strength of your antenna before buying an amplifier. It can also generate unwanted interference and noise from nearby electronics or other broadcast channels, degrading the quality of the picture. In fact, using an amplifier could worsen your antenna’s reception by overpowering strong signals, causing increased noise or pixelation. If your signal’s fuzzy because of a signal obstruction like a large tree near the antenna or because a channel’s out of range, it will not improve things. While an antenna amplifier can enhance the quality of your signal, it may not be necessary or even effective in every situation. They are not range extenders, so they will not help you pick up new channels or improve the signal quality of channels at the edge of your antenna’s range. ![]() HDTV antenna amplifiers counteract poor picture and sound on local TV broadcasts caused by a degraded cable signal, which may occur when you use an extra-long run of cable or a line that runs through multiple splitters on the way from the antenna to your TV. Before You Buy: Do You Really Need an HDTV Antenna Amplifier?īefore we start talking about all the ways that HDTV antenna amplifiers can improve your TV setup, we need to establish what they can and cannot do. I’m also old enough to remember what TV was like before streaming became popular, and while I’ve since cut the cord, memories of tinkering with an indoor antenna at my grandparents’ house are still vivid in my mind.
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