Hello all,

I have a Philips MANT940 antenna mounted on a mast approx. 20' high. I have an amplified splitter. My question is would there be any logical reason for much improved reception when I turn a light on. The light is in the closet where I have placed the splitter. I have tested this several times. Light on, reception good, light off worse or no reception (on multiple TV's).

the light switch also turns on the outlet the splitter is powered from.

Is the splitter plugged into an outlet controlled by the switch?

You're running an amplified antenna into an amplified splitter?

Try eliminating that amplified splitter by replacing it with a passive splitter.

edit: the light switch also turns on the outlet the splitter is powered from.

Well, duh! When the light is off, so is the amplified splitter which disconnects the signal.

Thanks for all the responses

Answers

The splitter is not even plugged in for these tests, however I am curious why ProjectSHO89 would suggest using passive splitter. The splitter was plugged into an outlet that may be on same circuit, however not controlled by switch.

Thanks for all the responses

Answers

The splitter is not even plugged in for these tests, however I am curious why ProjectSHO89 would suggest using passive splitter. The splitter was plugged into an outlet that may be on same circuit, however not controlled by switch.

Too much amplification is as bad as not enough...

Thanks for all the responses

Answers

The splitter is not even plugged in for these tests, however I am curious why ProjectSHO89 would suggest using passive splitter. The splitter was plugged into an outlet that may be on same circuit, however not controlled by switch.

Too much amplification is as bad as not enough...

Ya know, clarity is important the first time around.

I have heard that you can overamplify. On some sites they indicate that if you have multiple TV's off one antenna, you should use an amped splitter.

Anyway, I plugged the splitter back in and it didn't affect things at all. Still, the light switch seems to control my reception. I am sure there is some LOGICAL reason for this, but it escapes me.

Anyway, I plugged the splitter back in and it didn't affect things at all. Still, the light switch seems to control my reception. I am sure there is some LOGICAL reason for this, but it escapes me.

It's not a touch lamp, is it? They are known to cause interference.

If not, the best solution for interference with an indoor antenna is to move the antenna outdoors or into the attic.

Generally - one doesn't use both an amplifed antenna / pre-amp and a distribution amp unless there are extreme cases for doing so, such as long cables combined with multiple drops. Even then, your distribution amp should only barely make up for your splits. And not powering an amp kills reception through it.

I should know this - because I have a OTA / distribution setup that would drive most people here nuts. I'm doing both - 19dB Winegard pre-amp on a CM4221 antenna, coming to a Channel Plus Multiroom distribution system, with a Radio Shack distribution amp because I needed MORE outputs, along with some very long (50-100 feet in some cases) runs of RG6 coax to the reception devices. When it's done right - it's beautiful - when somethings not right - it's really not right.

Is the lamp on a dimmer?
If you remove the bulb from the lamp do you get the same effect?
If the lamp a CFL or an incadescent?

Whether there's a dimmer or if the bulb is CFL, that shouldn't improve reception, but probably interfere with reception.

This is a stupid question, but I don't see that it's been asked yet ...

Is the power injector for the mast-mounted pre-amp in the closet? Any chance it's being powered off when you shut the light off?

If not, is the power injector downstream of the distribution amp? I don't consider this likely, but perhaps the distribution amp is only letting power through when the switch is in the on position (miss-wired outlet weirdness).

This is a stupid question, but I don't see that it's been asked yet ...

Is the power injector for the mast-mounted pre-amp in the closet? Any chance it's being powered off when you shut the light off?

If not, is the power injector downstream of the distribution amp? I don't consider this likely, but perhaps the distribution amp is only letting power through when the switch is in the on position (miss-wired outlet weirdness).

That's a GOLD STAR idea!

This is a stupid question, but I don't see that it's been asked yet ...

Is the power injector for the mast-mounted pre-amp in the closet? Any chance it's being powered off when you shut the light off?

If not, is the power injector downstream of the distribution amp? I don't consider this likely, but perhaps the distribution amp is only letting power through when the switch is in the on position (miss-wired outlet weirdness).
Already covered above.

Maybe your wiring is screwed up,with the switch breaking the neutral instead of the hot wire.I've seen this happen and causes all sorts of problems.

Easy test. Get a small lamp or radio and:
Plug it into the same recepticle where the power injector for the antenna is located. Test the light switch.

Do the same with the powered splitter.

See if one (or both) of the outlets is controlled by the light switch (circuit). Report back.

Easy test. Get a small lamp or radio and:
Plug it into the same recepticle where the power injector for the antenna is located. Test the light switch.

Do the same with the powered splitter.

See if one (or both) of the outlets is controlled by the light switch (circuit). Report back.

Or get an extension cord for the power supplies and run it off a known non-switched outlet.