Hooked up an antenna and a 10dB pre amp and I get all but one of my local digital channels. The only one I don't get is roughly in-line with 2 others and almost in between them in distance. I think if I adjust a bit more westerly, I can pick it up. My question(s) are:

1. Will an amplifier help in drop-out of the HD signal? I get a fair amount of freezing and pixelation, but not enough to make me not watch the channel.
2. Is there such a thing as an amplifier for signal, not a "device made to compensate for long cable runs"?
3. I have about 50 extra feet of cable on my antenna. Should I cut it off and will it help?
4. Why does some HD1018i programming still not show up as widescreen? Is it just to not ruin images for 4:3 sets? Will it all be 16:9 in the near future?
5. My local news is broadcast in HD720p. Why not HD1080i...cost?

Thanks

1) It may, depends if your problem is weak signal or multipath.
2) Yes though a pre-amp is usually the best thing to use because it's installed close to the antenna to limit the amount of interference that is picked up before being amplified.
3) It's adding some minor loss, it may or may not help, if you don't need it, get rid of it.
4) Not all programming is HD, most stations upconvert SD programming to HD resolutions but add the side bars to keep the aspect ratio correct. True HD should be 16:9.
5) What's the station? ABC and Fox are 720p normally and CBS, NBC and PBS tend to be 1080i.

Here is a picture of the stations I have near me.

I pick up 4, 7, 13, 38 and 40 but not 21.

21 is Fox 4 is NBC 7 is CBS 13 is ABC 38 is PBS and 40 is MY..

Hey, I'm on that map! :eek: (probably about 20 miles northeast of you)

I can get 21, but it's kind of finicky. I think it's because of interference from analog channel 57, the Fox station in Columbia, which for me is just about in the opposite direction from 21.

Hello, neighbor!

I really want FOX in HD for 24 and NASCAR.

Going to try a stronger amp next.

Hello, neighbor!

I really want FOX in HD for 24 and NASCAR.

Going to try a stronger amp next.

It may not be a signal strength issue. I had a problem with strong channels
getting knocked out when I was trying to boost for a lone channel (happens to
be fox for me as well). I checked a local forum and a guy down the street was
having problems with fox and didn't solve it even with a massive antenna and
the best pre-amp he could buy. (saved me the expense and trouble)