Considering whether my Wal-mart obtained "Philips" pre-amp can be improved, couldn't I just get a new pre-amp "only" for the mast outdoors? Assuming the 120 AC-powered power supply in the house has proper voltage / amperage, I would appreciate any suggestions on what might be a good choice, including used / surplus / salvage that others have outgrown.

I am feeding an '05 vintage Olevia HDTV with a chimney-mounted directional antenna, soon to be an "Antennacraft" MXU59 (http://www.antennacraft.net/MXU.htm), currently picking up higher wattage HD broadcasts from 60+ miles with Radio Shack U-75R (http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2265531w345.jpg) mounted off chimney, about 30 feet up, w/ rotor.

All preamps come with a power inserter. The power inserter is easy to install as it is simply plugging it into the antenna line indoors. The old power inserter MAY be ok but why take the chance. The new power inserter comes with the preamp and it is easy to install.

Rick R

The preamp / power inserter are sold as a package for a reason. The preamp itself should be up on the antenna mast, and the power inserter somewhere inside so it gets 120V AC power.

Would I be wasting my money to try one of these (http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=S0065DSB) in place of the Wal-mart one?

Any experimenters circuits out there, or a source you can point me to? Just not sure my spouse has any stomach for another $60 after that latest succession of investments / experiments . . . .

Purchase the cm7777 preamp with power inserter which is the leader of the pack. Pass on your other selections.

Forget about the walmart one, the experimenter varieties, and screwing around with the one you currently own.

Please.

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=ANC7777

Box arrived w/ CM7777 yesterday. For expedience & since it was cold & dark, I made a short 75 ohm pigtail and spliced the existing 300 Ohm lead from the antenna - about 30" long - to the balun / transformer.

Anyhow now I'm down to about 1 channel.:( . . . PBS

Does the balun need to go right at the antenna? Channel Master also says "locate the power supply as close to TV as possible". Mine is in the basement, where the old one was, so about mid way between the antenna (on the chimney) and the receiver / tuner (Olevia) on the 2nd floor. Is that bad?

Preamp switches are in the factory default positions, FM trap "in" and combined VHF / UHF on coaxial input.

Antenna is a Yagi / corner reflector AntennaCraft MXU59 (http://www.summitsource.com/images/products/ANTU59.jpg).

inside preamp module.
switches set to common and fm in

if you are using separate vhf/uhf antennas switch set to separate

balun at antenna > short rg6 coax off balun>antenna in combined port of preamp>coax from output/power port>coax to from antenna port of power inserter>coax from to tv port >to splitters>to tuners.

make sure unit is unplugged. when making connections

make sure center conductor inside coax fitting is long enough and examine the fitting for shorts...braid wrapped around center conductor for example.

Balun on the antenna terminals, then a relatively short piece of coax to the preamp (be sure you put it in correctly - antenna end and power end ARE important), then a single piece of coax to the preamp's power supply (again - which cable goes where IS important), then out the TV side to your TV / distribution network. You can generally use multiple pieces of coax joined with barrel connectors where necessary. Just remember "single coax between power supply and preamp" - no splitters at all.

Thanks for the advice. FWIW, I moved the PS to within 3' of the TV and performance is better. I'm getting very watchable reception - tonight - from a couple 2-edge at 56-57 miles and a "tropo" over 75 miles out. Temperatures are down in the single digits tonight - will try to fix the balun this weekend maybe.