Will a TV/FM booster help me?

Originally Posted by Master Theseus

As a general rule, (according to NPR) No.

Amplified for HD is not a good suggestion, and from what I have heard about their testing is that it actually reduced reception. I am not sure, but that is what I am told.

Still, the best FM HD Antenna (Also according to NPR Labs) is the C.Crane FM Reflect Antenna $25 made by Sangean. And I am not saying that just because I work here.

Does the Accurian come with a dipole antenna, whip, or pigtail? I have found that, even with our table radio (HDR-1) a dipole provides about 2-3db improved reception over the included whip antenna.

Originally Posted by R.F. Burns

I don't know what NPR found but my system has a mast mounted pre-amp and it works like a charm for HD reception. Here's the way my antenna system is configured. The attic mounted VHF/UHF antenna is hung from the rafters via fish line. At the antenna end there's a 300 to 75 ohm transformer and a short run of RG 6 connects the pre-amp to the transformer. About 5 or 10 foot of RG 6 is used, still inside the attic where the power supply for the preamp is located. From the power supply the RG 6 runs outside of my home to a passive switch located at the side of my house. At the switch, 3 runs of RG 6 (two sat TV runs and the TV antenna cable) connect to the input where they are combined and split again to four seperate outputs. Each output contains the combined RF. I use three outputs going to three seperate Directv receivers. The fourth output is terminated with a 75 ohm resister. At the room where the Sangean tuner is located, the coax enters and the feed is split into two outputs, one side being the satellite feed and the other being the TV antenna feed. The sat end goes directly into the Directv receiver and the TV antenna feed is again split so that both the Directv receiver and the Sangean receiver can be fed. You can add another 30 foot of cable running from the spit to the receiver. With that setup, I have heard stations with the Sangean which I have not heard using any other radio. The furthest full service station I can hear with the Sangean is about 150 miles south of me between 2 local first adjacents. I also receive a nearly full quieting stereo station on 88.9, running 11 watts. That station is 50 miles from my location. I receive every NY FM HD station solidly. There's a HD station which is some 60 miles south of my location and I have no problem with them either. So the answer is if you have the amps try them, what have you got to lose. Mine works very well.