Quote:
Originally Posted by Falcon_77 /forum/post/12894799
If you are getting some results looking through a stucco wall, I would suggest trying it in the attic w/o the pre-amp at first. The ZIP code plot (see attached) may not be very accurate for the area North of Escondido, knowing the hills in the area. However, if you have a view to the South, then your prospects appear to be good.
Hopefully, the 4221 can pick up 8 and 10 when they switch back to VHF next year. How does it do on analog 8 and 10 now?
When I say I am getting results through a stucco wall, it is only with the preamp. Without it I get nothing.
If I connect the preamplified antenna directly to the TV, I sometimes get snowy 8 and 10 reception, and sometimes nothing. I need to try the antenna directly to the TV without the preamp to see what it does on the analogue 8 and 10.
What surprised me last night was some testing moving the antenna downstairs and connecting it directly to the tuner. Signal strength for 15, 39, 51, and 59 were all decent without a preamp. Adding the preamp, the weaker stations improved slightly, and the stronger stations did not change at all. I was expecting the preamp to overload with the direct connection. Since it did not appear to, I am wondering in I should trade up from the Spartan to a CM 7777. I am estimating my losses from the attic will be as follows:
2 splitters - 8db
2 diplexers - 2 bd
~150 ft of coax - 7.5 db
total - 17.5 db
not sure if I should add some loss for being in the attic or other connectors. Seems like the 23 db gain on the Spartan is about right, but if I want to get the VHF-hi stations next year, the 16 db VHF gain may be a little low. If a direct antenna-preamp-tuner connection does not appear to overload the preamp, should I upgrade?