signal strength

[Roger A]

I just put a HD7697P in the garage attic. I have 75 feet of RG6 from the antenna to the wall mount and RG6 from there to the TV. Some of the stations are breaking up on signal. Of course they are the furthest distance out. I will get up to four and five bars at times but cannot hold them steady. Do I need a amp or preamp on the system or is it just to far for the signal? I have the antenna aimed out the front wall so I am just going out through wallboard and wood siding. I know outside would be the best but with up to 60mph winds in Cheyenne Wy I hate to do it. Lost to many other things already. After reading so much info on this site I wish I would have gone with the 8200U. Would that have done the trick? The cost of the 7697P with an amp would have been about the same. Should I try the 8200U antenna or an amp or what?

[winegard]

Good morning Roger -

Even though you are looking only through the wall of your garage your signal will be greatly reduced because of not only the wall but you are lower than if the antenna is installed outside on the roof. Trees, your neighbor’s houses, etc will also reduce your signal strength. Amplifiers whether a preamplifier or a distribution amplifier can/will only amplify (strengthen) the information given to them so that you can overcome the cable loss, splitter loss, between the antenna and the TV set. In your case I would suggest the HDA-100 distribution amplifier at the antenna to amplify your signal before you cable loss has a chance to degrade the marginal signal level you have at the antenna.

[Roger A]

Thank You for the prompt reply. Here again can you tell me if the 8200U would have been a better choice? I am sure it would as it says it will pull in a stronger signal then the 7697P. I listened to the guy in the store instead of going with my gut feeling. He said I would have plenty of signal strength even in the garage attic with the 7697P. My fault for not finding this great info site first. HA! However I would but the 8200U and sell the 7697P for what I could get out of it if I new the 8200U would do the job. What do you think?? I did the antenna search on the site here and they suggested the 7698P. What is a guy to do.

[winegard]

Actually the antenna selector is giving you the correct answer, the best antenna in your situation would be the HD7698P. This is becaues you do not need the low band vhf that the 8200U supplies so the HD7698P is the largest antenna, with the highest mileage rating, with the largest beam-width that will receive all channels in your market.

[Roger A]

Thank you again for the latest reply. Now my question is that you suggest the HDA-100 distribition amp for me, but what about the HDA-200? Is bigger better or not in this case?

[winegard]

Good morning Roger A -

The HDA-100 before the cable run is all you need. Your talking about a 6db loss and the HDA-100 has 15db of gain.

[Roger A]

I am back with more questions. First, you say to use the HDA-100 distribution amp but the antenna specs for the 7697P recommend to use a pre-amp Ap series. So would you tell me what the difference is between the two.

Also, now I have to put in a splitter to run my DVR so I can record on one channel and watch another. You stated that I am losing 6db with just the cable run so what will I lose now? And in the future if I decide to run another splitter at the antenna for a run to the family room, what will that do for loss? Should I now go with the HDA-200?

And of course the real question is, if I put the antenna outside to get a stronger signal, would I need to buy an amp at all? I realize the loss - loss through cable length and splitters so may I assume that you run an amp reguardless?

Thank You Roger A

[winegard]

The Hd7698P will only receive approximately 10% more signal than the HD7697P. You will be much better off moving the antenna outside. This will give a much stronger primary signal to work with.



The difference between a preamplifier is that the amplifier goes at the antenna outside and the power supply is in the house someplace convenient. Where as the distribution amplifier is mounted inside the house and is not weather proof. If you are going to try an amplifier with the antenna in the attic try the AP-8700 to see if it helps improve you situation. The reason I am recommending the AP-8700 preamplifier is if you decide to move the antenna outside then you can move the preamplifier out with the antenna.



Your loss is -6dB / 100’ for cable, -3.5 -4.0dB loss for a 2 way splitter and -7.5 – 8.0dB loss for a 4way splitter. So your antenna system would be -6.0dB for cable loss and -3.5dB per each 2 way (2) so your total loss would be -13.0dB. The AP-8700 preamplifier has 18dBof gain so you should have enough amplification.