Masthead Amps

lucernarian

I've been trying to fix up the UK channel reception here and I need a little advice. There is a masthead amp but I can't tell how powerful it is, unless I take the aerial down.

I'm wondering if it's worthwhile to get a more powerful masthead amp, as I will be replacing the cable aswell.

There seems to be conflicting information on the benefits of amps, like if there is any point to using a masthead amp if the cable length is short, for example. So, what's your opinions, guys??:)

byte

Hm. Masthead amps can vary on the gain they add to your signal. The most commonest I use is ones with 25dB gain. In poorer areas, a variable 24-35dB gain amp is used.

You will need to get at the amp, to see if it's grouped (ie Group A, B, C/D or Wideband, etc).

You could use a variable gain amp (I prefer Triax or Johansson) so if going "full blast" introduces lines on your picture, you can lower the gain until you're happy.

As for not needing a masthead amp, if that was the case, then I would not use them! But in some cases they're a necessity.

Back to your first paragraph, how do you mean "fix your UK reception?" Is it working at the moment? Or are the channels off/very poor compared to normal?

lucernarian

They've been gradually deteriorating over the last few years and now they are very snowy with the sound beginning to crackle too (cannot change nicam settings). They often have shadowy diagonal lines across them too. RTÉ is perfect as is the digital RTÉ reception. TV3 and TG4 nearly perfect too.

UK channels were never good enough to have perfect teletext but now nothing shows up. The aerial is the bog standard wideband grid aerial vertically polarised. I suspect it's a fringe amp as the splitter box and power supply and 2 way distributor are also fringe.

Thanks for the advice:) The variable amp sounds good so far.

watty

Replace the coax with Sat cable for a start.

lucernarian

Replacing the coax is already part of the plans. I replaced a flylead with one based on RG6 and now TV3 is perfect on the telly connected with it. It's not very easy to get CT100 but I am planning to get it by the end of the year. Is it worthwhile using CT100 instead of RG6?

My main doubt was if it was useful to also get a more powerful masthead amp.

byte

I'd consider changing that grid aerial (aka flyswat, colour king) for a decent directional grouped aerial. However, TV3 and TG4 (and RTE's if on UHF in the same group) could suffer if they don't have their own aerial. I reckon to consider at least using a Triax UNIX52, or a "Quad" by ABC Aerials. You will need to know what transmitter you're receiving your UK channels from, so as to buy the right grouped aerial.

As watty mentioned, replacing the cable is a good idea also. RG6 minimum. Depending on the cable run, the benefits of CT100 would be marginal (though every little helps ). Indeed, "copper on copper" (CT100 or equivalent) is harder to get these days. Most my suppliers don't seem to stock it anymore as it has nearly doubled in price in the past year, apparently because of the rising cost in copper.

Do you have a seperate RTE aerial? Or is the grid aerial receiving everything?

lucernarian

Grid is pointing in between Kilkeel (B) and Clermont Carn (C/D) though there's a hill in the way of both. I can get Divis better from ground level but Kilkeel might have strong patches which Divis wouldn't. I was planning to get a new aerial for Divis next year. And replacing amp, cable or aerial is complicated by the Digiweb antenna installed at the base of it:(

But I'm replacing the cable and possibly the amp first, to see how much of an improvement I can eek out of the setup.

Thanks again!

byte

Fair enough. Let us know what changes you notice.