LABGEAR VARIABLE GAIN MASTHEAD AMPLIFIER

Randyleprechaun

Hi,

Has anyone any experience of using this kit(see attachment).

Would it be useful where you weren't sure how much gain was required?

Has anyone used it or have anything good or bad to say on it?

Thanks

gtg60

Labgear stuff would be a well known make, you wouldn't have any issues with them.

However, I really like the idea of being able to adjust the gain from inside, most variable gain masthead amps have the gain control in the actual masthead!

Randyleprechaun

yeah, seems like a good idea all right, if you have PSU near TV you can see picture while adjusting.

Or even if you had it in an attic or crawl space it means you don't need to get up to the AMP.

Is the fact that it goes down to 9db gain a good feature too

Verso

Yes I have similar equipment with the variable gain PSU in the loft. In fact some weeks ago whilst training a new Group B aerial to receive Preseli I was getting Channel 43 (BBC) stations at around 93% quality but Channel 46 (ITV) would only come in at about 38% no matter how I adsjusted my aerial. I then reduced the gain with the variable and Channel 46 immediately increased to 67% whilst 43 remained at 93%. With a little more adjusting of the gain both channels are now coming in at 93%. Hope this is helpful.

Randyleprechaun

I see on some websites that the gain of the one way unit is actually only variable from 16 to 26db instead of the 9 to 26 specified. would it be desireable to have the capability to go down to 9 or is 16 to 26 good enough for most applications.

The 4 way aint much dearer, would I be aswell of buying that for the extra gain range and just use the one output.

I'm looking for an amp that takes the guess work out of which amp to buy.

Any ideas

Verso

Hi,

As I am not an expert in these things I can only comment on the kit I have myself. The gain on my PSU goes down to 9db and I would imagine that the greater range of this item would be an advantage, but depending on individual systems maybe the 16db might be OK. In my own case the variable gain has been the difference between poor quality ITV at 35%/40% and excellent quality of up to 93%.

Also with regard to the amp mine has the four outputs as I have it connected to two TVs. The extra outputs are useful as you might want to add extra tvs at a later date.

I have had this kit in operation for the last six months and to date I have found it very good. The amp is mounted on a mast outside and has come through the winter months with flying colours. As previously stated I have the PSU mounted in the loft but as far as I know you can have this in operation nearer to the TV if you want.

Randyleprechaun

I only need one output as I will be feeding into a sky box and feeding through an amp of that to several rooms and incorporating sky eyes for sky control.

I suppose getting the 4way would be all right even though only one used

Verso

You mention that you are feeding into a Sky box. However a Sky box requires a dish which as far as I am aware would not need or work with the kit you describe. My setup with this equipment consists of an aerial which receives DTT.

A Sky box and dish properly sited do not need any other amplification.

byte

Verso wrote: »

You mention that you are feeding into a Sky box. However a Sky box requires a dish which as far as I am aware would not need or work with the kit you describe. My setup with this equipment consists of an aerial which receives DTT.

A Sky box and dish properly sited do not need any other amplification.

I think he means he'll be putting the terrestrial signal through the RF loopthrough on the Sky box, then using the RF2 output to feed other TV's with the "magic eye" so that he'll get terrestrial, as well as Sky (one channel) in other rooms.

Verso

Right, I did'nt think of that.