[mythtv-users] OT Question About OTA Antennas

[Brad DerManouelian]

On Sep 24, 2007, at 8:35 AM, Brian Wood wrote:

> James Oltman wrote:
>>
>>
>> On 9/24/07, *Brad DerManouelian* <myth at dermanouelian.com
>> <mailto:myth at dermanouelian.com>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>     Try it without an amp. It amplifies noise as well as signal  
>> you want.
>>     I've never had better reception with one.
>
>>
>> Brad,
>>
>> Earlier last week, the antenna was plugged into the amp and the  
>> HDHR was
>> also plugged in.  However, the amp wasn't on (ie, it had no power to
>> it).  I gather that this is the same thing as removing the amp  
>> from the
>> equation.  If not, I can try directly plugging into the antenna.   
>> What
>> do you think?
>
> Removing the power from the amp is NOT the same thing as removing the
> amp. Almost certainly the unpowered amp has far more signal loss  
> than an
> F-81 "barrel" connector would have.
>
> In addition, the frequency response of an unpowered amp would be  
> nothing
> close to "flat".
>
> beww

Right, but it would certainly give indication that the amp is causing  
the problem. Turn off the amp and get less noise. Remove the amp and  
get even less than that. If he turns off the amp and receives the  
same noise/poor signal, then removing completely probably won't help.  
We're talking real-world, not specific perfect scenario lab tests.