Actually, the best option is to use passive model and NO amplifier. For DTV, amplifiers help only to overcome cable loss. There is zero loss in the very short run between indoor antenna and receiver, so an amplifier is TOTALLY unneeded.

Unless the amplifier has a better noise figure than the TV's RF input amp, which is often true for standalone amplifiers, but I imagine is not often true for amps built into indoor antennas.

Unless the amplifier has a better noise figure than the TV's RF input amp,

The problem is most TV manufacturers don't publish the noise figure specification for the RF input amp, so it becomes an exercise in trial and error. Some TVs have an amazing input amp that you will never be able to beat while others can easily be improved upon.

which is often true for standalone amplifiers

I would qualify this by saying quality standalone amplifiers.

You're right, I should have mentioned quality, which excludes most most amps other than Winegard, Channel Master, AntennasDirect, (2-3.5dB range) and the specialty manufacturers like Kiztech and Research Comms (<1 dB).

Just another thing that might complicate matters...

Since the ZSS & clones use what seems to be a Hall Effect Transducer in place of a balun I have questions as to whether the output may or may not be suitable for a preamp's front end. This is aside from the fact that a ZSS will feed a conventional signal amp just fine, but for a litany of reasons to do with indoor reception the results are almost always poor compared to an outdoor antenna.

Unfortunately I don't have a ZSS to hook up for measurement of it's unamplified signal.

i guess the best thing to do to avoid the power injector problem is to get the passive version and use a seperate amp.
As I stated before, the best thing is to remove the log periodic element from the base and hook the coax directly to the element.

As I stated before, the best thing is to remove the log periodic element from the base and hook the coax directly to the element.
I did some testing of this. Didn't seem to matter for me one way or the other.

Just another thing that might complicate matters...

Since the ZSS & clones use what seems to be a Hall Effect Transducer in place of a balun I have questions as to whether the output may or may not be suitable for a preamp's front end. This is aside from the fact that a ZSS will feed a conventional signal amp just fine, but for a litany of reasons to do with indoor reception the results are almost always poor compared to an outdoor antenna.

Unfortunately I don't have a ZSS to hook up for measurement of it's unamplified signal.
A "Hall Effect Transducer" is used to sense magnetic fields. I don't
understand how it could be used as a Preamp:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall_effect_sensor

Amplified antennas are more likely to use "Field Effect Transistors",
including HMET's, JFET's and MOSFETS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field-effect_transistor

Not as a preamp - as I say, a balun. :) On the ZSS's internal LPDA metal the convergence point is an overlap with a device sandwiched between the dipoles that seems to me to be a Hall Effect Transducer. I can see how a FET makes sense for the job. I wish I had kept the photos posted here from a tear-down by another member several years ago, but the hosting service he used doesn't have them up anymore.

Note to all members: if you don't have a guaranteed web host for your photos please use our own photo hosting (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=92167)so that the images never disappear.

Which ZSS are you referring to????

I just dissembled my non-amplified Zenith ZHDTV1 Silver Sensor, which
came in a ZENITH labeled, trapezoidal shaped box.
The coax connector at the rear is attached to a thin coax that runs
up through the middle to the front, where it is soldered to a pair
of copper pads for connection to the front of the upper and lower LPDA's.
Nothing fancy....no balun.....just as I expected....hardly worth taking a picture....

My misinterpretation from those photos then as I've never eyeballed a stripped-down ZSS before. :)

I'm glad I read this thread... I live in an apartment building and hence have no access to the outdoors (no balcony, either). What I do have is a big, west-facing window -- and the line-of-sight to the CN Tower is just about the same as to Buffalo.

At any rate, over the past year or two I've tried putting a couple of different amplifiers between my indoor antennas and my TV, and have been perplexed by the lousy results, until now. (Most of the time, when people talk about amps, they're hooking them up to outdoor antennas with long cable runs, not the 5 m or so I'm going, all indoors.)

(And, for the record, I'm using a one-piece Stealth Hawk -- joined at the top -- and have some gnarly-looking pieces of 12-gauge wire as a reflector, and it's the best I've used so far.)

As always, this forum is useful and informative and very, very insightful!

You should review an excellent thread here (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=124542) that describes in detail how to construct double diamond antennas for indoor use.

Hey Guys,

I have a friend that is moving in an apartment and his landlord does not want a external antenna outside on the wall.

I was wondering how is the CM 4040 reception?

Is it good like the SS ?

What is the best interior antenna right know ? SS, SS amplified or others ?


Thanks,

Intravino

For a store-bought directional indoor antenna the ZSS still rules, and a person's location would dictate whether to get the VHF/UHF model, the UHF-only, and/or the amplified version.

Terk HDTVa
I am using a 4228 indoors and get all my stations just fine I picked the Terk HDTVa as it is time to free up the corner of the front room from the monster antenna so I placed the Terk HDTVa in a location near the TV and a window and boom all my stations less KBTC (24.1) remap to 28.1,.2,.3 the percent ratings on my CPU TV card was only 1 to 4% less than the 4228 and on the TV it is variance of just one bar less so who-da guessed? It is the Terk HDTVa amplified version Honestly I would have never guessed it would perform so well. :)

Update having moved the Terk to the window across the room from the Tv gave all the stations plus the 24.1 remaps to 28.1 and 28.2 and 28.3 the signal strength is good enough for viewing just barely but it works and all locals are right up there is the high 80 to mid 90's %.

Yeah its' a fine ANT. I use it at work in a window that is just about 3 feet off the ground and pulls the 3 channels in just fine over a 75' cable run.

Those little log periodic antennas are pretty decent for UHF and easy to build as well. I built one about 40 years ago from plans in an electronics magazine. All that was required was some scrap 14/2 copper, some scrap wood, a balun and some solder. Don't have the plans now but it shouldn't be difficult to find some.

The ZSS doesn't use a conventional balun though - it has small, thin, sandwiched metal plates attached to each side of the LPDA that resemble a Hall Effect transducer. I've always assumed that this was part of the secret of the ZSS's success.