where do you get your supplies? Single channel amp,notch filters,band pass filters etc?You need look no further in Canada than TinLee in Toronto - a terrific supplier of signal gear.

http://www.tinlee.com/

I need a splitter for my SBGH antenna. Lowes sells a 2-way 900MHz splitter for $3.50 or a 2300MHz splitter "Optimized for HDTV" for $8.50. For my application, is the 2300MHz splitter necessary or worth the extra money?

no, ota won't go over 900

The only reason you'd want to buy a 2300MHz splitter is if you wanted to use it for satellite.

Thanks Tom F.1. and HDTV101

Can anyone recommend what to look for in this 3x4 multiswitch?
I read through this thread, but couldn't find what I was looking for.

I presently have a 4228 antenna going to 7777 preamp,
then into an eagle aspen mini max 3x4 multiswitch,
then off to different rooms with diplexers into samsung 260F receivers at the TV's.

I had a lot of trouble getting TO stations, but slowly am getting improvements.
One of the trouble areas was the multiswitch.
I can lock on global (41.1) with about 5 bars when not going through the multiswitch. Once I connect the mutiswitch, I lose global and other channels go down in strength.

Reading the specs on the eagle aspen it has an insertion loss of 12db, and is not powered.

Is that good for a multiswitch or is there better ones?

You're also distributing satellite through the same system, right?

Stampeder,
Yes, Just one satellite, So only a 3x4 is needed.

I've been using a channel master 4221 and a channel master 7778 preamplifier going into my Sharp HDTV for a couple months now. I live in Toronto and I have had no problems getting the usual channels people here in Toronto receive (except for CBS).

I have another HDTV and decided to split the signal to the new TV. I used a Antronix 2 way splitter 5~1000MHz (CMC2002H) to split the signal. And I used RG6 cabling throughout.

So after I added in the splitter I couldn't get any channels in except for CTV on either TV. I thought the splitter I have would be fine, but obviously it is causing the problem. Do I have to buy a different one?

Any suggestions would be appreciated :)

Here is a diagram to show how I set it up:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3187/2697323640_a5a7e87ae6_b.jpg

Have you tried putting the splitter AFTER the pre-amp power?

Have you tried putting the splitter AFTER the pre-amp power?
I haven't tried that yet as the location where the cable is split is outside. Would be difficult to get the pre-app power outside (actually that may not standup to the elements). I could possibly run some more cables to get everything inside.

Perhaps would be worth running an extension outside though to see if I temporarily put the pre-amp power in front of the splitter if it would solve the issue.

Make sure that your splitter features "DC Power Pass" and that the preamp's coax goes through the power pass route or else you are killing off the preamp. Its easy to find splitters that have at least one power path through them. If your splitter already does that, please tell us the lengths of RG6 cabling being used.

Also keep in mind that you can get weatherproof outdoor boxes for power and datacomm use.

Make sure that your splitter features "DC Power Pass" and that the preamp's coax goes through the power pass route or else you are killing off the preamp.

It looks like this is your problem. Apperently the Antronix CMC2002H (http://www.antronix.net/Products/category.php?page=droppassives&i=7)doesn't support "DC Power Pass." Without power the pre-amp will block the signals.

Thanks Roger, I would say that nails it down completely! ;)

Nailed it perfectly! Picked up another splitter today that allowed power to pass through and I have all the channels again. Thanks for your help everyone :)

Great to hear, and its always nicer when it is the smaller, cheaper things that are the cause of the trouble. ;)

If my HDhomrun for US stations says signal strength 65% and signal quality 75%,what will a pre-ampthat amplifies gain do and what would a distribution amp do? Would an increase in gain improve signal quality and distribution amp improve signal strength? I do not really understand gain etc.

I am splitting the OTA signal twice into the homerun, and have about 100ft of cable. Canadian signalscoming in well.

Thanks

JonSS, with your total cable run of 100 feet a preamp is ideal and recommended in your setup and will work very well.

You will not need any additional distribution indoor amp with a preamp like a channel master 7778, 7777, or 7775.

The preamp will still have enough gain for the signal to be split several times.

Good luck.

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Thanks. What exactly does increasing gain do. I have a channel master 4248 but may change it to a 4228 as the installer put the wrong one in by mistake. I also have to play with direction a bit as I am not getting NBC or CBS (but do get ABC, Fox, CW)