Signal Amplifiers (Amps, Preamps, Distro Amps) - See Chart in Post #1 - Page 53 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

EdT · 2009-04-27, 09:22 PM

balm: I picked up the GE preamp today and I can't seem to get it to work, I hooked it up and the screen turns blank black, is that a symptom of tuner overload ? I have about 50ft of RG-11 running from my antenna on the roof down to my basement where it is connected to a 3 way splitter with RG-6 cabling after that. I tried connecting the power transformer of the pre-amp right before the splitter and no banana !

balm · 2009-04-27, 09:29 PM

Edt,

I assume you put the GE cylinder (amplifier) right at the antenna (balun), then the power injector right at the TV....

I know when I did it before, and again today, BANG, I lost most digitals - blank! I was told by more knowledgeable members it was OVERLOAD...

balm · 2009-04-27, 09:40 PM

I was disappointed also,...I thought it would help me with CBMT, and CFJP, which I rarely get, but the TV shows its trying to get them, around 30-40%, will lock at 50%....

....very difficult because of the Mt-Royal blocking... but the signal seems to be bouncing (im sure thats not the correct technical term) off nearby buildings...I used to get CBMT with the antenna LOWERED to around 20ft...

balm · 2009-04-27, 10:03 PM

Yuprules,

I'm confused, EdT mentionned a PRE-AMP (GE), but you referred him to a DISTRO AMP (PCT)...

EdT · 2009-04-27, 10:50 PM

balm: I put the GE amp at the antenna's balum and the power injector right after where my RG-11 cable enters the house before the 3 way splitter to 3 other TVs and once again after the splitter on one of the cables to one of the TVs, same results ! What I don't understand is if it is only 10dB why is it that my 10dB distribution amp doesn't overload the tuner after I placed it after the 3 way splitter ?

balm · 2009-04-27, 11:30 PM

EdT

Quote:

What I don't understand is if it is only 10dB why is it that my 10dB distribution amp doesn't overload the tuner after I placed it after the 3 way splitter ?

not sure I follow you, you have the 3-way, then where is the distro...

EdT · 2009-04-28, 12:15 AM

I picked-up two GE pre-amp(was planning to use one for my neighbour's set-up once I got my system going) today and its doesn't seem to work blank black screen ...tuner overload maybe ?

EdT · 2009-04-28, 02:08 AM

The distro is after the 3 way on one of the cable leading a one of my TVs, I meant even then it does not overload it, but the in-line overloads it before and after the 3 way without the distro inline.

I think I will have to draw up a schematic of my system soon for reference ...LoL

Yuprules · 2009-04-28, 10:53 AM

Sorry, I should be more specific, there is no need to buy the PCT distro amp, just the one with one output.

balm · 2009-04-28, 02:55 PM

Quote:

I prefer the PCT amp (not the distribution one...just one in and one out, one for power).

what exact type of amp is this, not a pre-amp, not a distro, could this be option for me...its around 40$...???

EdT · 2009-04-29, 11:50 AM

How do you hook up these PCT amps ? there is no instructions or schematics on PCT's or CM's sites ! I mean you insert the ANT input to the "RF In/Out", then the output "RF Out" to the TV, what is the other port, looks like you can inject power through 2 of those ports ?

recneps77 · 2009-04-29, 12:51 PM

One port is specifically for power only.
You can also just leave that port capped off and inject power over your antenna feed.
But as the amp comes with a cable and adapter (with coax end), it's easiest to just use the coax port for power, assuming you have a plug within range.

otaedge · 2009-04-29, 01:31 PM

I made my own cable for power just made a longer run of RG6 , if the one supplied is not long enough you can make your own cable run works great!

ADRiiAN` · 2009-04-29, 04:56 PM

What I want to try first, is adding a pre-amp to my Antenna's Direct DB4, but there are so many to choose from.

See Post #1216 in the Mississauga thread for my situation: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=36536

I'm currently looking at:

Winegard AP 8275
Channel Master CM 7778
Winegard AP 4800
Channel Master CM 7775
Channel Master CM 7777

Mostly because of the high gain they have. Any suggestions?

holl_ands · 2009-04-29, 05:36 PM

PCT International PCT-MA2-M is a Two-Way Cable Drop Amp.
Normally Drop Amps are powered from external AC-to-15VDC transformer,
but I see this one also works with a PCT MPI-1G power insertion module:
http://www.summitsource.com/15-db-di...facturers_id=9
http://www.pctinternational.com/_pro...ultramini.html

However Installation Instructions only describe external transformer method:
http://www.channelmasterintl.com/doc...ers_200807.pdf

Specs are on PCT Catalog page 8:
http://www.pctinternational.com/_pro...080803_rev.pdf

2009-04-29, 01:31 PM	#793
otaedge Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 30	Distribution Amp PCT I made my own cable for power just made a longer run of RG6 , if the one supplied is not long enough you can make your own cable run works great!

2009-04-29, 04:56 PM	#794
ADRiiAN` Rookie Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Posts: 11	What I want to try first, is adding a pre-amp to my Antenna's Direct DB4, but there are so many to choose from. See Post #1216 in the Mississauga thread for my situation: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=36536 I'm currently looking at: Winegard AP 8275 Channel Master CM 7778 Winegard AP 4800 Channel Master CM 7775 Channel Master CM 7777 Mostly because of the high gain they have. Any suggestions? Last edited by stampeder; 2009-04-30 at 03:29 PM. Reason: Moved from Mississauga thread

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

2009-04-27, 09:22 PM	#781
EdT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Montreal, QC Posts: 301	balm: I picked up the GE preamp today and I can't seem to get it to work, I hooked it up and the screen turns blank black, is that a symptom of tuner overload ? I have about 50ft of RG-11 running from my antenna on the roof down to my basement where it is connected to a 3 way splitter with RG-6 cabling after that. I tried connecting the power transformer of the pre-amp right before the splitter and no banana !

2009-04-27, 09:29 PM	#782
balm Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Montreal Posts: 2,248	Edt, I assume you put the GE cylinder (amplifier) right at the antenna (balun), then the power injector right at the TV.... I know when I did it before, and again today, BANG, I lost most digitals - blank! I was told by more knowledgeable members it was OVERLOAD...

2009-04-27, 09:40 PM	#783
balm Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Montreal Posts: 2,248	I was disappointed also,...I thought it would help me with CBMT, and CFJP, which I rarely get, but the TV shows its trying to get them, around 30-40%, will lock at 50%.... ....very difficult because of the Mt-Royal blocking... but the signal seems to be bouncing (im sure thats not the correct technical term) off nearby buildings...I used to get CBMT with the antenna LOWERED to around 20ft...

2009-04-27, 10:03 PM	#784
balm Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Montreal Posts: 2,248	Yuprules, I'm confused, EdT mentionned a PRE-AMP (GE), but you referred him to a DISTRO AMP (PCT)...

2009-04-27, 10:50 PM	#785
EdT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Montreal, QC Posts: 301	balm: I put the GE amp at the antenna's balum and the power injector right after where my RG-11 cable enters the house before the 3 way splitter to 3 other TVs and once again after the splitter on one of the cables to one of the TVs, same results ! What I don't understand is if it is only 10dB why is it that my 10dB distribution amp doesn't overload the tuner after I placed it after the 3 way splitter ?

2009-04-28, 12:15 AM	#787
EdT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Montreal, QC Posts: 301	I picked-up two GE pre-amp(was planning to use one for my neighbour's set-up once I got my system going) today and its doesn't seem to work blank black screen ...tuner overload maybe ?

2009-04-28, 02:08 AM	#788
EdT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Montreal, QC Posts: 301	The distro is after the 3 way on one of the cable leading a one of my TVs, I meant even then it does not overload it, but the in-line overloads it before and after the 3 way without the distro inline. I think I will have to draw up a schematic of my system soon for reference ...LoL

2009-04-28, 10:53 AM	#789
Yuprules Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Montreal, QC Channel Master 4228 Posts: 356	Sorry, I should be more specific, there is no need to buy the PCT distro amp, just the one with one output.

2009-04-29, 11:50 AM	#791
EdT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Montreal, QC Posts: 301	How do you hook up these PCT amps ? there is no instructions or schematics on PCT's or CM's sites ! I mean you insert the ANT input to the "RF In/Out", then the output "RF Out" to the TV, what is the other port, looks like you can inject power through 2 of those ports ?

2009-04-29, 12:51 PM	#792
recneps77 Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Whitby Posts: 2,815	One port is specifically for power only. You can also just leave that port capped off and inject power over your antenna feed. But as the amp comes with a cable and adapter (with coax end), it's easiest to just use the coax port for power, assuming you have a plug within range.

2009-04-29, 05:36 PM	#795
holl_ands Veteran Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,636	PCT International PCT-MA2-M is a Two-Way Cable Drop Amp. Normally Drop Amps are powered from external AC-to-15VDC transformer, but I see this one also works with a PCT MPI-1G power insertion module: http://www.summitsource.com/15-db-di...facturers_id=9 http://www.pctinternational.com/_pro...ultramini.html However Installation Instructions only describe external transformer method: http://www.channelmasterintl.com/doc...ers_200807.pdf Specs are on PCT Catalog page 8: http://www.pctinternational.com/_pro...080803_rev.pdf