tv antenna boost

crasster wrote:
Boosters are "OK", but I've never thought they were worth the hype. They amplify, but it also amplifies the noise/interference. They will improve slightly and may just be the thing needed to "get the job done". (which is good)

One of the big NITS I like to pick has to do with this.
IF you have either a Winegard Sensar, Roadstar or other booster equipped antenna system. Or one of the King Controls (jack) systems.
DO you know where your booster is? I do I know exactly where it is

IT IS INSIDE THE ANTENNA HEAD.

This means it gets the strongest signal in the system and makes it stronger. Yes it also amplifies the noise but unlike boosters located later (inside the RV) there is no signal loss and no noise gain between the antenna and the booster.

Side note: I am an acrophobe.. (Fear of heights)
One of the rarest photos ever taken is me... Installing a mast head amplifier in a Channel Master antenna on top of a 100 Foot tower.

Suffice to say I had great faith in my safety harness.

The idea is to boost the signal BEFORE you get coax line loss that way both signal and noise come up together. Modern TVS' (Digital) are rather good at ignoring the noise.

Side note 2
As a ham radio operator I operate both analog (AM/SSB/FM) and Digital (PSK-31, RTTY and other) modes.. I've had my computer decode PSK signals where I could neither see the signal on the spectrum scope waterfall display NOR hear it on the speaker, The signal was 100% buried in noise to both my eyes and ears.

But the digital decoder software had no problem. Solid copy. I made the contact.