[d0ug]

Does anyone know if the SWM-8 amplifies the OTA signal before sending it out? I currently have a 20db distribution amp on my OTA run before it get split out to all the TVs. should I leave this amp in place on the cable run into the SWM, or should it be removed?

Also this amp is not weatherproof, it is mounted in the attic. the SWM will most likely be mounted outside. If I were to keep an AMP on the OTA line, it would require running the OTA coax inside to the AMP and then back out to the SWM. I might prefer to replace it with a weatherproof inline AMP that can be mounted outside. Does the SWM provide power on the OTA input that can power an inline AMP?

 

[inkahauts]

I never use an amp when setting something up at first, especially with OTA because it usually just amplifies a bad signal. Amps are mainly good if you have a good signal and then are splitting it to many tv's (and even then its tricky) as you seem to say. However, 20db is pretty big. How many TV's? The swm does not have an input for ota, you have to feed it in after the swm module, so there is no amplification for the ota itself in the swm. With that said, I would recommend hooking it up without an amp and seeing what your signals are before hooking it up with an amp...

I realize that may cause you two trips into the attic, but You may be better off that way.

 

[mickcris]

according to this it does not.http://www.wkforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2031

 

[d0ug]

I never use an amp when setting something up at first, especially with OTA because it usually just amplifies a bad signal. Amps are mainly good if you have a good signal and then are splitting it to many tv's (and even then its tricky) as you seem to say. However, 20db is pretty big. How many TV's? The swm does not have an input for ota, you have to feed it in after the swm module, so there is no amplification for the ota itself in the swm. With that said, I would recommend hooking it up without an amp and seeing what your signals are before hooking it up with an amp...

I realize that may cause you two trips into the attic, but You may be better off that way.

4 TVs and a Stereo reciever. The SWM-8 does have an OTA input on it and the SWM multiplexes the signal in with the DirecTV signal. Look at the right side of the SWM picture i have included with this message, the Off-Air input. Maybe you are thinking of the SWM-5 or the SWM LNB? The amp is still there from back when we were analog OTA only. When I installed the DirecTV, I just took the OTA cable that was going to the old TV and plugged it into the back of the HR-20 and we get very good HD OTA signal levels. I never thought to try it without the amp installed.

 

[houskamp]

any antenna amp should be weather proof and mounted as close to the ant as possible. remote mounting one just adds more noise and usualy does more harm than good..

 

[Grentz]

I have had opposite experience with OTA amps, I have a large amp that is inside only, and mounted a good 40ft from my antenna. Without the amp my antennas do not come in very well and have lots of noise, with the amp I get great reception and perfect picture.

So inline amps are good in some cases, and do not always need to be right near the antenna. The trick I have found is to make sure the amp is adjustable to tweak the output to your situation.

 

[srrndhound]

I'm running an SWM-8 with an OTA antenna (Winegard Squareshooter). I started without an amplifier, and ran the antenna straight into the tuner, and the signals were decent. But when I connected it to the SWM-8 so I could get OTA from all my receivers, it lost a lot of strength. So ordered the Winegard 12dB amp and it helped, with some locals at 100%, but others at 30%. So I popped down to Radio Shack and bought their model 15-2505 10 dB adjustable amp, and added it between the first amp and the SWM-8. Now I get 100% on all channels. Works perfect.

If I had used a single 20 dB amp, that might have been the ideal solution.

 

[flipptyfloppity]

Again, both of you are talking about splitting the signal.

Reception of OTA TV is really a function of the signal to noise ratio. Amps cannot increase the signal to noise ratio. All they can do is amplify the signal and noise they receive. This is why you want to amplify as close to the antenna as possible, because that's where there is the least noise.

An amp near the antenna or anywhere above a splitter can be useful. An amp on a something like a small antenna that is in the same room as your TV is useless, because the antenna is already picking up tons of noise from the electronics in your room. Any amp right next to your TV is likely useless for the same reason, even if you have a splitter above it. Thinking the amp will help boost the signal that your TV wouldn't otherwise pick up is somewhat naive. If amplifying the signal is useful, your TV will do it itself.