audioaudio90 Messages: 623 Registered: October 2010
Illuminati (1st Degree)
We stopped our cable service and use a digital antenna for the broadcast channels (and Hulu for everything else). It's been pretty nice but the antenna is definitely more sensitive to weather than cable was.
audioaudio90 Messages: 623 Registered: October 2010
Illuminati (1st Degree)
Can you recommend a particular RF amplifier? I looked at an RCA antenna amplifier on Amazon that has mixed reviews. Also, what is the difference between an outdoor and indoor amplifier?
Wayne Parham Messages: 18796 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
The RF amplifiers designed for television all provide about 10x to 100x gain (10dB - 20dB), which will improve a weak signal but it cannot help one that is too degraded. Indoor antennas are basically the same thing as "rabbit ears" from days gone by but some come in a more attractive "plate" package.
None of the indoor antennas is anywhere close to the performance of a good outdoor antenna. Those are the same as the beam antennas (also from yesteryear). The same antennas you used to see on people's house in the 1970s will work just fine today. You can also put an outdoor antenna in your attic. The main thing is the beam antennas must be pointed at the transmitting antenna.
audioaudio90 Messages: 623 Registered: October 2010
Illuminati (1st Degree)
Thank you. Clearly I was taken in by the indoor antennas, and will get an outdoor antenna instead, even though it'll corrode relatively quickly due to the salt air (we don't have an attic). Maybe I'll be able to get by without the amplifier.