Misconceptions Which Hinder Proper TV Antenna Installation

Posted on: 27 March 2018

Homeowners who want to connect several television sets to an antenna may have misconceptions which can have a negative effect on the installation and functioning of the antenna. Below are some of the misconceptions which could make it hard for you to benefit from your TV antenna.

Misconception 1: All TV Antennas Need Amplification

People often assume that they must install an antenna amplifier to get good reception or signal strength. However, this is not always necessary. Good signal strength can be attained by positioning the antenna appropriately, such as high enough to avoid physical obstructions to the signal reaching it. Antenna amplification can even have an adverse effect in case the signal was already strong enough. For instance, the tuner of your TV set may become overloaded by the signal from one TV station and that tuner will fail to detect that particular TV station.

Misconception 2: All Coaxial Cables Are The Same

Coaxial cables are the cables which connect the antenna to the TV set or sets. The technology used to make these cables has been evolving over the years. It is, therefore, improper to assume that all the cables will deliver the same level of performance. Talk to a qualified person, such as an electrician, for advice about the best type of coaxial cable which you should use when installing your TV antenna.

Misconception 3: More Splitters Are Better

Splitters are used to link different TV sets to the antenna. You should never buy a splitter which has more output points than the number of television sets which you want to connect to the antenna. Splitters divide the signal received between the different output points. Having unused outputs will, therefore, result in signal wastage since the signal will be weakened (shared) whether a TV is linked to the output or not. For example, a splitter with four outputs will deliver about 25-percent signal strength to each output. Connecting two televisions only to such a splitter will result in the sending of a weaker signal than would have been transmitted if you had used a 2-output splitter (delivering 50-percent signal strength to each TV).

Misconception 4: Amplifiers Are the Same

Antenna amplifiers differ. Some boost the ability of the antenna to capture more signals. Others boost the received signals just before they are distributed to the different television sets. The effect of each type of amplifier is different. For example, the distribution amplifier magnifies the signal strength before the splitter divides that signal. Signal overload is therefore unlikely since the boosted signal will be shared. Know your needs and select the right type of amplifier, if you need it.

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