An antenna amplifier is often not used because it boosts the signal too much, muddles the signal and thus degraddes your original signal. You can ask in the indoor antenna group. I've opted to not use an amplifier.

Each antenna has a directional beam width, meaning it is directional in only a certain direction for a set number of degrees. Just as you cannot see beyond your peripheral vision, for example behind you, the antenna cannot pick up stations beyond its beam width. My DB4E antenna has a beam width of 60 degrees, meaning if I wish to get the CN tower and Buffalo stations, I cannot pick up Hamilton, just one or the other. I have tried this physically and could not pick up both. I have contemplated adding a second antenna for Hamilton, but have not yet experimented. The experts have said that two dissimilar antennas will conflict with each other and will not work.


On Thu, 7 Dec 2023 at 15:31, Don Tai <dontai.canada@gmail.com> wrote:
OTA signals are terrestrial and "line of sight" LOS, meaning they are directional to the transmitter. TVFool.com will tell you what direction to point your antenna. My antenna, here in North Scarborough, is pointed at 158 degrees, a little off from the recommended 164 degrees due to my neighbour's large tree. The higher you can get the antenna, clear of buildings and trees (such as my neighbour's mighty pine), the more TV stations you will receive. The station will be received and you can watch, or you'll get a blank screen.

There is the situation where a TV signal can be bounced off a building or neighbor's window into your antenna, so some experimentation is required. Outdoor is better than indoor, higher up is better than near the ground. I don't think any indoor TV antenna will be substantially better than another. A larger outdoor antenna, high up, with a clear LOS view of The CN Tower and Buffalo and surrounding US cities, will get you the most TV stations.

For specific antenna questions please go to https://www.digitalhome.ca/threads/on-city-of-toronto-metro-area-indoor-antennas-only-ota.42391/, which is a specific sub-group for the Toronto area, indoor antenna and ask there. I use the outdoor group myself, and have found them to be helpful but sometimes very technical.


On Thu, 7 Dec 2023 at 15:15, Scott Allen via talk <talk@gtalug.org> wrote:
On Thu, 7 Dec 2023 at 14:52, Karen Lewellen <klewellen@shellworld.net> wrote:
> Then, as is just asked, I am confused as to what makes the GE solution
> better.

So am I. You would have to ask Evan why he thinks it's better. It's
quite difficult to conclude that one antenna is better than another
for your particular situation. You really have to just try one and see
how well it works, if it works at all.

For an outdoor antennal you would normally mount it to a wall or mast
and run the cable through a hole somewhere to the tuner that's inside
and attached to (or built into) the TV. If you add a separate
amplifier, it could be either inside or outside, depending on the
type.

--
Scott
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