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UHF tv amplifier plans?

Anybody know where I can get a good schematic or kit to build a variable UHF television signal amplifier? I need to amplify the UHF signals from my roof antenna because they atennuate much more than the VHF signals. I tried using amplifiers from Walmart and Target, but they are very stupidly designed in that they aren't variable and they amplify VHF more than UHF, which is ridiculously stupid and useless. Plus they amplify too much, which ruins the picture. I just need a small amount of amplification and it has to be variable so I can make it just the right amount. I tried googling but so far I only found an extremely expensive kit for professional usage.

Reply to
wizzzer
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. No idea, but I have some suggestions:

- Try Radio Shack. I purchased a small metal box that amplifies the signal. It doesn't distinguish between VHF or UHF, but it is variable. I have it setting behind my tv set.

- If that's not satisfactory, try a splitter to split the VHF and UHF signals... then attach an amplifier to the UHF. Although I suspect the act-of-splitting will cause losses & a dirtier picture. (That's why amps typically amplify the whole spectrum.)

- Settle for fuzzy UHF stations; being of higher frequency they don't travel as far. That's just the way it is.

- For about ~$10 a month you could subscribe to local-channels-only cable, and get everything with crystal clarity.

.
Reply to
videonovels

Suggestions:

1) Spend your money on a better (separate) UHF antenna. You can combine the output from VHF and UHF antennas to a single cable, if that is a problem.

2) Another reason for a poor UHF signal might be the use of low quality cable - UHF needs better cable than VHF

3) If you use an amplifier and the input signal causes it to be overloaded, you probably didn't need the amp anyway.

4) If the amp is not overloaded, but the output overloads the TV, you can buy (or make) attenuators that fit in the (output) cable.

It is always a good idea to start with the best signal you can, and attenuate if needed, rather than a poor signal which must then be amplified.

Dave

Reply to
Dave

Channel master sells UHF only amplifiers in two flavors. The one I have is stricktly UHF with VHF signals blocked. The other version amplifies UHF, and passes VHF un amplified. Any UHF amp is useless, unless it is mounted at the antenna. Got mine at

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. If you build your own, you probably will have no way to tell whether the NF is 0.8 DB or 8.0 DB.

Tam

Reply to
Tam/WB2TT

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