GL: Digital Antenna

[Jeffrey Siegel]

> I tried a Digital Antenna (in fact two different brands)
> and did not see any improvement in the signal at all.  
> What antenna do you use with it and how
> much "boost"do you see?
> 

I did multiple years of testing on this and posted all of my results to the
T&T list.  There are multiple postings showing signal strength differences,
sample configurations, antennas, and especially cable requirements.

I would bet that there was one of three issues with your amp:

1. You were using a "wireless" amplifier and your boat is smaller than about
80' LOA.  The way that those wireless units work is that they detect
feedback between the two antennas and reduce the amplification until the
feedback goes away.  As they do that, you lose most of the effects of the
amp.  This is the same idea as turning down the volume of an audio amplifier
when the mic gets too close and it starts to squeal.  I don't believe that a
wireless amplifier has any place on most cruising boats unless you can get a
large separation between the inside antenna and the outside one.  A large
steel plate separating the antennas will help the situation too - which is
why they often work better in cars than boats.  The steel separation has to
be large and cover a wide area.

2. The amplifier was increasing the wrong frequencies.  Different carriers
use different frequencies.  The amp you select must work with your carrier
AND they type of towers being used in the area you're going to.  For a boat,
a multi-band amp is the obvious way to go but even then, you have to select
the right multi-band amp.

3. You didn't use very, very stiff LMR-400 cable between the amp and the
antenna and/or you had a variety of connectors between the amp and antenna.
Usually the small 4dB/8dB antenna makes up for the line loss and the 34dB
amplifier just blows the signal out strong.  But bad connection and really
inexpensive cabling can severely cut down the signal.  Combine that with a
feedback problem and you'll get better signal strength by disconnecting
everything and just walking outside on deck.


It's not as convenient, but you should only use a wired amp on a boat and
use LMR-400 cable...


==================================
Jeffrey Siegel
M/V aCappella
DeFever 53PH
W1ACA/WDB4350
Castine, Maine

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