Customer Reviews

Uhf / Vhf Antenna Pre Amp Kit

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I think many people purchasing this amp may not understand how it works, and may not be very patient with trying out a few setup options. I own a small computer and electronics shop, and have just recently started installing products from antennas direct. In the installation instructions it says to point your antenna first for an ideal signal BEFORE installing the amplifier. This is very important to getting satisfactory results. Also, if you understand what factors reduce signal strength (cable quality and length, connectors, splitters, etc), you can better diagnose what may be going wrong. I brought this amp to a customer's home, along with several different models of antennas to test out and swap parts to see what results I got. [...] gave them no results for stations servicing their area, and they lived in a hole in the middle of the woods. They had a very large, old broken aerial antenna sitting on a wood pile that they had been using, which got in most VHF antennas, and some UHF. For this antenna, the amplifier did absolutely nothing, and actually cut reception in half on the signal meters on 3 different TVs. For a roof mounted DB4, it improved all the UHF stations, but reduced the signal on all VHF stations to the point where none of them came in. With the ClearStream C5 roof mounted, all VHF stations came in above 80% with no amp, and when the amp was added, it brought them up to nearly 95%. The UHF stations were diminished. With the DB4 and C5 both connected using the diplexer included with the C5 and NO AMPLIFIER, all available stations came in clearly and with no pixelization. However, this setup needed to service 3 televisions with a splitter. Once the third run of cable was added to the splitter and total cable length of the entire system exceeded 120 ft., the signal cut enough to cause some stations to break up. Adding the amplifier back in solved this problem, and gave them all available stations at above 80% signal strength. I could not ask for much more at a house out in the sticks in deep woods 30-60 miles from any towers, Another benefit to adding the amp is that the signal is not only higher, but it also stabilized it. Before the amp, the numbers and meters were jumping all over the place, with blowing trees, etc. After the amp, the meters didn't vary more than 3% up or down.

Overall I'm impressed, but it did take some work to get the right combination. I wish there were more noticeable gain. An 18dB gain should be enough to take a 75% signal and turn it into 100% as seen by the TV or tuner, but it didn't. It seems that reception was as good without the amp until the third split was added, and that's the step that made it obvious it was needed. Until then, it was looking as if we could do without the amp. So sure, it does the job and stabilizes reception, but it looks like if you're using no splitters and within 30 miles of all your local stations, you can get the best reception with the right combination of antennas and no amp. 5 stars for the C5. It brought the whole package together, a great antenna with an effective bonus diplexer.

Build quality is average. I'd like to have the ability to remove the AC adapter from the power injecter (to run power through small drilled holes, etc.). Although I'd say it's pretty cheap feeling and looking, it's not overpriced in my opinion. A lot of other more expensive products are less effective.

to sumarize:
Get a more powerful antenna than you think you should, and only plan on using an amp to overcome splits and long runs. Getting a smaller antenna and beefing it up with an amp isn't likely to have the same effect as a larger antenna by itself.

Very simple set up. Easy to install where ever you want in the house (but the actual amplifier gets mounted to the antenna mounting post). It powers enough to get to both of my T.V.s set up with about 150' of coax between the Antenna and T.V. sets.
Only Con is the price but can't really complain if it does exactly what it's supposed to and at this quality.

I live in a rural area not even close to the nearest broadcast tower and cable is not available. My new antenna works well, but the signal occasionally lowers and pixelates. I bought the pre-amp to help boost the signal. It does some, but not as much as I expected. Still, it helps.

My situation requires picking up a series of stations over 70 miles away with an attic mount. This Preamp did so with flying colors. The preamp pa18 was also great in picking up weak signal stations.

If you live in the city or near many good or decent signals, then do not buy this preamp

If you live in a rual area near weak signals, like me, then this is the preamp for you.

My Order .... at first i was disappointed but you turned it around! *****stars

wow that was GREAT! the 2nd unit you sent works great.
that may be the best online experience yet.
again thanks for fixing that situation with the defective used Pre-amp. im
getting 40% more channels for a total of 58 broadcast channnels in the
surrounding Tampa Bay area with the replacement Terresrial, Antennas Direct
PA-18 pre-amp. (P.S.: I'de like to get a bigger antenna but these items are excellent on a budget... 10 months ago i got the 43XG Terrestrial antenna and the TIVAX Decoder box: courtesy of Amazon and Uncle Sam. most people only need this combo.Tivax is the best decoder...most people know this to be true.)

again thanks, johnnycastleseed

I bought this product, and had everything set up and found myself, like many of the other reviewers, with a better signal WITHOUT the pre-amp than with. I called Antennas Direct customer service/tech support and they were very helpful in troubleshooting the problem. It turned out the the power amplifier was bad (no power after testing with a voltmeter). They sent me a new one immediately, and it worked exactly as it was supposed to. It worked great for a few months and then one day, I suddenly experienced poor signal strength on a wide range of channels again. I tested the output as before and sure enough, this one had failed as well (no power). I called customer service and again, they offered to replace it without hesitation and free of charge. NOTE, that this time, they said they were replacing it with a new CPA-19 preamplifier and the person I spoke to said that some of the older ones (presumably the one I had and that is being reviewed here) were very sensitive to power fluctuations (even small ones). So hopefully this one will be more robust and last a long time. I'm giving the product 4 stars because when it worked it worked very well, and because their customer service and support is stellar. If you are having problems, I'd highly recommend a call to customer service. 877-825-5572

Working great, with my inside antenna and this pre amp I get over 50 channels in HD and SD. Thanks.

I used the pre-amplifier with the DB2 antenna. Very disappointing. Before installing I had 35+ channels and with pre-amplifier installed I had 5. Like other reviewer, I tried every combination incase of mislabeling.

I purchased it hoping to pull in those few channels that had a weak signal. I have 100 ft of cable from the antenna on roof to a 2-way splitter and then 25 feet to each TV. An amplifier is suggestd if cable lenghth over 75 ft. And this product seemed to be what I needed but it had the opposite effect.

I would not recommend this product.

Finally installed this on my antenna, works great.
Between this and the Multi-Directional unit I now have Digital TV.

I have used the earlier UHF only model of this Pre-Amp kit, the PA16, for years with great success along with a DB-8 antenna.

After the analog shutdown, some of the HD stations in my area moved over to the VHF band and because of the Antenna and pre-amp combo, the signal went down significantly for those stations.

To address this, I did two things: Combined a Clearstream5 VHF antenna with the DB8 along with the band combiner, and upgraded the existing PA16 UHF pre-amp to this PA18 UHF/VHF unit. I first installed the CS5 antenna and was able to get the VHF stations signal back to an acceptable level.

I bought a "Used - Like New" PA18, and the minute I swapped it in (and out the PA16), the VHF bands all went to 0%. Swap the PA16 back in, and the "non-amplified" VHF signals came back. The unit appeared DOA. The purchase was refunded.

Tried again, 2 weeks later, bought another "Used - Like New" from the same vendor... same deal, DOA. It appears like busted units are being returned to the vendor (maybe people plug the pre-amp backwards?) who flips them back on the market.

I guess for now I'll buy a brand new unit and go up the ladder for a 3rd time...