• Home
  • TV Antenna Pre-Amp Installation, Cord-Cutter Tutorial | Solid Signal
Untitled Document
How to Install an Antenna Pre-Amplifier Properly

Recommended tools:


Cable - We recommend using RG6 Coax Cable that has a solid copper conductor. Cables that have a copper coated steel conductor will work too, but cannot support long runs.
Installation

The amplifier should be installed as close to the antenna as possible. It´s most commonly attached to the antenna mast using the included U-bolt clamp.

Next connect a short coax cable to the antenna, and connect the other end to the input on the pre-amp labeled "ANT. Input" or "VHF/UHF"

Next run a cable from output of the pre-amp, usually labeled “TV OUT” or something similar. This should be the cable run that goes from outside to the building.

The power supply or power injector, should be installed in-line once the cable is inside the building. Connect your coax cable to the port labeled “From ANT.”

Once you have the cable connected to the input on the power injector, there should be one open port, labeled “To TV”. This is where you will connect your coax cable that leads out to the TV or splitters.

Make sure there isn’t any devices installed in-line between the pre-amp and the power supply. These can block the voltage that is being sent up the cable to power the amp, which results in a 80% reduced signal.
Trouble Shooting


If you have installed the pre-amplifier properly and receive worse signal then before you installed it, one of the following issues may be the cause:

Over driving your tuner
If you have TV stations within 25 miles, it is possible to overdrive your TV Tuner with too much signal. Please see our article on choosing the correct pre-amp for more info. The symptoms of over driving will be a nearby channel with no reception, where as weaker stations may still come in.

Amp is not getting power
Device installed between the pre-amp and power supply, that do not state "Power passive" will block voltage, remove these items if needed. Even other amplifers installed between pre-amp and power supply can disrupt signal.

This can also be caused by using low quality cable, especially RG59 that does not have a solid copper conductor. Those cables cannot pass the voltage up to the amp over long runs. It is possible that a coax cable can be damaged, and still send a signal, but not pass voltage. Try replacing the cable between the pre-amp and power supply

Not getting FM
Many pre-amps have the ability to block out FM, through a feature called an FM Trap. This is often used when an FM Transmitters is within 10 or so miles, and is interfering with TV reception. FM Runs on a frequency between 6 and 7, and can affect nearby stations. To receive FM make sure to set the FM Trap to OUT.