Re: OTA reception questions

While were on the subject of signal strength, anybody know what the scale is
for the stb "meters"?  Is is linear, log, or something in between?  I've
purchased a preamp (Winegard 8275) and will report my results in a couple
days.  Chances are that should solve my problems as I'm pretty sure the root
cause is attenuation over the long cable run and through the diplexers.

Mark

"Jeff Rife" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Web Williams ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote in alt.tv.tech.hdtv:
> > I guess that depends on how much signal you have to begin with.
> > 3dB loss is -HALF- your signal strength. So 4dB of loss is
> > greater than half... that's a lot to give up when you're doing
> > weak-signal work to start with.
>
> Not really.  Do you have two TVs?  Do you want them both to display from
> the same antenna?  That's 3.5dB for the splitter.
>
> Likewise, do you have a TV and a recording device, or maybe a 2-input
> recording device/STB like the coming HD TiVo?  You also take a 3.5dB loss
> from that split.
>
> From experience, if 3dB really make the difference between "watchable"
> and "unwatchable", the picture will degenerate into "messed-up" far too
> often for comfort.
>
> I have a digital station that is "on the bubble" for being able to receive
> it, yet even a 10dB reduction (through a variable attenuator) doesn't
> change the signal.  My good stations have nearly 30dB of spare signal
> before they become a problem.
>
> So, 4dB isn't really that much.
>
> --
> Jeff Rife                | "...the flames began at a prophylactic
recycling
> For address harvesters:  |  plant, near the edge of the forest..."
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]         |         -- "WarGames"
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]              |