All American Direct

How to choose the right antenna and pre-amp

After you have checked the distance and direction of your local TV stations on www.Antennaweb.org, use the corresponding color codes to match the right antenna for your zone. If you are more than 20 miles from the TV towers you should use a pre-amp. If the cable from your antenna is longer than 50 feet, or if you are splitting the signal between two or more TVs, then you should use a pre-amp. A pre-amp will not improve the reception of the antenna, but it will boost a weaker signal to overcome loss of the signal over the coax cable and through any splitters.

If you prefer to mount your antenna in the attic instead of outdoors, then the signals will be much weaker because they have to travel through the wood and shingles. In this case, you should select an antenna one zone up (ie. Select a “C” Zone antenna instead of “B” zone antenna) to insure you receive an adequate signal.