Radio Shack In-Line Signal Amplifier

"I've been using this in-line amp since TV went digital. Clear strong signals on all local channels and great reception from the S.F. Bay area when Tropospheric conditions exist. Even out of band signals like channel 6 and 10 come in STRONG using an 8 bay vertical stack UHF array."

"To address some of the complaints from others: This unit cannot cover the satellite frequencies, and therefore will prevent satellite signal from reaching your tuner/decoder. The covered frequencies stop at around 1 GHz, so don't buy it if you need satellite coverage, or have satellite signals on the same cable.



People need to understand the basics of how receivers work before buying this. Because it is a broadband amp, it will amplify everything within a given frequency range, and this unit has very wide coverage. What does this mean if you are already getting some signals strongly without the amp? That those already strong signals might overwhelm the discriminator unit on your receiver (whether a radio or a video receiver), which can cause interference on nearby channels. If you can get some signals strongly and others are weak, you may have a problem with using this amp, so use caution and prepare for the possibility that it might not be what you need.



Now, for what it is and does, it is a good little unit. The power injector design could be a little better for those of us who attach and un-attach devices often (I have a scanner and a TV, and often move the scanner from car to base). That's the only liggle I can find.



For the actual amp, which attaches toi your antenna, the only way you can really insure a good signal and long life over time is to use somethingto seal the coax connectors on either end from the weather. I don't know if Radio Shack has anything like that, but there are products available. Don't use silicone caulk or anything like that; they are corrosive and will actually damage the connections and amplifier. But keeping moisture out of the connections and amp are obviously a key to long life.



I've gotten notably better reception on both analog TV and DTV signals, as well as scanner traffic (especially in the VHF low and VHF high ranges). A few of the very strongest local signals overwhelm my scanner's discriminator and cause it to trigger on nearby channels with a lot of noise, but I knew going in that that could happen and I consider the trade-of worth it to be pulling in those extra signals and stations, especially at higher frequencies (400 MHz and above), where longer cable runs really harm signal strength (the amount of signal loss you get in a given length of cable increases as the signal's frequency increases).



Compared to other similar products, performance seems decent enough, and the price is fairly good as well. I am not disappointed at all."

"Always install a lightning/static protector AHEAD of the amplifier right at the antenna. It doesn't say this in the printed instructions, but this may prevent your amp from being blown by nearby lightning strikes. Nothing will protect the amp from a direct strike!



Always install the amp at the antenna before the long cable run down into your house. The only thing that should be between the amp and the DC power injector should be the cable and another lightning/static protector just before the cable enters your house - no splitters or anything else. Put any splitters after the DC power injector.



For waterproofing there is a product called Liquid Electrical Tape that can be used to seal the coax connectors. After assembly, paint this stuff on, let it dry and then paint on another coat. Seal the connectors where the cable goes into the connector and the threaded part where the connector attaches to the amp. Seal the connections on the lightning/static protector also.



After waterproofing the connections, the amp and its connections should be placed in a water tight container, like a 6 inch long piece of 2" plastic pipe with one end closed off or a plastic soda bottle. Secure the enclosure to the mast with the open end facing down using hose clamps. Put the sealed amp inside after carefully bending the coax. Use a plastic bag and some electrical tape to seal the bottom of the enclosure.



Make sure that water doesn't run down the cable into the DC power injector. Put a drip loop just outside the place where the cable comes inside your house."

"I've had one of these for years. In situations where I was splitting long runs of cable, I used this amplifier only for the long runs, NOT for the shorter runs. You have to understand the concept of signal loss due to splitting and long runs to know how to use this properly, as well as understanding the frequencies you are looking to boost and the side effects you might encounter. It's likely that if you are not savvy about this subject, you will not get good results. For example, if you use this to boost digital cable signals, you will probably block them out. If you use this to help distribute the "whole house" output from a Dish satellite box, and use it on the longer runs only, you will get good results. If you use it to strengthen the traveled signal from a roof mount antenna to the splitter used to distribute HDTV OTA, you will probably get good results as well. It's not a cure all, and if used wrong, will make things worse. Always know what you need before trying to amplify a signal of any kind."

"Water in the connectors is the worst enemy of this device. If you can keep the water out it should last for years.Reading over a lot of the reviews I have the feeling manufacturing quality control is not good for these devices. All the ones I've bought have worked as speced out of the box, but I read that people have received dead ones. I've run these inline amps for 10 years now and I am on my third one. The first two were killed by water intrusion through the connectors. My bad, I'm not good at sealing them. The first amp got hit by a cat 2 hurricane and a 4 ton oak drop on it. After the crane lifted the log off I was able to use it for a week before it died. The second one got water in the connector and the pins fell off. Might still work, but no pins.Keep it dry and make sure you get a functioning one to start with, and I think you will be happy. I run about 50 feet from antenna mast to TV, and then another 30 feet to the house next door and run two of their TVs.Basic cable costs about $40 per month, and this amp costs one months cable bill. Over ten years I've saved about 10years*12months*40permonth=$4800. It cost me [$] for a rooftop RS antenna and [$] for the three amps I've used. I saved $4.5K.I keep checking to make sure RS still makes this, because I haven't found any other amp I like.Good job RS.P.S. my RS antenna survived through 3 major hurricanes. One bent parasitic is total damage. That seemed to improve it a bit, so it's still bent. I pick up stations at > 50 miles."

"When people understand that this amplifiers purpose is to overcome the approximately 7dB loss over 100 feet of CATV cable I think that their reviews would be different. This is not a signal amplifier per se. Its purpose is to achieve zero line-loss at the TV end of the cable run. I use many of them on TV antennas and they do very well. I even use them inline with a discone attached to a police scanner (not recommended in big cities.) My only complaint is that lightning may take out the power supply. I've lost several but that's what one gets living in the mountains."

"I have read all the reviews of this product. In spite of the negatives I read, I purchased anyway. Installed in less than 5 minutes and the results are as good as it gets for the price. My digital tv signals went from "NORMAL" to just below "GOOD" (which is the highest signal) on all of my local channels. My antenna is located under the roof and was receiving marginal signals. The analog signals have also improved which is my benchmark. I also installed a splitter at my TV for my FM receiver. I now get the stereo light which I couldn't get before the amp was installed. I am located about 40 miles from broadcast tower using a 35 mile antenna. Hopefully this lasts longer than 2 or 3 years as some reviews stated but so far I'm happy."

"I currently have an antenna in my attic (one of those diy antennas). Testing it with a converter box, I was getting good signal on all of my channels. However, when I hooked it up to my house wiring, the split caused FOX to drop extremely low. This was do to a 100' run from the antenna to the splitter, as well as the runs to the outlet. I was still able to get a signal, just not a strong one. I bought this preamp and hooked it up just like it says. The amp was installed at the antenna, and the power injector was installed right before the splitter. With this device now in my line, I received absolutely NO signal on any channel, even the ones that came in fine. Once I removed it, I received all my channels again, with FOX still being low. I'll look for another solution, or better preamp."

"I'm getting ready for 02/09 out in the boonies. I added a 100" boom yagi uhf antenna to the mast below my old vhf/uhf combo. The amp module is attached directly to the 300/75ohm transformer on the yagi. The power injector is a backwards splitter (combining the 2 antenna signals) & 50 ft of coax further downstream. I gained 9 new dtv and 3 new uhf analog channels. The uhf I got fuzzily before are now clear & sharp. I'm about 75 miles out in the hills NNE of Pittsburgh. I'm picking up dtv from Altoona, Clearfield, Johnstown & Pittsburgh. I was skeptical. I AM IMPRESSED!"

"I have just had to replace one of these that I used for about 12 years. Big thunder storm hit entire neighborhood and next-door neighbor lost everything electronic in their house. I only had to replace this amp, thats it...(I'm very lucky). Any bad reviews of this product is most likely because they didn't hook it up correct. My signal meter on all my TV's (3 in household) have gone from low teens to high 80's. Our antenna is in the attic and we live 35miles from most of the broadcast stations. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT, IF YOU FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS-IT WORKS AS ADVERTISED."