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Signal diplexing

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Hey guys,
I'm a newbie to video technology so please pardon me if I sound ignorant.
I've got a friend who has personal ethics against cable/satellite, so he's watching regular VHF and UHF at home. He went and bought two of the biggest outdoor antennas that Radio Shack sells, and mounted them on top of his house. He's also got some amplified antennas inside. He often switches between them -- using whichever gets the best reception at the momenet.
He lives right next to a busy street and there are a lot of trees. Because of this (and, of course, the fact that he got his antennas from Radio Shack), his stations are seldom totally clear.
First off, is there a way to multiplex all the antennas so that they produce a single, clearer signal? To me, it seems a shame to have 5 antennas but only to be able to use one at a time.
Second, I was considering buying him a 25dB amplifier from Parts Express. Do you guys have any opinions on this?

Thanks,
Adam

Follow Ups:

Re: Signal diplexing STOP - Timbo in Oz 22:38:44 03/28/02 (2)
if the two antennas are covering the same RF bands but are pointed in different directions, they will be picking up a different image of the reflected RF for each station / transmitter.
In this case combining them would be a bad idea.
Even if they are pointed in the same 'best' direction you still need to space them on the mast 5ft minimum and add a phasing harness, made from the coax cableso they 'add' when together.
Timbo
the antenna fetishist
- Re: Signal diplexing STOP - Timbo in Oz 00:06:57 04/04/02 (0)
  Umm
  no online stuff that I know of but if you try on the general asylum
  or tweking try antennas and see what you get.
  I'm down here in Orstralia as the Queen mum was prone to call it.
  been a convinced 'antennas matter' guy for a long time now - still learning but. eg about preventing corrsion on the aluminium contacts.
  keep in touch now.
  timbo
- Re: Signal diplexing STOP - Adam N 05:01:45 03/30/02 (0)
  Thanks for preventing me from embarassing myself. I owe ya one.
  Do you have any proposed solutions and/or online reading material that you'd suggest?
  Thanks,
  Adam
Re: Signal diplexing - SysInfo 16:58:20 03/26/02 (0)
To keep it short about antennas, it is wrong opinion that bigger antenna is better. It is long subject to explain which antenna is for what. You can use RF splitter (passive ones) and connect them as mixer/combiner with good results. Connect antennas to splitter's OUTs, and spliter's IN to VCR or TV RF IN, basically just reverse it.
If connected like this, do not use RF amps betwean antenna and mixer, use amp after mixer.

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