Add the ability to enable or disable amplification per channel. This would cover the case where there are Close and far broadcast stations that are desired.
1 Like
Does amplification occur before the signal enters the tuner or when it exits the tuner.
No expert here, but I would assume it happens before the tuner.
That’s a High-Roller option that ain’t going to happen on a budget consumer device.
1 Like
I would think that it wouldn’t be difficult to implement, but maybe you are correct. If it wouldn’t be implemented, it would probably be due to useability.
So how would the gen 4 control that per channel since amplification is simply applied per RF.
Of course there could be costly external amplifiers that a user could buy and program in the desired amplification per RF.
When the desired channel is selected, the embedded software would enable or disable the amplifier.
1 Like
You’re talking a frequency-sensing, signal-specific AGC - possible but not simple or cheap,
1 Like
Maybe, but when the user selects a given channel, couldn’t the decision be made then to enable or disable the amplification?
2 Likes
One major thing to consider here is that the amplifier switches are ganged instead of individual. You have all amps on or off. The problem created with the ganged configuration is that a person can be watching a weak channel and need the amp on. Another person can tune to a strong channel that needs the amps off. Amps off can mess up the channel that needs the amps on. Individual, unganged, switches will solve that issue.
I personally don’t believe there’s a need for constantly switching the amps in and out. I live 50 miles from the Dallas antenna farm. I assumed that the Tablo receivers won’t be nearly as good as the normal tv receiver so I decided to add enough amplification of the antenna signal until I was overdriving the receiver. It took 3 amplifiers providing 20db each. I then removed one which left me with 40db amplification.
My antenna isn’t the best but I was still able to pick up most of the chans without the amplifiers and more with. There was another issue of adjacent channel interference that creates problems. I solved that by aiming my antenna 30 degrees off axis and used a side lobe.
My configuration now is 40db of external amplification with an additional 11db from the internal amplifier.
1 Like
Do a search for posts by classicrockguy. He has some pretty informed comments on this topic (and a killer system to get OTA channels).
1 Like
I really appreciate everyone’s point of view on this topic. Thank you!
Plus 1 on this request but agree not likely to see in the Tablo. I have ordered a Televes SmartKom to both combine antennas and because it does appear to allow one to adjust gain per channel before the signal hits the Tablo - hope so.
1 Like
The Smartkom has several features:
- It has 3 coax antenna inputs that can all provide power to an upstream antenna amp as needed.
- It “trims” the 3 incoming RF antenna feeds (balances each antenna feed overall signal level) and runs each through an A/D converter to digitize them.
- It allows the user to assign the preferred RF channel(s) from each antenna feed to create the desired channel plan. (eg RF channels 23,26,28 might be assigned from antenna #1, 25,32,34 from antenna #2, etc). All unassigned RF channels are effectively ignored (filtered out).
- It digitally balances the signal levels for all assigned RF frequencies (think digital audio equalizer).
- It digitally combines the assigned and balanced RF frequencies into a single digital signal.
- It converts that digital signal back to a single analog signal (D/A convertor) and outputs it via coax at a user-assignable level (dBm) for in-house distribution through coax and splitters.
It should be noted that at no point in its processing does the Smartkom have any idea what content is being carried on the analog RF signals. It has no internal tuners. It operates on the analog RF carrier signal only. It doesn’t even know or care about ATSC 1.0 vs 3.0 (which means it can process either).
It is a very good device for doing what it does, and solving specific problems (like properly combining multiple antenna feeds). I have its “big brother” Avantx which has been flawless for the last couple of years. My brother has the Smartkom with the same good experience.
One quick add …
The Smartkom (or Avantx) cannot make a crappy signal useable. You still need the proper antenna(s) to grab enough signal quality in the first place.
4 Likes