December 2015



 Is there a best antenna combination  ? ? ?

It depends upon your tvfool.com report, but this is what is currently available:


For weak signal areas with no strong signals  - because the new 30 dB gain Channelmaster 7777 preamp overloads easily:


UHF:  Antennas Direct 91XG or,  DB8e with both panels aimed in the same direction.

VHF-High:   Winegard HD7698P     OR     Stellar Labs VHF-High Yagi #30-2475 (less gain, low price)   OR
                   The Ability (Fracarro) BLV6F VHF-HI (CH7-13) High Gain Wideband YAGI Antenna can also be used for VHF-High.

Channelmaster CM7777 preamp

UVSJ to combine antennas before the preamp. (The UVSJ will block the UHF signals from the Winegard 7698.)

For areas with both weak and strong signals:


UHF:  91XG  or  Antennas Direct DB8e with both panels aimed in the same direction

VHF-High:   Winegard HD7698P     OR     Stellar Labs VHF-High Yagi #30-2475 (less gain, low price)   OR
                   The Ability (Fracarro) BLV6F VHF-HI (CH7-13) High Gain Wideband YAGI Antenna can also be used for VHF-High.

Channelmaster CM7778 preamp

UVSJ to combine antennas before the preamp. (The UVSJ will block the UHF signals from the 7698.)


The CM7778 preamp can be replaced with the RCA TVPRAMP1R premap, which has about the same gain. The RCA has separate VHF and UHF inputs so the UVSJ would not be needed. It less expensive, but has a history of quality control problems. Sometimes the combined/separate switch doesn't make good contact with the VHF antenna in the separate position. The workaround is to use the combined position and a UVSJ.

The CM7778 preamp can be replaced with the Antennas Direct Juice preamp which is resistant to overload and has a 4G LTE filter which is becoming more important as the frequencies just above TV CH 51 are now used by cellular transmitters. The Antennas Direct Juice does not have an FM filter but you can add one if needed.


Channel Master is working on a new preamp called the Amplify - ? ? ?
 http://www.channelmaster.com/Amplify_TV_Antenna_Preamplifier_p/cm-7777hd.htm

Antenna Basics
 a very educational page for those who don't understand the basics






This page is an opinion only. OTA television has many, many factors that enter into the quality of TV reception. It is very possible that other combinations of equipment can also receive as good or better TV reception at your antenna location.