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Posted by Pseud O. Nym on 12/31/05 17:52
Roy L. Fuchs <roylfuchs@urfargingicehole.org> wrote in
news:sjfcr1d1not529vrlbu0tpq7j74l6ode20@4ax.com:
>
> The entire point was and still is that a preamplified antenna is
> better than not having one. PARTICULARLY in the digital realm as
> ghost signals, reflections, etc. are not a problem as they are in
> analog reception.
>
+++++++++++++
It depends on the individual situation and circumstances. A digital
signal that is too strong can be just as problematic as a signal that is
not strong enough. If the signal is too weak a pre-amp can help, but
remember that the pre-amp will amplify any spontaneous noise along with
the desired signal. If the signal is too strong an attenuator can help
but remember that the attenuator will weaken the desired signal along
with the ever-present noise.
The goal is to have a signal that is strong enough to provide the desired
signal to the antenna input but not so strong as to overload it.
When I first installed an 802.11g wireless connection on my computer, I
spent the first few days cursing it and throwing objects at my computer.
It had intermittent lockups and crashes requiring many "power
off/reboots", I re-read the instructions many times over to no avail. I
began to think that I had gotten a defective part .... either the
wireless router itself or the USB wireless device that communicates with
it. I tried re-positioning both devices many times. It would work great
for a few hours and then it would lock up.
I finally came to the conclusion that my signal might be too strong. When
I installed the wireless router, I had shortened the coaxial cable by
about 75 feet and moved my cable modem back to the corner of the house
nearest the point where the cable service entered. Just to check out my
theory, I coupled in about 75 feet of extra coax between the cable
service entry point and the cable modem to serve as an attenuator. I
rolled the excess cable into a neat roll. An tiny attenuator would have
probably worked as well but I did not have one handy. I have not had a
single problem since. It has worked to absolute perfection.
To summarize: I have been a liscensed Ham Radio Operator since 1958 and I
had a 37 year career as a computer engineer with IBM Corp. I say that
sometimes a preamp will help but there are times when a preamp will make
matters worse.
PON
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