"Just put an amplifier on it" is the most over-used fix in Melbourne TV reception. Sometimes it's the right answer. Often it's the reason your picture got worse.
When an amplifier does help
- Long cable runs (over 30m of coax)
- Multiple TV points (more than three off one antenna)
- Genuinely fringe signal areas: outer Mornington Peninsula, parts of the Dandenong Ranges, rural West Gippsland
- After a powered splitter: the dB loss adds up
When an amplifier makes things worse
- Strong-signal suburbs (Box Hill, Glen Waverley, Mount Waverley): adding gain clips the signal and causes pixelation that looks identical to weak signal
- Adjacent transmitter interference: amplifying noise alongside the wanted signal doesn't help
- Already-amplified MATV systems (apartments): a second amp creates intermodulation distortion
Masthead amp vs distribution amp
- Masthead amp sits at the antenna, before any cable loss. Best for fringe areas — boosts the cleanest version of the signal.
- Distribution amp sits indoors, after the trunk cable, and feeds multiple TV points. Best for homes with 4+ TVs.
How we decide
We meter the signal at the antenna, after the cable, and at each wall plate with a calibrated digital meter. The numbers tell us whether you need more gain, less gain, or different equipment entirely.
DIY amplifier from Bunnings — yes or no?
The cheap two-port distribution amps work fine in low-density situations. The masthead amps need a power injector at the wall and proper weatherproofing — a job for a professional install.
Frequently asked
My reception got worse after I added an amp — why?
Most likely you've over-amplified a strong signal and the receiver is clipping. The fix is a smaller-gain amp or removing it entirely. We can meter and tell you in 15 minutes.
Do amplifiers fix antenna faults?
No. An amp boosts whatever the antenna delivers — including noise. If the antenna is misaligned, corroded or wrong-band, an amp won't help.
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