10 Best Signal Amplifiers 2024 in the US

A signal amplifier is used to boost a TV antenna or radio signal. Some are specialized for only amplifying television signals, while others are more general purpose. They can be used for VHF and UHF signals, as well as cable television and FM radio. If you have a satellite dish, there are signal amplifiers for that as well. For television, it will significantly improve the picture quality, and allow you to view more channels; for radio, it will improve the sound of the signal. The type of amplifier that you need will depend on the boosting power required, and how many devices are going to be connected to the amplifier. Here is a guide to some of the signal amplifiers on the market.

• Basic Amplifiers: These work in the range of 50 -900 MHz. That will cover the following uses:

• 50 – 54 MHz is used for amateur radio;

• 54 – 88 MHz is used for TV channels 2-6;

• 88-108 MHz is used for FM radio;

• 174-216 MHz is used for TV channels 7 – 13.

• 300 MHz – 900 MHz is used for UHF television: This includes TV channels 14-51, as well cellular phones (There are special amplifiers for cellular phone signals.)

• Bi-directional Amplifiers: In the context of cable television, a bi-directional amplifier amplifies signals from the cable box to the TV, and also sends signals back to the cable TV provider. For wireless signals, it takes a wireless signal, amplifies it, and rebroadcasts it.

• Return Path Amplifiers: These operate on the frequencies 5 – 42 MHz, sending a signal from the user to the cable provider. This is done to prevent signal loss in long cables.

• Forward Path Equalizer Amplifiers: These are designed to equalize the power of the different channels, in the event that low channel signals are strong and higher channel signals are weak.

Based on all the consumers' reviews we've scanned, these are the top things they mentioned about their new stuff:

• Good for DVRs: If you have a digital video recorder (=DVR), that you want to use to record a cable television program, you might find a signal splitter/amplifier to be effective. You can hook up two or more DVRs to an amplifier, and record more than one channel.

• Difference between reception and signal detection: People noticed that an amplifier will help magnify the strength of a signal that your antenna will detect—but it can't increase signal detection. If the signal is too weak for any reception, an amplifier won't be able to help you with that.

• Cable splitter can weaken a signal: Cable splitters will allow more than one TV in your house to get cable TV. But they can also weaken a cable TV signal. Then signal amplifiers are a good choice to help boost that signal up again. If you employ a cable splitter, it might be worthwhile to invest in a signal amplifier as well. The bidirectional amplifier is the optimal choice when you're using a signal splitter.

• Check wiring: Make sure that the wiring in your home for cable TV is not damaged in any way, and make sure that the connectors are secure. A signal amplifier will help if you have long cable lengths (over 30 feet) reaching to your TV sets. But an amplifier will not be effective in correcting a wiring problem. 

• Number of outputs: The coaxial cable bringing in the cable television signal goes into the signal amplifier. But there can be more than one output from the signal amplifier. The GE 22 dB video signal amplifier has one input and one output, as does the getwiredusa US56 signal amplifier. But the Cable Electronics Labs AV400 takes one input and sends it to as many as 4 output devices. That's potentially 4 different television screens receiving the cable signal.

• Power of the amplifier: The power of the amplifier will be given in decibels, or dB. If the signal is amplified by 10 dB, that means that the amplifier makes the signal strength 10 times stronger; 20 dB means that the amplification is 100 times stronger, and 30 dB will be 1000 times stronger. 

• Capabilities: Besides amplifying broadcast signals like TV and radio, there are amplifiers that allow amplifying signals from a video cassette recorder or video disc player. A signal amplifier will prevent the loss of signal that is characteristic when you split among several TV sets, or use a long cable run.

Trisonic—was created in 1984 under the name Eastern America Trio Products. They are retailers of home and garden supplies, electronics accessories, car and automotive supplies, school and office supplies, and more. They are located in Queens, New York.

General Electric—is a conglomerate corporation that markets a wide number of products in the fields of energy, electronics, lighting, locomotives, water technology and more. They were founded in 1892 by Thomas Edison in Schenectady, New York, but presently have their headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts.

Cable Electronics—was founded in 1989, and is located in Garland, Texas. They supply a wide range of audio and video products: amplifiers, displays, matrix switchers, media players, and more.

getwiredusa—are distributors of a wide range of electronics supplies, for a number of different brands. They sell adapters, boosters, antennas, cables, phone accessories, and more.