Specifications

[
StarServe Installers Guide
]
page 41
Approximating Signal Level
The tuner in modern televisions have a ‘knee’ in performance at
about -10dBmV input signal strength. Below this ‘knee’, the noise
begins to increase rapidly. (Note: Noise is identifiable as snow.
If there is a pattern to when it is seen, it is not noise).
1. Connect the variable attenuator to the TV set and tune to
a station.
2. Increase attenuation until the ‘knee’ is found (the point
where noise begins to rapidly increase). Noise is easiest
to see on a black background, wait until the screen turns
dark to perform this test.
3. Note the amount of attenuation add this number to -10dBmV.
4. This is the signal strength of this station.
5. Typical accuracy of this method is about +/- 3dB.
This technique can also be used to identify stations that are
far stronger than the other stations (these can cause problems
when using an RF amplifier).