Boost Your HDTV Signal with the Winegard LNA-200 Boost XT Preamplifier

RobF: In my installation, to point at the TV broadcast hill 25 miles away (Class B signal strength on UHF and VHF HDTV), my attic directional UHF/VHF antenna must point directly at a cell tower 2 blocks away, that's used by two of the major cellular networks. To eliminate signal breakups (especially on local channel 13-1, which transmits on UHF channel 14), I incorrectly diagnosed weak signal strength and installed this amplifier. The problem was unchanged or slightly worse, so it became clear that the problem was cross-modulation from the local cell tower. Replacing the original low-quality coax with high shield factor Belden RG-6 did nothing. Installing a low-pass filter between the antenna and amplifier solved about 70% of the problem. Entirely removing the amplifier, so only the low pass filter is in the line, completely solved the problem. So, I concluded the amplifier was not needed after all, and the signal breakups were due to cross-modulation of the amplifier, rather than low signal strength.
My recommendation is to use this amplifier only if you have low signal strength and are well separated from local cellular towers and located off-axis from your TV antenna heading.

United States on Jun 10, 2023

James MJames M: I bought this to go along with my Clearstream 4V antenna. I was getting 104 channels already by using a small inline amplifier with the antenna, but often get pixelation on one of the channels (CBS Nashville) I’m only about 20 miles east of the antenna sites but I am in somewhat of a valley and close to a stand of trees.
Prior to installing this, I had taken a cheap flat plastic window antenna that came with a small amplifier, and placed just the amplifier in the coax line from the Clearstream 4V, where it entered the house, before my 4 way splitter. I received 104 channels but had some pixelation on CBS, typically on windy days or in stormy weather. I was hoping the Winegard LNA200 boost would resolve this. After installing it, I still get 104 channels, but I still get slight pixelation on CBS. Disappointing. So here’s a tip. Before you shell out $40-$60 for the Winegard LNA 200 Boost, try one of those cheap ($10-$15) window antenna amplifiers. If your already getting a lot of channels, it may work just as well, depending on your distance/terrain and other circumstances.

United States on Mar 25, 2023

RD: A year in use and is still working,
Just that I found another amp that improved picture quality and brought more channels, the LNA 200 is a spear now.

Canada on Dec 21, 2022

Jean-Paul: Pour recevoir plusieurs canaux de télévision.....Ce que j'aime : installation, prix un peu élevé, image.
Ce que j'aime pas : Je reçois seulement le canal CBC en Anglais et je parle Français (Québec).
Je suis très déçu ???.....J'ai même installé un rotateur neuf et je reçois seulement CBC en Anglais ???
Est-ce que vous avez quelque chose à me suggérer pour que ça fonctionne.

Canada on Aug 07, 2022

fraggedout: 6/04/19 Edit:
Updated review. I am upgrading my rating on the LNA-200 based on the performance of the replacement unit. The warranty replacement LNA-200 has been perfoming adequately for about three weeks, so I'm hopeful it will continue. The original LNA-200 failed after two weeks and it took me quite a lot of back-and-forth with Winegard to get a warranty replacement, but so far (three weeks in) it is still enabling me to receive the channels I expected to receive.

EDIT: I'm editing my original review because I finally received by email a commitment from Winegard to issue an RMA and replace the defective product. When I receive the replacement I'll hook it up and see how things go. I'm hoping for the best and I really want this to work (and not just for two weeks like the failed one). I understand that electronic components can fail and I'm happy to see Winegard stepping up and taking care of it. I'll update once the replacement unit is installed.

(Original review)
I always read the reviews for a product before I purchase it. This was no different. The reviews for the LNA-200 were a mixed bag of positive and negative, but overall the positive reviews...

United States on May 09, 2019

john grant: Seems a bit overpriced compared to what this sells for in the U.S.(exchange rate considered) but still worth every cent in my situation. I realize what works for one may not for another. I live in rural Ontario with a fairly new CM 100 mile antenna on a 30 ft tower. I used the CM Titan 7777 30db pre amp (new style) for one year and got several U.S. and local stations.but always wondered if a lower gain would be better since their are at least a couple strong local stations and overpowering may be a problem...as the CM tech rep originally suggested.

While I can't directly compare this to the CM Titan 7778 (16db) I went with the Winegard because of the good reviews (low noise) and poor reviews of the new Titan amps...not just on Amazon but from a local antenna installer and electronics supplier. Bottom line; I'm not sure if its the lower gain but this works much better than the CM7777 for long range. I easily get a few more US stations.that I never got before. Just for interest, I bypassed the pre amp for one week and got all the local and a couple US stations but the antenna had to be aimed just right...very directional.. The beauty of a pre amp is the antenna is much more...

Canada on Jun 08, 2017

AC: I live in Toronto and have a mostly clear view of the CN Tower and Ash Bridges Bay / Lake Ontario from my apartment balcony. I recently purchased a Clearstream V2 antenna as an upgrade from my TERK antenna. Without thhe Wineguard, I'd get about 20 channels and about 15 of them would be always clear. I was curious to see if I could amp the signal because, at times, I had been able to pull in CBS, NBC, FOX, CW but not great (40-50% signal so they'd usually drop at night).
The Winegard was pretty easy to install - I did need to get an extra coax cable though to attach to the antenna input. It did take me a few tries until I got the hookup right because my set up was different from the instructions - AntenasDirect helped me very quickly with their customer service team (online and on the phone).
Now once I got this plugged in - wow - it definitely was great. As soon as I rescanned, I got 47 stations!! All the US networks (which was my goal) in addition the the Canadian ones.
Here's what I am able to get - now of course, you might have something different depending on your set up and where you have the antenna pointed (mine is ESE about 110 degrees).
WSTM (NBC)
WSTQ...

Canada on Sep 28, 2016

Claudius Arrivarus: I live in a concrete building facing the opposite side of all TV transmission antennas. I am positioned in the opposite way of all TV signals and about 30 miles from the main TV antennas. Before, I was getting barely 8 unstable channels. I was not expecting much from this amplifier, since my geographic position is very unstable and deficient. I read many of the negative comments about Winegard LNA-200 Booster. I was not convinced that I should spend that money for a product that could perhaps lead to deception. I took a chance and ordered it anyway, since I had not much to loose on this issue. I have a good antenna and ordered a good quality 30 feet coax cable and hooked the amplifier as shown on the instruction paper. WOW !!! It went from 8 unstable channels to 18 very stable channels, even though my location is very poor !!! What a difference, and since I don't watch TV that much, I get the best of all as HDTV and the signal is 100 % + the quality of the image has improved quite a lot. I also don't get any over amplified signals! I can tell you, if you have a good antenna, non defective cables and you connect the whole thing together the right way, the Winegard will certainly do...

Canada on Aug 30, 2014