The amplifier and the power supply both have LED lights on each to provide a visual indicator that both devices are working.
If the LED light on the amplifier is not illuminated, this indicates that the amplifier is not getting power. If you run into this issue, you will want to double check all of your connections. (Troubleshooting steps listed below.)
1. Use good quality RG-6 coaxial cables and connectors. (RG-59 or other types of coaxial cable can have inadequate conductivity causing a reduction of power to the amplifier. When the power to the amplifier is lower than what the amplifier requires, it can cause the amplifier not to function and intermittent issues. Under-powering an amplifier for extended periods of time can reduce the life expectancy of the amplifier.)
2. Make sure your connectors are properly installed. Just a single bad connector can cause issues. One of the most common issues with bad connectors is when one of the coax cable's aluminum braid wires is touching the copper center conductor. This will cause a short in the coax network which will prevent the amplifier from working properly and consistently. (When the green LED light on the power supply is OFF or is flashing, this indicates a short in the coaxial network somewhere.)
3. Make sure all splitters in your coaxial network are "Power Passing". A power passing splitter will allow power to pass back through the splitter to the amplifier. (Most splitters used by cable and satellite companies are NOT power passing). A power passing splitter looks just like a normal splitter but usually indicates on the label if it is designed to pass power or not.
4. Make sure to remove any satellite switches, receivers or other satellite equipment from the coaxial network. These devices will block or send additional power to the Channel Master amplifier which will cause it to not function properly.
5. Make sure you are not using an antenna that has a built in amplifier or that includes an amplifier with the antenna. If the antenna itself has an amplifier built in, installing the Channel Master amplifier will block power going to the integrated amplifier inside the antenna. (If your antenna came with a device that connected to power, you may have issues when this is removed from the antenna and replaced with a Pre-Amp1 amplifier. Most people think they are switching out an amplifier that was included with the antenna and replacing it with a Channel Master amplifier. Typically this is not the case, this device is actually a power inserter and the amplifier is actually built into your antenna.)
If you are experiencing an issue with the amplifier not getting power or inconsistently working, here is an effective way to troubleshoot this issue.
Remove the amplifier from the pole and take it inside the house. Test it on a work bench or table. Use a short (3' or less) coaxial cable from the amplifier to the power inserter and the included cable from the power inserter to the power supply.
Plug in the power supply, if both LED lights are on and are not flashing, this indicates that both the amplifier and power inserter are working.
Once you know that the devices are working properly, install the amplifier back on the pole near the antenna and connect to the home coaxial network along with the power inserter. Next check that both LED lights are working. If one of the LED light is out or flashing you will want to thoroughly check your coaxial network for bad cables, connectors or other equipment that may be blocking power.
It is rare that we see an amplifier fail and still have both LED lights on. Typically if both LED lights are on, 99% of the time the amplifier is working. In rare instances the amplifier or power inserter can fail even though the LED lights are on, but this is very rare.