confusing results

[hank]

First off here is my report http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d99009d10cdd406
Question.... Untill 2 months ago I recieved channels 4,6,10,28,34,and 53. All these channels were received without turning antenna, (which is DB8). Suddenly we lost channel 4 NBC. After checking and rechecking, I couldn't find a reason and decided maybe I needed a new antenna, BUT after messing with the rotor, and turning antenna to face almost due east, at a tree covered hill 50' behind our house, NBC comes in. It is the only channel recieved in this direction, all others come in with tenna pointed almost due north. How, why is this happening? Seems very odd to me, like an airplane would seem to a caveman. Also would there be a better antenna than DB8 that I could use?

[signals unlimited]

The hills between you and channel 4 are hindering your reception from the transmitter main lobe. The signal to the East is bouncing/reflecting off of the hill that you described. It was probably there all along, and could be a somewhat reliable replacement for the missing channel.

If you can rely on the reflected signal from the East, keep the DB8 and rotate
when needed.

[hank]

That makes sense. I guess it could have been there all along, never tried that direction. All our channels come from the north and within just about 3 miles from each other about 55 miles from my home. Untill recently we got NBC just fine, then all the sudden nothing, till I found I could turn the antenna about 90deg. and boom there it comes in. It is the only one that we get on that heading, all the rest are still the same as before.
With all the transmitters in basicly the same place I was wondering if something like a 91xg antenna would work better than the DB8?

[GroundUrMast]

My personal opinion is that the 91XG is better at dealing with multipath and reflections... Some people agree with me, others have had contradicting experience.

There's not a great deal of difference in gain between the two antennas but the 91XG is going to give you a bit more gain.

That you're seeing WCMH is a bit remarkable... your TV Fool report would suggest you would not. But as the bright minds that gave us TV Fool have already said "your mileage may vary".

If you're in the mood to try another antenna, the 91XG would one of the best for your situation. Rather that replacing the DB8, try both. Cable the 91XG separately, all the way to your TV. Then consider using an A/B switch or an auxiliary tuner. http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=2882 This would make for easier 'channel surfing'.

The 91XG mounted on a good rotator, and equipped with a good low noise preamp such as the Antennas Direct PA-18 would possibly produce other signals or at least periodic DX reception. If you do install a rotator, consider using a thrust bearing as well. http://www.3starinc.com/tb-105_thrust_support_bearing_for_tv_antenna_rotator.html

[hank]

Im not exactly sure how to read tvfool, but it seems according to it I shouldn't be able to get any major networks, (NBC WCMH), (ABC,WSYX) and (CBS WBNS) . All the transmitters are in the same area in Columbus. We used to get all of them, now WCMH is hit and miss.
I was wondering about the weather or possibly some kind of interference. WCMC comes in early in the morning till around 7:00 then cuts out, but if I turn the rotor WCMH comes in but no other channels on that heading, till about 9:00am, then it goes out completely. We live about 50 yards from train tracks, and everytime a train goes by, the TV cuts out for a second or 2. That got me thinking we might be getting interference from something between here and the transmitter that gets turned on around 7 or 9 oclock. Might see what happens when the weather changes before I get a new antenna. Hate to go through the trouble if it wont help. THANKS FOR THE INPUT

[GroundUrMast]

Of all the things you could do, increasing the height of the antenna is the most likely to improve your situation.

The flat steel surfaces on the train reflect the signal. Cars, trucks and planes are going to produce similar 'interference'. Weather and solar RF radiation are certainly capable of disturbing weak, or marginal reception also.

[hank]

My god... we must so close to the edge of even getting those signals that any little thing will interfer enough for it to cut out. I thought maybe it was the electric generated by the diesel locomotives, or the flashing rear end radio device. We are in the valley very close to the river that stretches to the vicinity of the transmitting towers. Maybe it's possible the signals bounce down this valley? I've read they came be reflected of of water also.
Antenna heighth is about 40' now, afraid to go any higher, I get a little shacky being up as high as it is now. I know weather has something to do with it all too. The night of June 30 after one of the worst storms I've seen in this area, I was getting channels from somewhere in Indiana! I justed raised the heighth from 35 to 40' last weekend. Guess I'll just wait and see if anything changes.
THANKS TO ALL.
AND ALL HAIL THE QUEEN OF CUTE