Interference/Antenna advice, Western NC

[NoWayHozay]

Greetings all.

I live outside of Asheville, NC and have been enjoying OTA TV since June, but a few issues have cropped up. First, here's my report. Height is 25'.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dcc49f4139ced2d

My antenna is an old ChannelMaster 4221 4-bay located 25' off the ground and mounted on a gable on the SW corner of the house. One cable direct to my TV, an Insignia if it matters.

Reception currently:
13 WLOS (ABC)
21 WHNS (FOX)
25 WUNF (PBS)
These all come in fantastic, rain shine or whatever.

8 W08BP - repeater for WSPA (CBS), tower is 2 miles away and 1000' above my backyard. Always get a strong signal, but have had interference issues which have become horrendous lately, especially on clear days. First thought, multi-path, but if anyone has another idea, I'm open to it. The interference shows up as pixellation and stutter and blackout while signal strength stays steady.

4 WYFF (NBC) - I can get this occasionally, but with only a 25% or less signal and pixellation and stuttering. Late night in the summer, it was watchable, but now it isn't and I'd like it to be. There are no translators around here for NBC anymore and this is the only channel I don't receive that I need.

I also get analog channels 41 & 50, but don't care if I do or not. I'm sure I could get W34DX if need be, it's a translator for ch. 21 so not necessary.

At times I have also received:
45 WYCW - poor signal, don't care if I get it or not
27 WUNW - redundant PBS from out west.

The issues I'd like to resolve are with channel 8 and channel 4. My antenna is old and was a gift from a friend so I'm open to ideas on a different style that might be a better fit. Thanks for any help.

[elmo]

Ch 8 is a VHF signal, but your antenna is optimized for UHF. So on the best of days, it may bring it in for you. However, if you added a VHF only antenna and joined them using a UHF/VHF combiner, that'd probably fix you up. That'd mean any other VHF would be tuned in w/the new antenna.

That doesn't speak to the issue with Ch 4 (real 36) - it's UHF. I'd guess aiming the antenna a bit more south would improve signal there. You said the antenna is on the SW side, so I'd assume it's facing that direction? The screen on the back of the antenna is the reflector. If you remove it, the antenna picks up more from behind but less from the front. Sometimes, that's a solution when there's signals all around. Since it's a 4-bay, I would if you were to just snip of enough for two, if that'd help you get a bit of both scenarios. I'm only speculating and not suggesting that you go modding your antenna. If it unbolts, you could try removing it as a test.

[teleview]

Try a FM Trap - radio shack #15-024.

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I recommend install a Winegard HD7082P All Channel Antenna aimed at about 196 degree magnetic compass direction.

All of the current Tv channels are ,

VHF low band channels 2 thru 6.

VHF high band channels 7 thru 13.

UHF band channels 14 thru 51.

As always , the starting aim direction of a antenna is --> the starting aim direction.

The antenna can be adjusted/aimed for best reception.

Most Digital Tv's have a signal strength meter and some have a signal quality meter.

For reception of ,

WLOS - VHF channel 13 , ABC and MyNetwork.

WHNS - UHF channel 21 , Fox.

WUNF - UHF channel 25 , PBS.

W08PB-D - VHF channel 08 , CBS and Me-Tv - Repeater of WSPA-TV.

WYCW-DT - UHF channel 45 , CW and (CBS - WSPA).

W02AG-D - VHF channel 02 , CBS and Me-Tv - Repeater of WSPA-TV.

WYFF-DT - UHF channel 45 , NBC and This Tv.

WSPA-TV - VHF channel 7 , CBS and Me-TV.

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Here are some strong and sturdy antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html if using a eave mount - use the 4560. , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com.
Buy the ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box or buy from ronard.

Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.winegarddirect.com.

Install the HD7082P antenna above the roof in such a manner that the roof and house are not blocking reception in the directions of , south west , south , south east.

As always trees and tree leaves do a real fine job of reducing or blocking Digital Broadcast Tv reception and so do buildings and other obstructions including your own house.

It is best to install the HD7082P antenna at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions of any type or kind in the directions including your own house.

The Tv/s Must channel scan for the Broadcast Tv channels , sometimes named the 'Air Channels' or 'Antenna Channels' in the Tv setup menu because the Tv transmissaions travel through the air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.

DO NOT channel scan for cable tv channels.

[NoWayHozay]

Thanks for the quick replies, fellows.

Try a FM Trap - radio shack #15-024.

Would this help with the interference I get on channel 8? It's a radio issue, not multi-path?

I recommend install a Winegard HD7082P All Channel Antenna aimed at about 196 degree magnetic compass direction.

Wow, that thing is huge. Not sure if it's the way to go, it's strong point seems to be pulling in weak Low-VHF signals. I need something that gets decent High-VHF (ch. 8,13) and can pull in a weak UHF signal (ch. 36) from 30 miles away while pulling in some strong UHF (ch. 21,25) from the same general direction.

[teleview]

Try the Fm Trap to eliminate the interference.

FM traps are not used as a way to stop you from listening to the FM radio.

A FM trap is used to reduce or stop interference to Tv channels.

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I do not recommend antennas just because I can recommend antennas.

If you read the other question askers posts , you will understand that I actually know what I am doing.

And Yes it is true , you can install what ever antenna you choose.

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W08PB , W02AG , WSPA , are all the same programing.

W02AG and WSPA , are alternatives to receiving W08PB that has the interference.

W02AG - VHF channel 02 is stronger signal strength then WSPA - VHF channel 7.

W02AG has a 1 edge path obstruction to the transmitter at 27.4 miles.

WSPA has a 2 edge path obstruction to the transmitter at 29.2 miles.

If CBS and Me-Tv programing is important , then the HD7082P antenna provides 2 more ways to get the programing.

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And then there is WYCW and WYFF , the HD7082P is aimed at those 2.

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As always the starting aim direction of a antenna is the --> starting aim direction of a antenna.

The HD7082P antenna aim direction can be adjusted for best reception.

Most Digital Tv's have a signal strength meter and some Digital Tv's also have a signal quality meter.