Need reception help in Iowa.

[isufan]

The pas few years I have had trouble getting abc channel 5.1 to come in good. It seems like during the day it won't come in well. At night seems to come in better.

All of the other channels seems to come in ok but have noticed 8.1 every now and then getting squiggly. Not sure on the antenna as it was here when we moved in. All new cable in house a few years ago. I do have a signal booster before my 4 way splitter.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d46ae5e0f58335a

Thanks Gabe

[teleview]

The current Broadcast Tv stations/channels transmitted and received in the , USA , Canada , Mexico , are.

VHF low band channels 2 thru 6.

VHF high band channels 7 thru 13.

UHF band channels 14 thru 51.

Your location has receivable channels in all 3 Tv bands.

The signal strengths of the Tv stations at your location Weak.

Recommend install a Big All Channel Antenna.

Install a Winegard HD7084P All channel antenna above the roof in such a manner that roof and house are not impeding and blocking reception in the directions of , South East , North West.

Aim the HD7084P antenna at about 143 degree magnetic compass direction.

Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Use a Old School magnetic compass to aim the antenna.

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Install a Winegard LNA-200 'Boost' XT amplifier.

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For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a , Hollandelectronics , HFS-2D , 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a , Hollandelectronics , HFS-3D , 3 way splitter.

Buy the HFS splitters at solidsignal.

Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. .

http://www.solidsignal.com.

http://www.amazon.com.

http://www.winegarddirect.com.

http://www.hollandelectronics.com.

http://www.ronard.com.

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Here are some above the roof antenna mounts.

http://www.ronard.com/909911.html.
Use the , ronard(911) , 5 foot antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html.
Use the , ronard(4560) eave antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html.
Measure around the chimney and use a , ronard(2212) , ronard(2218) , ronard(2224).

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing , ronard(x) , in the solidsignal search box or buy from ronard.

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As always trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , in the directions of reception , have a Negative effect on broadcast Tv reception and so do buildings and other obstructions including your own roof and house.

The Best Practice is to install the HD7084P antenna at a location that has least amount to no amount of obstructions of any type or kind in the directions of reception including your own roof and house.

________________

Digital tuners can develop - Digital Glitches - that are not cleared out with simple channel scans.

Do a Double Rescan to clear the tuner.

Disconnect antenna coax from the Tv.

Scan for channels.

Unplug Tv from power.

Wait a minute or so.

Plug Tv back in power.

Scan for channels.

http://www.wchstv.com/DoubleReScanAlert.pdf.

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___________________________

[isufan]

Wow what a reply!!Thanks so much. great advice

[isufan]

Is it possible to buy too much of an antenna ? this one I have looked at in the past. http://antennaszone.com/channel-master-cm-uhf-vhf-fm-hdtv-antenna-mile-range-cm3020-3020-100/

[GroundUrMast]

Is it possible to buy too much of an antenna ? this one I have looked at in the past. http://antennaszone.com/channel-master-cm-uhf-vhf-fm-hdtv-antenna-mile-range-cm3020-3020-100/
In cases where you are very close to a powerful transmitter, a large high gain antenna may be inappropriate and result in reception of too much signal power. You're not in that situation. In other cases, a large high gain antenna may be too directional to do a good job receiving signals from two or more directions. Again, that's not the situation you face.

The CM-3020 and HD7084P are in the same class.

[teleview]

I strongly recommend the HD7084P antenna.

The HD = Heavy Duty , is a Very Strong and Durable antenna that will last a long time exposed to the weather.

The information that I provide is , Clear , Clean , Direct , To the Point , Practical Useful Information.

[isufan]

How do you install the preamp ? Makes me nervous putting anything with power connected outside.

[GroundUrMast]

Preamplifiers are powered by low voltage. The amplifier unit is mounted outdoors on the mast with the antenna. The power is provided by a unit located indoors, protected from the weather. The coax cable between the outdoor unit and indoor power supply provides the path for the signal into the house, and the path for the low voltage power supply out to the preamplifier unit.

There is no need to deal with 120 VAC outdoors.

[isufan]

Channel 5.1 is all pixelated for me. Both intensity and quality are 85 to 95 percent. Is my antenna the problem then ?

[GroundUrMast]

Channel 5.1 is all pixelated for me. Both intensity and quality are 85 to 95 percent. Is my antenna the problem then ?Your signal strength and quality are consistent with reception of plenty of signal... But the drop-outs suggest intermittent bursts of noise/interference are present also.

Unfortunately, the Low-VHF channels (real channels 2 through 6, 54 - 72, 74 - 88 MHz) is impacted by interference from electrical and electronic devices in and outside your home, more than the High-VHF and UHF bands.

To overcome this extra noise/interference, use an antenna with directional gain in the L-VHF band... And just as importantly, locate the antenna outside, in the clear, free of obstructions. (If the antenna is in the attic, it will receive less desired signal and be closer to sources of interference.) The 7084 recommended by teleview is a the correct type in this case.

[isufan]

I am always trying to buy a little bit better than what is needed. Would it help if I bought the 8200?

http://www.winegarddirect.com/viewitem.asp?p=HD8200U&d=Winegard-HD-8200U-High-Definition-Platinum-VHFUHFFM-Antenna-(HD8200U)&post=




Has more VHF elements . Thanks for all of your help much appreciated!!

[GroundUrMast]

The 7084 is is actually a bit stronger in the L-VHF band. look at the published gain spec's for real CH-4 & CH-6 as you compare the two antennas. http://www.winegarddirect.com/viewitem.asp?d=Winegard-HD-7084P-High-Defintion-VHFUHFFM-TV-Antenna-%28HD7084P%29&p=HD7084 Regardless of the price difference, it's the better option from a technical point of view.

[isufan]

7084 it is then. Wanted to thank you for all of your help. Great people you are here.

[isufan]

Well I have everything now to change to the new antenna. Problem is that mine is 25 feet above ground on a galvanized mast that goes into the ground. I have been thinking about taking a section of the mast out and it would lower it about ten foot. This way I can work on it from my roof.

I have no idea how to get up there beyond asking a tree removal company to lift me up to it. Anyone have any ideas ? Would lowering 10 foot make that much difference ?

Thanks again for all of your help.

[GroundUrMast]

Is the mast simply threaded pipe sections? Or is it a push-up type mast similar to this? http://www.3starinc.com/30_foot_telescopic_push-up_antenna_mast_ups_shippable.html

[isufan]

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=home+tv+tower+mast&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=home+tv+tower+mast&sc=0-14&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&id=0C4CB1F8871A3AE149B0C746B5F4B2B87B8E9774&selectedIndex=4

Like this one here.

[GroundUrMast]

Oh!, I'd inspect it, put my harness on and climb it. But then that's not everyone's 'cup of tea'. (I was trained in high angle rescue and worked in towers above 100' AGL. I still service my own 100' tall Cedar trees.)

Do you know any HAM radio operators? There are usually a few in that community that are skilled in tower work.

[isufan]

I dont know of any. I am 240 so makes me nervous to climb. Do you think dropping it down ten feet will hurt reception that bad ?

[GroundUrMast]

Run and post a TV Fool report based on the proposed height...

[isufan]

I recently just bought a winegard 7804p antenna. Also a Winegard LNA-200 'Boost' XT amplifier.

My antenna mast currently is about 25 to 30 foot in the air. Not attached to the house at all. Needless to say it is hard to work on :)

I have thought about mounting it to the side of our ranch style home. Top of roof is about 12 foot so I could mount the antenna about 16 to 20 off of the ground this way. I have some trees about 75 feet away from the antenna. Would this really hurt me if I do this ? Just wanting to be able to work on this without renting a boom truck lol.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d46aed78a72bbd8

THANKS!!

[GroundUrMast]

It looks like you loose some signal strength, but not enough to expect a significant change in performance.

Go ahead, give the new antenna a test at the proposed location... Verify you can see acceptable results before you make holes in the house.

(If I was within driving distance, I'd offer to take a look at the tower... Oh well.)

[teleview]

As a test of reception can lay the antenna on top of a chimney or temporary lash a pipe to the side of a the chimney so that the pipe rises above the chimney.

Or can straddle a Wooden chairs leges across the peak of the roof and lay the antenna on the seat of the wooden chair.

Or a tripod antenna mount over the peak of the roof.

[isufan]

I have decided to mount it on a pole that goes in the ground and attatches to the side of my house at the top of the roof area. Any ideas on what type of pipe to use ? Also what size to use also ID.

Thanks

[teleview]

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Top Rail , Chain Link Fence Pipe , at Home Depot and Lowes , works excelent for that type antenna mounting.

And can also get what I call , 2 hole metal conduit clamp , a metal strap that goes over and around the pipe and has holes at each end of the strap to put screws through and into eave.

And can also drill a hole through the strap clamp and through the pipe , and put a long screw through in to the eave , this will keep the pipe from turning.

Clamp the pipe to the eave at the peak of the roof.

[isufan]

Great, How deep should it go in the ground ? Do I still need to ground the antenna even if it goes in the ground ? Thanks

[teleview]

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As to how deep in the ground the pipe.

Put the pipe down into the ground at a depth that the ground will hold the pipe in place so the pipe will not move or swing out at the bottom.

As to how deep that is.

From a certain point of view the pipe could be put 10 feet or more into the ground.

However 6 inches is not deep enough.

[GroundUrMast]

If the mast is supported by attachment to the building, I wouldn't bother burying any of it in the ground. I would consider supporting the mast on a concrete pier block or similar solid material that would prevent the mast from sinking into soft soil.

Even if the mast is buried in the earth, I would still connect the mast to your electrical service ground, using #10 AWG copper. The idea is to bond (note) the mast to the same ground system that serves the rest of your electrical system. Then I would also install a grounding block for the coax... http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=901 (post #20)

(note) The NEC defines Bonded (Bonding). "Connected to establish electrical continuity and conductivity."