confused with results

[voidcomp]

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d46ae5b5102eaf4

My antenna is an attic mounted Winegard 7694p pointing 163 degrees through dense forest. No amplification or splitting. The run is roughly 50 feet.

Good signal on all channels except WLLA Ch 45 which drops out now and then. No consistency to the pattern. Funny thing is, my indoor Mohu Leaf on another tv pulls in the station better (at the expense of other stations not coming in).

I can see it's in a fringe zone, yet stations WOLP and WZPX (with lower NM's) come in just fine. WZPX is in a significantly different direction too which is kind of surprising considering the direction sensitive nature of the antenna.

Can anyone shed some light as to why some stations one would think would come in poorly come in fine, and vice versa? Thanks.

[ADTech]

Dense forest signal path plus attic location = erratic reception for UHF stations.

Most likely, the antenna is simply in a "dead" spot for that particular station. On UHF stations, such spots can be as small as 6-12" Try multiple antenna locations to see if you can find a single spot were everything plays nice. Then, if necessary, move the antenna to the outside and up in the air.

[teleview]

Eratic , unstable , reception with a antenna in the attic is to be expected.

As always , trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , Will produce degraded reception.

Some channels will be ok and some channels will not , this is the Norm.

For better reception install the HD7694P antenna above the peak of the roof in such a manner that the roof and building are not , impeding , obstructing , blocking , reception in the directions of , South , South East , North West.

Aim the antenna at about 163 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

The higher the antenna is , the better the reception will be.

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Digital Broadcast Tv Tuners can develop -Digital Glithes- that are not cleared out with simple channel scans.

Do Double Rescan , http://www.wchstv.com/DoubleReScanAlert.pdf.

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[voidcomp]

There's no erratic behavior with the Mohu Leaf. Reason?

[ADTech]

It is in a different location that is not suffering the same path problems.

[voidcomp]

Interesting, the Leaf is lower, within the house, subject to more interference and blockage, and considerably less powerful than the Winegard.

Guess it shows there's no guarantees even with a good antenna.

[Stereocraig]

Guess it shows there's no guarantees even with a good antenna.

That's right, there aren't.
Just like w/ home audio gear though, you can upgrade and be disappointed w/ the results.
It does help though, in that it is a good indicator of where the problem ISN"T.

If you're right on the brink, that attic could very well be the deal breaker.

[ADTech]

A lot depends on the trees through which the signal is trying to travel.

If the lower path is less dense in terms of foliage, it actually is better to to put the antenna down low instead of up high where there is significantly more foliage to disrupt the signal.

Movement of an antenna in such conditions by mere inches can completely change the results. Leaving it to chance by simply placing the antenna in a convenient location will usually give you potluck.

[voidcomp]

Movement of an antenna in such conditions by mere inches can completely change the results.

That's for sure. When the antenna was moved there were times I pulled hardly any stations! The usual result is getting some at the expense of others. I'm generally happy with the compromise.

The acid test will come when I install a HDHomerun and see if signal strength remains strong enough to record. Unfortunately my Vizio has no signal strength function to give me a ballpark idea.