Need reception help in Atlanta

[huddlbud]

I have installed an RCA ANT751 antenna on my roof and have aimed it to 244 degrees. No amps of any type. I have around 50' of rg6 coax going to my tv. The reception I am getting is very inconsistent. It will show almost full bars on the strength meter and then it will drop down to the red and the bounce back up to strong and then sometimes drop to no signal and I will lose the channel completely. After a few seconds, it will come back, usually very strong and then start all over again. That being said, I have also seen it be consistently strong for extended periods but it is rare. I am only 7.5 miles from most broadcast antennas so it would seem that I should be getting excellent, consistent reception. But I am not. Below is the link to my report. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Would like to dump DirecTV but that's not going to be possible if I can't fix this.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d5b94f0aca34a0a

Thanks!

[GroundUrMast]

Do you have trees in the path between the antenna and stations?

Have you tried this test, http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=13646? Though it answers the question of 'to amp or not amp...', it's also a very basic reception test that focus on the performance of the antenna, it's location and aim. You need to determine if the antenna is receiving a reliable signal, or are you fighting an external interference problem. Until the antenna can produce a reliable signal at it's output terminals, there's no reason to trouble shoot the cable, connectors or accessories down stream. Once you know you have a reliable signal to distribute, you can turn your attention to any problems that may be present in the distribution cabling and accessories.

Also, be open to the addition of an FM interference filter. http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10939219

[teleview]

+=>

Obstructions in the directions of reception will disrupt reception.

Trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , buildings and other obstructions including your own roof and building.

Some and not all disruptions are.

Absorbing and Blocking Reception.

Multi-Path Reflecting Tv Signals Bouncing All Around.

Stationary multi-path reflections are bad.

Moving multi-path reflections caused by objects that move such as and not limited to , trees , vehicles , people , etc. , Are Worse.

The idea is to install the antenna at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions of any type or kind in the direction of reception.

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A more directional antenna can help with reception.

A more directional antenna can help with reduction interfering multi-path signals bouncing in from other directions.

Install a , Channel Master , CM4228HD antenna aimed at about 244 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

Use a Real and Actual magnetic compass to aim antenna , do not trust a cell phone compass.

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Also coax can be defective even though the coax 'looks good'.

As a Test to prove reception , install a NEW Continues Length of Coax to the CM4228HD antenna and run the New Continues Length of Coax through a open door or window direct to 1 Tv.

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

To clear tuner do Double Rescan.

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

[huddlbud]

Thanks mast and teleview.
My issue is very frustrating. Seems that weather has a major impact. When windy and/or rainy, the proble is much worse and spans multiple channels. The weather today is perfectly clear and almost zero wind. I sat scanning channels and the only channel that had any issue at all was channel 5.1. All of the other channels had no issue at all. Ironically, even in rainy/windy conditions, channel 8 seems to be one of the most stable and it is further away and in a direction that the antenna is not pointing.

Unfortunately there is no way that I can avoid trees where I live. There are many trees between my house and the direction of the transmission sources. Given this info, do you still feel it is advisable to purchase to channel master 4228hd antenna? Would you expect it to overcome these issues? I am only about 8 miles from the transmitters for the most part. Btw, I installed the suggested fm filter but ii can see no real impact. Can't hurt I guess.

Thanks for you help. Much appreciated.

[teleview]

+=>

The reception situations that you and I both describe are the reasons for the recommending of and the use of a more directional antenna.

The -->only way<--to discover the degree that a more directional antenna will improve your reception situation is to install the CM4228HD.

DO NOT use a antenna system amplifier of any type or kind at you reception location.

The signal strengths are Strong at your reception location this means that the reflected signal strengths are Also Strong , making the reflected signal strengths that are causing the reception problems stronger will make reception worse.

[GroundUrMast]

I have plenty of big trees to contend with also. I've taken the approach suggested by teleview, a more directional antenna. This provides more reliable reception, though if the weather gets really bad, I can still see some breakups on occasion.

I'd give the suggestion teleview has offered a try.

[huddlbud]

I have plenty of big trees to contend with also. I've taken the approach suggested by teleview, a more directional antenna. This provides more reliable reception, though if the weather gets really bad, I can still see some breakups on occasion.

I'd give the suggestion teleview has offered a try.

Ok, this is an update to my situation. Although I was COMPLETELY skeptical that the Channelmaster CM4228HD would really make any difference, I bought one anyway because I really want to cut the directv cord. My biggest dilemma was where to install it as it is quite large. Finally settled on the roof obscured from view by a chimney. Did I mention how big this thing is? So I got it all wired up so that it is feeding 3 TVs. And 2 of them are being fed through 2 splitters. All I can say is WOW! The reception is fantastic. All 3 TVs are perfect. Picture is crystal clear and I have not had a single drop at all. Totally and completely impressed. I have now purchased a TiVo roamio DVR and have it working for about 3 days. So far I am totally pleased. I was hoping to find an OTA DVR that had no recurring fees but did not want to have to cobble something together and possibly compromise on features. The roamio has been great so far. I'm thinking that it is a well spent $15 a month given the amount I am spending now on DTV.

Sorry to ramble on. Just very excited that I have a well working solution now. Good luck to everyone.

[teleview]

+=>

You are doing fine.

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The CM4228HD is not a magic antenna.

The CM4228HD is a Very Directional Antenna in the forward direction and front angles to the antenna.

The CM4228HD receives Very Little , directly on the sides of the antenna , so multi-path signals bouncing around the reception area are very little received directley on the sides of the antenna.

The CM4228HD antenna has reduced reception at the back and back angles to the antenna.

The reflector rods behind the >< shaped reception elements , reflect some of signal away that is coming to the back and back angles to the antenna , such as multi-path Tv signals that are bouncing all around the area.

Moving multi-path such as and not limited to Tv signals bouncing off the Many Close and Distant Trees and Tree Leaves in the Wind is Very Bad For Reception .

The CM4228HD antenna limits reception on the sides and back/back angles to the antenna.

The Computer of the Digital Broadcast Tv Tuner Corrects Multi-Path to a Degree and then the tuner is overloaded with multi-path , and the tuner losses lock on the signal and then regains lock and then the lock is lost , and the cycle is repeated over and over.

The CM4228HD limits multi-path , the limiting of the multi-path makes it possible for the tuner to maintain lock on the signal.

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The ANT751 antenna.

Because of the small size and small number of reception and reflector elements the ANT751 does not do much to limit multi-path.

[teleview]

+=>

Here are some Tuner / Recorders.

http://www.epvision.com.

No Subscription Fee.

However does require more thinking then the tivo.

Here are some online TvGuides.

http://www.zap2it.com.

http://www.titantv.com.

http://www.tvlistings.aol.com.

http://www.tv.yahoo.com.

[mulliganman]

Ok, this is an update to my situation. Although I was COMPLETELY skeptical that the Channelmaster CM4228HD would really make any difference, I bought one anyway because I really want to cut the directv cord. My biggest dilemma was where to install it as it is quite large. Finally settled on the roof obscured from view by a chimney. Did I mention how big this thing is? So I got it all wired up so that it is feeding 3 TVs. And 2 of them are being fed through 2 splitters. All I can say is WOW! The reception is fantastic. All 3 TVs are perfect. Picture is crystal clear and I have not had a single drop at all. Totally and completely impressed. I have now purchased a TiVo roamio DVR and have it working for about 3 days. So far I am totally pleased. I was hoping to find an OTA DVR that had no recurring fees but did not want to have to cobble something together and possibly compromise on features. The roamio has been great so far. I'm thinking that it is a well spent $15 a month given the amount I am spending now on DTV.


Sorry to ramble on. Just very excited that I have a well working solution now. Good luck to everyone.

If you want to try a subscription free OTA DVR you could give the Channel Master DVR+ a try

[GroundUrMast]

And for the computer enthusiast, a Linux or Windows PC can serve well as a PVR/DVR.

http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=820