Blue Mountain OAT reception

[BlueMountain]

We cut the cord in October 2013 and surprisingly got PBS reception without being hardwired to our antenna. The antenna is Radio Shack VU-210XR VHF/UHF/FM and is over 20 years old. We have coax cable from the antenna down to the ground floor, through the directv cable hole :D and into a RS 4-way splitter #1500379, with 3 TV's connected via between 10-20 ft of coax. An Archer Rotor Model 15-1225B is connected to the antenna.
We live on the north side of the Blue Ridge mountains, about 80 driving miles due west of Washington DC. We are pretty much surrounded by trees/woods on the south, east and west directions but our north slope has an unobstructed view of the valley.
From October 2013 till about Feb 2014 we picked up PBS (30.1 .2 &.3), WHAG 25 NBC, ION (60.1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6) and gratefully we could get ABC (7.1 .2 .3) and CBS (9.1 .2 .3). But suddely channels 7 & 9 dropped off. I've read many a TV Fool forums that explained "it is what it is", but I just can't understand WHY that is. There must be a magic combination/solution for those of us who live in rural areas to piece together OAT TV reception. I am sooooo tired of watching the ION "catch up with..." and the Diva on a Dime and Yummy Mummy.

Here is our TV Fool report at 50ft: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3de1c65ebac4a1e4

Here is our TV Fool report at 100ft: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3de1c643741a1322

Can someone chime in with genuine help and guidance? What can we do to improve our reception and pick up more of the network channels? I've performed channel scans many times and find 44 out of 68 channels but can only view 25, 31 & subs, 33, 60 & subs, and 68...including Cash Cab. Somehow that doesn't add up to 44 channels.

[teleview]

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You have posted tvfool reports with antenna heights of 50 and 100 feet above ground.

Can you get the antenna to those heights??

And if so , is the antenna on a tower??

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A typical 1 story house will put the antenna at about 25 feet above ground with the antenna install on a tripod antenna mount above the peak of the roof.

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At the 100 foot antenna height above ground , their are no hills/mountains blocking reception and no signal strength problems.

To see what reception is like at lower antenna heights please make and post tvfool reports with antenna

heights of , 90 , 80 , 70 , 60 , and 25 , feet antenna heights above ground.

[BlueMountain]

Yes the antenna is on a mast running through the north side decking. I just measured and sadly have discovered the antenna is only 30 ft off the ground :o

This is the 30ft report:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3de1c604647e9931

With the newfound discovery that my measurement estimating skills need polishing it doesn't make sense for me to run any additional reports, until we can figure out another antenna system.

I'd be concerned about using a chimney tripod or chimney bracket system because the antenna seems to be pretty large and the higher up it flies the more secured it would need.
Should we consider a newer antenna? I've read lots of forum posts about all the different antennas and it seems pretty confusing.
We also bought, but haven't installed yet, a Radio Shack signal High Gain Signal Amplifier. What are the comments/thoughts about the success of using a system like that, with our current situation?

[GroundUrMast]

Radio Shack amplifiers are my least favorite... My experience has been that almost all are plagued by noise and distortion problems compared to similarly priced amplifiers. But... before you bother with an amplifier, you need a signal worth amplifying, that's the job of a properly selected antenna that's mounted where it has access to receive a usable signal. Amplifiers are a bit like well pumps, a 100 psi pump and a 40 psi pump will both fail to deliver water when they're installed in a dry hole. And neither pump would deliver drinkable water if they leaked oil or lead into the water they're pumping.

If I was in your position, I'd be focusing on WHSV, real CH-42 which carries ABC, Fox, MyN, Me-TV and CBS (per rabbitears.info). Your 100' TVFR suggests the signal is not that hard to receive once the antenna is high enough... I'd check to see if less than 100' is able to provide a LOS path. I'd be looking at tree mounted options or a tower. If those options aren't feasible, I'd look at the option of a remote receiver, http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=1286.

[teleview]

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Different antenna height might receive Many More Tv Stations and Tv Networks.

It is --->Very Important<-- to use a Exact Address , Make and Post those lower antenna height Tvfool Reports.

A antenna height above ground that is lower then 100 feet above ground might provide reliable reception of.

WHSV-TV , Real UHF Band Channel 42.

For reception of , ABC , FOX , MyNetwork , Me-Tv , CBS .

http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=25042.

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I did my best to estimate the reception location , and then run reports at 100 feet above ground and lower antenna heights above ground.

It looks promising , however can not be sure , need to see those exact location - antenna heights Tvfool reports.

To make Exact location Tvfool reports.

Go to the tvfool home page.

Click on , >>Start MAPS<<.

Enter a address and or zip code.

Click on , (Map this) button.

Move the pointer to the Exact reception location.

Enter in the antenna height.

Click on the (Make Radar Plot >>) button.

[BlueMountain]

Thank you GroundUrMast,

I've run a new TVFR at 40ft and see that I should be able to pick up channel 42 WHSV.

40ft report:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3de1c62dd9307bf5

It seems to me if I were to try one of those Ronard tripods mounted on the roof I could easily extend my current antenna reaching a new height of 40-45ft. What are your thoughts?
We would most likely want to try this before going with a tree mount or the suggestion of a remote receiver. Thanks for the additional hyperlink to read your previous advice, we would have to bring in the professionals to accomplish something like that.:D

[Jake V]

BlueMountain,

Which way is your antenna pointed? About 101 degrees magnetic? I would have expected your antenna to be aimed more-or-less north.

Are the ABC (7.1 .2 .3) and CBS (9.1 .2 .3) channels you are referring to in Washington, DC (WJLA and WUSA, respectively)?

I see that the TVFool Map shows they are are -20dB and -21.2dB. I don't see any translators on the list that would provide these signals. I'm surprised that you received these stations. Can the experts please comment?

Thanks.

[BlueMountain]

Hi Jake,

My antenna is pointing somewhere between 90°-100° magnetic, which is East according to a compass I just bought for this adventure.

Yes the channels 7xxx & 9xxx are WJLA and WUSA, and we were receiving them from early October (leaves were still on the trees) through January. So you're suggesting that was a fluke?

GroundUrMast suggested working towards obtaining a clear LOS to WHSV which looks like it's in a westerly direction, and it is mere feet away from our current antenna height. It seems like all I need to do is raise it by about 5 feet (maybe another section of the current mast), then rotate the antenna about 180°.

Can anyone comment on our current antenna and/or if a newer one would help?

Thanks,

[ADTech]

So you're suggesting that was a fluke?

I'd call it a seasonal gift. Very unexpected but welcome. With the advent of summer, the atmosphere's noise levels increase and very, very weak signals tend to get drowned out. Perhaps reception will return in the fall or, you might even get intermittent reception whenever a cool front passes through.