Interference Troubleshooting

[melling]

I am trying to troubleshoot some reception issues but have run out of methods of diagnosing my problems.

Location Information:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d60b5097cfe941a

The following are the only channels I care about that I receive with my Clearstream 2 oriented at 45 deg. magnetic (mounted on the north side of my chimney).

Virtual Channels:
5
11
17 - Weak
28
31
50
63

I have issues with 28, 31, and 63 where the signal comes in strong but cuts out with a loss of about 30% every few seconds. This makes viewing choppy.

I am trying to improve 28 (NBC) because it is hit or miss in terms of signal strength.

I've adjusted the antenna horizontally up to 20 degress each direction and dont see a noticable difference. Does vertical angle adjustment make much difference?

Do I have interference issues that I can negate?

Note: I am also located on the south edge or a busy military installation which uses Radar and has frequent airborne operations which I think degrade my my signal periodically.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

[John Candle]

I recommend a Antennacraft U8000 aimed at 22 degree magnetic compass to receive the stations to the north north east. Here is how to aim antenna , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html , for reception of the network stations , PBS , UNI , CW , CBS , FOX , ABC , MYNetwork , NBC , W67CD 23 Religion. The stations to the south , WFPX-DT 36 ION and WUNU 31 PBS are strong stations to the south and will likely be received through the back side of the of the U8000. To increase reception through/at the back side of the U8000 with the reflector rods in place on the antenna , the reflector rods can be removed by drilling out the rivets of the flat metal clips that hold the reflector rods in place. Removing the reflector rods allows more signal to be received by the V shaped metal elements that receive the signal. Here are places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.antennacraft.net , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.3starinc.com

[John Candle]

The U8000 has , 18 reflector rods and 8 V shaped metal reception element/wires. By removing the reflector rods the U8000 is a made in to a more effective 2 direction antenna.

[Tower Guy]

The following are the only channels I receive with my Clearstream 2 oriented at 45 deg. magnetic.

I have issues with 28, 31, and 63 where the signal comes in strong but cuts out with a loss of about 30% every few seconds. This makes viewing choppy.



The problem with 31 and 63 (typo of 62?) is probably due to mis-aiming of the antenna along with the chimney blocking the signal from that direction.

The problem with 28 (or did you mean NBC on 17?) is hard to pinpoint. It's not FM interference. Airplane flutter can be an issue, but that should apply to all channels at 45°, not just channel 28. It may be simply a weaker signal than TVFool indicates.

I reverse engineered your location and discovered that the signal strength of WRDC & WNCN is extremely dependent on antenna height. It's more likely that you'll solve the problem by raising the antenna for a stronger channel 17/28 before you can find and cure any interference.

Does your C-2 pick up WTVD? If not, you may want to consider adding a VHF antenna to the UHF-only C-2.