OTA help in Aliso Viejo, 50 mi, hill

[KeithDiehl]

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d9900f4f7281ed0

My home backs to a considerable hill that is directly between the towers and I. I just hooked up my winegard hd7694p to my samsung pn50c550 via 60' of formerly directv cable. The antenna is on the roof about 25' off the ground and pointed to 323. It registers only 2 channels and both extremely fuzzy. Any thoughts on how to proceed?

Amplifier? New cable? New antenna? New home? Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks!

Best,
Keith

[signals unlimited]

You have a good antenna and DTV set and the hill is not a deal breaker. I am not sure what you describe as "fuzzy". Bad DTV reception is not fuzzy, it drops out.

If your set is clear but drops out, check or replace everything in between. Be sure that there are no splitters from the satellite system left in place.
A good way check everything is to hook up a known good coax from the antenna directly to the set and scan for channels.

[GroundUrMast]

That you're seeing only 'fuzzy' channels makes me ask, are you scanning for 'air' or 'antenna' rather than 'cable' or 'CATV' channels?

[KeithDiehl]

RG-6 cabling with no splits confirmed.

I was scanning for air/antenna as opposed to cable. I set the auto program to "auto" which should include both but still get only the following fuzzy/static spanish language stations:
Air: 3, 6, 12, 21, 27, 45, 57
Cable: 3, 6, 79 almost pure static

I hope it is something simple about what I'm doing or the TV set-up. That'd be great.

[GroundUrMast]

This version of the manual: http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/201009/20100906124359421/%5BPC550-ZA%5DBN68-02580A-05Eng.pdf leads me to believe you should intentionally select "AIR" rather than "AUTO".

[KeithDiehl]

Thanks to everyone for the support so far. I now have hope and that feels nice!

I re-ran the channel programming with "air" only (as I had previously). This time, it did find 3 DTV signals:
10-1 KGTV-DT
10-2 COOL-TV
10-15 KZSD-TV.

These three stations came in clearly with 10-1 KGTV-DT being the best.

Any thoughts on what this means relative to the rest of the stations that I "should" be getting?

[teleview]

Aim the HD7694P antenna at about 335 degree magnetic compass.
Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

How many Tv's are/will be connected??

For now have only the one Tv connected.

The coax that is being used to get the signal from the antenna to the Tv can not have any of the satellite Tv or cable Tv hardware , diplexers , splitters , ect. connected.

Just the coax only to get the signal from the antenna to the Tv.

The Tv Must Channel Scan for the Broadcast Tv Channels sometimes named the 'Air Channels' or 'Antenna Channels' in the Tv setup menu because the Tv transmissions travel through the air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.


DO NOT channel scan for cable tv channels.

Some Tv's will automatic channel scan for cable tv channels if the automatic mode is selected.

[teleview]

Check the antenna , see if the antenna matching transformer (balun) is making the connection to the antenna wires inside the plastic housing.

A way to test reception is to bypass all coax.

Install a Known to be good looong coax connected directly to the antenna and run the coax through a open window or open door directly to the Tv.

Here are some above roof top antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com.

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box.

Here are places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.winegard.com , http://www.amazon.com.

Also install a Winegard AP8700 preamp.

[GroundUrMast]

1) As Teleview is suggesting, verify your understanding of which end of the antenna is the front. As I drive around, It's quite common to see antennas pointing 90° & 180° away from the TV towers.

2) Double check that all satellite system components have been removed. As Teleview suggests, a new factory made cable can bypass all of the old cable and hidden satellite system components.

3) A bad connection anywhere in the system, including the antenna is next on the list of suspicions.

4) Lastly (for the moment), I agree that a preamp is indicated. In addition to the AP8700, I'd suggest either the Antennas Direct CPA-19, or PA-18. But the symptoms you describe make me think there is other trouble that needs to be resolved. An amplifier may mask an less obvious defect.

[teleview]

I am still recommending , examen the hardware Very closely , that matching transformer housing has connections on the inside and al so the coax connections. And also replace the coax.

You can also consider that the Tv/Tv tuner is bad.

Connecting a different Tv is Ok.

[KeithDiehl]

Team,
I extended my cable run to the single TV and mounted the antenna as high as possible. I am now able to pick up (amongst others) the top three stations in the report: KABC, KTTV, and KCOP. I think the hill/trees/etc are a significant factor. I'll be trying out an amplifier today and hope to extend more deeply into the list. I will report my results.

Thanks for all the help!

Keith

[teleview]

What is the antenna you are using now??

[KeithDiehl]

The winegard hd7694p.

[teleview]

Ok just checking.

[BikingBrian]

I'm in Orange and lucky to have a clear line of sight to Mount Wilson. Though I have a friend in RSM with a similar situation as yours, and he was able to get all the major channels. I used to work in Aliso Viejo and I know what kind of hills you're dealing with. If you have any vertical tilt adjustment to your antenna, you may want to point it at the top of the hill and see if that helps. Good luck.

[KeithDiehl]

Brian,
Thanks for the advice. I agree that my next step is to fine tune the aim including vertical adjustments.

Team,
I added a radioshack signal amplifier and it had absolutely no affect. I am still receiving only the top 4 DTV stations in my tvfool report. Might a different amplifier be better? I will be working on the antenna aim and see if I can make any improvements.

Any other advice?

Best,
Keith

[Billiam]

The 7694p is for strong signal areas. You are in a fair to weak signal area. You need a larger antenna like the 7696p or a Antennacraft HBU33 or 44. That in combination with a pre amp will give you several stations to watch. Certainly more than the top 4 on your list.

If K39by is important then you will need a VHF Lo antenna was well. That being the case something like the 7082p from Winegard or the HD850 from Antennacraft would work pretty well there.

[teleview]

I recommend move up to a Much more powerful antenna for reception at your location Winegard HD7084P antenna.

And the Winegard AP8700 preamp.


But even so , more Tv stations/channels should be received then the top 4 with the HD7696P.

Have another look at that matching transformer antenna connections on the inside of the plastic housing.

Also have a new coax go directly from the antenna to the Tv.

And yes , the Tv/tuner can be bad.

[KeithDiehl]

Thanks Bill. I'll play with the 7694 a little more but will likely trade up soon. Winegard recommended the 7697 or 7698.

Fun!

[signals unlimited]

As we have been suggesting, you must determine if your poor reception is a problem in your system or antenna size/gain.

If you run a new coax (out a window or door) from the antenna to the set we will know what changes are needed in your system.

If you need an antenna change go with the @teleview 7084 antenna and 8700
pre-amplifier, add a Channel Master 9215 rotor and you will add another group of channels at 130 degrees.

[Billiam]

I personally don't recommend the Channel Master 9521 rotor. It gets a lot of bad reviews.

I own a NTE U-105 and U-106 as well as the Antennacraft TDP2. These are reliable units and don't break down as easily as the Channel Master.

[KeithDiehl]

I love seeing the discussion and appreciate all the advice. I have ordered the winegard 7697p and will install it tomorrow.

Coax: I don't understand the concern about the coax. I have confirmed that my coax works and is only two pieces with a single coupler, no splitters or otherwise. Is there any reason to try a different cable? Could this one be compromised in some way that it weakens the signal?

Rotor: I'm not interested in that many stations. If I can get down to KNBC (I think) and catch the olympics then I'll be good.

I'll report back the improvement relative to the 7697.

Thanks!

[GroundUrMast]

If it works reliably and you get to watch what you want... Big smiles all around.

[KeithDiehl]

Update: I installed a winegard 7697 and still didn't get the LA stations I wanted. I turned it to San Diego and was able to get NBC in SD and watch most of the Olympics. Nice!

I'm remounting the antenna a little higher on the roof to avoid reflection/etc and installing a rotator and amplifier to see if I can make it all come together. I'll provide an update when that's all complete.

Thanks to everyone for the help/advice!

[KeithDiehl]

OK! I have a winegard 7697 (used from Amazon) for $100, on a rotator from MCM ($45) with a RCA preamp on about 100 feet of RG6 cable. I can now get every network with CBS, PBS, and NBC coming from San Diego instead of LA (which is much closer). The hills between LA and I are a significant factor. That said, I enjoyed the Olympics, was able to have my mind blown by Clint Eastwood at the RNC, am looking forward to the DNC, when are these guys debating?, and all the other good stuff that will occasionally catch my attention. I hope this helps anyone else in a similar situation. Feel free to post a reply/question if I can help with anything. Thanks to everyone who replied previously for their assistance.

Best,
Keith