Antenna Rig/Pre-Amp Suggestions -75dBm+
 

I'd appreciate enthusiast or expert opinions as to the best rig to run for this location.

Currently have:
30' tower with rotor and older antenna similar to CM-3018. Guessing maybe 70's model judging by run with RG-59 coax. Has pre-amplifier similar to CM-7777, but 40+ years older.

Problem: On a calm wind day I get the channels listed up to about -98, with Fox sometimes blocking. There are 70 foot pine trees 100’ plus away in random directions. When it is windy, the station will go from stable perfection to intermittent blocking to 80% blocking. Going outside and looking at antenna with binoculars, I can see the director end of the antenna pitching up and down ever so slightly. My assumption is the play in the rotor shaft coupled with the 70 mile distance of the transmitter is causing the blocking to occur.

I’m considering trying an 8-bay bowtie like the Xtreme Signal HDB8X, thinking that it’s design will allow slight movement of the antenna without causing signal degradation.
I also am intrigued by the Denny’s HD Stacker Antenna manufactured by Winegard.
http://dennysantennaservice.com/hd_s...enna-html.html


For the new pre-amp the Winegard Boost XT LNA 200 has some good reviews.
TV Fool Radar Map: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...903824d35c3751

Thanks in advance for the assistance.

FCC Results below, differs somewhat with TV Fool:

Moderate Signal WEAU NBC 13-1 UHF
Network: NBC
Channel: 13 (RF 38)
Receive Power: -67 dBm
Compass Direction to Tower: NNW (318)

Weak Signal WSAW CBS 7-1 Hi-V
Network: CBS
Channel: 7 (RF 7)
Receive Power: -76 dBm
Compass Direction to Tower: NNE (16)

Weak Signal WKOW ABC 27-1 UHF
Network: ABC
Channel: 27 (RF 26)
Receive Power: -80 dBm
Compass Direction to Tower: SSE (159)

Weak Signal WAOW ABC 9-1 Hi-V
Network: ABC
Channel: 9 (RF 9)
Receive Power: -80 dBm
Compass Direction to Tower: NNE (16)

Weak Signal WKBT CBS 8-1 Hi-V
Network: CBS
Channel: 8 (RF 8)
Receive Power: -82 dBm
Compass Direction to Tower: W (278)

Weak Signal WHRM PBS 20-1 UHF
Network: PBS
Channel: 20 (RF 24)
Receive Power: -82 dBm
Compass Direction to Tower: NNE (16)

Weak Signal WISC CBS 3-1 UHF
Network: CBS
Channel: 3 (RF 50)
Receive Power: -82 dBm
Compass Direction to Tower: SSE (159)

Weak Signal WMSN FOX 47-1 UHF
Network: FOX
Channel: 47 (RF 49)
Receive Power: -85 dBm
Compass Direction to Tower: SSE (159)

Weak Signal WHA PBS 21-1 UHF
Network: PBS
Channel: 21 (RF 20)
Receive Power: -86 dBm
Compass Direction to Tower: SSE (159)

It's the trees. When dealing with very weak signals, especially UHF, it doesn't take much in the way of movement of foliage in the signal path to cause reception to fail.

I have tried both the Denny Stacker and the HDB8X. In my experience, the HDB8X had 2-3 dB more gain on UHF.