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cpd · 7-Jul-2015, 4:32 PM

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Originally Posted by rabbit73

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What tuner are you using?

How well does the Leaf work with the TV tuner vs the HTPC tuner?

Does the TV tuner or the HTPC tuner have readouts of signal strength or more important signal quality to help you position the antenna?

I am currently using a loaner AverMedia AverTV Combo PCI-E tuner card, with video output by a nice graphics card to my TV. If this all works out, I will eventually purchase some form of multi-channel tuner card so I can record more than one channel at a time. I have not compared the internal TV tuner with the card, but if the problem persists I may. But even if that is better I will need a solution because I need a DVR, so I cannot use the TV's internal tuner.

I will play around with tuner cards software and see if it has strength/quality readouts.

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I agree with ADTech, you must put the antenna where the best signal exists.

I suspect multipath reflections and tuner overload. WTMJ has a Noise Margin of 75.1 dB.

Interpreting Noise Margin in the TV Fool Report
http://www.aa6g.org/DTV/Reception/tvfool_nm.html

You could test the overload theory by inserting an attenuator in the coax line.

You can add a length of coax using an F-81 adapter to try different antenna locations.

There are other indoor antennas that might work better because they have reflectors that make them more directional to reduce the pickup of reflections, but you might not like how they look. The Antennas Direct C2V would be one.
https://www.antennasdirect.com/store...-Complete.html
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/antennas...&skuId=6847298

I appreciate the information, but a lot of this is well over my head. Based on the post about the Digital Cliff, it seems I may be just a bit off. Would you recommend a new antenna anyway? I don't want to put anything on the roof, and that clearstream seems like a monster for indoor use (I am not sure I could get my wife to agree to it). Are there other good options you can recommend?

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I don't like computers, and have yet to find one that I would call user friendly. I only tolerate them for what they can do for me. I never have understood why anyone would want to watch TV on a computer instead of a TV.

For me, it is the least expensive and most versatile way to incorporate a DVR, without exorbitant TV guide fees or hardware limitations. Other than the reception, it was actually easy to set up and works seamlessly with my remote. The Windows Media Center interface is pretty well polished too.

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I see a lot of trees in your area. See attachment 1.
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/antennas/siting.html
scroll down to Trees and UHF

I also see that you have some strong local FM signals that might interfere with TV reception. See attachment 2. You should insert an FM filter in the coax line.
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/produc...-FM-88-/33-341
http://comingsoon.radioshack.com/rad...l#.VZskAzjbJLM very slow link

The largest/oldest tree in my city covers this corner of the house. Believe me I wish they'd cut it down.

I assume trees are just something you need to work around with antenna placement.