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Old 4-Dec-2016, 3:09 PM   #1
DeDe
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Can I do better in Western Maine Mountains?

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With HD stacker we were receiving 6,8,1O, 13,and 23. Recently 10 and 23 won't come in. We have antenna on roof facing approx 180 degrees. Have moved it in many angles. Raising antenna another couple feet. Thoughts on improvement and gaining back channels. Is rotator needed?
Have wine grad LNA200 boost xt digi hdtv preamp
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Old 4-Dec-2016, 4:13 PM   #2
ADTech
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Quote:
Is rotator needed?
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.
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Yes, for the current antenna.
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Last edited by ADTech; 6-Dec-2016 at 3:41 PM.
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Old 5-Dec-2016, 9:38 AM   #3
wizwor
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Originally Posted by DeDe View Post
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...dfafdc4d8bdba2

With HD stacker we were receiving 6,8,1O, 13,and 23. Recently 10 and 23 won't come in. We have antenna on roof facing approx 180 degrees. Have moved it in many angles. Raising antenna another couple feet. Thoughts on improvement and gaining back channels. Is rotator needed?
Have wine grad LNA200 boost xt digi hdtv preamp
A rotator is an option, but maybe not the best option and certainly not the best option.

I have multiple TVs and DVRs, so pointing at one station can cause issues for recordings and viewers on different stations.

vhf high...
WMTW 8/8 @ 217
WCBBT 10/10 @ 104
WGME 38/13 @ 196

uhf...
WCSH 6/44 @214
WPFU 23/23 175

Clearstream 5 for VHF and DB8e (or a less expensive clone) should provide sufficient beam width to cover these stations without a rotor.
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Old 5-Dec-2016, 2:03 PM   #4
ADTech
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The antenna he already has is too directional to be aimed due south and be expected to pick up the stations 75° off to the east.

If he's pointed the antenna directly in that direction and it still doesn't work on those two stations, then he's got a problem that first must be diagnosed. That information hasn't been provided.
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Last edited by ADTech; 5-Dec-2016 at 3:04 PM.
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Old 5-Dec-2016, 8:11 PM   #5
WIRELESS ENGINEER
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If it worked at one time then something degraded
Take your connections apart an ensure that moisture hasn't gotten in and check the antenna for physical damage

PS: NEVER use coax with copper COATED steel center conductors

They are easily destroyed by moisture and their ability to provide enough current for mast mounted preamps over long coax runs is poor
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Old 6-Dec-2016, 1:52 PM   #6
wizwor
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ADTech View Post
The antenna he already has is too directional to be aimed due south and be expected to pick up the stations 75° off to the east.

If he's pointed the antenna directly in that direction and it still doesn't work on those two stations, then he's got a problem that first must be diagnosed. That information hasn't been provided.
I recommended new antennas with wider beam widths. That's what he needs and the cost will be about the same as a rotor with less maintenance.

The C5 is practically omnidirectional...

https://www.antennasdirect.com/cmss_...with%20uhf.pdf

The DB8e's panels can be articulates to receive from both broadcast areas concurrently.
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Old 6-Dec-2016, 1:55 PM   #7
wizwor
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WIRELESS ENGINEER View Post
If it worked at one time then something degraded
Take your connections apart an ensure that moisture hasn't gotten in and check the antenna for physical damage

PS: NEVER use coax with copper COATED steel center conductors

They are easily destroyed by moisture and their ability to provide enough current for mast mounted preamps over long coax runs is poor
He's in Maine. The winds have been blowing leaves for a couple months. Now, the pines are likely covered in snow. The degradation could be due to hardware failure, but it is probably environmental.
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Old 6-Dec-2016, 3:40 PM   #8
ADTech
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Odds are fair that a C5, by itself, might work okay. The spread of the two VHF channels is such that the gain of the antenna is already going to be negative, but, since the signals are strong, it *might* work out.

Of course, the issue might be cause by the combination of the leaves dropping (reducing natural attenuation) causing a situation where the already strong local signals, once amplified, might be too much for the tuner to handle.

Until the OP returns and provides some information, all we can do is speculate.
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Old 11-Dec-2016, 12:27 AM   #9
DeDe
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Location: MA & Western Maine Mtns
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I'm back. To set record straight I am a she😃
I do the research and audio/ video technical stuff, hubby is the muscles and lucky one on the roof.😉

Wireless Engineer you were spot on. Set up did work getting us Fox and PBS at one time. Angled approx at 131 degrees SE as suggested by Denny. Up there 2-3 years, all fine. Received:
6-1 thru 3 wcsh/ 10-1 thru 4 mpbn / 13-1 & 2 wgme and GetTV / 23-1 wpfo Fox and 23-2 GritTV. Channel 8 came and went with wind/storms.

We showed up one weekend this summer and less channels were available. Thought lightening hit. Changed pre-amp. No Better. Ran coax directly from antenna down directly to TV. No better. Added new pre-amp, altered angle, same results.

A huge white pine we didn't like and thought might be the issue he dropped. Nuttin. Last weekend we raised antenna a few feet, re-connected original coax, angled at 209, (after trying diff options) and let it be for season. Snow is flying.

I do have a radioShack indoor/outdoor flat square hdtv antenna, mounted indoors, upstairs at roof(peak). Face of it is facing southeast. (Will post angle when we are up in Maine Friday). This antenna gets us all channels we had on TV downstairs. Storms do affect channel 8.

Thought on running that coax to a combiner to connect thru to TV downstairs.

Thanks for all thoughts and input. Goal is to enjoy channels we can get to the best possible for winter and resolve next spring p. It's a PITA and hoping his roof visits can end with out having to purchase a satellite dish service.

Dede
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