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Old 10-Jul-2015, 11:15 PM   #21
handaspencer
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I put the box back on and bypassed the amp and I am getting 49 channels. When I put the amp back on I lose all my channels except vhf channels. It appears I had a bad cartridge box because I bypassed the amp earlier with the old box and got zero channels. I believe I have a second problem of overpowering my UHF channels with the amps. I have tried the winegard 8275 and the RCA pream1r and same result lose all uhf. Any suggestion on a amp I can use? I have a weak signal on cbs 19.1 which is my favorite so I really need an amp to hold that signal.
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Old 10-Jul-2015, 11:57 PM   #22
rabbit73
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I don't see virtual channel 19.1 on your TVFOOL report. Is it WOIO on real channel 24?
http://www.rabbitears.info/search.ph...pe=dBm&height=

That's a very weak 2Edge signal with a Noise Margin of -15.1 dB with co-channel interference from WSFJ with a NM of -24.6 dB; only 9.5 dB weaker. At least they are not in the same direction.



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

-20 to -10dB
Quote:
These stations are extremely weak to receive and even the best antenna system cannot guarantee reception but they're not quite as hopeless as the Impossibly Weak category. TV Fool usually shows these stations as "2 edge" which means the signal has to refract over 2 hills or mountains. These paths are easily affected by temperature inversions that make for large swings in signal strength. TV Fool is most inaccurate with weak signals and it may be possible to receive these stations. Reception is not likely to be 100% of the time and in general you should not count on these stations for recording. A low noise preamp is required for any chance of reception. A distribution amp should be used if more than 1 TV will be connected to the antenna.
A signal must have a NM of 0 or more to be received. You can add the antenna gain to increase the -15.1 NM, that probably doesn't quite give you a positive NM. You can also add the gain of a preamp, but must subtract the Noise Figure of the amp because it adds its own noise that degrades the SNR of your weak signal. But, as you found out, a preamp will be overloaded by your strong signals. The overload creates spurious signals within the preamp itself that harm the weakest signals.

The problem is too much difference between the strength of your strongest signals and your weak desired signal, which is called the Dynamic Range.

If you don't have enough gain for 19.1 without a preamp, but too much with a preamp, it is sometimes possible to find a happy medium by inserting an attenuator between the antenna and the preamp input. The preamp used should have a high resistance to overload.

If that doesn't work, you have to resort to exotic measures (expensive) to even have a chance. An example would be a separate antenna, preamp, and custom bandpass filter for real channel 24. How badly do you want it?

Do you have your antenna aimed at 80 degrees magnetic when trying for 19.1?

You have some strong local FM signals that might interfere with TV reception. You should insert an FM filter in the coax when not using a preamp. If you use a preamp, it might have an internal FM filter. See attachment 2.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg NMChartC.jpg (71.3 KB, 970 views)
File Type: jpg handaspencerTVF FM est.JPG (117.3 KB, 487 views)
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Last edited by rabbit73; 11-Jul-2015 at 1:04 AM.
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Old 11-Jul-2015, 1:42 AM   #23
handaspencer
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It is WOIO but I thought it was a positive noise margin because I was picking it up without amp. I can watch it about 20 minutes and then I will lose signal for about 5 minutes then it comes back. I rotate antenna in small increments but don't make a difference. I want it really bad, that's my station for the Cleveland browns.
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Old 11-Jul-2015, 6:42 PM   #24
rabbit73
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Quote:
I can watch it about 20 minutes and then I will lose signal for about 5 minutes then it comes back.
OTA signals constantly vary in strength, especially 2Edge signals. Does your TV have a signal strength indicator?
Quote:
I rotate antenna in small increments but don't make a difference.
Sometimes the aim for the best signal strength is not the same azimuth for best signal quality. I first learned about that when using an Apex DT502 converter box, which has dual signal bars, one for signal strength and one for signal quality (the inverse of errors). I first aimed my antenna for max signal strength, and then rotated the antenna slightly to the right. The signal strength went down slightly, but the signal quality went way up.



Signal strength is certainly important, but signal quality as defined by SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) and uncorrected errors is equally, if not more so, important. My Sony KDL22L5000 has a Diagnostics Screen that shows relative signal strength, SNR, and uncorrected errors.

bad signal with picture freeze, SNR below 15 dB, and many errors:



good signal:



FM filters to try:
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/produc...-FM-88-/33-341
https://www.antennasdirect.com/store...on_filter.html
http://comingsoon.radioshack.com/rad...l#.VaFk5DjbJLM very slow link
Attached Images
File Type: jpg DualSigBars.jpg (43.9 KB, 934 views)
File Type: jpg SonySigBad_1.jpg (159.7 KB, 939 views)
File Type: jpg SonySigGood_1.jpg (120.5 KB, 955 views)
File Type: gif MCM%20FM%20Trap%20Attenuation.gif (15.5 KB, 454 views)
File Type: jpg ADvsRSFMfilter.JPG (135.6 KB, 460 views)
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Last edited by rabbit73; 11-Jul-2015 at 7:05 PM.
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Old 11-Jul-2015, 6:54 PM   #25
handaspencer
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My TV don't have a signal bar, I do have the RCA amp that has fm trap, vhf input and UHF/vhf input. Could I hook up the amp to vhf only so it would not impact uhf? This would trap my fm also, correct?
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Old 11-Jul-2015, 7:10 PM   #26
rabbit73
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That might work; try it. The combined/separate switch of the RCA PRAMP1R sometimes doesn't make good contact with the VHF antenna in the separate position.

Also try it in the combined position.
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Old 11-Jul-2015, 8:32 PM   #27
handaspencer
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I tried it both ways and I am losing everything. I put it back to no amp and all my channels are back. I am thinking I need to put the standalone trap in. That might be enough to clean up woio cbs and me TV. It works 90% of the time but goes in and out some.
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Old 11-Jul-2015, 11:29 PM   #28
rabbit73
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Quote:
I tried it both ways and I am losing everything. I put it back to no amp and all my channels are back.
Sounds like overload.
Quote:
I am thinking I need to put the standalone trap in.
Yes, try an FM trap.
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Old 20-Oct-2015, 4:44 PM   #29
handaspencer
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Everything is working great with my antenna, people are amazed with everything I get. I am getting around 50 channels from Cleveland. I would like to expand a little deeper and pick up the following virtual channel numbers below. I know I can pick these channels up because I already have using my amp playing around. My problem is I cant use a amp because I lose all the uhf channels from Cleveland when I hook it up. I need an amp that won't drown out Cleveland channels but will pull in long distance channels listed below. I want this so I can get different football games by regional location on Saturdays and Sundays. My tv fool report is attached at the beginning of the thread, thanks for all your help.

11.1- Detroit
13.1- Detroit
10.1- Columbus
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Old 22-Oct-2015, 6:50 PM   #30
rabbit73
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Quote:
11.1- Detroit
13.1- Detroit
10.1- Columbus
I don't see an 11.1 from Detroit; I see WTOL CBS from Toledo.
http://www.rabbitears.info/market.ph...&callsign=wtvs
http://www.rabbitears.info/market.ph...&callsign=wtol

WTOL has adjacent channel interference from WMFD on real channel 12 that is 65 dB stronger. Reliable reception is not likely without special equipment like a separate antenna, custom filter, and preamp.

I don't see 13.1 from Detroit; I see WTVG ABC from Toledo.
http://www.rabbitears.info/market.ph...&callsign=wtvs
http://www.rabbitears.info/market.ph...&callsign=wtvg
Same problem as with WTOL.

For 10.1 I see WBNS CBS
http://www.rabbitears.info/market.ph...&callsign=wbns
WBNS is a very weak Tropo signal; not possible except under very unusual weather conditions with a special separate antenna, filter, and preamp
Attached Images
File Type: jpg handaspencerTVFmap.JPG (74.2 KB, 819 views)
__________________
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Last edited by rabbit73; 22-Oct-2015 at 7:20 PM.
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