Signal: "Strength VS Quality"

[ChrisAntennahead]

Does a good primer on the above topic exist here or elsewhere?

If so I could use a good talking to, and my feelings won't be hurt!

I'll start off by saying that if the signal indicator on my TV or converter box is high but goes up and down, I.E. 80% for a given TV station but drops down to 20 then up to 75 and back down again, that would be a strong signal of poor quality - correct?

OTOH: If signal strengh varies only by 5% - I.E. 75%-80%, that constitutes both good strength and quality, right?

-Chris

[GroundUrMast]

I'm not willing to call this a "good primer", just a quick attempt at some words on the subject: http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=1514

Rapidly changing signal meter readings on most TV's is an indication (but not absolute proof) of multipath with one or more paths changing in length and or attenuation. Signal can bounce off of layers of the atmosphere, vehicles, foliage, etc., all of which can be in motion. The result will be that the signals from different paths combine at the receiving antenna, they may add - in phase - or subtract from one another - out of phase.

[Dave Loudin]

Ken Nist has a very nice tutorial (with diagrams!) on antenna siting that can help you understand this. See http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/siting.html