Help with receiving channel 23 (6.1) in the San Diego area

[tomgerhard]

Hi,

I have problems receiving a certain channel and would appreciate some help.

Here is my plot:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...cc49be50d211ba

I am trying to receive channel 23 (6.1) XETV-DT but cant quite get it to work. There is another channel on 23 (31.1) coming in stronger from the back so here is what I have done so far:

Tried ANT751 originally -> had the channel for some reason at some point when just trying on my balcony but could never repeat and didn't work when Antenna was mounted on the roof.

Tried a HBU33 -> could not get in the channel

Then I got a 91XG to help with shielding off the other channel 23 from the back -> First I could not get the channel in then after moving around the antenna on the roof I found a spot where it comes in BUT it is very weak.

I am also using a winegard 8700 amplifier that is connected to the antenna with a 3 ft cable. From there the cable runs maybe about 25 ft to the inside.

The result is that I do get the channel but it randomly goes in and out at times and it doesn.t work if I try to split up the signal to 2 TVs.

The SNR reading on my Samsung TV shows anywhere around -16 to -17db.

I have the Antenna pointed to 161 degree (using my compass that is adjusted for declanation).

I don't know what else to try and it's super annoying when the pictures goes in and out randomly. According to the plot shouldn't it be possible to receive this channel with this kind of setup at my location?

When reading reviews of the 91XG many people said they paired it with a channel master 7777 amplifier. Would that maybe make things better compared to the winegard I have now?

Thank you for your help I really hope I can make this work.

Trees and tree leaves do a real fine job of reducing or blocking Tv reception and so do buildings and other obstructions.

If you have a thick dense tree , use the tree to reduce or block the KVMD UHF 23 to the north. Get the antenna close to the tree to block reception to the north.

Buildings also do a good job of reducing or blocking Tv reception , use your house to reduce or block KVMD 23 to the north. Get the antenna close to the house. To block reception to the north.

Amplifier gain is not the problem. A higher gain amplifier will not help.

The noise figure of the amplifier needs to be lower. All electronic devices generate noise , Amplifier noise masks the signal.

Stay with the AP8700 preamp for now. And move the 91XG to locations that reduce and block the signal to the north.

Look at the locations of the transmitters on the tvfool radar map plot and position the antenna for the most obstruction to the north.

And at the same time you need to shoot for a clear shot to XETV.

Its a balance.
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Another antenna to try is the Channel Master CM4228HD UHF antenna.

http://sollidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.channelmasterstore.com.
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A amplifier booster that has a Ultra Low Noise Figure is the KT-100 adjustable gain remote power amplifier booster.

http://www.kitztech.com.

[tomgerhard]

I am very limited with the placement of the Antenna. It's a flat roof (J mount on a stand) and I can move it a little bit but not much that would change things regarding the blockage from the back.

The other antenna you recommended is not really an option for me as I am renting and I need a lower profile one that you can't see well from the ground. Length is OK but height is an issue.

So that leaves me with the low noise amplifier. I might try this although I am not sure as to how I would mount it in a weatherproof enclosure on the roof as it says that is required.

Thank you for your tips! Maybe I can fine tune the position a little bit and try a low noise amp.

The amplifier part of the the KT-100 can be located at location that is out of the direct weather.

Like up under a roof over hang.

Or even in the house.

If there is a big tree on the property , a push up antenna pipe mount can be located so the tree blocks signal to the north. That way the antenna will not be mounted to the house.
http://www.3starinc.com.

Or can move to a house with better location reception situation.

[tomgerhard]

Inside would be easy but isn't the amplifier supposed to be mounted as close to the antenna as possible to boost the signal before any long cable loss? The one I have now is mounted to the antenna mast with just a 3 ft cable from antenna to amplifier.

I was thinking maybe I can just wrap the whole thing with rescue tape (http://www.amazon.com/RESCUE-Self-Fu...ds=rescue+tape) and seal it up like that.

This morning the channel was completely gone again although it seemed stable for the last week. It seems to depend on weather or something a lot. It just shows I don't have enough margin for a solid reception at all times.

I was wondering if you have any input on if it would help to wrap the 91xg's back reflector with aluminum foil to make the blockage from the back better? I don't understand enough about antennas to know if that would help or not or even make it worse. My thinking is, more metal (all wrapped in foil rather then just the mesh) -> more blockage, but it might not be as easy as this (they probably would build the reflectors like that in the first place then I guess).

The reflector is designed so the antenna has less wind resistance.

Yes the reflector can be covered with metal , Yes the reflector can be increased in size.