Need advice on reception improvement

[verb247]

Hello all,

Let me start off by saying that I am new to antenna technology and have only just read up on the subject over the past week. I live in LaPlace, LA and am prepairing to get rid of my digital cable subscription and go OTA channels only. I built a GH0N antenna using 12 guage copper ground wire and mounted it on a 2ft by 4ft 1/2in mfd board. The antenna is based on a design listed at http://clients.teksavvy.com/~nickm/g..._5V9_10u0.html. I installed this in the attic (14ft high) of my single story home. The coax used is RG6 and the run is about 40ft. The actual connection path from the balun is: coax, coupler, coax, wall plate, coax, tv. I do plan to run a single line to the wall plate soon.

I was able to get anywhere from 23-30 channels. Out of the channels received, some show pixelated or have intermittent drop outs that may last 1 second to 5 or 7 seconds. I would like some advice on how to improve this if possible. I would like to note that I dont want to mount anything on the roof or install a mast. I also want to feed the received signal to 5 tvs and a HTPC. I can distribute the signal from a single location with most cable lengths being 30ft and the longest being 50ft. With this in mind, here are some specific questions along with my TV report.

Signal Analysis report
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...d2437393ae9e5f


1. I am looking for the channels in the New Orleans area. I have the anttena pointed 107 degrees ESE. I choose this because the channels range direction is from 103 degrees to 115 degrees according to the report. Is this correct or could I tune it a bit further?

2. Will a preamp improve my signal quality and/or enable more channels?

3. If a preamp is needed, what is a recommended model? I was thinking about this: http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-LNA-2...productDetails. Will this work or would another model fit my situation better?

4. Any recommendations on a good splitter and how should I split considering it will be from a single point? 6 way splitter?

5. Should I get a powered splitter?

6. Would adding additional "elements" to the anttena improve anything?

7. I noticed that even though I am pointed towards 107 degrees, WDSU (6.1) is a hard station to sustain. How can I improve this?

Here is a list of channels I am getting as of this post:

4-1 WWL-HD
4-2 LIVEWELL
6-1 WDSU
6-2 METV
8-1 FOX8HD
8-2 BOUNCE
8-3 GRIT
26-1 WGNO-DT
26-2 ANTTV
32-1 WLAEHD
32-2 MHZ WLAE
32-3 CTV WLAE
32-4 VME WLAE
33-1 WVLA TV
33-2 WVLA TV
38-1 WNOL DT
38-2 THIS TV
49-1 ION
49-2 QUBI
49-3 IONLIFE
49-4 SHOP
49-5 QVC
49-6 HSN
54-1 WUPL
54-2 MUNDFOX

Thanks in advance.

[ADTech]

What are the construction materials through which the signal must pass?

Are there other nearby metal objects near the antenna?

What is your signal path like outside the home? buildings, trees, etc?

BTW, when listing channels received, the -2, -3, etc sub-channels are usually superfluous.

[Jake V]

Your TV Fool report is only resolved to the block level. It might or might not be accurate.

Produce another report following the directions at http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=14508 - it could provide a more accurate prediction in case you are in a hole or on top of a hill.

As ADTech noted, attics are not usually antenna friendly. Try this test. Take the antenna from the attic and place it outside in the yard. Connect it to one television with a fresh length of coax. Aim it at about 108 degrees using a real compass (trying for the same LOS as you'd get from the roof - that is not 'looking' through the house or the neighbor's house). Scan and make a list of the stations you get. Repeat at 290 degrees. Post the list.

I am not familiar with the antenna you are using. If this were my signal, I'd use an Antennas Direct DB-8e with one panel aimed at 108 degrees and the other at 290 degrees for UHF signals from both directions. Then I'd add an AntennaCraft Y10713 aimed at about 290 degrees (towards the weakest VHF station - you'd likely get the ones at 106 degrees (PBS-11) off the back. With such a set up you'd probably get most of the signals in green and yellow.

But the experts will weigh in with your question.

[verb247]

ADTech,

The contruction materials consisit of a single layer of plywood, roofing paper and roofing shigles. Metals would only include nails to hold the roof together I assume....maybe flashing.

As far as the outside path, there are various patches of trees starting directly behind the house across the street. They are tall as in twice the size of the house accross the street which is slightly shorter than my house. In fact, this trend continues for about 12 miles before reaching kenner, the next city towards the New Orleans area.

So the main channels are relivent. I didn't know that but makes sense now that you mention it.


Jake v,

Here is the alternate report.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...d243e1f6917c24

It's true that an outside roof or mast mounted install would more than likely get me better results according to what I have recently read. As I looked at the report, I assume that I would have to install at least a 45ft mast to clear the trees accross the street if clearing is required. I am not sure my wife would like that so I put it in the attic. I will try your recommended testing to see what results I get on the weekend and post from there.

I learned about the Gray Hoverman GH0N and this site from a friend at work. He has already went OTA with this antenna and a fractal antenna he built although he is about 10 miles from the nearist broadcast tower. He let me borrow his fractal antenna to test in my area. I installed it by my window on ground level and was not too far from where I installed my current GH0n. I only received 2 to 3 main channels which were stricken with dropouts and pixelazation. From there, I decided to build the larger GH0n antenna assuming it would give me better results which it sort of did. Also, I had the materials handy making the cost only the price of a Radio Shack balun and a little effort.

I want to add that I would be open to the idea of buying an antenna in the future if this antenna does not work out. Also, it would be nice to get stations in Baton Rouge (WNW or 290 degrees) if the programming was different. I will have to look into that.

The report mentions a lot of "C - Co-channel warning" and "A = Adjacent channel warning" in which some channels combine this type of labeling. What does this all mean?

Thanks in advance and Happy Holidays!

[verb247]

Jake V,

I decided to alter your recommended testing slightly and use 2 additonal different antennas as the HG0n antenna is sort of cumbersome to remove from the attic only to possibly reinstall later. Also I dont have a lot of cross boards installed up there making the task more acrobatic. I used a RCA ANT111 (borrowed from my mother-in-law) and the fractal antenna previouly mentioned. I used a single 25ft RG59 cable. Please note that p means pixed and w stands for weak signal.

Here are my results:

Front of the house @ 108 degrees

RCA 6ft - 4p, 6, 8, 20, 26, 32, 38, 42, 54

Fractal 4.5ft - 4, 6, 8p, 20, 26, 27, 32, 33, 38, 42, 44p, 49p, 54


Back yard @ 290 degrees

RCA 4.5ft 4, 20,26,38,54

Fractal 4.5ft 4p, 20, 26p, 33p, 42p, 44, 54p


Attic 108 degrees

RCA 4, 8 26, 38, 42, 54

Fractal 4, 6, 8, 26, 38, 42, 44, 49, 54

GH0n 108 degrees 4, 6, 8, 20, 26, 27, 33, 38, 42, 49, 54

@ ADTech

I noticed that there is metal flashing in front of the antenna so I decided to move it to another location in the attic where there is no flashing.

GH0n moved with 108 degrees 4wp 6wp 8p 20 26 32 38 44 49 54

The problem here was that the new location forced me to put the antenna on the nearest stud making it lean back instead of sitting up right. Also, the top part came loose from the screws. I placed a board on top of ant between the studs, re-positioned the antenna in a more up right fashion, repaired the loose elements and placed a screw between the antenna board and the board across the studs so nothing would move.

GH0n move 2 108 degrees 4 6pw 8 20 26 27 32 38 42 44 49wp 54

This is the most channels I got up to date. I checked channel 6 and it only had 1-2 bars signal strength while 49 was at 50%.

I have attached pics of each antenna.

[Jake V]

That's a lot of information to process!

Any chance you can re-organize it to match the order of your TV Fool Report, and just using "Real Channel" numbers. It's difficult to understand otherwise.

I'd also add a specific list of what channels you want.

I'm not an expert, but make your information easy for them to read. Thanks.

[verb247]

Jake V,

Here is a revised post with real numbers:


Front of the house @ 108 degrees


RCA 6ft from the ground - 36p, 43, 29, 21, 26, 31, 15, 42, 24

Fractal 4.5ft from the ground- 36, 43, 29p, 21, 26, 25, 31, 34, 15, 42, 45p, 50p, 24


Back yard @ 290 degrees


RCA 4.5ft from the ground 36, 21, 26, 15, 24

Fractal 4.5ft from the ground 36p, 21, 26p, 34p, 42p, 45, 24p


Attic 108 degrees


RCA 36, 29 26, 15, 42, 24

Fractal 36, 43, 29, 26, 15, 42, 45, 40, 24


GH0n 108 degrees 36, 43, 29, 21, 26, 25, 34, 15, 42, 50, 24

GH0n moved with 108 degrees 36wp, 43wp, 29p, 21, 26, 31, 15, 45, 50, 24

GH0n move #2 108 degrees 36, 43wp, 29, 21, 26, 25, 31, 15, 42, 45, 50wp, 24


This is a lot of information because in my experience in troubleshooting, I know that more information is better than the lack there. I am learning a lot and appreciate the help given so far. Until you mentioned it, I knew nothing about real channel numbers. Even in the analog days, 4 WWL (Real# 36), 6 WDSU (Real# 43) and 8 WVUE (Real#29) was always the norm in my part of town.

To answer your question Jake V, as many channels I could get . Now, I know this is not realistic provided that I am in the attic. Having 11 WYES-TV in addition to what I already have would be nice. I plan on at least getting Netflix and 2 Chromecasts for streaming netword content in addition to these channels.

On another note:

Can anyone help answer the questions I originally asked?

1. I am looking for the channels in the New Orleans area. I have the anttena pointed 107 degrees ESE. I choose this because the channels range direction is from 103 degrees to 115 degrees according to the report. Is this correct or could I tune it a bit further?

Help provided by Jake V and ADTech

2. Will a preamp improve my signal quality and/or enable more channels?

3. If a preamp is needed, what is a recommended model? I was thinking about this: http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-LNA-2...productDetails. Will this work or would another model fit my situation better?

4. Any recommendations on a good splitter and how should I split considering it will be from a single point? 6 way splitter?

5. Should I get a powered splitter?

6. Would adding additional "elements" to the antenna improve anything?

7. I noticed that even though I am pointed towards 107 degrees, WDSU (6.1) is a hard station to sustain. How can I improve this?

Changed to 108 degrees with no improvement.

Thanks in advanced