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Old 3-Jul-2016, 3:29 PM   #1
Danske
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Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 7
Help with Columbus, IN reception

I purchased a Clearstream 4V antenna at Best Buy and installed in a few locations in my attic. I can not get WTHR, WXIN or WISH which are most important to me. I get tune WTHR but it is difficult and low signal strength. Any suggestions? Would a different antenna help? Neighbor about 200 yards away picks up the channels I want using different antenna that is longer. Fairly certain the Clearstream will not get channels I want installed in attic.

Fixed the link below, should be good now. Used lat & lon of my house 30 feet in the air, antenna will be in second floor attic. I want to pick up stations north of me at 330 degrees.


http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...e2cbc2671cd273

Last edited by Danske; 3-Jul-2016 at 10:44 PM. Reason: Fix Link
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Old 3-Jul-2016, 10:06 PM   #2
rabbit73
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: S.E. VA
Posts: 2,747
Hi, Dan:

Your report link doesn't work. You left out the ? after com/. Better to copy and paste rather than retype it. And you need to left click on the Link icon at the top of the text box to create an active link in your post.

Is this correct? (report #1)
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...e2cb35da87d52a

That report is only resolved to block level. To best help you with the signals you want, we really need a more accurate report using an exact address which will not show in the report.

I see you have a previous thread that gives more info. (TimN and Danske are the same)
Which Antenna?
http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=15262

In that thread you give three reports.

street level (report #2, probably not accurate)
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...2c15f71cf3e3d2

coordinates at 15 feet (#3)
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...2c15496c636c46

coordinates at 25 feet (#4)
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...2c152def1d70f8

Which one is the most accurate?

What antenna is your neighbor using, and where is it located?

Are you using a preamp?

WTHR is on real channel 13, which is a VHF-High channel. The "V" dipole of the C4V doesn't have enough gain for that weak signal with a NM of -2.8 dB on your first report, -5.8 dB on your 3rd report, and 0.0 dB on the 4th report.

WISH is also a VHF-High channel on real channel 9.

You can try a VHF-High antenna in the attic and combine it with the C4, but you might have to go outside.
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/produc...-2475-/30-2475
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/produc...-2476-/30-2476

You might have to decide which is more important to you; what the neighbors think of you, or the channels you want.

What you really need is a Winegard HD7698P on the roof and a preamp, but we can suggest some attic experiments to try first.

Any trees in the signal path to the NNW?

How long is the coax to the TV?

How many TVs are you feeding?
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Last edited by rabbit73; 3-Jul-2016 at 11:15 PM.
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Old 3-Jul-2016, 10:49 PM   #3
Danske
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The link I now have in original post above should be most accurate it uses latitude and longitude from antenna location. I will find out what antenna neighbor uses, it is about 6 feet long.
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Old 4-Jul-2016, 12:24 AM   #4
rabbit73
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The link above in the first post ending in d52a is not using coordinates, it says block level.

WARNING: Address was only resolved to block level and might not be that close to your actual location. For more accurate results, try entering a specific address or coordinates.

Well, anyway, are you using a preamp?

Any trees in the signal path?

Quote:
I will find out what antenna neighbor uses, it is about 6 feet long.
Good; where is it located, inside or outside?
__________________
If you can not measure it, you can not improve it.
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Last edited by rabbit73; 4-Jul-2016 at 12:33 AM.
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Old 4-Jul-2016, 1:20 AM   #5
Danske
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Join Date: Feb 2015
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Try this link for lat/long cord.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...e2cbc2671cd273

Antenna is inside in attic picking up signal through a layer of asphalt shingles. Trees are about 75 yards away I am probably aiming at tops of trees maybe over top. Initial aiming of antenna I was not using an amplifier. Once antenna is aimed I am using an amplifier that is also a 4 way splitter. Antenna in and 4 coax's out to tv's.
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Old 4-Jul-2016, 5:18 PM   #6
rabbit73
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Location: S.E. VA
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Thanks for the new report; it looks much better.

WTHR now has a Noise Margin of 9.5 dB; WISH is now 12.3 dB. I still think you need a VHF-High antenna with more gain than the dipole on the C4V, aimed at 336 degrees magnetic, because of the attic location.



The WXIN antenna pattern only sends about 280 kW out of 1000 kW ERP in your direction:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...ALLTV%26n%3d16

WXIN Fox, on real UHF channel 45, with a Noise Margin of 10.2 dB, is a 2Edge signal 63.5 miles away; it needs all the help it can get. If you are still having trouble receiving it, I suggest a preamp, like the Antennas Direct Juice, at the antenna to amplify the signals before the distribution losses. Amplification at the antenna is more effective than amplification further down.

If that still isn't enough for WXIN, replace the C4 with a DB8e with both panels aimed in the same direction.

If that doesn't do it, you will need to go outside.

If you add the preamp, you shouldn't need the amplified splitter; a passive splitter should be enough.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg DanskeTVFp2WXIN.JPG (101.7 KB, 825 views)
__________________
If you can not measure it, you can not improve it.
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http://www.megalithia.com/elect/aeri...ttpoorman.html

Last edited by rabbit73; 4-Jul-2016 at 8:17 PM.
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Old 5-Jul-2016, 12:06 AM   #7
Danske
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Join Date: Feb 2015
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interesting, thanks Rabbit 73. I will make.the change and let you know results in a week or so.
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