dead zone help?

FortKnox · 3-Oct-2014, 12:36 AM

I seem to be in a dead zone due to escarpment how do I overcome this without going higher that 25 feet http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...d2436d72a7708a
my setup is focus360 180D antenna 2x2' rg6 to combiner/splitter, 4' rg6 to CM7777 30db pre-amp, 50' rg6 to power inserter,10' rg6 to splitter split to 2 tvs,(1)20' rg6 to electronic master set-top box,(2)10' rg6 to viewsat 9000hd. my problem is I can't seem too get stable signal in the day and more so at night for channels (WNED)Pbs, (WUTV) Fox , Zuus ,(WNLO) CW 23.1, Bounce 23.2. At night time only, other channels come in and out (unstable) they are(WPXJ) Ion,(WIVB) CBS,(WROC)CBS,(WHUF) Fox.

rabbit73 · 3-Oct-2014, 1:24 AM

My guess is: your very strong local channels are causing IMD (intermodulation distortion) in your preamp that raises the noise floor from spurious signals generated in the preamp to wipe out your weaker signals, like WPXJ and WIVB which are 2Edge.

WROC and WHUF are very weak Tropo signals that will never be reliable because they are subject to the whims of tropospheric propagation.
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...ic+propagation

What happens if you remove the preamp? You should be able to get the channels you want down to WUTV without the preamp.

FortKnox · 3-Oct-2014, 2:45 AM

If I remove the CM7777 no AMP, I lose 3 locals 9(9.1),44(57.1),47(47.1),and WNED,WNLO,WUTV, and any extras at nighttime.
With a inline 10db amp I lose CFTO 9(9.1), WUTV, while WNED , WNLO and any extras at night are unstable (drop out and in).
Was thinking about a CM distribution amp 16DB.

rabbit73 · 3-Oct-2014, 3:14 AM

That doesn't make any sense to me with signals that strong, unless your tvfool report is way off. Are you aiming your antenna at those stations, or are you expecting to get signals from all directions no matter how you aim your antenna?

I must have missed something in my analysis.

Maybe there is a problem with the equipment or wiring.

A CM7777 is certain to overload from a -17.1 dBm signal.
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=42426

Why don't you ask one of the DHC guys; they know more about your area than I do:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=186

You also have some very strong FM signals:

FortKnox · 3-Oct-2014, 3:54 AM

I am aiming at 120 with one side and 100 with the other right now; but all tests were done pointing at 46* with one side and 120* with the other side. The FM trap is set on for the CM7777
I think the escarpment in my area is killing me and may have to go higher than 25 feet. Based on the signal output maps of the callsigns

rabbit73 · 3-Oct-2014, 4:24 AM

Your tvfool report puts you in Hamilton, just south of Windermere Basin and Industrial Sector H, by Burlington St E, near Burgess Ave and Leaside Rd.

Where is the escarpment?

If you are at that location, then I'm stumped by your problem. Maybe someone else on this forum can figure it out. Better yet, go to DHC and ask roger1818 to help you; he's pretty sharp:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=186
or
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=36535

rabbit73 · 12-Oct-2014, 2:29 AM

I see you didn't get much help at the DHC Hamilton thread, but it was worth a try. If roger had been there, you would have gotten a better answer.
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/show...36535&page=141

I thought about your problem a little more. Your reception results are not consistent with your tvfool report and your equipment. There seems to be a piece missing from the puzzle.

The possible reasons for your poor reception:
1. Your tvfool report is wrong.
2. There is a problem with your equipment.
3. There is something in front of your antenna that is blocking the signals, like a thick stand of trees or a large building.

Have you tried using a different antenna in place of your focus360 180D antenna, like a DB4e with a separate piece of known good coax and one tv? There might be a problem with your antenna. You could have a bad balun, combiner, or coax

Quote:

I am aiming at 120 with one side and 100 with the other right now; but all tests were done pointing at 46* with one side and 120* with the other side.

What happens if you aim both panels at 120? That type of antenna that has two 4-bay sections doesn't always work the way you want it with the two sections aimed in different directions. It's a novel idea to think you can use it to receive signals from two different directions, but it often doesn't work because each section can pick up the same channel, and when the signals arrive at the combiner, they can be out of phase, resulting in loss of signal.

Using an estimate of your location, I don't see much difference at 30 ft:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...d24381e39cb06f

tomfoolery · 12-Oct-2014, 2:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FortKnox

my problem is I can't seem too get stable signal in the day and more so at night for channels (WNED)Pbs, (WUTV) Fox , Zuus ,(WNLO) CW 23.1, Bounce 23.2. At night time only, other channels come in and out (unstable) they are(WPXJ) Ion,(WIVB) CBS,(WROC)CBS,(WHUF) Fox.

WROC, and WHUF are Rochester stations, over 111 miles away, with -19dB NM. WPXJ is a little closer, as it's to the west of Rochester, but still almost 100 miles with negative NM. You might want to reevaluate your expectations for those stations, and optimize your system for the ones you have a realistic chance of receiving. Buffalo looks a bit challenging, but doable. Rochester, not so much.