Lost OTA Signals

[vbg]

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1ddacd9194b0f4

I recently began to experience reception problems on all of my sets connected to my outdoor antenna.
I have a Winegard chromestar series, CA-7082 VHF/UHF on a 30' tower connected to a Winegard distribution amp model DA-1127 that purports
27 dB gain.
I lost over 50% of the stations in my area, real ch 8, ch 10, ch 28, ch 34,
ch 39, and ch 49.
Doing a scan I could receive 22 channels.

I did indoor trouble shooting of the cable connections and tried substituting another amp with no improvement.
I finally went outdoors and disconnected the 75 ohm connector at the grounding block and found it was full of moisture even though it had a weatherproof boot.
I replaced the connectors, rescanned and found 50 ota channels, problem solved, right?
Not so fast, yesterday I found I had again lost 50% of the channels, did a rescan with the same results, 22 channels.
I cannot figure what is causing the problem, anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks.

[ADTech]

Have any more connectors with funnels, er, boots, on them?

[vbg]

No, just the two that connect to the grounding block, (1 in, 1 out) the grounding block is new since the old block had some corrosion on the interior of the 75 ohm connection. I also used silicone di-electric grease
in the 75 ohm connectors.

As a -->Test<-- to prove reception.

Connect a New loooong coax to the antenna and run the New loooong coax through a open door or window direct to 1 Tv.

The connection that is part of the antenna must be clean and Ok.

If reception is Ok , then replace the outside coax and ground block.

DO NOT use boots , boots Do Not keep water out.

Boots -->Hold Water In.

To keep water out of the coax and to keep water out of the connectors and to keep water out of ground blocks and to keep water out of ect. .

Use http://www.coaxseal.com.

Use http://www.grainger.com/4YT86 Graing...T86?Pid=search.

If water has gotten in to the ground block , replace the ground block.

Yes<-->water can get into the inside of coax.

Yes water can get into the inside of -->etc. .

[GroundUrMast]

Just to pile on... water will wick a long way into the coax. If there's water in the coax, it's trash.

Yes I 100% agree if water has gotten in to the coax , and I can tell you this , Waters Number 1 Job is to get up in to the length of coax all the way to the other end of the coax.

I am not joking.

People place little to no importance on water in the coax , and go through and jump through every hoop possible , replacing every last part and component of the antenna system , and then because there is ->nothing else to replace<- the coax is replaced and the problem is solved.

[vbg]

I inserted a second amp before the 3-way splitter, no change.
Then I replaced the short piece of RG59 between amp out and splitter, no change until after sunset.
Suddenly all but one OTA channel (w/ 4 signals) returned.
Checked this AM after sunrise and all but two OTA channels (8 signals) are there.
Out of 50 OTA signals 42 are back!
Better than previous 22.
Any ideas on this curious change?

As a Test of reception install a ANT751 outside and aimed at about 120 degree magnetic compass direction.

Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Connect a New loooong coax to the ANT751 and run the New loooogn coax through a open door or window direct to 1 Tv.

[GroundUrMast]

Sure sounds like the symptoms of water in the coax.