Question on reliable reception in VA

[Coldtrail]

Hello,
I just recently installed a channelmaster cm2020 antenna in my attic, with about a 45 ft run to a distribution amp, with about another 1ft of coax to my terminal block for my home. Coming out of this iafter about 4ft I installed a 2-way splitter, sending the signal to 2 different sets with about another 10-20ft to each set. I get all of the channels I want but sometimes i lose ION and its sub channels (38.1-.4). And normally when I lose those, FOXHD (27.1) will pixellate.
My concern is that i am by no means a tv expert. My terminal block, and therefore my dist amp, are mounted directly above by electrical breaker box. Can the electrical wires from my home cause interference with the amp, and or coax? My signal seems to clear up when i move the dist amp down and below the breaker box and in doing this, straightening the coax. I also wonder if I should buy a preamp and do away with the dist amp. I appreciate any help and input, and here is a link to my fool report below.


http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...c84f0436a395c9

[GroundUrMast]

A few possibilities...

1) A bad connection between the coax and connector(s). (Moving the cable can change the tension between the cable and connector so that a poor connection improves or gets worse.) Poor connections make the coax into an unintended antenna which will leak desired signal and can pick up interference and multipath.

2) RF interference is being generated in the home (often there are several sources and moving the coax may change the way the whole system is affected). If the coax is properly installed with no loose or intermittent connections, very little interference can penetrate the shield. The antenna is the 'wide open' entry point for signals and interference... move the antenna outside the attic, at least as a test. Outside the attic, the antenna will have access to stronger, higher quality signal while at the same time be further from sources of interference in the house.

Please resist the temptation to fix this with an amplifier. Reliable reception starts with the antenna, it's location and aim. Once you have a reliable signal at the antenna, an amplifier may be needed to 'push' the signal through the normal losses in your cable and splitter. An amplifier can not do the antennas job.

Attics Are Not a reception friendly environment and Never Will be a reception friendly environment.

Most of the signal strengths at your location are moderate to weak signal strengths.

Install the CM2020 antenna to above the roof in such a manner that the roof and house are not blocking reception to the , south west , south , south east , east.

Aim the CM2020 antenna at about 242 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

Here are some above the roof antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html if using a eave mount use the #4560. , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com.

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box or buy from ronard.

Here are some places to buy , http://www.solidsignal.com.
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It sounds like there are some bad coax sections / connections.

As a Test to Prove reception , with the CM2020 antenna installed above the roof , replace the matching transformer (balun) with a new one that connects the antenna to the coax that goes to the Tv.
Connect a New Looooong coax to the new matching transformer and run the looooong coax through a open door or window , direct to 1 Tv.

No splitters , No coax ground block , No couplers , No distribution amplifier , No nothing.

Digital tuners can develop - Digital Glitches - that are not cleared out with a simple channel scan.

I recommend a Double Channel scan.

http://www.dtv.gov/rescan.html.

What is reception like now??

Try reception reception with the 2 way splitter connected , no distribution amplifier.

---->What is the make and model number of the distribution amplifier??<----


And also in the future , http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/rescan.pdf

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As always , trees and tree leaves do a real fine job of reducing or blocking Digital Broadcast Tv reception and so do buildings and other obstructions including your own roof and house.

It is best to install the CM2020 antenna at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions of any type or kind in the directions of reception including your own house.

The Tv/s Must channel Scan for the Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , often named the 'Air Channels' or 'Antenna Channels' in the Tv setup menu because the Tv transmissions travel through the air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.

Some Digital Tv's will automatic channel scan for cable tv channels.

Go to the Tv menu and select 'Air Channels' / 'Antenna Channels'.

DO NOT channel scan for cable tv channels.