Antenna Help - Topeka, KS

[jeysiin]

Hi all,

We recently made the switch from Dish to OTA tv, in an effort to cut costs. We purchased a Channelmaster CM7400 dvr, and connected it to a Antennas Direct ClearStream2 mounted on our old Dish Network mast, about 15-20 feet above the ground. There's approximately a 100 foot coax run from the antenna to the CM7400. here's the link to the TVfool report: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...cc49880885c964

We're most interested in all of the basic channels-- ABC, NBC, FOX, PBS, and CBS. The antenna is currently pointed nearly due west, in line with CBS. (Adjusting the antenna from it's current heading tends to cause us to lose either CBS or Fox/ABC)

We're running into pretty low signal strength and significant artifacting on CBS and Fox, as well as ABC to a lesser extent. The CM7400 uses a 10 bar signal strength indicator, and the signal strength it shows are as follows:
PBS 10/10
NBC 10/10
ABC 3-5/10
CBS 3/10
FOX 3/10

The wife has given me a budget of roughly $150 (since we made the switch to cut costs), so I'm looking for suggestions on the best way to maximize my signal strength without breaking the bank.

I appreciate any advice you guys have to help out.

[signals unlimited]

Install the VHF up-grade kit for your CS2, available from Antennas Direct.

Play with an aim just between your two groups of stations located West and Northwest. If a station in either group fails to play reliably, move a little toward that station. If you can't find a sweet spot for all stations, you will need a rotor.

Even with the rotor you will be within your budget.

[Stereocraig]

If your TV requires you to do a complete scan, versus simply adding channels, you will need to re scan every time you move the rotor.
2 antennas may be the answer.

The CS2 antenna is a UHF channels 14 thru 51 antenna.

Your location also has VHF high band channels 7 thru 13.

Install the VHF antenna kit on to the CS2.

http://www.antennasdirect.com , has the VHF antenna kit.

Aim the CS2 with the VHF antenna kit installed.

At about 330 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

The Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels , are Strong Signal Strength at your location.

Here is a list of the receivable Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels at your location.

KTWU REAL VHF channel 11 , virtual number (11.1-2-3) PBS.

KSNT REAL UHF channel 27 , virtual number (27.1-2) NBC and FOX.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KSNT

KSQA REAL VHF channel 12 , virtual number (22.1) The Country Network.

KTMJ-CD REAL UHF channel 43 , virtual number (43.1) FOX.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KTMJ-CD

K40IJ-D REAL UHF channel 40 , virtual number (x) EICB Religion.

WIBW-TV REAL VHF channel 13 , virtual number (13.1-2-3) CBS and MyNetwork and Me-Tv.

KTKA-DT REAL UHF channel 49 , virtual number (49.1-2) ABC and The CW.

WIBW-TV REAL UHF channel 44 , virtual number (13.1-2-3) CBS and MyNetwork and Me-Tv.
___________________________________


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

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

At your location that is , west , north west , north east.

The Tv/s Must Channel Scan for the Broadcast Tv Channels , sometimes 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.

DO NOT channel scan for cable tv channels.
__________________________________________

Remove All Dish Network connection hardware such as , diplexers , splitters , power supplies , power injectors , and etc..

Have only 1 Tv location connection to the antenna , do not use any splitters.

Now Rescan for Digital Broadcast Tv Channels.

Digital tuners can develop 'digital glitches' that are not cleared out with a simple channel rescan.

Do a Double Rescan.

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

What is reception like Now??

---> Important Question <---> how many Tv's are connected??

[jeysiin]

I installed the Clearstream 2 VHF antenna kit, and disconnected all the Dish Network splitters, etc.
The antenna is pointed at about 320 degrees-- the neighbor has a rather large tree at 330, though I'd been getting decent signal despite this.
I saw a marked improvement in CBS, have lost FOX entirely.

Signal strength according to the Channelmaster 7400:
PBS: 10/10
CBS: 7/10
NBC: 10/10
Fox: 0/10
ABC: 2/10

I can't get Fox even when i point the antenna directly at it. Could this be a result of the VHF/UHF combiner on the Clearstream 2VHF? What can I do to boost the signal for FOX? (And, ideally ABC, but it comes in decently enough)

[Billiam]

Originally Posted by jeysiin

I installed the Clearstream 2 VHF antenna kit, and disconnected all the Dish Network splitters, etc.
The antenna is pointed at about 320 degrees-- the neighbor has a rather large tree at 330, though I'd been getting decent signal despite this.
I saw a marked improvement in CBS, have lost FOX entirely.

Signal strength according to the Channelmaster 7400:
PBS: 10/10
CBS: 7/10
NBC: 10/10
Fox: 0/10
ABC: 2/10

I can't get Fox even when i point the antenna directly at it. Could this be a result of the VHF/UHF combiner on the Clearstream 2VHF? What can I do to boost the signal for FOX? (And, ideally ABC, but it comes in decently enough)

I live about 100 miles east of you in Misery. I had problems with Fox 4 at my location with any 4 or 8 bay style antenna including the mclapp antenna I built. But it comes in great when I use a Yagi style antenna like the Antennacraft MXU 59, Antennacraft HBU 55 or Antennas Direct 91XG. Try a Yagi if you want Ch. 4 from KC.

[signals unlimited]

The only Fox channel within your reach is real 34 at 82 degrees.

To receive this and the other stations to your NW you need a rotor and amplifier. If you use the Pro Brand Eagle Aspen Roto100 and replace the U/V combinder with a Winegard AP2870 amplifier, you will be able to accomplish this without the installation of a second cable for the rotor.

The Roto100 uses the coax to operate, provided you follow exactly the manufacture instructions for single cable installation.

[jeysiin]

Originally Posted by signals unlimited

The only Fox channel within your reach is real 34 at 82 degrees.

KTMJ 43 is the Fox affiliate I was referring to. I had not noticed before that the TV Fool report does not associate it with the Fox network.

[ADTech]

The only Fox channel within your reach is real 34 at 82 degrees.

There's no need to try to get Fox from Kansas City. The local Fox station is KTMJ on UHF 43. KTMJ is also simulcast in standard def as a sub-channel of KSNT on UHF 27 according to Trip's website. Sometimes you have to look beyond what's directly listed in the TVFool chart as there are gaps in the database.


Billiam,

He's only 5 miles from the towers. He shouldn't need a large antenna...


jeysiin,

The UVSJ on the kit, with an insertion loss of less than a dB, would not be expected to cause the loss of a single channel unless the signal was already just hanging on by a hair.

Most likely, the problem is directly related to the current location of the antenna. Given that you are using an existing dish mount, be ware that it's location was chosen so that the dish could see a specific point in the southerly sky. However, since your local stations are to your west and northwest, that raises the possibility that the antenna may be aimed point blank into your roof, your neighbors roof, or the aforementioned big tree, any of which can cause significant degradation of the signal's quality or integrity.

The best thing to do at this time is to re-evaluate the location of the antenna. Look for a spot that offers the best available line of sight towards your two primary transmitter locations and test-mount the antenna at that spot and retest. Don't drill any holes until you've successfully demonstrated reception.

No antenna rotator is required.

Install the VHF up grade kit.

Aim the antenna as directed.

I listed the channels that will be received , including Fox , on KTMJ and KSNT.

Install the antenna at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions of any type or kind of the directions of reception.

[Billiam]

Originally Posted by ADTech

There's no need to try to get Fox from Kansas City. The local Fox station is KTMJ on UHF 43. KTMJ is also simulcast in standard def as a sub-channel of KSNT on UHF 27 according to Trip's website. Sometimes you have to look beyond what's directly listed in the TVFool chart as there are gaps in the database.


Billiam,

He's only 5 miles from the towers. He shouldn't need a large antenna...


jeysiin,

The UVSJ on the kit, with an insertion loss of less than a dB, would not be expected to cause the loss of a single channel unless the signal was already just hanging on by a hair.

Most likely, the problem is directly related to the current location of the antenna. Given that you are using an existing dish mount, be ware that it's location was chosen so that the dish could see a specific point in the southerly sky. However, since your local stations are to your west and northwest, that raises the possibility that the antenna may be aimed point blank into your roof, your neighbors roof, or the aforementioned big tree, any of which can cause significant degradation of the signal's quality or integrity.

The best thing to do at this time is to re-evaluate the location of the antenna. Look for a spot that offers the best available line of sight towards your two primary transmitter locations and test-mount the antenna at that spot and retest. Don't drill any holes until you've successfully demonstrated reception.

I've never been able to pick up Topeka stations when I lived in KC. And since the TV Fool report did not indicate that he had a local Fox affiliate, there was no way of determining which antenna would work in this situation since WDAF was listed as the only Fox affiliate in the area. Thanks for the correction.

[Stereocraig]

It would be nice if they showed sub channels, but I guess that's just not their purpose.
Affiliates from two different markets can be nice for news and football.

[jeysiin]

I accidentally left the TV on (on channel 43), while I was pulling the antenna down. Suddenly my wife yelled that 43 was coming in. While I had a hand on the antenna in its current location, Fox gets 4-5 bars (which is plenty for me). None of the other channels suffered signal loss.

Any way I can mimic having my hands on the antenna without, you know, standing on a ladder all day and night?

[Stereocraig]

Maybe try dangling a length of wire from the element that you were touching?
Your body is acting like an antenna.