Need channel reception help for ClearStream 2V

[bid74]

Hello,

I posted in this forum before on a DB2e I mounted and the help I got solved the reception problems I was having. That was for one unit. We have another unit that needs reception and I followed the previous advice and purchased a C2V this time. I have mounted it above the top roofline (~ 27 feet above the ground) and pointed it 310 degrees. I leveraged the 4-way splitter from the DIRECTV installation and the RG6 cable from the DirecTV installation for two of the thee TV sets I have hooked up.

My TV signal analysis is at:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...5b9438ace98560


Here are the issues:

1. The TV closest to the splitter (i.e. the cable run is about 20 feet) gets all the channels (about 100 of them). The only problem with this set is that Channel 7 (7.1, 7.2, 7.3) breaks up about 10% of the time when viewing. This cable was leveraged from the DIRECTV installation.

2. The next TV (about 30 feet from the splitter) gets 104 channels but channel 7 is so poor that it only comes in about 10% of the time and I have to move the signal cable around to get that 10%. This cable was also leveraged from the DIRECTV installation.

3. I added a 50 foot run of RG6 cable to one more set and that only gets 4 channels (26, 36, 65, and one other)

Is the signal degradation that significant based on cable length to cause these problems or are there other items I have overlooked?

Thanks for the help.

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KGO also has a repeater transmitter UHF channel 35 , at 31 degree magnetic compass direction.

A In Between aim direction for the antenna is 356 degree magnetic compass direction for reception of the groups of Tv stations to the , North West , North , North East , South East.

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The satellite installation people often do a very poor job of putting connectors on the ends of coax and often do something to the coax , bending at extreme angle , twisting the coax , pulling and jerking the coax , cutting the coax , putting staples and nail and screws in the coax , and etc. .

Also do not use any of satellite system connection devices , such as and not limited to , multi-plexers , multi-switches , splitters , couplers , amplifiers , power injector/power supplies and etc. .

To Prove reception.

Connect a New Continues length of coax to the antenna and run the New Continues length of coax through a open door or window , direct to each Tv , 1 at a time.

Digital Tv Tuners can develop - Digital Glitches - that are not cleared out with simple channel scans.

To clear tuner do Double Rescan.

http://www.wchstv.com/DoubleReScanAlert.pdf.

To further prove reception.

Connect a New coax to the antenna and connect the coax to a , common standard splitter , that has the correct number of outputs to go to each Tv location and run coax from each output of the , common standard splitter , to each Tv location.

The coaxes will run through the inside of the building as a temporary connection situation.

Not using any of the satellite system , coax , splitters , or any other satellite system devices.

How is reception now??

[ADTech]

1. Check to see which KGO broadcast you're receiving. They simulcast on real channels 7 & 35 but from different locations. You may need to access a diagnostic menu to get this bit of info. The remedy will be different depending on which broadcast is being received.

2. Replace the Directv splitter with a standard splitter. Use ONLY the coaxial cable form the Directv install.

3. If necessary, raise, lower, or move horizontally in some direction to find a better spot. The first and most convenient mounting location is rarely the best available.

[bid74]

Hi AdTech,

Thanks so much for the prompt response. I will check the KGO broadcast I am receiving. For the splitter, do you have a make/model you recommend? If not, let me know what characteristics I should look for. I need at least three outputs and I would need to know what frequency range it should go across and the acceptable losses at each output and if you have a preferred manufacturer and any other characteristics I should keep in mind.

Thanks.

[ADTech]

I have tested and am comfortable in recommending the Ideal brand of splitters available at Lowes (or was it Home Depot?).

The minimum required frequency range is 50-700 MHz. There is no need to spend extra for a wider bandwidth splitter "just because". Splitters labeled for cable TV are fine. Splitters labeled for "satellite" use are usually okay, depending on their internal construction. For example, the Ideal 85-334 that is labeled "Satellite & Digital TV", "5-MHz - 2.4 GHz" is fine.

Three port splitters come in two varieties: Balanced and unbalanced. A balanced splitter will typically be specified around -6 dB per port. An unbalanced splitter will have one port at -3.5dB and two at -7 dB insertion loss. Four port splitters will be around -7 dB per port.

[bid74]

Hi Teleview and ADTech,

I worked on this over the weekend. A combination of both of your suggestions has gotten this working for the most part. I changed out the splitter and since I had an indoor/oudoor 4-way amplifier that provided a reasonable gain I used that instead of a splitter. This immediately solved the issue with the TV that had the 50 foot cable run. However, that TV could not get channel 7 so I tried the Double Rescan. That did not work so I went outside and adjusted the antennae to 356 degrees and after some trial and error I have over 100 channels on two TVs and 67 channels on the TV with the 50 foot run. I have all the channels I wanted on all 3 sets so that is good.

I did not ground the amplifier so my question is since things are working do I leave that alone or is it still required to ground the amplifier and what is the risk if I don't? If so, where do I ground it as the amplifier is under the antennae mast against the outside wall of the house. I could ground it to the antennae base, the wood itself under the guttering, or to the guttering. Let me know.

I did not change out any cables as that will be the next step if the system starts to become unstable.

Thanks to both of you for your help.