Do I need a preamp or antenna signal booster? (low signal quality)

[sofakng]

I have a Winegard HD7082P HD antenna in my attic.

I know it loses a lot of signal quality because it's inside the attic (instead of on the roof), but mounting it on the roof isn't an option right now.

Anyways, my Dish Network OTA receiver reports a signal quality of 70 - 75% for most of my channels. Regardless, they still "block up" (macroblocking?) every so often.

One of the channels is coming from the side of the antenna (WQPX-ION) so it only gets 60 - 65%. The receiver often says "No signal" and the picture keeps going in/out every few seconds.

Would a pre-amp or booster help with these problems?

Here's my TVFool link: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...574743f61126b4

[Tower Guy]

Originally Posted by sofakng

Would a pre-amp or booster help with these problems?

Nope, the problem isn't signal level, but signal quality. The solutions are:

A rotator that will turn the antenna when you want to watch WQPX or WSWB.

A second UHF only antenna aimed at WQPX and WSWB with an A/B switch.

A second UHF only antenna aimed at WQPX and WSWB with a custom frequency selective combiner. The manufacturer would have to tune the single channel input to 12 MHz wide to allow both channels 31 and 32 to get through the fiter.

Tinlee AC7-Series

Single Channel Injectors, join a single channel antenna with a broadband antenna or separate one channel from a broadband antenna. This three port device consists of:

1. Single channel input (bandpass) which provides 20dB rejection at: ±8 MHz (VHF), ±18 MHz (UHF). Insertion loss: 2 dB typical
2. Broadband input (bandstop) which reduces signal overlap between the single channel input and the broadband input. Rejection: 15dB. 3dB points: ±8 MHz (VHF), ±18 MHz (UHF)
3. Thru-port (common). Passband: 40 to 860 MHz, thru-loss: 1dB

http://www.tinlee.com/MATV_headend.php

[John Candle]

You can remove the UHF reflectors and try turning the antenna some , 0 to 40 degrees to the left and right to see if reception improves. If not , then will need to move the antenna outside. Reception will be much better outside and you will likley get all the channels you will like.

[sofakng]

Thanks for the replies!

Are the UHF reflectors that extension that fits into the back of the antenna?

Given my location from the towers and that I'd like to leave the antenna in the attic, are there any better antennas or any other solutions? (before I consider mounting the antenna outside or purchasing a second antenna and joining the channels, etc)

[John Candle]

Here is how to point Tv antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html , Two of the antennas show the V shaped angled reflectors , An All Band UHF-VHF-FM and the A Yagi Backed With A Corner Reflector. Removing the reflectors will allow better reception of the stations WQPX and WSMB. What the reflectors do is direct/reflect the UHF signals to the UHF metal receiving elements. But because WQPX and WSMB are coming in at a angle from the back of the antenna , the reflectors are partially blocking those signals. As others often do , please do not get your self all tangled up with thinking that prevents you from doing things.

[John Candle]

The Winegard HD7082P is BIG Powerful antenna , there are no other single antennas that will do a better job , unless you will like to install a bigger antenna. Like a HD7084P or HD8200U or HD7698P.

[John Candle]

Here is some thing you can try , with and with out the UHF reflector. Rotate the antenna you have around so that it points at about 51 degrees magnetic compass , WQPX and WSMB. This will increase the reception of those two channels. The other stations are very strong so the stations will still be plenty strong.

[sofakng]

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions everybody... I'm still having trouble getting all of the channels though for some reason.

If I did want to get a separate antenna and then join the two together, how much am I looking to spend on a highly directional (and as small as possible) antenna for just the ION channel?

(Also, does anybody have any suggestions on a good place to purchase these items from? [the channel injector and the additional antenna?])

[John Candle]

Is the HD7082P still in the attic?? Did you turn the antenna around to point at 51 degrees magnetic compass , ION??

[sofakng]

Yeah... I've adjusted it so it gets 99-100% signal strength on some channels and 75+ on the others, but ION still won't come in.

I know I could mount it on the roof but I'd rather spend the extra $100 - $150 on another antenna + channel injector than mount that large antenna on my roof...

[John Candle]

The point and the truth is not in effect here. I have nothing more.

[GroundUrMast]

Before you spend money at TinLee.com (who you would contact for current price information) You will want to find out if you can receive WQPX from inside or outside your attic.

You indicate you have already attempted with the HD7082P which is spec'd at 12.2 dBd gain on UHF channel 32. If you have not seen any signal from the WQPX at this point, you need to take the existing antenna outside for a test. The largest consumer grade UHF antennas will only offer 2 to 4 more dB of gain, so I doubt you would get a reliable signal in the attic using an Antennas Direct XG-91 or Winegard HD9095P. By searching with your existing antenna, outdoors, you can determine if you have any chance of reception of WQPX, before spending money on additional hardware.

The path profile for WQPX is 2-edge... that can (though not always) make things difficult.