One channel suddenly has descreased strength?
 

Hi folks,
I have a puzzling situation so I'm hoping someone here might have some idea on what's going on. I've been using the same antenna for about 2.5 years now, a ClearStream 2, and have received all local channels with pretty strong signals. Recently one channel, KPTV Fox 12 in Portland, OR started dropping out, sometimes completely where I'd get a "no signal" message. The odd thing to me is that a few other channels at the same distance and degrees from my location still retain their good signals. My antenna is pointed at 22 degrees currently.
Signal results
Nothing structurally around my home has changed in the direction of the stations that I can see. I thought maybe something at the station itself may have changed but I can't find any information to that affect. Any ideas of what may be going on?

Hi Mkwiggy,

If only this signal is affected, my first try would be to call KPTV's engineering staff. Transmitters occasionally have to go on lower power for stretches due to technical issues. This may be one for them. Their switchboard # is: 503-906-1249. You'd just want let them know you have having new reception problems with their signal and checking if their are doing any transmitter servicing.

Cheers.

Does your antenna have the horizontal VHF element like in the photo below?

http://i1371.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5eb6d754.jpg

Thank you. I will give them a call today and see what they say.

No. Mine doesn't have that horizontal piece.

Adding the VHF dipoles is strongly recommended for improving the VHF reception.

http://www.antennasdirect.com/store/Reflectors.html

Either option will work. Currently, the VHF-1 Retrofit Kit has free economy shipping loaded in our e-commerce system. The VHF Reflector Kit is being phased out in favor of the module-based option and there are only a few dozen VHF reflector kits left in inventory.

VHF reception can often be disrupted by unexpected localized sources of interference. Sometimes it's a fancy new light bulb or appliance, a solar-powered device, a new computer, or even a new TV set or adding a plug-in USB device to a TV or computer. There are quite a few possibilities.

Thank you. I went ahead and purchased one. Thanks for the advice. Still waiting on a call back from the station. I'll report back once I hear from them and also after installing this kit.

Update: I talked to the tech at KPTV yesterday and he said that nothing is wrong on their end. He lives about 6 miles east of me and doesn't have any issues with his reception. He mentioned since my UHF signals are strong, my issue seems to be on the low end frequency and maybe cleaning contact points might help. Not sure if KGW, which is also VHF, coming in strong lines up with this theory. ?

Some faults affect only a very narrow range of frequencies. If such a fault happens to be present and its effects happen to be within a specific channel's spectrum, then only that channel will be affected.

Once the VHF kit arrives and is installed, keep the tips in post# 6 in mind should you still encounter difficulty.

A UHF antenna will receive some VHF signal... but it's performance will be rather unpredictable from one VHF channel to another. The addition of intentional VHF support is the next indicated step.

Just installed the VHF Retro Fit Kit and my signal is now at 10 bars of signal strength for the VHF channels! I'm a happy guy again. :D

Thank you all for the tips and advice.

Sweet!

Thanks for dropping back in and providing the update!