Hello all,
Here's my TVFool report:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...b7c8bf10412194
I would like to ask a question about a scenario that happened this weekend, I'll set the stage.
A new transmitter has come on line here as of late on RF 18, running 15 KW, with a side mount antenna on the southwest corner of the tower (180° away from me). It is a dupe of RF 12, but would be handy as the VHF RF 12 station very rarely has issues, but is frustrating when it does. Reception wise, I have good days and bad days on RF 18, but I can't explain the following...maybe one of you can.
This last Saturday, all afternoon, clear skys, I watched the golf match on NBC RF 18 at a 30-32% SS no dropouts. Saturday, I was dead on pointed at 185°, not 186°, not 184°, I had to point DIRECTLY at the tower, maybe because of the phased log periodics having a narrow lobe, I don't know, but it was working well, none the less. No reception from 204° at that point.
Sunday for most of the afternoon, same thing, but as the rain approached from the southwest, the signal began to fade at 185°...as the heavy rain began here, drop outs abounding at 185°, I finally said "the heck with this" and turned the beams to the Heilderburgs, (where the local antenna farm is located, 204°, and RF 12) not changing the channel yet to NBC RF 12,
As I hit 204°, boom, the RF 18 signal went to 45-47% SS, and remained there until bedtime, and was there same SS in the morning, heavy rain still falling. That's a 19° beam heading change away from the RF 18 tower....
This is the third rain event that I've noticed this, it happened with our last heavy snow as well. It didn't become clear until Sunday that it was even happening. I actually watched it happen in front of my eyes.
I expect this is all a multipath issue of some kind, rain fade and all that, but what could the signal possibly be bouncing off of at 204°, and why only during rain? And why so strong on UHF only in the rain? VERY weird....the rain is gone now and last evening, RF 18 returned to the usual hit and miss in clearing skys...
I hope one of you might be able to explain this...maybe it will help me change something here to make the 45-47% SS stick permanently on RF 18. I've been contemplating raising the whole array up 2 feet (coax length restrictions) but I'm not really sure if that would even help at all....
Any help would be greatly appreciated...