[Flint Ridge]

OK, update. Some good, some ugly, plenty of questions. Obviously need “professional help”.

Got the big Winegard down from the top and placed on the lower level pointed for the Eastern stations.

Placed the AntennasDirect 91XG on the top headed to Kansas City (West). I also cheated what I could and went an additional 3’ or so up on the mast given the low wind resistance of this design. Antenna was dialed in to the problematic 4.1 station with a new Antennacraft 10G202 (29db high gain). New RG6 coax, with compression fittings and mastic tape on connections. Overall very positive results.

Maybe you can help explain some of the numbers etc. Before numbers on top, after numbers below. Keep in mind enough time between to not be able to compare directly. Also the directions of antennas were certainly tweaked from previous alignment. I really took the time on 4.1 as that was my weak signal I wanted. Readings are all through a cheapo 3-way splitter for second figures – we will chat about that issue in a bit.

Channel Signal Strength Errors SNR (db) AGC(%) Sorry I can't get the columns to line up no matter the attempts at tabs or spacing
4.1
41% - No Signal 0 – 253 0 32
76-87% - Solid Signal 0 22-27 33
5.1
89 0 – 47 28 32
92-98 0 31 33
9.1
95 0 29 32
98 0 31 33
17.1
67 – Backside East 0 20 46
76-78 0 23 36
22.1
67 – Backside East 0 20 43
70-73 0 20-22 48-49
38.1
81 0 25 33
92 0 29 35
41.1
87 0 26 33
95 0 29-30 34
62.1
95 0 30 32
98 0 32 33
I then tried to set it up as normal configuration and went through my Channel Master powered multi-splitter adds like 4.5db. This lead to all stations taking a huge hit and some went to no signal. So, in comes cheapo splitter. Am I over driving it? Even though I have about 150’ of coax?

Then I was off to working the lower antenna (previously the big Winegard 7689 on top). Brought the previous amp down. Suffice it to say I only got a signal coming through for a brief period of time. Somewhere along the way the power supply on the Winegard preamp died. Had another one replaced it. Basically the time when I was getting some signals was all UHF and no VHF. The other old preamp I thought was UHF only was VHF only. I did not try it.
So, I’m thinking I need a new amp as the only time I got signal for a period of time was bypassing the preamp and just going direct from antenna took out power supply and just used the lead from antenna straight to tv. However, with no VHF ever at all. I think there is something wrong with antenna. Could I lose just one band from a bad balun??? Antenna is more beat up than I thought - hail. Checked to ensure no obvious ground of the antenna to the frame – whatever the fixed leads are running down along the frame. NO visible contact. But the back half of antenna at its best was weak and now seems to be just dead.

After about 4 hours hanging onto an tower – I GAVE UP!

Thanks Grandpa for coming over and calling out the signals as I was aiming.

So, 91XG is working very well, wish 4.1 was a bit better, but it has not dropped at all, so may have nothing to worry with.

What about the powered splitter killing signals, finally too much overdriving? Should I dial down the amp and get something lower powered? Or, simply lose the powered splitter? When I finish I need about 6 different lines out, so…

Is the Winegard dead? Any chance antennas are too close or too far apart (about 9’)? Is the preamp dead?

What if I just went with a VHF only antenna pointed East, go with a Antennacraft Y10713. I’m getting the other UHF Easterly channels good enough at the moment through the backside. Combine and end up with the best of all worlds one lead, clean split no funky trying to switch antennas or smear the signals together? Would the Y10713 need an amp? Mid-level – or just get it the antenna, dial it in, see what the signal is and make the call once real data is presented to you all for input?

Enough questions for one afternoon?