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OK, I've been gone for a bit but now I am back to tackling this problem. I need to get after it before the snow keeps me off the roof!
I tried magnetic 245 again, and still only get K03FW and K09QH. Therefore I can rule out solar storm potential from the last time I tuned. And coworkers are still receiving the other stations, so I am certain they are on the air.
From magnetic 8, I am receiving NBC (KTUU), ABC (KYUR), PBS (KAKM), and MyNetworkTV (KYES) reliably. Do you think if I add a UHF I can pull FOX (KTBY, -8.1 NM) and CBS (KTVA, -14.1 NM)?
The way I see it, I can try a different tuner or a different antenna.
I don't have another TV in the house to try a different tuner. So I'd have to buy one. I may buy a smallish one to put in the tack room in the barn, so this might be an option.
If I try a different antenna, I think I have 3 options.
-Buy a smaller external VHF/UHF combo antenna like a Antennacraft 5884 and point at magnetic 245. This should get me all the major networks, provided my current antenna is somehow the problem.
-Buy a new large directional antenna like a Winegard HD8200U and point at magnetic 14. This should get me the major networks, plus some of the minor UHF stations. However, would the 8200 be enough to pull in KTBY and KTVA? (-8.1 NM and -14.1 NM respectively.)
-Build a Gray Hoverman (which sounds like fun!). But most of my major network stations are on VHF-Hi (at magnetic 8) or VHF-Lo (at magnetic 245). My understanding is that the GH is best at UHF and is OK for VHF-Hi.
Regarding co-channels, it is interesting that the stronger stations (with weaker co-channels) like K12LA don't come in. But weaker stations (with stronger co-channels) like KTUU at magnetic 8 come in fine. Still not sure how this could be the problem, but you never know.
Regarding cabling, is RG-59 OK for OTA, or do I need RG-6? I've got lots of extra RG-59, but no extra RG-6 if I wanted to re-run the cables.
Any other thoughts and ideas are appreciated!
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