[nkreed]

Thanks both of you for your quick and awesome responses!

Tower Guy I'd try a DB-4, but remove the reflector before you install it. It will give you a bidirectional pattern.
NkreedAlso, would the bottom set of bow-ties point at Colden (channels 39, 33, 38) and the top Toronto (20, 19, 41)?
Rabbit No, I don't think he meant that. He told you to remove the reflector to get North and South with equal gain.

I like the DB4 antenna idea. Now that I understand that by removing the reflector panel, the antenna will act bidirectionally NW and SE and decrease the overall gain NW. This will help decrease the amount of signal received from the strong WNW braodcast towers and allow the antenna to receive the SE stations better.

Two 33s?

Sorry. Poor proof reading by myself, the first 33 should have been 43

5.2 Multi-Signal Overload

Quote:
The DTV receiver should accommodate more than one undesired, high-level, NSTC or DTV signal at its input, received from transmission facilities that are in close proximity to one another. For purposes of this guideline, it should be assumed that multiple signals, each approaching –8 dBm, will exist at the input of the receiver.
You can see why an attenuator might be necessary.

I like this extra detail re: Multi-Signal overload. This will help in both my friends antenna situation and mine!

Your friend has some very strong local FM signals that will interfere with TV reception. Insert an FM filter/trap or a HLSJ (high and common ports) in the coax line. I did an FMFOOL report based on his estimated location, which puts him about 5 blocks SW of Northtown Plaza Shopping Center. See attachment 3.

I have never thought about FM interference, this is a simple addition into the line with very minimal (if any?) signal loss and helps decrease the noise. Your responses help both my friend and me at the same time! It was definately worth looking into this for my friend, as I am learning more and more. (You can call me a geek if you want, but I find this all very interesting)

Again TowerGuy and Rabbit73 I thank you for your quick and well organized posts. There is a ton of information to help make a suitable decision for my friend, while upgrading the signals I receive at my home at the same time.

I like the attenuator idea to attempt to decrease the strong signals from wiping out the weak ones. I had just understood that an attenuator will take db's out of yor signal, so you will just lose the weak stations. The idea that those weak stations may work better because of less overload from strong stations makes me want to attempt this at my house.

A question regarding this is should i purchase a variable attenuator to see if this works, find a good attenuation level (if possible) and then opt for a specific filter at that attenuation level? (I dont even know if i would be able to measure the attenuation) Or do you think i should purchase a few 3 db attenuation pads and maybe a 6 db one and attach them in combination until I receive the best results? (Did i really just turn this into my antenna setup?!?)

Thank for all of your help and quick responses! I appreciate all of your insight and expertise! I will definetly let you know how things work when we order the parts and install the antenna. If I have any more questions, I will definetly ask.