I am at my wit's end

nomad · 27-Jan-2011, 10:26 PM

First thing's first, here is the link to my report:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...3cf4cdd07cc5b4

I am in the inland empire and trying to get TV reception with indoor antennas. I tried many different store bought set top antennas from TERK, Philips and RCA so far but results are very much so hit and miss.

I am mainly interested in getting the 5 major networks, namely ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and CW. I can live without the public tv and million other international language channels.

According to my report, in the order of signal strength, these channels line up as follows

CW
FOX
NBC
ABC
CBS

So far, after about 6 different antennas on 2 different location TV sets, I am yet to see FOX and ABC. The other signals are very weak and disappear from time to time but at leats I can get them 75% of the time. According to this report, the distance and positioning of the antenna for all of these channels are almost identical or putting it in other words, differences are so small, there is no way to adjust antenna position so finely from one station to another.

Any idea why am I not able to see these two channels at all ?

Thanks.

GroundUrMast · 27-Jan-2011, 10:55 PM

A few questions...

What type of home do you live in? Apartment or single family? Single story or multistory?

Where in the home is the antenna located? On inside wall, basement, upper floor? What side of the bulding, N, E, S, W?

What type of construction is used in your home? In particular, is there metal used in the siding material, stucco with reinforcing wire mesh, framing, roofing or insulation?

What sort of buildings and landscaping are near your home?

Have the antennas you have tried needed power, AC or battery? Have any of the antennas been rated by the manufacturer to receive VHF channels? If so, what is the model number of the antenna? The stations, FOX and ABC, are broadcast on VHF channels 11 and 7.

Thanks...

John Candle · 28-Jan-2011, 4:08 AM

The Tv transmissions at your location are Very Strong , A long list of LOS Line Of Sight that are in the Green For GO. DO NOT use an amplified antenna of any type or kind. If the building is not wrapped with any metal such as but not limited to metal siding or stucko with stucko Wire. If the building does not have foil backed insulation. If the building does not have a metal roof. If the outer walls are not made of poured concrete. If the building is not wrapped with brick from ground to roof all the way around the building. And the Tv is not in the basement. Then a Simple indoor Tv antenna will receive real fine. http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=233 , In any event try a Simple indoor Tv antenna FIRST , and if it does not work , then you will need to go to a outside antenna. Be sure that the Digital Tv is set to scan for the Broadcast Digital Tv Channels , DO NOT scan for Cable Channels and do not scan for only Analog Channels. If the Tv does not have a Broadcast Digital Tv Tuner , and the Tv is a older Analog Tv , then a Digital to Analog Converter Box will be needed. How do you know if the Tv will receive Digital Broadcast Tv Channels ?? Answer: Go into the Menu and look. Read and understand this about Real Digital Tv Channels and Virtual Digital Tv Channels. http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=695 . Here is how to point Tv antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html

John Candle · 28-Jan-2011, 4:24 AM

Why do I present information in this way?? Answer: I am on this planet now 61 years.

Dave Loudin · 28-Jan-2011, 11:33 AM

Theoretically, you should have no trouble getting all the stations in the green part of the table, as they all come from the same site and you have a clear view of that location. GroundUrMast's questions are trying to help us figure out if there's buildings in the way of the signals and if you've had amplifiers in all your antennas.

Without knowing what you've tried, here would be the progression I would recommend trying:

Loop/ rabbit ears combination with no amplifier (less than $15)
Terk HDTVi (again, no amplifier)
RCA Ant751 (outdoor antenna)

nomad · 12-Feb-2011, 5:56 PM

Sorry for the delay responding. Now that I am relocating to San Diego, the question is a moot point but it may help others in the future.

I live in a 2 story house. It is stucco and I am aware of the chicken wire wrapping but with holes that big, I did not know it would have such a detrimental effect on signal degradation (I am an electrical engineer with a big dislike if not hatred, towards microwaves and antenna theory)

In the line of sight from my home to mount whatever (??) where all these transmitters are located, is another 2 story house about 50 yards from my bac porch and about 6 feet higher elevation. But considering the footprint of its signal shadow, again, I did not think it was such a big deal.

All antennas I tried were powered except one. One of them (philips) has a dial to turn the power level up and down but it did not have any effect that I could tell. The non-powered antenna did not pick up anything other than KVCR public tv channels and a couple of chinese language broadcasts. Powered ones were better.

Locationwise, one antenna is sitting 6 feet inside from my back porch door, facing the house I mentioned aboive. Other antenna is located in the corner of the house farthest from the back porch, which is facing the mount with transmitters.

Again, as I said, I will not be pursuing this thread anymore as I only have a week or two left in this house but your answers might help another clueless soul like myself.

Thank you all for your wisdom.

John Candle · 12-Feb-2011, 7:27 PM

An electrical engineer with a big dislike if not hatred , towards microwave and antenna theory. WOW !! Hey this is Tv Reception , we are not delving off into mountain high stacks of math at levels of advanced PHD's. House hold entertainment broadcast Tv reception uses very little math of mostly addition and subtraction. And most of that is already done. And in most cases no math at all. It's understanding simple concepts and dynamics of Tv transmission and reception , like point the Tv antenna at the transmitter , 1 foot thick concrete walls block signals of all kinds , wood siding and vinal/plastic siding have low levels of resistance to Tv signals , Simple stuff , Really .