RCA ANT751 and 98662 reception

Pykeman · 11-Feb-2014, 4:03 AM

here is my report

I have an RCA ANT751 mounted on a J-post at the end of the peak (in the shadows, just above the "house icon" that runs perpendicular to the one visible in the included picture.

I have 50' of cable running directly to the TV, no splitters, amps, etc.

The channels I'm interested in are KATU, KOIN, KGW, KOPB, KPTV

I can get them all, except KATU and KOIN at the same time. I can move the ANT751 a couple degrees to the south and get KATU, a couple to the north and get KOIN. I can't find a sweet spot.

Is this an elevation issue? This is a two story, split level home. A tree issue? I'm surrounded by cedar trees... If the ANT751 is attached to a tall pole (say 10-20') to the end of the peak below the "house" icon, would it improve reception? This point would be the furthest from trees in the direction of towers.

The included picture is orientated so that towers would be straight out the top of picture. I wanted to approximate the LOS I have to towers.

TIA for the help and suggestions... I want to cut the DTV bill :-)

11-Feb-2014, 4:45 AM

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--->As Always<--->trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , have a Negative Effect on Broadcast Tv Reception and so do buildings and other obstructions including your own , attic , roof , building.

Some and not al Negative Effects are.

Absorbing and Blocking Reception.

Multi-Path Reflecting Tv Signals Bouncing All Around.

The Best Pratice is to install the ANT751 antenna at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions of Any Type or Kind in the directions of reception including your own , attic , roof , building.

The Main Group of Tv transmitters is/are to the , South South West.

Aim the ANT751 antenna at about 195 degree magnetic compass direction.

Here is how to aim antennas , www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html

Use a Real and Actual magnetic compass to aim antenna.

As Always , the starting antenna aim direction is the ---> starting antenna aim direction.

The antenna aim direction and location can be adjusted to have the best reception.

Most Digital Tv's have a , Signal Strength Meter , and some Digital Tv's also have a , Signal Quality Meter.

Signal Quality is Important.

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Home Depot and Lowes have 10 foot sections of , Top Rail , chain link fence pipe , that can be put together to get the ANT751antenna up high and the antenna can be walked around , probing for a location that has the best reception.

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Their are No antenna system amplifiers or magic antennas that can , power through trees and other obstructions.

You can Test reception with a better antenna , Test reception with a , www.antennacraft.net , HBU44 antenna.

Even so , the HBU44 antenna is not used to , power through trees and other obstructions.

The Best and Most Reliable Reception happens with No Obstructions in the directions of reception

Use a , New Continues length of RG-6 coax , run the New Continues length of coax through a open door or window direct to 1 Tv to Test reception.

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Digital tuners can develop -Digital Glitches- that are not cleared out with simple channel scans.

To clear tuner do , Double Rescan.

www.wchstv.com/DoubleReSacanAlert.pdf

StephanieS · 11-Feb-2014, 5:17 AM

Hi Pykeman,

Trees can be bad news. They can deflect and obstruct signal from getting to your antenna. Here in the northwest, one hundred foot tall evergreens aren't the easiest to "get above."

The first step I'd take is test a couple different locations on your roof with the ANT751. See if you can cure it. Signal strengths are all excellent, so it's not a signal issue. You are in a deadspot likely caused by the trees.

If with testing different locations, you still have reception problems, then a stronger antenna might be needed or doing something to "get above" the trees. They sell tree mounts for antennas, but going up 80' on a tree and looping the top off is a lot of work to mount an antenna. They you likely have a long run of coax you have to adjust for.

So, simple: when the weather breaks, test 3 or 4 different locations on your roof with the ANT751. If it doesn't improve then stronger antenna might be in order.

Cheers.

Pykeman · 11-Feb-2014, 2:43 PM

Thanks SS. Those were my fears... I could be like my brother's customers when he was installing Dish network: "Tree in the way?" BUZZZZZZ -CRASH- "How about now?" :-)

On the brighter side I see dirt finally! Roof should be clear soon. :-)

Near by (and with fewer trees) is a house with a "giant" antenna... I may stop and talk to them.... Bigger may be better in this case ;-)

StephanieS · 12-Feb-2014, 7:16 AM

Bigger gives you perhaps a better chance. The problems with TV signals and any signals really being deflected by trees is that you the antenna can have a lot of gain, but if the signal is being swiss cheesed enough by the trees, no antenna can overcome that.

If I lived at your location, I'd probably investigate a tree mounting. It's a PITA, but if getting the antenna to where it has line of sight conditions to the transmitters, that'll give your antenna the highest chance to provide reliable reception.

Ronard example: http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...ce=google_base

Any other situation where even if you apply a high gain system on your roof, you still have the tree problem and the antenna(s) can't work with a signal that has been carved up.

Cheers.