OTA in 85213 Mesa, AZ

ramm440 · 22-Oct-2011, 6:00 PM

I have a Channel Master CM 2016 with no amp mounted outdoors about 14' high with about 80' of coax and 1 Monster splitter for 2 TV,s and receive numerous channels even the 7,s. I am interested in improving my signal strength. Am I better served by a bigger antenna or a mast mounted amp or both?? Here is my TV Fool analysis
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...60b561b786ba2d
I would greatly appreciate any advice as I don't want to waste money.
Thanks Bob

MisterMe · 23-Oct-2011, 3:14 AM

Your link to your TV Fool Radar Plot does not work. Redo it.

GroundUrMast · 23-Oct-2011, 5:35 AM

Using the ZIP code you posted, it's easy to see that there are many strong signals in the area. Most amplifiers would be overloaded.

Are you having trouble with reliable reception of any stations? Or, are you just wanting to see a higher reading on the signal meter?

As MM mentioned, the link to your TVFR needs to be re-posted, it looks like some characters got altered when you cut and pasted.

With a working link to your TVFR and a list of the actual stations you are having trouble with we can likely suggest one or more improvements that can help.

ADTech · 23-Oct-2011, 1:09 PM

Repaired TVFool link: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...60b561b786ba2d

Unless you are actually having reception faults, it would be a waste of money to try to "improve signal strength" which, by itself, is a fool's errand.

If you're having reception problems with specific stations, then there would be room for improvement. The CM2016 would be expected to perform just fine for the Phoenix stations. Point it at South Mtn.

ramm440 · 23-Oct-2011, 5:50 PM

Have a Channel Master CM 7001 Tuner that shows signal quality meter and a signal strength meter. I was hoping on improving the Strength for which the strongest is channel 10 and 12 @ 58%, channel 38 is 30%, channel 3 is 45% and channel 5 is 38%. Before I replaced the Dish signal splitter with the Monster it was much worse. Here is the correct link sorry bout that. Is 14' high enough because another 4' would be easy for me? Thanks

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...60b546be24f2bc

GroundUrMast · 23-Oct-2011, 10:48 PM

Try a simple, relatively inexpensive test... Pick up a preassembled coax cable, run it directly from the existing antenna to the receiver with the best signal meter. If you see a significant improvement in signal strength and quality, you need to continue locating the problem(s) with the existing cable.

Cable from a satellite system is compatible with OTA signals, many of the other components are not. Some satellite system parts look like OTA splitters but are not able to pass much if any OTA frequencies. If water has been allowed into the coax at some point in the past... discard it and start with new.

ramm440 · 24-Oct-2011, 3:52 PM

Does the number of coax cables coupled (male - female) also degrade signal strength? I have 2 couplers and 1 splitter running about 80'.

GroundUrMast · 24-Oct-2011, 4:08 PM

Couplers "should not" degrade the signal much but they are a point for water to enter and can have problems making reliable contact. Two cable connectors are added to the total run for each F-barrel-connector, that increases the chance for a problem also.

Two way splitters have about 3.5 dB insertion loss.

The test I suggested would bypass all of those possible problem spots... then you'd know if you have trouble in the existing cable, connectors or splitter.