People getting signal with NM -5 dB or less, post here

[be236]

Hi,

Just wanted to get this started.. Kinda like a "survey" post.

Unless there's already another thread, I was asking for this:

For those people who get channels with NM, say less than -5 dB or worse, if you can get a signal lock on those channels, if you can post your "path" (LOS,2EDGE, etc), distance from tower, your setup (which pre-amp, antenna, etc)...

That way new people like myself who are in a similar situation can know that it's possible to get a signal lock if we're in a similar circumstance...

Anyone?

[WDSWEET]

Here is my TVfool report for my location

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...60b5bf4ea07504

I am able to get a solid lock on WQOW which is listed as a -30.2 NM, 2Edge, 60.2 miles.
This is with a antennacraft MXU59 and a CM777 amp and 70 feet of RG6 to the
first TV. I only need the amp to get through a two port splitter for another TV and a
DVR.

[be236]

Originally Posted by WDSWEET

Here is my TVfool report for my location

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...60b5bf4ea07504

I am able to get a solid lock on WQOW which is listed as a -30.2 NM, 2Edge, 60.2 miles.
This is with a antennacraft MXU59 and a CM777 amp and 70 feet of RG6 to the
first TV. I only need the amp to get through a two port splitter for another TV and a
DVR.

Wow, that's awesome! This channel is stable and locked every day (eg, not because of Tropo days)?

What about other channels in negative NM?

I'm thinking of getting that MXU59, or PR9032, or CM3023 type antennas.

Currently I'm about 107 miles out and the stations I want are -8 to -15 dB NM.

On Tropo days, I can get some of them with an old RS-like VU-160 antenna...

So I figured a new antenna with 2-3 dB higher gain than my RS should give me stable signal and not depending on Tropo. ;-)

[WDSWEET]

Originally Posted by be236

Wow, that's awesome! This channel is stable and locked every day (eg, not because of Tropo days)?

What about other channels in negative NM?

I'm thinking of getting that MXU59, or PR9032, or CM3023 type antennas.

Currently I'm about 107 miles out and the stations I want are -8 to -15 dB NM.

On Tropo days, I can get some of them with an old RS-like VU-160 antenna...

So I figured a new antenna with 2-3 dB higher gain than my RS should give me stable signal and not depending on Tropo. ;-)

WEUX is the only other one i tried and i can't get that one. I can see some signal
but not enough to lock on. It's interesting because tvfool shows WEUX should have
a little more signal at my location than WQOW. it is a little further away at 73 miles.

Anyway, good luck. At 100+ miles away it prob won't be easy with any antenna.

[be236]

I've read that DIY M4s and GH-type bay antennas have good gain, say around 14+ dBi in the low UHF range, so I'm building one to try out.

Also, got a rusty CM 4221 with pre-amp (KT-200) that an pick up RF 22 and sometimes 43 (NMs -8, -10dB) with the *correct* weather/tropo conditions. (heh).

Even with non-ideal weather, I see about 30-40% signal.. I need to get a higher gain to bring it above 60% to get a picture lock on my Sony (read it's one of the better ATSC tuners, in addition to LG, and Samsung).