I need wisdom

[Jonah]

I have cut the cord with our cable company.
Before we did I did some research for our area (Glendale, Arizona) and saw that the RCA ANT751 antenna ought to serve my purposes well. We live in an HOA and the compact size of the ANT751 is favorable.
At first I hooked the antenna up by simply putting it on a tall pole, propped it up so that it would not fall, pointed it in the right direction, ran a 25' piece of coax cable to our main television by simply running the coax through the an open window. Did my channel scan on my television and I had reception for 70 channels. I was delighted!!!
That is when I called and canceled our cable company.

NOW . . .
I have two televisions (family room and master bedroom). The family room tv is approximately 18 feet from the antenna and the master bedroom tv is approximately 70 feet from the antenna.

WHAT is the best way to run my coax cables?
WHERE should I put my splitter?

I have noticed that my signal strength is significantly better in the day than at night. Is that normal???

If you can give my any wisdom that would be very appreciated.

[Electron]

Do as the other question askers do and -> Do This ->http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=4. Use your Exact address to make the tvfool radar report. Make the antenna height 25 feet.

[Jonah]

Electron,
I think this is the link to my tv analysis report. I am unsure about how to do things, so if this is not correct please help me get it right. I'd appreciate your help.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...0b8682cdeee4e2

[Jonah]

I have placed a link to my tvfool report
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...0b8682cdeee4e2
I have been trying to maximize my signal strength and so far I believe it could be significantly better.
So I am asking if people with great experience and wisdom could give me some help. I listed my basic parameters in the first statement of this thread.
Thanks

[Electron]

The best way to Maximize signal strength is a bigger antenna. I recommend a Winegard HD7696P antenna for reception of the Phoenix stations at South Mountain. . To receive the Phoenix stations from South Mountain and Tucson stations from Mount Bigelow also , Like KGUN 9 and etc. , I recommend a Winegard HD7698P antenna. The antenna aim for the Phoenix and Tucson stations is 117 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. Some signal fluctuations of weaker stations like the ones at Tucson at 123 miles away is normal. 123 miles is a long way for a Tv signal to travel , not very many places in the USA that have that length of transmission and reception. Also the hoa can not tell you what size of antenna you install and use , here is the Federal Law that says Yes you can install and use any size of antenna. http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html. . . A good place to put the splitter is some place out of the weather / away from direct rain fall. And a location that makes it easy to split 2 ways to the 2 Tv's. Where the cable company has the connection location is a good place , there should be a ground wire at that location to use. You can use the coax wiring that is in or on the house. However Do Not connect Tv Antenna to any active cable coax , Do Not connect to active cable Tv coax , Do Not connect to active cable internet coax , Do Not connect to active cable phone service coax , or any other type or kind of active cable delivered service.

[Electron]

Here are some Strong and Sturdy antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com. To buy , ronard , type the ronard in the search box of solidsignal or buy from ronard. Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.3starinc.com.

[Jonah]

Electron, thank you for your response . . .
However, I'm not sure that we are on the same page yet.
I live in Glendale, Arizona and on South Mountain (24 miles) from my home there are all the major stations, and they are at 160 degree true north azmith. That is what my tvfool report shows. I'm not sure why I should try to receive Tucson stations that are a long ways away. Please take a peek at this imformation . . . if possible I'd rather not go to a large antenna.
My question regarding the splitter has to do within the coaxial run. Should it go equal distance between the two televisions, or does that make any difference?
Can I put a preamplifier?
Thanks

[Electron]

160 degrees is actually south and a little east. I am providing useful information , If you are not receptive to useful information then thats Ok. My recommendations are based on the tvfool radar report , that you provided , for the Current and Pending Applications Included Digital Tv Stations as of 02-26-2012. I live here in the Phoenix metro area I know exactly where where Glendale is , I have been there way too many times. South Mountain is south and a little east of your location. I recommended aim the antenna at about 117 degree magnetic compass because that is in between the Phoenix and Tucson stations to the south east. The Radar report shows that some of the Tucson stations are receivable at your location. If you will like to only receive the South Mountain stations then point a ANT751 or HD7696P antenna at about 149 degree magnetic compass.

[Electron]

The digital Tv transmissions are Very Strong at your location from South Mountain , A preamp should not be needed for one or two tv's. And if a preamp was installed it will most likley Over Load because of the Strong Signals and be the cause of bad or no reception of some channels.

[Electron]

If the other helpers here at tvfool have a different way of looking at this reception situation feel free to jump in.

[GroundUrMast]

Originally Posted by Jonah

... if possible I'd rather not go to a large antenna.
My question regarding the splitter has to do within the coaxial run. Should it go equal distance between the two televisions, or does that make any difference?
Can I put a preamplifier?
Thanks

You should not need to worry about making the cable lengths equal on the outputs of the splitter. The signal levels you're blessed with 'should' make it possible for you to split the signal at least 4-ways and still have power to drive over 100' of RG-6 type coax. If you connect 10' to one port and 100' to another, you should be fine. But be sure that all connectors are secure, one bad connection can affect the entire system and therefor, all receivers. Are all of your cables and splitter new, (factory assembled connectors)? I ask because your initial test indicates you have plenty of signal to work with. Once you added a splitter and more cable, you began seeing signs of trouble... which suggests you may have a problem with a cable, connector or the splitter.

Are the TVs having trouble displaying a reliable picture? Or, are you only seeing fluctuations of a signal meter indication? In over the air reception, I measure success primarily by how reliable the picture is... I'm not nearly as interested in the signal meter reading. (Though that may be more interesting than the programs available sometimes. )

If you are seeing signal strength or quality change in the evening, I have to wonder about sources of interference. Electronic equipment in the home can often be a significant source... even the electronic timer/controller in your dishwasher or clothes dryer can be trouble sources. Computers and printers can be major sources of interference. Unplugging or turning of a circuit breaker may be needed to isolate interference sources.

I agree with Electron, a preamplifier could actually make you situation worse. You have a lot of strong signals which will overload preamplifiers designed for weak signal areas.

[Jonah]

GroundUrMast,
Thank you for your response.

You are right in your assessment of my original set-up. It seemed to work powerfully! It was when I mounted the antenna and incorporated the splitter and the second television that the signal loss has occurred.

I am going to try to systematically approach my problem. By checking all my connections. I am thinking of isolating the two televisions and running only one television at a time for a while and trying to see if I can isolate where the signal loss is occuring.

It is nice to know from the tvfool report that I should not need a per-amplifier.

To answer your question regarding signal flucuation vs. picture loss. It is both. The signal is lost to the point that the picture finally dissappears and we get the statement on the tv that the signal is either weak or absent. In the night time setting our signal gets worse and worse and finally we only get channel 5 and channel 10. (There may be some other channels that we could get, but of the many many that we get in the day that we care to watch, only those two remain through the night). The signal loss problem seems to be getting worse each day. That may be my imagination, but it seems that way.

Thanks for your help.

I will do my work and let you know how it changes things.

Jonah

[Jonah]

Thank you for your help!

I changed my antenna transformer. I had not mentioned my concerns with my antenna transformer, because I did not think it was a big deal, but when I mounted my antenna and tightened the coaxial connection onto the transformer threaded hub, something came loose inside the transformer. I thought then that that may hurt things, but at first it did seem to work but progressively got worse.

When I change the transformer out all was instantly better.
Now, I am now changing all my coaxial connectors to better ones, but reception is ALREADY wonderful!!

Thank you for your help!

[GroundUrMast]

Thanks for posting your findings. (So often it's the little things)