Weak Signal - HELP!

[juiceisloose]

Having a hard time getting NBC (25.1) and PBS (28.1). All other channels we receive consistently. Just looking to get the main broadcast channels including CW but everything else is a bonus.

RCA ANT751 antenna outdoors on 5 ft pole pointed NE. RG6 50ft cable run to splitter with RG6 cable runs to two tvs less than 10 ft from splitter.

Originally had antenna in attic (2 story home) on far east side of house about 5 feet from outside wall with basic wood, shingle roof above pointed slightly north, mainly east as the attic is narrow and runs east and west.

Had varied success where most channels were consistent except for 25.1 (always been problematic) but then could not get NBC (25.1) to maintain signal. Moved outside but still hit and miss.

TIVO Signal Detector ranks all signals 80 and above except for 28.1 which is in 40s and 50s and 25.1 which is in low 50s.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...99005eb9f3d4c6

Considering going with a stronger antenna. Was looking at the other Winegards, 7694 for example as well as other stronger models by Winegard. Don't want to go back to cable (gone for 3 years now). Could use some help please.

[signals unlimited]

Do you mean that the antenna is only 5 feet off the ground? What direction are you aimed to? are there any trees in the path to the stations?

[juiceisloose]

Originally Posted by signals unlimited

Do you mean that the antenna is only 5 feet off the ground? What direction are you aimed to? are there any trees in the path to the stations?

Yes, 5 ft off ground on pole. Pointed NE, more E than N. Big Oak tree to the North of where the antenna is pointing, 8 ft away. Neighbor's House to the East, in the line of sight of where the antenna is pointing, 12 ft away.

[signals unlimited]

Your stations to the NW and SE are very strong. All you need to do is put the ANT751 antenna up on the roof, avoid the tree to the NE as much as possible, aim to the NE, try a scan, move the antenna to the SW, and scan. leave the antenna in the position that delivers the best reception on the most channels.

[juiceisloose]

Originally Posted by signals unlimited

Your stations to the NW and SE are very strong. All you need to do is put the ANT751 antenna up on the roof, avoid the tree to the NE as much as possible, aim to the NE, try a scan, move the antenna to the SW, and scan. leave the antenna in the position that delivers the best reception on the most channels.

I am assuming you meant NE and SW in r/t to my strong signals. Also included rough layout attachment of my current antenna set up.

Trees and tree leaves do a great job of , absorbing , reducing , or blocking Tv transmissions.

How many stories tall is the neighbors house??

Install a Winegard HD7696P antenna with a Channel Master CM7778 preamp , mounted - High Up - aimed at about 40 degrees magnetic compass direction.
Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Avoid aiming into trees and into the neighbors house.

Is there a place on the roof of your house or some where else that will avoid aiming in to trees and the neighbors house , or has the least amount of obsticals in the way of reception to the north east at about , 21 degree to 62 degree magnetic compass directions??

--> Also how many Tv's are/will be connected??<--

[signals unlimited]

Correct...aim toward both groups of stations and scan. Here is why:

The stations in both oposing directions are strong and nearly equal in strength.

The ANT751 will receive strong signals off the front and the rear of the antenna better than a larger more directional antenna.


Take it to the roof or anywhere that you can clear trees. Put it as high as possible and run the scans. You don't need another antenna, you need a site.

A larger antenna could make up for the site problem somewhat, but try what you have first.

[juiceisloose]

Originally Posted by teleview

Trees and tree leaves do a great job of , absorbing , reducing , or blocking Tv transmissions.

How many stories tall is the neighbors house??

Install a Winegard HD7696P antenna mounted - High Up - aimed at about 62 degrees magnetic compass direction.
Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Avoid aiming into trees and into the neighbors house.

Is there a place on the roof of your house or some where else that will avoid aiming in to trees and the neighbors house , or has the least amount of obsticals in the way of reception to the north east at about , 21 degree to 108 degree magnetic compass directions??

--> Also how many Tv's are/will be connected??<--

Neighbor's house is 2 stories tall also. It would be difficult for a roof installation and would like to avoid it if possible, but I could move the antenna to the NE corner of the house. That would put me north of the tree and the neighbor's house. Would that help or accomplish what you are recommending?

2 tvs connected.

For reception of the south west Tv stations/channels aim a Winegard HD7696P antenna with a Channel Master CM7778 preamp at about 200 degree magnetic compass direction.

The same information about antenna height and avoiding obsticales in the way of reception applies.

____________________________________

These will be 2 Separate antenna systems and Will Not be connected to gather on to 1 coax.

The 2 Separate antenna systems Will Be separate all the way to the Tv location where the 2 separate antenna system coaxes will be connected to a hand held remote control A/B antenna switch , http://www.radioshack.com , #15-1968 , or , http://www.mcmelectronics.com , #32-4425 .

A/B antenna switch is Channel Surfing Friendly , push the button on the hand held remote control , change antennas and keep on channel surfing.


Putting one antenna on a antenna rotator Is Not channel surfing friendly , must wait for the antenna to rotate and not every one in the house will agree on the direction the antenna is aimed.

For the north east reception , with the antenna mounted on the roof , will that give a clearer view or clear view to the north east from about 21 degree to 62 degree magnetic compass directions??

[juiceisloose]

Originally Posted by teleview

For the north east reception , with the antenna mounted on the roof , will that give a clearer view or clear view to the north east from about 21 degree to 108 degree magnetic compass directions??

As opposed to the ground pole mount, no. Both appear to be comparable and the ground pole possibly greater as it doesn't run into the tops of the trees like the roof mount would.

I tried the SW aim for the existing antenna and 25.1 went from consistent low 50s (NE) to 30s or lower and unable to hold a steady value. (SW)

Here are some above the roof antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com.

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box.

Here are places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsgnal.com , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.channelmasterstore.com , http://www.amazon.com.


The Tv/s Must Channel Scan for the Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels som,etimes named the 'Air Channels' or 'Antenna Channels' in the Tv setup menu because the Tv transmissions travel through the air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.


DO NOT channel scan for cable tv channels.

Yes it is Ok to try the ground pole mount.

And yes it is Ok to start with the ANT751.

Tv antennas like elbow room , nothing crowding in to reduce or block reception in the direction of reception.

I changed the north east directions of reception from 21 to 108 , to , 21 to 62 degrees , and the antenna aim to 40 degrees.

[juiceisloose]

Originally Posted by teleview

Yes it is Ok to try the ground pole mount.

And yes it is Ok to start with the ANT751.

Tv antennas like elbow room , nothing crowding in to reduce or block reception in the direction of reception.

I changed the north east directions of reception from 21 to 108 , to , 21 to 62 degrees , and the antenna aim to 40 degrees.

OK NOW we are getting somewhere. I moved the antenna ground pole mount to just north of the a/c unit on the east side of the house and just north of the oak tree and pointed it NE. 25.1 went all the way up to 78 on the signal strength and 28.1 is 65.