TV Fool  

Go Back   TV Fool > Over The Air Services > Help With Reception

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 5-Feb-2019, 2:10 AM   #1
Dagwood
Senior Member
 
Dagwood's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: NYS, Finger Lakes area
Posts: 106
Are there any antenna repairmen anywhere?

I installed a new system in 2011 but it has degraded in the last year or two and I am tired of screwing with it. Plus I'm getting too old to monkey with this stuff.

I did a Google search for repair businesses and it came up with NOTHING in the nearest city to me -- Rochester, N.Y., not exactly a hick-town.

So then I went on Angie's List and it came up with three "in my area": NJ, Minnesota, and Arizona.

The numerous posts on the "Connect with an installer" thread above are years old and mostly unanswered.

This is somewhat baffling. What are my options? I am more than happy to pay someone a fair price to troubleshoot and fix it.
Dagwood is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5-Feb-2019, 1:25 PM   #2
JoeAZ
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 413
Hey Dagwood,
Sorry to hear you are having continuing problems with your
reception. While I don't remember your exact location, I
do remember your situation and the "ladder" incident very,
very well. There are several issues at play, in my opinion.
The stand of trees around your home have grown taller and
more dense. The transmitters you are trying to receive are
less and less efficient and sending out a weaker signal. Some
stations are reducing their ERP output because they have to
reduce interference with other stations on the same frequency/
channel. Finally, your system is older and less efficient as well.
All those factors and perhaps a few others, are causing your
issues. Again, in my opinion, I don't think upgrading your system
is going to resolve the reception issues. Not the information
you want to get but the truth, none the less. Your least costly
options for television are Dish Networks "Welcome Pack" at about
$35.00 a month or having internet and streaming. Wish I
had better news........
JoeAZ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5-Feb-2019, 4:16 PM   #3
rabbit73
Retired A/V Tech
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: S.E. VA
Posts: 2,750
Hello again, Dagwood.

I agree with the analysis by JoeAZ. You are surrounded by trees and behind a hill; a difficult location.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dagwood View Post
I installed a new system in 2011 but it has degraded in the last year or two and I am tired of screwing with it. Plus I'm getting too old to monkey with this stuff.

This is somewhat baffling. What are my options? I am more than happy to pay someone a fair price to troubleshoot and fix it.
Years ago there were plenty of antenna installers; not so many now because of cable and dish.

There is a Best Buy in Victor. Maybe they know of an antenna installer that they use.

Also, maybe a local electrician can help you. They are used to working with ladders and wires.
__________________
If you can not measure it, you can not improve it.
Lord Kelvin, 1883
http://www.megalithia.com/elect/aeri...ttpoorman.html
rabbit73 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5-Feb-2019, 11:34 PM   #4
JoeAZ
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 413
Just a thought.........
WHAM, ABC 13 has or will be moving from Rf 13 to Rf 9.
If that is the station you are having trouble with, please
perform a rescan. Please check your private messages.
JoeAZ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 6-Feb-2019, 4:05 AM   #5
rabbit73
Retired A/V Tech
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: S.E. VA
Posts: 2,750
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dagwood View Post
This is somewhat baffling. What are my options? I am more than happy to pay someone a fair price to troubleshoot and fix it.
The only way you are going to improve your reception is to put up a tower so that your antenna will be above the trees on your property.





Attached Images
File Type: jpg DagwoodTVFtrees.JPG (258.1 KB, 1229 views)
__________________
If you can not measure it, you can not improve it.
Lord Kelvin, 1883
http://www.megalithia.com/elect/aeri...ttpoorman.html

Last edited by rabbit73; 6-Feb-2019 at 4:26 AM.
rabbit73 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-Feb-2019, 4:35 AM   #6
Dagwood
Senior Member
 
Dagwood's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: NYS, Finger Lakes area
Posts: 106
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeAZ View Post
Hey Dagwood,
Sorry to hear you are having continuing problems with your
reception. While I don't remember your exact location, I
do remember your situation and the "ladder" incident very,
very well. There are several issues at play, in my opinion.
The stand of trees around your home have grown taller and
more dense. The transmitters you are trying to receive are
less and less efficient and sending out a weaker signal. Some
stations are reducing their ERP output because they have to
reduce interference with other stations on the same frequency/
channel. Finally, your system is older and less efficient as well.

All those factors and perhaps a few others, are causing your
issues. Again, in my opinion, I don't think upgrading your system
is going to resolve the reception issues. Not the information
you want to get but the truth, none the less. Your least costly
options for television are Dish Networks "Welcome Pack" at about
$35.00 a month or having internet and streaming. Wish I
had better news........
The above in red makes the most sense to me. The hill and mature trees have been there for 10,000 years -- long before I put my system up. It worked flawlessly from 2011 until late 2017.

Thanks to all for the comments!
Dagwood is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Go Back   TV Fool > Over The Air Services > Help With Reception



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 5:12 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright © TV Fool, LLC