Aiming Clearstream 2V in Garner, NC

[churley79]

Ok,just trying to get the best signal as possible (specifically on local channels CBS, NBC, ABC, etc..). I have a Clearstream 2V mounted on the roof, then hits a distribution amp and splits off to 3 rooms.

The local channel antennas are located down in Clayton in a cluster. However, ION is off by itself in a different county at a completely different direction. The area around my house has a lot of trees and there is a big old oak right in front.

With this as my readout:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...5b949b330c2eb6

What would be the most opportune direction to aim my antenna? And, would it be possible to get good signal (few dropouts) on both the local networks and ION? With prior experimentation it appears if I aim the antenna at ION it causes the local channels to randomly drop. If I aim it at the local towers, it causes ION to drop.

Sorry for being so long winded. Thank you.

[ADTech]

It is unlikely that you will find a single aiming direction for a C2V that will satisfy your requirement for reception of your main stations plus that ION station, the angle simply is too wide and WRPX is going to end up in a null of the C2V's UHF pattern no matter what. The fact that it's behind a big oak tree as viewed from your mounting location only makes the situation worse.

My recommendation is to get a small UHF Yagi (42XG, for example) and aim it separately at the ION station. Cherry pick its location to receive it reliably.

Then, use either an A-B switch to select the desired antenna, order a custom-made single channel combiner, or take your chances with a simple reversed splitter combining the two antenna.

This is actually a fairly common situation for ION stations nationwide. Their predecessor company, Paxson (which went bankrupt before ION came along), had a real penchant for putting their towers at the cheapest possible location so as to satisfy City of License requirements and to simply gain carriage on local cable and satellite services without much regard for local antenna users.

[churley79]

Yeah. I kind of figured with some towers being down in Clayton and then the ION tower being in Louisburg that it would take some work. I hardly watch ION anyways, I was just wanting as much bang for the buck as I could muster.

But, by "a reversed splitter" do you actually mean take a standard 2 way splitter and connect it backwards? I thought putting a second antenna could actually degrade your signal and make it worse. I could be wrong but I thought I read that somewhere along the way.

[ADTech]

But, by "a reversed splitter" do you actually mean take a standard 2 way splitter and connect it backwards?

Yes.

I thought putting a second antenna could actually degrade your signal and make it worse.

Notice I said "....or take your chances with a simple reversed splitter combining the two antenna."

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I recommend Test reception with a different antenna.

The cost is Low and I think reception will be improved.

I recommend remove the CS2V and install a ,

http://www.antennacraft.net , HBU11 antenna aimed at about 110 degree magnetic compass direction.

Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Use a Real and Actual magnetic compass to aim antenna.

As always , the starting antenna aim direction is the -->starting antenna aim direction.

The antenna aim direction can be adjusted for best reception.

Most Digital Tv's have a Signal Strength Meter and some Digital Tv's also have a Signal Quality Meter.

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As you now know , trees and tree leaves are disruptive to broadcast Tv reception.

The closer and bigger and thicker the trees the worse reception is , the more distant and small and thiner the trees are the better for reception.

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Looking at the Tvfool radar map for the , Digital Current Plus Pending Applications Included Radar Map , your Main group of Tv stations is to the South East , with receivable Tv stations to the , East , North East , North , North West , West , South West.

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I recommend find a location on your property that has the least amount to no amount of trees in the directions of reception.

Home Depot and Lowes have , 10 foot lengths of , Top Rail , chain link fence Pipe , that make good antenna mast and makes good mast for the antenna so as to move the antenna around on your property to find a good location for reception.

Connect a long continues length of coax to the HBU11 antenna and run the long continues length of coax through a open door or window direct to one Tv.

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Digital Tuners can develop - Digital Glitches - that are not cleared out with simple channel scans.

To clear tuner do Double Rescan.

http://www.wchstv.com/DoubleReScanAlert.pdf

[GroundUrMast]

I'd go with ADTech on this one.

[ADTech]

The HBU11 has only a 50° beamwidth on UHF and is even lower gain. If the C2V's UHF loops can't cover the spread with having a 70° beamwidth, I don't think the narrower beamwidth, lower gain antenna is going to have any better luck covering this spread.