External HD Antenna Issue

[tbusa]

I had an external HD antenna installed with my dish during the summer and lately my local CBS channel keeps losing it's signal fairly frequently. Does anyone know if it sounds like my antenna just needs to be adjusted and is there any special method other than trial and error to adjust it?

 

[raoul5788]

I had an external HD antenna installed with my dish during the summer and lately my local CBS channel keeps losing it's signal fairly frequently. Does anyone know if it sounds like my antenna just needs to be adjusted and is there any special method other than trial and error to adjust it?

First, are all of the connections tight? If so, then check AntennaWeb to see if you have the correct type and size antenna and that it is pointed correctly.

 

[tbusa]

Thanks for the info I plan on going on the roof today and checking the connections. I appreciate the website which I wasn't aware of , that should help I'm sure. Thanks!

 

[Jimbo]

Yes that site is usually very helpful also gives you the directions and distance to your towers :up

What type of antenna did you put up ?
I always advise setting up a rotor with any antenna.
Back in the early days of HD, the OTA signal was running at half strength and you had to adjust the antenna occasionally, now that they are at normal power, I rarely have any problem with local reception.

Jimbo

 

[tbusa]

Actually it was an antennae that I purchased with DTV at the time I had it installed. Maybe not the best one to get but that's what I ended up doing because I was moving in to a new house. It's like a flat wire type antennae.

 

[Bob Nielsen]

That is one of the smaller versions of the type. A larger, higher gain antenna will have a narrower pattern which may be a problem if you have stations in different directions. What signal strength does your receiver show for the problem channel? Repointing it while someone is looking at the strength display (in Menu-Setup-Antenna Setup) may help you find the optimum point, but check antennaweb first. I found that where the antenna is located on my roof made a big difference (fortunately my local ABC station is now carried in HD, so my antenna is now pointing at the PBS/CW/MyNetwork transmitters which are all in the same direction).

 

[harshness]

Actually it was an antennae that I purchased with DTV at the time I had it installed.

Look at some of the recommended antennas and compare it to what your's looks like. It may be a fine antenna that is just poorly set up (or it could be worse than a twisted coat hangar).

It's like a flat wire type antennae.

Most, if not all, non-amplified antennas are 300Ohm (twinlead). This is not a bad thing.

 

[tbusa]

Does the antennaweb site have photo's of some antennae types, I didn't see any and I'd like to compare some to the type I have. I still need to check the signal strength and see what that shows.

 

[harshness]

Does the antennaweb site have photo's of some antennae types, I didn't see any and I'd like to compare some to the type I have.

Here's a link to a reseller who carries many different kinds of antennas (it should not be taken as an endorsement):

TV ANTENNA PAGE, CHANNEL MASTER , WINEGARD, ANTENNACRAFT START HERE TO PICK OUT YOUR NEW TV ANTENNA ,HD antenna. DIGITAL HDTV SIGNAL over the air

I tried to refer to one of the above GOLD sponsors, but none seems to offer a breadth of OTA antennas.

 

[Bob Nielsen]

The site harshness mentioned has a good selection and fair prices. I bought a 4-bay Winegard model from Stark last year and have been pleased with it..

 

[cebbigh]

Here is another good source:

Off-Air TV & HDTV Antennas, Amplifiers, and Installation Accessories

CM4221 (4bay) 4228 (8bay) and 4248 (huge yagi ) are all very good and reasonably priced. Good luck!