Help with OTA Signal

[havok019]

I'm having some trouble with my OTA reception for NBC. I know this is the weakest signal out of the broadcasters in my area (Louisville). I can watch NBC through my TV tuner and the picture sometimes pixelates or freezes, but I can usually put up with it. It seems much weaker through the 622 tuner, and typically jumps back and forth with the yellow screen and is essentially unwatchable. My other OTA channels are fine through the 622 tuner and the TV tuner.

I have a powered signal amplifier I bought through Radio Shack a few years ago and I was wondering whether this could help boost the OTA signal on NBC. I don't know much about this amplification stuff so what do you think?

 

[KAB]

I have a powered signal amplifier I bought through Radio Shack a few years ago and I was wondering whether this could help boost the OTA signal on NBC. I don't know much about this amplification stuff so what do you think?

Definitely give the amp a shot. If that does not help, you may need to get a different antenna. What kind are you using now?

 

[JWC]

This is a common problem and it would not hurt to "try" the amp, but more than likely it will not help because it would simply amplify the signal a bit and not improve the signal to noise which is causing the failure to lock on to the digital signal. You need more signal and there is only a few ways to get it OTA.

It is not uncommon for a Dish Receiver to have a different "sensitivity" from a HDTV with a built in tuner. They are on the fourth generation of technology and most of the newer HDTVs will have the better circuitry. Up until I retired them, my models 6000 and 811 did a fairly good job, but they did not lock in as good on a weak signal as the built in OTA tuners on the HDTV. I have no experience on the newer Dish receivers and perhaps some other viewer might have an opinion or experience.

First, the antenna...get it outside (if that is doable and pointed in the proper direction
Second, an RF amp will help, if put at the antenna (e.g. split amp/power inserter) and this will only help if there is a long coax run, multiple splitters, or some other cause of attenuation.

Best option is to wait for HD locals via Dish and if you are like me, there is no hope in the near time with our level of customer density.

 

[havok019]

I need to climb behind the TV anyways so I might as well give it a go and see what happens. I have a roof-mounted Square Shooter.
Thanks!

 

[GregE]

Where in Louisville do you live? I'm in Prospect and I'm using a Channel Master 4221 that I got from Solid Signal and it does a great job. I have it in my attic and my signal is real strong. I can check on my 722 tonight to see what the signal strength of WAVE is.

 

[old corps]

I was surprised but I actually get a more reliable and better picture on my HD OTA through my 622 than the TV's tuner. My 722 is connected to a TV without a built in HD tuner so I can't compare but its miles ahead of what I had with the 921 I had previously.

Ed

 

[haertig]

Don't forget the simple stuff first. Is your antenna pointed in the appropriate direction and securely mounted? Is your antenna wired with coax (RG-6), and not twin-lead? (Most don't even remember what twin-lead is these days, but it doesn't hurt to ask!) Are the connectors on the ends of your coax good quality and securely attached? Are all your connections screwed tight? (Use pliers to go slightly tighter than finger-tight.) Did you get rid of all splitters that you don't need? If you absolutely require a splitter, is it at least a good quality one? (A 59 cent model from WalMart won't be your best option!) If you only require a two-way splitter, you're not using a 3-way or 4-way are you?

BTW, the OTA tuner in my 722 is not as good as the OTA tuner in my TV when it comes to pulling in and locking onto a signal. Others have repored to opposite, so it really depends on your specific TV's tuner quality.

 

[oljim]

Are any of your stations VHF, the SS is no good on VHF and not that great ot UHF

 

[GregE]

Where in Louisville do you live? I'm in Prospect and I'm using a Channel Master 4221 that I got from Solid Signal and it does a great job. I have it in my attic and my signal is real strong. I can check on my 722 tonight to see what the signal strength of WAVE is.

I checked and my signal strength on WAVE-HD from my OTA antenna is 100.

 

[gdarwin]

I'm having some trouble with my OTA reception for NBC. I know this is the weakest signal out of the broadcasters in my area (Louisville). I can watch NBC through my TV tuner and the picture sometimes pixelates or freezes, but I can usually put up with it. It seems much weaker through the 622 tuner, and typically jumps back and forth with the yellow screen and is essentially unwatchable. My other OTA channels are fine through the 622 tuner and the TV tuner.

When the signal jumps like that you have multipath problems. Check out the antenna in my sig. I pick up all channels without any problems and I'm feeding the signal to all the VIP receivers with out an amp. Antenna is roof mounted. Highview area.

 

[vikingrob]

Are any of your stations VHF, the SS is no good on VHF and not that great ot UHF

The only major digital VHF stations near Louisville are WBNA, which is on channel 8, WDKY, which is on channel 4 and is the Fox affiliate in Lexington; WCPO, which is on channel 10 and is the ABC affiliate in Cincinnati; WISH, which is on channel 9 and is the CBS affiliate in Indianapolis....

Does the OP have any difficulty with the Fox station? WDRB-DT is on 49, WAVE-DT is on 47.

 

[highdefjeff]

I need to climb behind the TV anyways so I might as well give it a go and see what happens. I have a roof-mounted Square Shooter.
Thanks!

An amplifier doesn't make the signal bigger but it restores some of the loss of signal due to its travel through the cables and connectors. It should make some positive difference.

I would upgrade to a larger or different antenna. My experience with the square shooter was not real impressive. Channel master makes a 4 bay and 8 bay antenna, both will work better than the square shooter - but neither will pick up low VHF channels.

 

[rogerpl]

I'm having some trouble with my OTA reception for NBC. I know this is the weakest signal out of the broadcasters in my area (Louisville). I can watch NBC through my TV tuner and the picture sometimes pixelates or freezes, but I can usually put up with it. It seems much weaker through the 622 tuner, and typically jumps back and forth with the yellow screen and is essentially unwatchable. My other OTA channels are fine through the 622 tuner and the TV tuner.

I have a powered signal amplifier I bought through Radio Shack a few years ago and I was wondering whether this could help boost the OTA signal on NBC. I don't know much about this amplification stuff so what do you think?

I have an inline powered amp from Radio shack and it works for me. Without it I might get 3 stations with it signal strength is up about 10 -15% across the board.

 

[EricBskiVT]

I need to climb behind the TV anyways so I might as well give it a go and see what happens. I have a roof-mounted Square Shooter.
Thanks!

The Square Shooter is not much of a performer. Replacing it with a Winegard PR4400 (about $25), Antennas Direct DB4 or Channel Master 4221 should help a lot. Go to this site for comparisons: Comparing some commercially available antennas

 

[oljim]

People buy the SS because it looks good, If they see how crappy they are and most of the good ant. cost less they may rethink what to buy.

 

[cparker]

I would upgrade to a larger or different antenna. My experience with the square shooter was not real impressive. Channel master makes a 4 bay and 8 bay antenna, both will work better than the square shooter - but neither will pick up low VHF channels.

I would dispute this, but not adamantly.
I have a CM-4228 up on a 20 foot mast (20' from ground to top of mast with an eave mount securing to the house)

My local VHF stations are 42 miles away and I'm shooting through trees (40 to 50 foot trees within about 30 feet of the antenna). The CM-4228 is getting channels 2, 4 and 7 VHF although I will be the first to admit that channel 2 looks pretty awful. Channel 4 is watchable and channel 7 looks fine. Fortunately all of these VHF stations broadcast their digital counterparts in the mid 30s UHF so I don't use the VHF.

I know the CM-4228 is not designed for VHF, but in USING it, it appears to be ok for high VHF... say.... 7 to 13. I get channel 9 VHF out of Toronto at 56 miles quite well. Shooting basically through my neighbor's house, the rest of that distance would be no terrain and over Lake Ontario.

Just my 2 cents and as I said, I know it ain't *designed* for VHF but it seems ok on high VHF.

 

[highdefjeff]

I would dispute this, but not adamantly.
I have a CM-4228 up on a 20 foot mast (20' from ground to top of mast with an eave mount securing to the house)

My local VHF stations are 42 miles away and I'm shooting through trees (40 to 50 foot trees within about 30 feet of the antenna). The CM-4228 is getting channels 2, 4 and 7 VHF although I will be the first to admit that channel 2 looks pretty awful. Channel 4 is watchable and channel 7 looks fine. Fortunately all of these VHF stations broadcast their digital counterparts in the mid 30s UHF so I don't use the VHF.

I know the CM-4228 is not designed for VHF, but in USING it, it appears to be ok for high VHF... say.... 7 to 13. I get channel 9 VHF out of Toronto at 56 miles quite well. Shooting basically through my neighbor's house, the rest of that distance would be no terrain and over Lake Ontario.

Just my 2 cents and as I said, I know it ain't *designed* for VHF but it seems ok on high VHF.

Thanks for the clarification!

 

[hdqboss]

An amplifier doesn't make the signal bigger but it restores some of the loss of signal due to its travel through the cables and connectors. It should make some positive difference.

I would upgrade to a larger or different antenna. My experience with the square shooter was not real impressive. Channel master makes a 4 bay and 8 bay antenna, both will work better than the square shooter - but neither will pick up low VHF channels.

I'm going to try the OTA route but would like to split the RG6 to route it to both of my receivers. Would I benefit from adding an amp and if so would I put it before the splitter?

 

[highdefjeff]

You would most likely benefit from an amp. The amplifiers assist in overcoming the loss created by line lengths and splitters/connections and such. A standard line amplifier would pass the antenna signal to the splitter, or before the splitter.

The most effective type is a pre-amplifier that has two parts. The pre-amp that goes as close to the antenna as possible, and the power source that will go somewhere it can be plugged in.

 

[Pepper]

I think I already know the answer to this. If you have diplexers in the line you cannot use a powered amp because (1) the diplexers block voltage on the RF side and (2) even if they didn't it would interfere with the satellite LNB voltage. True?