OTA HD - I'm stumped!!

[jc_cc_275]

Tower Guy,

Just to make sure I understand ... You are saying in the vertical plane (taking a side view of the antenna), rotate it +12 degrees?

If the pre-amp were overloading signal, why is it that none of the channels drop out? That's what I would have expected...

 

[Tower Guy]

Tower Guy,
Just to make sure I understand ... You are saying in the vertical plane (taking a side view of the antenna), rotate it +12 degrees?
If the pre-amp were overloading signal, why is it that none of the channels drop out? That's what I would have expected...

Yes, aim your antenna up at Mt. Wilson.

The symptoms indicate that the preamp is only partially overloaded. As you get a stronger signal by aiming your antenna up at the TV transmitter, the overload is sure to get worse. This would really confuse you if you didn't know why it was happening.

 

[jc_cc_275]

Hi

Just want to update on my situation. My conclusion after different experiments is that my situation is definitely more of a multi-path than signal strength. Some data points:

+ I added a 5' mast to the existing one (which now makes it 10'). The signal didn't get weaker but I wasn't able to get all the signals I wanted in

+ Took out the AP4800 out altogether. As mentioned previously, this didn't weaken my signals in any way, even for the one that's 55mi away

I ended up rotating to the antenna that was about 45 degrees less than where it should be pointing and I see an improvement, though the results are not great by any means. The worst of my channels are now between 75-80%, several are actually 85% or better. Interestingly enough, the antenna is actually pointing in a direction where my neighbor's two-storey can be considered in the way. Yet this is also by far the optimal angle for the antenna.

Thanks for all those who contributed. It's good enough for me right now to get through the BCS in college footballl and also the upcoming playoffs in NFL...

 

[Tower Guy]

Hi
Just want to update on my situation, the antenna is actually pointing in a direction where my neighbor's two-storey can be considered in the way. Yet this is also by far the optimal angle for the antenna.

This indicates that the reflected signal has fewer reflections than the direct signal. I wonder what would happen if your antenna was less directive and received multiple reflections simultaneously.