Frequent But Sporadic OTA Drops

[Gimpy McFarlan]

Anyone else experiencing frequent but sporadic drops on the WBNS digital channel? I'm in Gahanna near Johnstown Rd & Hamilton. I'm using the D* H10-250 w/ the new v6.3 software and a Winegard antenna.

I've tried pointing the antenna in different directions based on signal strength from 10-1 frequency and can get 80% consistantly. Repointing works for a while but after some time WBNS starts dropping again. It is sporadic b/c the signal will sometimes be fine for 30 minutes or longer, but other times it will drop 1-5 times per minute which is very frustrating.

The digital channels for 4, 6, 28 and 34 all come in strong (85% plus) and rarely drop. Could this be caused by the low bit rate discussed in a previous thread?

[Scott]

I'm pretty close to you (New Albany) using the HR10-250 with 6.3 and have not experienced the problem you've described on WBNS-DT (FOX, ABC, yes).

[scgalena]

Could be you are receiving a multi-path signal. Multi-path is the culprit behind most OTA digital dropouts, no matter how strong the signal. Multi-path is what you would see on an analog OTA picture as ghosting or flutter.

Error correction in the digital receiver can be overwhelmed and cause dropouts by common multi-path signal disturbances such as nearby trees and wires being moved around by the wind or an airplane flying overhead.

After 2008 about the only way you'll be able to see the effects of multi-path at your antenna will be by using an expensive test device such as a spectrum analyzer.

[Gimpy McFarlan]

Thank you for the feedback scgalena. Most of the time the drops were occuring on WBNS, but last night they were occuring on Fox. When I viewed the signal strength through the H20 it would be steady at 80-85% for 3-5 seconds then it would drop to 0% for a second. WCMH and WSYX were steady at 90% and rarely dropped to 85%.

It makes sense that the signal drops are being caused by environmental items. In order to get a strong OTA signal I had to point the antenna toward a group of trees where there were no building for several humbred feet. If the cause of the sporadic dropouts really is multipath then the reasoning makes sense.