Has Signal Changed?

[testproggie]

A while back I received WSYX pretty well with some dropouts. I raised the antenna 20 feet and lost it while other stations got a fuzz better. I figured that maybe I introduced some interference. So now I replaced the rat shack preamp with a cm7777 and WOW, what a difference. Everything is much better except, you guessed it, WSYX digital is nowhere to be found. I don't understand although I do have a good analog channel 13 from Toledo on the backside of the antenna. I find it hard to believe it is keeping me from getting this station. I'll be glad when the analogs are gone and these will no longer be a factor. Any comments?

[O2C]

If you're really in Crestline, I'm surprised that you were getting WSYX at all. If you can pick up WTTE on 36, then it's definately a VHF vs UHF difference as both are broadcasting from the same tower. I saw that the CM7777 had slightly different specs between the VHF/UHF gain and noise values, so that could be it.

Can you swap back in the RatShack part as a test?

[testproggie]

Yes, I really am in Crestline. About 5 miles west of it actually. I can pick up WTTE just fine. It was like WSYX before the antenna was raised, not too bad with a few dropouts. Now WTTE has no dropouts and a stronger signal. The ratshack preamp was up there untill this past Saturday. No other change, just swapped the preamps. Everything got better except that WSYX still doesn't come in. When I raised the antenna the previous weekend is when I lost WSYX. I thought maybe they had done something that Saturday. As for trying the old preamp again, it'll have to wait some. My legs are so sore I can't hardly climb steps right now. :D

Fortunately I can still get the ABC stations from Cleveland and Toledo by rotating the antenna. :wink:

[O2C]

If I'm not mistaken, the RatShack part has 26 db gain for both UHF and VHF. The CM7777 has 26 db gain for UHF but only 23 db gain for VHF. It looks like you need that additional 3 db for WSYX.

[diamatron]

I live in Galion. I get DT6 good enough, just the occasional dropout. While 13 in Toledo analog is srong, and DT13 is day to day.

I was thining of going higher myself hoping to be ablke to get FOX better. Analog is fuzzy and DT almost not there ever. Thing is I know 6 and 28 are on the same tower, but I have to turn my antenna more western to get 28 as good as possible. I do have 1 bent UHF element on my 30ft quantum CM antenna that needs fixing though.

[testproggie]

Sunday morning I'm cruising through the channels and guess what shows up? WSYX is back, no better than before unfortunately, but it is there. I still believe I have a signal problem. Turning the antenna to the east away from the proper direction improves the signal to a point. I must be be putting another source into a null on the antenna.

Yes, the old preamp shows better gain. However it is actually two amps each with 3 to 4db of noise. The CM7777 does have less gain on VHF but it also only has 2db of noise total which is much better. Every channel I have in my range is better except WSYX digital. This indicates to me that I have either a multipath problem on only this one station or another signal source that is causing problems. For now I am curious to see what happens in the spring when the leaves come back.

Diamatron, I believe you may be seeing the same thing I see only from a completely different view point. 6 and 28 are supposed to be on the same tower yet I also have to turn the antenna for strongest signal. I also know that the direction for 28 is the correct direction and the one for 6 is not. Maybe this confirms that there is another signal source that we need to turn our antennas away from in order to get 6 digital. I had signal strength simular to yours before I went up higher and got the new preamp. 28 analog was pretty much unwatchable back then. I wonder now if the new preamp would have been enough without raising it higher. It definately made a huge difference. Much more than raising the antenna did. Well, back to work I go, talk to you later.

[diamatron]

I use the supplied pre-amp that came with my quantum Antenna. I forget the actual numbers of it. But it's made to fit right into the housing of the antenna.

I always thought raising my tower would give me the extra notch to recieve everything good, but now I have concerns.

I just wonder how I recieve Toledo as good as or better then columbus, when I am so much closer to columbus. I guess it must either be the flatter terrain or the way they broadcast more southern because of the lake?

[testproggie]

The pre-amp supplied with your quantum should be a fairly good one. You're right about Toledo. Even though it is farther away the signal seems better and more consistant than Columbus. I figure the flatter terrain must be the difference. Cleveland is different however. I think distance is a factor there. I get them well enough considering I am at the max for reliable receprtion.

Depending on your exact location, the extra height may make a difference. I took mine up to get past some nearby trees. Now I'm waiting to see if lightning strikes are going to be a problem :shock: .

[diamatron]

I cannot get 3 or 19 at all. I think Crestline is ablout the southern limit for cleveland.