Need help getting local channel (FOX)

[stevetrash]

Hi everybody,

* red - uhf WMCN-DT 44.1 IND ATLANTIC CITY NJ 148° 23.0 44
* red - uhf WPPX-DT 31.1 PAX WILMINGTON DE 328° 7.0 31
* red - uhf WPSG-DT 57.1 UPN PHILADELPHIA PA 328° 7.0 32
* red - uhf WPVI-DT 6.1 ABC PHILADELPHIA PA 327° 7.3 64
* red - uhf WPHL-DT 17.1 WB PHILADELPHIA PA 328° 7.0 54
* red - uhf WTXF-DT 29.1 FOX PHILADELPHIA PA 333° 8.1 42
* red - uhf WYBE-DT 34.1 PBS PHILADELPHIA PA 328° 7.0 34
* red - uhf WHYY-DT 12.1 PBS WILMINGTON DE 327° 7.1 55
* red - uhf WCAU-DT 10.1 NBC PHILADELPHIA PA 328° 7.1 67
* red - uhf KYW-DT 3.1 CBS PHILADELPHIA PA 327° 7.3 26
* blue - uhf WNJS-DT 22.1 PBS CAMDEN NJ 148° 23.0 22

I've got an LG LST-4200A HD tuner and a Silver Sensor antenna in my attic with a run of 100 feet of RG6 cable. I prefer to have an indoor antenna and don't want to put anything on my roof if I don't have to. I've been getting almost all the channels with the current setup, I can even get the NJ channels if I move the antenna a bit (but then I lose some of the others).

I live in an urban neighborhood in Philadelphia so there are rowhomes all around me.

CBS comes in around 50% signal strength, everything else usually hovers around 40%.

FOX doesn't come in at all. It sits at about 5-10% for about 20 seconds, then drops to 0% for a second and then up to about 35-40% for about 2 seconds and then back down to 5-10%.

It seems strange that I can't get FOX which is only 8 miles away but channels from NJ in the opposite direction come in.

It also seems strange that my signal strength is so low for the other channels, but I don't that mind too much since they come in ok.

I REALLY want to get FOX to watch the Super Bowl in 2 weeks!!!

I've tried pointing the antenna out the third floor window in the direction of the towers (per antennaweb.org), the results were about the same as the attic.

Now I'm considering getting a preamp for the antenna but I read somewhere that a preamp can make things worse unless you're a good distance from the signal. Maybe a different antenna would work better? I heard great things about the Silver Sensor, but maybe in my situation something else would be better?

Any advice or recommendations would be appreciated!

[Ratman]

If you can't get those channels at that distance, then you either have a poor 'line of sight' to the towers or suffering from severe multipath (or both).

My son uses a SvS on second floor here in Colls. and he gets all Philly channels (approx 20 miles for towers).

You can always try the pre-amp, but don't be optimistic.

Best bet IMO, would be a Channel Master 4221 on the roof.

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/cm4221.html

Channel Master distributor in Philly...
http://www.hbfelectronics.com/index.php?action=contact_info&PHPSESSID=e3b800eaabde988d04ff48c3196ea1be

[stevetrash]

Thank you for the advice!

I'm now thinking of ordering the DB4 from antennasdirect.com. It looks similar to the CM 4221 you recommended. I've read good things about this antenna, and I can try it in the attic before resorting to a roof installation.

What do you think of the DB4 in my situation?

[kevinw]

Thank you for the advice!

I'm now thinking of ordering the DB4 from antennasdirect.com. It looks similar to the CM 4221 you recommended. I've read good things about this antenna, and I can try it in the attic before resorting to a roof installation.

What do you think of the DB4 in my situation?
Have heard nothing but good about antennasdirect. BTW the SS could be getting to much signal from 8 miles away..try turning it off line a bit.

[stevetrash]

If it was getting too much signal, I would think the STB would show a strong signal but have trouble locking in. But the strongest signal I'm getting according to the STB is about 50% (halfway between 'good' and 'bad'). I've tried the SS in all kinds of positions and spots in the house and haven't had any luck at all with FOX. I'm pretty sure its not getting a strong enough signal, but I'm new to OTA HDTV and maybe I'm misunderstanding something?

Thank you for the advice!

[mjones73]

That antenna is highly directional, try rotating it away from aiming at the towers in both directions, see if that helps any.

[Ratman]

What do you think of the DB4 in my situation?

You can get the 4221 at HBF for $29.95. Save yourself $30...

Take a 15 minute drive, buy it, try it and return it if necessary.

[tigerbangs]

If you are in the city, then signal strength is probably not your issue: multipath, or reflected signal os more likely the problem. A Channel Master 4221 is a good antenna, but is not especially directional: I think that you probably need a more highly directional antenna for your location.

Since all of the Philly transmitters are in one place in Roxborough, you should consider a small directional rooftop antenna, such as a Channel Master 4248 or a Winegard HD9085P. It should be mouned clear of any immediate obstructions and aimed at the Roxborough towers. These antennas are fairly unobtrusive, and not obvious when mounted on a townhouse roof. Use good RG-6 coaxial cable to run to the tuner, and delete and then rescan all of your stations to eliminate the possibility of old PSIP information being stored in your tuner. Good Luck!