OTA and Pre Amp

[Archangel_hawke]

I have a DB 4 type antenna on the second story of my house. I can get most of the channels at 75 - 100%. Fox is around 50%. If I were to add a preamp (CM 7777), would I over power the stations that are coming in good, or would my receiver compensate for the gain? I have a H20 Direct TV receiver. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[Ratman]

Yes, there is that possibility. If it does "help" your FOX situation and worsen the others, you could either add an attenuator (to reduce gain from the overdriven stations) or... perhaps you should consider a pre-amp with less gain.

[kevinw]

I'd aslo consider a rotor for the antenna. With out knowing exactly which direction your antenna is pointing. How about posting your www.antennaweb.org results. Sometime moving a couple degrees can make big difference.

[Archangel_hawke]

Would it work to only plug in the preamp when I wanted to watch the Fox station and leave it unplugged normally, or would the power injector block the signal all together while unplugged? Fox Station is 50+ miles away and others are 35 - 40 miles away. All are very close pointing direction. Results from Antennaweb.org are:

KRIN 32 PBS WATERLOO IA 253° 39.1 32
KCRG 9 ABC CEDAR RAPIDS IA 253° 39.1 9
KCRG-DT 9.1 ABC CEDAR RAPIDS IA 253° 39.1 52
KWWL 7 NBC WATERLOO IA 261° 37.0 7
KPXR 48 i CEDAR RAPIDS IA 251° 40.8 48
KRIN-DT 35.1 PBS WATERLOO IA 253° 39.1 35
KGAN 2 CBS CEDAR RAPIDS IA 251° 40.9 2
KFXA 28 FOX CEDAR RAPIDS IA 241° 56.1 28

About 9:30 10PM ish I can get a clear picture on Fox with about 54%.

Thanks for any insight.

[Ratman]

First, test by aiming the antenna at 241 degrees. See if FOX becomes stable. The others may "lose" signal strength but still remain stable.

If FOX gains and others lose too much strength and destablize... slightly rotate (aim) the antenna clockwise until all stations are stable.

[kevinw]

From the looks of it you only have 2 digital stations. An amp is not going to overload the analog ones. Try an amp from Radio Shack- because if it doesn't work, you can return it.

[Archangel_hawke]

All of the channels are digital with a couple of sub channels. I don't know why they don't list them as digital when they really are. I was hoping that I could get the HD feed for Fox from Direct TV, but they won't let me. I have been reading that Radio Shack amps have a lot of noise, so I was going towards the CM 7777.

[Ratman]

Although you may be correct... in the intial post, the OP states "signal strength" that you can only obtain from the "meter", which normally is only functional with digital channels/reception.

Archangel... please provide your zip code. Also... please note whether you are interested in analog, digital, or both. And! which channels are good and which are bad. Thanks!

[Archangel_hawke]

:headb: Now I'm baffeled. I just did a signal check. I have not done anything to the antenna in over a month. Fox is coming in with no drop outs. My zip is 52040. I only get the digital stations from the antenna. Analog is from Direct TV. Here is the signal I am getting:

2-1 and 2-2 80% (KGAN)
7-1, 7-2, and 7-3 70% (KWWL)
9-1 and 9-2 77% (KCRG)
28-1 and 28-2 58% (Fox)
32-1 and 32-2 100% (PBS)
48-1, 48-2, 48-3, and 48-4 61% (Pax)

Atmosphere??

[kevinw]

I'd say your pointed at 253 degree mark and your picking up Fox off the side lobes. As flat as Iowa is you are most likely getting a little atmospheric aid. Cloudy skies?

Move the antenna afew degrees to the left.

[Ratman]

KGAN and KRIN seem to be the best reception at around 252 degrees. For FOX (KFXA) you need to be aimed at 241 degrees for best reception.

IMO... you need to adjust the aim, which may help FOX reception, but hinder the others.

Reception for UHF is better in the evening and also consider the leaves dropping from the trees.