OTA Signal, need help

[zambonigod]

I live in Grand Rapids, MI 49505. I am able to recieve excellent reception most of the time on a few channels, but I would like to recieve 100% reception on all my local channels.

I have been using a Radioshack antenna, not sure what model. It is about six feet long just a plastic bar with the actual elements inside it. It comes with a pre-amp or power injector as they call it. I have it in my attic basically at about the highest point possible. I am using quad sheild RG-6 coax to go down to my Mits ws55511 in the basment, approx. 25ft.

My problem is that, in order to get some channels I turn the antenna and then others suffer. I would like to be able to just have an antenna in my attic and get everything without having to move the antenna. This should all be possible considering all the stations I want to recieve are colored yellow according to antennaweb.org.

I don't know if it would be better to try different antennas or move the antenna to my roof. What do you reccommend?

Thanks in advance!

[LeeS]

Welcome to HDTVoice. Looks like you have checked the FAQs already? Lots of good information in those FAQs.

For zipcode 49505 (there were other stations but they were not in the 'yellow' zone.

* yellow WWMT-DT 2 CBS Kalamazoo MI Now Live 173°
* yellow WOOD-DT 7 NBC Grand Rapids MI Now Live 168°
* yellow WXMI-DT 19 FOX Grand Rapids MI Now Live 170°
* yellow WOTV-DT 20 ABC Battle Creek MI Now Live 168°
* yellow WLLA-DT 45 REL Kalamazoo MI Awaiting FCC Permit 168°

These are the stations you are interested in? WLLA is probably not transmitting. They are a mixture of UHF and VHF stations.

I checked Radio Shack for the antenna you described wasn't listed on their website. Curious what model it is. From your description it sounds like it is directional. Maybe with the amplifier you are getting too much signal?

Being as close as you are I would think that pointing 170-171 would pull them all in.

Have you tried temporarily mounting the antenna outside to see how it performs? It shouldn't take much of an antenna to pull in those stations, unless you are trying to pull in the stations listed below, then direction and signal strength really become an issue:

* lt green WZPX-DT 44 PAX Battle Creek MI Now Live 132°
* red WGVU-DT 11 PBS Grand Rapids MI FCC Extension 263°
* red WTLJ-DT 24 IND Muskegon MI Now Live 263°
* red WZZM-DT 39 ABC Grand Rapids MI Now Live 333°
* blue WGVK-DT 5 PBS Kalamazo MI Awaiting FCC Permit 186°
* blue WCMU-DT 56 PBS Mount Pleasant MI Under Review 28°

Which stations come in strong/weak?

Let us know,
Lee

[zambonigod]

How about I do one better and post pictures of my antenna...

* yellow WWMT-DT 2 CBS Kalamazoo MI Now Live 173°
Comes in with a breakup every few minutes
or when the wife turn on the microwave

* yellow WOOD-DT 7 NBC Grand Rapids MI Now Live 168°
Comes in just about 100%

* yellow WXMI-DT 19 FOX Grand Rapids MI Now Live 170°
Comes in with a breakup every few minutes

* yellow WOTV-DT 20 ABC Battle Creek MI Now Live 168°
Comes in just about 100%

* yellow WLLA-DT 45 REL Kalamazoo MI Awaiting FCC Permit 168°
Comes in good but I could care less about it

I also get

* red WZZM-DT 39 ABC Grand Rapids MI Now Live 333°
But it goes out all the time, only need one ABC anyway

[kevinw]

How far from the towers are you? Sounds like possibly overpowering, multipath and an omnidirectional antenna. Try a non amplified directional.

[zambonigod]

WXMI = 22.85mi
WOOD = 23.19mi
WZZM = 24.82mi but in different direction
WWMT = 26.51mi
WOTV = 31.49mi

Which directional would you reccommend?

[kevinw]

Channel Master http://www.starkelectronic.com/cmant.htm
http://www.channelmaster.com/
Winegard http://www.winegard.com/offair/offairmain.htmd
and RadioShack

[LeeS]

Kevin,

Do you think something like the Radio Shack VU-75 XR would be enough?

zambonigod,

Go to your local Radio Shack store and check with them, they should be familiar with your local conditions.

Lee

[zambonigod]

I also wonder if maybe these two Austrian pine trees behind my neighbors house have anything to do with it. Last night it was a little windy and I have trouble getting in WOTV-20 ABC for "Alias".

Would a directional antenna help with that type of obstruction?

[kevinw]

Lee,
As cheap as RZ antennas are, they are not the best at combating multipath. The model you mention is the right size and price for this distance.
Zambonigod-
Austrian Pines:wow: Pine trees are big at contributing to multipath. Since the antenna you have now can not be aimed, I would go for the Channel Master that fits your attic and has room to manuever. You need one with extra gain.
If you could move it outside it would be even better. The attic is not the best place.

[zambonigod]

UPDATE...


I went and bought an outdoor antenna from Radio Shack. I can get everything I wanted to get in with out having to move the antenna at all. Everything comes in great with out a single channel breaking up once during 4 hours of programming.

[kevinw]

Where did you mount it? Inside or Out?
Glad it works and let us know how it works over time.