ChiefsPlanet - Electronics Direct TV Signal Issues

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Direct TV Signal Issues (https://chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=221854)

Direct TV Signal Issues

I wanted to tap into the Planets expert advice regarding a TV signal from hell. Most of the time my Direct TV signal is great on the satellite, but when it comes to the "local channel's" they fade in and out like the wind. Unfortunately, in my area, Direct TV doesn't offer the locals yet, so I am forced to get the locals off an antenna. I have the B Band converters hooked up, so that's not the issue.

<O:p
When the Direct TV guy was here about a year ago, he mentioned there was some kind of booster box and also some kind of a "super antenna" if you will. He claimed the antenna was the cats ass and or the king daddy of antennas. Does any of this ring a bell? (Radio Shack?) I am tired of the local CBS, ABC, NBC fading out and not even being able to get the local FOX station at all.

I PMed Direct TV guru Skip, which seems like the logical choice, but I thought there may be others out there who have had the same problems and worked through it.<O:p
<O:p
Any ideas? :shrug:<O:p

How far are you from the TV towers and are they basically in the same direction from your home? The booster is only to overcome signal loss from the antenna to the TVs.

I got your PM but I'll answer here. Several companies make signal amplifiers. The kind that actually work have two parts. One part goes up on the pole (near the antenna). The other part sits near the TV and plugs into 110v. The existing co-ax is still used. Radio Shack probably has them but they are high priced. I'd try Home Depot or Lowes first.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewie (Post 6449659)

How far are you from the TV towers and are they basically in the same direction from your home? The booster is only to overcome signal loss from the antenna to the TVs.

FOX is a long way and in some strange direction, the others are in the area.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Towne (Post 6449663)

You'll also want to boost the signal if you're going through a splitter to accommodate more than one TV. Splitters are notorious for reducing signal strength. Install an amplifier right before the coax goes into the splitter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Towne (Post 6449663)

Thanks Skip, do you know the brand name, or model of the "one that works?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bwana (Post 6449665)

FOX is a long way and in some strange direction, the others are in the area.

That may require a rotating antenna then. I was going to say an omni-directional antenna, but they aren't meant for fringe signals.

Go here and put in your address and see what the signal strength is for your home:

http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

As I stated in the Thread, the Direct TV guy also claimed there was an antenna that was a cut above the rest as well, that you could get at the Shack, does that ring a bell. I don't remember what he called it, so I'll call it the Lightning Rod 5000. :)

Bwana, I've used these but they won't help if the problem is a weak signal at the antenna. They are good to overcome long coax runs where signal loss is a problem, or going through splitters.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2103913

These guys make really good antennas.

http://www.channelmaster.com/product.php?catID=33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bwana (Post 6449667)

Thanks Skip, do you know the brand name, or model of the "one that works?"

I had a Channelmaster that worked well in this area. I'd go see what the local TV shops are selling. They have probably tried them all. I'd also take any splitters out and see if it works better without them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewie (Post 6449672)

The results:

<TABLE class=text cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5><TBODY><TR align=left bgColor=#e6e6e6><TH>DTV</TH><TH>Antenna
Type</TH><TH>Call Sign</TH><TH>Channel</TH><TH>Network</TH><TH>City, State</TH><TH>Live
Date</TH><TH>Compass
Heading</TH><TH>Miles
From</TH><TH>RF
Channel</TH></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD class=text align=middle>*</TD><TD bgColor=#ffcc33 align=middle>yellow
uhf</TD><TD class=text>KBGS-DT</TD><TD class=text>16.1</TD><TD class=text>IND</TD><TD class=text>BILLINGS, MT</TD><TD class=text></TD><TD class=text>86°</TD><TD class=text>5.4</TD><TD class=text>16</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#e6e6e6><TD class=text align=middle>*</TD><TD bgColor=#ffcc33 align=middle>yellow
vhf</TD><TD class=text>KULR-DT</TD><TD class=text>8.1</TD><TD class=text>NBC</TD><TD class=text>BILLINGS, MT</TD><TD class=text></TD><TD class=text>92°</TD><TD class=text>5.7</TD><TD class=text>11</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD class=text align=middle>*</TD><TD bgColor=#ffcc33 align=middle>yellow
vhf</TD><TD class=text>KTVQ-DT</TD><TD class=text>2.1</TD><TD class=text>CBS</TD><TD class=text>BILLINGS, MT</TD><TD class=text></TD><TD class=text>88°</TD><TD class=text>5.4</TD><TD class=text>10</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#e6e6e6><TD class=text align=middle>*</TD><TD bgColor=#cc0000 align=middle>red
uhf</TD><TD class=text>K20HB-D</TD><TD class=text>20.1</TD><TD class=text>PBS</TD><TD class=text>BOZEMAN, MT</TD><TD class=text></TD><TD class=text>88°</TD><TD class=text>5.4</TD><TD class=text>20</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD class=text align=middle>*</TD><TD bgColor=#cc0000 align=middle>red
uhf</TD><TD class=text>KSVI-DT</TD><TD class=text>6.1</TD><TD class=text>ABC</TD><TD class=text>BILLINGS, MT</TD><TD class=text></TD><TD class=text>68°</TD><TD class=text>11.1</TD><TD class=text>18</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#e6e6e6><TD class=text align=middle>*</TD><TD bgColor=#333399 align=middle>blue
uhf</TD><TD class=text>K25BP-D</TD><TD class=text>25.1</TD><TD class=text>ABC</TD><TD class=text>BILLINGS, MT</TD><TD class=text></TD><TD class=text>87°</TD><TD class=text>5.4</TD><TD class=text>25</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD class=text align=middle>*</TD><TD bgColor=#9966ff align=middle>violet
uhf</TD><TD class=text>KHMT-DT</TD><TD class=text>4.1</TD><TD class=text>FOX</TD><TD class=text>HARDIN, MT</TD><TD class=text></TD><TD class=text>86°</TD><TD class=text>20.9</TD><TD class=text>22</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bwana (Post 6449674)

I don't know of any antenna that works better than the others. The bigger the better though. I think mine was 12 feet long.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bwana (Post 6449688)

The results:

<table class="text" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr align="left" bgcolor="#e6e6e6"><th>DTV</th><th>Antenna
Type</th><th>Call Sign</th><th>Channel</th><th>Network</th><th>City, State</th><th>Live
Date</th><th>Compass
Heading</th><th>Miles
From</th><th>RF
Channel</th></tr><tr bgcolor="white"><td class="text" align="middle">*</td><td align="middle" bgcolor="#ffcc33">yellow
uhf</td><td class="text">KBGS-DT</td><td class="text">16.1</td><td class="text">IND</td><td class="text">BILLINGS, MT</td><td class="text">
</td><td class="text">86°</td><td class="text">5.4</td><td class="text">16</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e6e6e6"><td class="text" align="middle">*</td><td align="middle" bgcolor="#ffcc33">yellow
vhf</td><td class="text">KULR-DT</td><td class="text">8.1</td><td class="text">NBC</td><td class="text">BILLINGS, MT</td><td class="text">
</td><td class="text">92°</td><td class="text">5.7</td><td class="text">11</td></tr><tr bgcolor="white"><td class="text" align="middle">*</td><td align="middle" bgcolor="#ffcc33">yellow
vhf</td><td class="text">KTVQ-DT</td><td class="text">2.1</td><td class="text">CBS</td><td class="text">BILLINGS, MT</td><td class="text">
</td><td class="text">88°</td><td class="text">5.4</td><td class="text">10</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e6e6e6"><td class="text" align="middle">*</td><td align="middle" bgcolor="#cc0000">red
uhf</td><td class="text">K20HB-D</td><td class="text">20.1</td><td class="text">PBS</td><td class="text">BOZEMAN, MT</td><td class="text">
</td><td class="text">88°</td><td class="text">5.4</td><td class="text">20</td></tr><tr bgcolor="white"><td class="text" align="middle">*</td><td align="middle" bgcolor="#cc0000">red
uhf</td><td class="text">KSVI-DT</td><td class="text">6.1</td><td class="text">ABC</td><td class="text">BILLINGS, MT</td><td class="text">
</td><td class="text">68°</td><td class="text">11.1</td><td class="text">18</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e6e6e6"><td class="text" align="middle">*</td><td align="middle" bgcolor="#333399">blue
uhf</td><td class="text">K25BP-D</td><td class="text">25.1</td><td class="text">ABC</td><td class="text">BILLINGS, MT</td><td class="text">
</td><td class="text">87°</td><td class="text">5.4</td><td class="text">25</td></tr><tr bgcolor="white"><td class="text" align="middle">*</td><td align="middle" bgcolor="#9966ff">violet
uhf</td><td class="text">KHMT-DT</td><td class="text">4.1</td><td class="text">FOX</td><td class="text">HARDIN, MT</td><td class="text">
</td><td class="text">86°</td><td class="text">20.9</td><td class="text">22</td></tr></tbody></table>

Sorry to say, you will never get FOX in a consistent manner, no matter what antenna/booster you have. You're too far away, or there are obstructions between you and the tower.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewie (Post 6449698)

Sorry to say, you will never get FOX in a consistent matter, no matter what antenna/booster you have. You're too far away, or there are obstructions between you and the tower.

Ouch, well I'm not moving to the rez, so I'll have live with it. I will just thave to figure out the best choice, given that information.

FOX had an edge before the digital switch, but vanished after that.