Poor signal on HDTV Antenna

[ibex333]

So I got one of those directional antennas... It's a Mohu Leaf, so a decently reviewed brand. 60 mile range.


I live about a block away from the subway(running above ground across from my windows). Every time a train runs by, the signal cuts out. This is every 5-10 min.

would an amplified antenna help in my case, or am I SOL?

 

[Kartajan]

Amplification will NOT help your situation. If you can make some friends above your antenna location, ELEVATION is your best bet.

 

[ibex333]

Thanks. I guess I am SOL then.

 

[smitbret]

60 miles (LOL)....... http://dennysantennaservice.com/indoor-vs--outdoor-tv-antenna.html

Amplification doesn't actually help you get a stronger signal, it takes the existing signal and amps it up so that you still have a usable signal after a long cable run. If you are only running 10 or so feet then an amplifier won't do diddly.

With antennas, size and elevation matter. If there is just no way to get it higher then you might be able to explore the option of popping something like a Wineguard FL6550a outside a window. It's small enough that it is protected by law so that your landlord can't legally prevent you from setting it up. You'd be surprised how much signal can be blocked by a sheet of glass especially with special coatings.

 

[mistercrabby]

Smitbret, do you have an opinion about the Mohu Leaf antenna vs the Wineguard or others? It was recommended in this article by Mr Cable Cutter. My situation is most of my broadcasts are coming from ~30 miles away to the southeast. I do not want an ugly muli-prong mast antenna on roof or side of house. I can live with one of the rectangular box kind on the outside. Would appreciate any guidance. Thanks!

 

[Kartajan]

Smitbret, do you have an opinion about the Mohu Leaf antenna vs the Wineguard or others? It was recommended in this article by Mr Cable Cutter. My situation is most of my broadcasts are coming from ~30 miles away to the southeast. I do not want an ugly muli-prong mast antenna on roof or side of house. I can live with one of the rectangular box kind on the outside. Would appreciate any guidance. Thanks!

A lot depends on your specifics, which can mostly be found using tvfool and antennaweb. For example, if all your stations are UHF, and the transmitters are LOS to you, the Leaf should do you well.

Note that the Leaf has been stated to have a bit under half the sensitivity for VHF channels as UHF... (The marketing guys keep trying to push miles, when that does not reflect reality well...)

 

[smitbret]

Smitbret, do you have an opinion about the Mohu Leaf antenna vs the Wineguard or others? It was recommended in this article by Mr Cable Cutter. My situation is most of my broadcasts are coming from ~30 miles away to the southeast. I do not want an ugly muli-prong mast antenna on roof or side of house. I can live with one of the rectangular box kind on the outside. Would appreciate any guidance. Thanks!

I have never used The Leaf but I believe it is basically just a bay antenna like this one but with a plastic shell:
https://www.amazon.com/Dual-Outdoor...8&qid=1490895824&sr=1-11&keywords=BAY+ANTENNA

They are very, very directional. It may very well reach a tower at 60 miles but that is only with LOS, no obstruction and if you are off a couple of degrees...... C-ya. The standard antennae, while directional, are not as bad for that. They just need to be bigger for the same relative performance. Bay antennae are also very good for UHF but suffer in the VHF department.

I am surprised that I didn't recommend this one:
https://www.amazon.com/RCA-Compact-...qid=1490902575&sr=8-2&keywords=rca+tv+antenna

Yes, it is the ugly outdoor type but you don't have to put it outside. It is fairly small for a Yagi antennae, at less than 3 feet long, so if you can find anywhere that is 3'x3' it will outperform the leaf by a decent margin. Attics are great places, maybe tape it to the ceiling of a walk-in closet . I know Wal-Mart carries them ($44) so you could always try it out and return it if it doesn't work out. It looks like a piece of crap but it works great for both UHF and VHF and I have used it to reliably pull in signals from 40 miles (on my roof) 6 (VHF) and 31 (UHF). The train still concerns me, though, if it is creating a physical obstruction

I too hate huge antennae on my house so I have this kind of sitting towards the back of the house behind a perpendicular rise so it is not visible at all from the street.

 

[Jodiuh]

I had the Mohu leaf amped and it was balls.

I ended up with this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BN5Z2WM/

Also, placement matters. For example, mine does best behind the TV, 3 feet from ceiling. At 1 foot from ceiling I had some issues. The only problem with this antenna is a lack of VHF strength. Most channels are UHF now, but during football season, I have to pull this stupid thing out for CBS Chicago:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007RH5GZI/

Also, it does a worse job overall than the Wineguard, but ya the only way to get VHF for me.

 

[JeffMD]

Internal antennas are all around bad. If you are having signal troubles, even a basic outdoor antenna will be a worlds of difference. You have no idea how bad receiving radio waves inside of a box can be, either the signal is too weak or reflecting off the walls creating ghosts. Also amplified + indoors means you pickup any interference from electronics in your house/room.

I picked up one of these; https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N06CBFO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

for a chord cutting project. Even the attic wasn't good enough, I had some bad signals on key channels that were solved by clamping it to a 5' tall post outside. I didn't want to deal with mounting higher (no large ladder) + grounding so I left it as that.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I was going to start a thread, but figured I'd add what I'm going through now. I cut my satellite plan and have been dealing with OTA. I live in a relatively sparse area...between ABC/CBS/FOX/NBC....the towers are about 20 miles away in multiple directions... If I'm able to get Fox, I may not get NBC (though the antennas are very close to each other on the same mountain). CBS is the closest to me, but perpendicular to the ABC and CBS line of sight....(with me in the middle) I'm using a leaf style antenna now along with a signal amplifier. I got a directional one, but it doesn't have the same quality of reception.

My other issue is that my house is like 3400 square feet and mostly one level. (650 square feet are upstairs one one end) My 5 way splitter is on the opposite side of the house of where the antenna makes the most sense to be mounted (because it's the second story). I'm looking at taking my directional antenna and mounting it outside above the splitter and trying to see if it works better as it will have less linear feet to travel on the coax. Even with an amplifier, I get the best signal right off the splitter. As I go back through the house, some TVs don't get the same channels others do. I just didn't have those problems with DirectTV's signal levels on the coax.

If I continue to have those issues, I may resort to using multiple antennas.

 

[Kartajan]

....the towers are about 20 miles away in multiple directions...

I would try this, return it if it does not do the trick...
https://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master-CM-3000HD-outdoor-Antenna/dp/B000BSKO84

 

[Scarpozzi]

I would try this, return it if it does not do the trick...
https://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master-CM-3000HD-outdoor-Antenna/dp/B000BSKO84

If I were to mount this outside, how do you mount it? This looks to be thicker than the leaf style antennas.

 

[Kartajan]

It has a "mast/wall mount" for outdoor use, including corresponding screws, nuts and two u-bolts to attach the antenna to the mount. It also includes four self-tapping screws to then attach the unit to the side of the house. The antenna sits horizontally on the mount.

https://www.channelmaster.com/SMARTenna_HD_Antenna_p/cm-3000hd.htm

Also, you may/ may not need to look at a distribution amplifier vice a splitter, especially if you have fairly long runs from the splitter (if you get good performance where the splitter is located, but crappy performance at the end of your post- splitter runs)

https://www.amazon.com/Channel-Mast...rf+amplifier&refinements=p_72:1248879011&th=1

 

[Scarpozzi]

It has a "mast/wall mount" for outdoor use, including corresponding screws, nuts and two u-bolts to attach the antenna to the mount. It also includes four self-tapping screws to then attach the unit to the side of the house. The antenna sits horizontally on the mount.

https://www.channelmaster.com/SMARTenna_HD_Antenna_p/cm-3000hd.htm

Also, you may/ may not need to look at a distribution amplifier vice a splitter, especially if you have fairly long runs from the splitter (if you get good performance where the splitter is located, but crappy performance at the end of your post- splitter runs)

https://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master-Distribution-Amplifier-Antenna/dp/B002M1EPL0/ref=sr_1_1?s=audio-video-accessories&ie=UTF8&qid=1505924652&sr=1-1&keywords=rf+amplifier&refinements=p_72:1248879011&th=1

I already have a signal amplifier. I just think by the time the signal goes 60+ feet and is split before running back 40-50', the signal is really dropping off.

My plan is to try moving the antenna to the end of the house closest to the splitter and dropping my signal amplifier. I like the coax-powered design of that external powered splitter. That may be the way to go.

Thanks.

 

[Jodiuh]

Just in the last week or so I have noticed my reception went into the toilet. I haven't moved the antennas...but know I get half the channels and BARELY get CBS now...only a big deal cause of the football games. REALLY wish CBS Chicago would UHF it up.