Forum Discussion

Lar_s's avatar
Lar_s
Explorer
Dec 15, 2017

Antenna aiming

Sitting here in Surprise AZ and get good reception with my regular antenna, but no NBC. Have a separate antenna up on a post on top of the ladder, and aim it at the signal antenna about 30 miles away. Barely get a signal, then mostly nothing. I've hooked to the cable inlet, the living room only inlet, and now directly to the TV. We were here two years ago and ran the same antenna to get perfect reception.

Any ideas?

My neighbor ran his other antenna and plugged it in to the inlet next to the roof antenna on his rig and has great reception... I don't know why this would work any better.

Guess I'm stumped
  • rrupert's avatar
    rrupert
    Explorer
    Dec 15, 2017
    Since the switch to digital it's all about signal strength. I would go with the suggestions above plus use high quality cable. The better the cable the less signal loss there is, plus when you go higher in signal frequency the more loss there is in the cable. Get RG-6 over RG-59 because it has double shielding and larger gauge wire, thus less signal loss. Also, you want the best connectors suited for RG-6.
  • Lar_s's avatar
    Lar_s
    Explorer
    Dec 15, 2017
    Thx for all the info... especially AZdryheat... whew, who knew. Much of this I've checked and rechecked, but the aiming thing might need some work on my part, plus I'll recheck the quality of my antenna. This LAVA antenna has worked well in the past.

    Thx again
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Dec 15, 2017
    Conditions change, Solar activity is kind of strange this year and can mess up TV signals something fierce. as can other things.

    Also coax that was good 2 years ago. may no longer be good

    My first suggestion is check all connetions

    My second is more height. for Height is might.
  • shastagary's avatar
    shastagary
    Explorer
    Dec 15, 2017
    check all the connections like others have said. antenna aiming is critical to getting a good signal, if you scan the tv for channels on the normal antenna and do not get the nbc channel you will have to rescan the tv when switching antennas to get this new channel. are you saying you receive it but it cuts in and out? tv signals come in better at night also that's when to do a channel scan to get the most channels.
  • Gonzo42's avatar
    Gonzo42
    Explorer
    Dec 15, 2017
    One little thing that you might want to do is clean all the electrical connections using a de-oxide. I used to get mine from Radio Shack and I still have some left, but I don't know right now where I can get more.

    The connections not only have to be clean but they have to be tightened correctly (not loose and not too tight). I have a very small wrench for that.

    Don't forget those connections behind panels and in hard to find locations.
  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer
    Dec 15, 2017
    In my home with an antenna I don't get NBC.the cut back on their over the air signal months ago. Used to get it in all the time now nothing.

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