Poor Digital TV Signal

wmoses wrote:
Guys - I am confused. The first sentence said that he is looking for a satellite (and has tree interference) so this is not an OTA TV question.

That said, I don't know what the booster (button with light for OTA signals from the crank up antenna) has to do with the perceived difference in reception. Satellite TV has nothing to do with the boost from the antenna amplifier for the OTA antenna. It could be coincidence that after the button was pushed the 1 weak signal showed up.

In my experience with satellite TV - if there are trees in the way it is game over; you have to move the antenna. That is why I like portable satellite antennae, which allows you to park under the trees for shade but yet run the antenna out into the open so that it can see the satellites.

Reread the op. He said he could not get his sat to work due to the trees so he raised his antenna. The rest of the post is about his OTA antenna reception.

2112 wrote:
I have 50 ft of coax on my portable dish. This is the 1st time it has let me down. How long of a cable can I use? Would using a barrel adapter to add another 50 ft be a bad move? I believe the 3dB down rule would come in play.

Buy 100' of coax and a barrel connector. They you'll have 50, 100 or 150 feet.

Helimech had it right.

If you have not received an OTA signal in this area before you may have a combination of problems. Most new TVs need to be programmed to receive the signals - i.e. "channel search". Before this can be done your batwing needs to be pointed in the correct direction to receive digital signals. A catch 22.

Get a digital signal finder like one mentioned above. Once you use that so the batwing is getting a strong signal you can then do a channel search on the TV.

I do not have the Wingman. Do you think that will help? I'll have to go on the roof to see if it will interfere with anything.

I checked all the connections that are not wall internal excluding the roof antenna connection. Maybe I'll go up there and do that while seeing about Wingman clearance.

Yes, I turned the antenna every which way using the dirrectional knob. I found 1 spot where ch11 Houston comes in. I'm currently in Livingston SP.

Sorry to confuse you wmoses. I gave up on the sat and went aerial.

I have 50 ft of coax on my portable dish. This is the 1st time it has let me down. How long of a cable can I use? Would using a barrel adapter to add another 50 ft be a bad move? I believe the 3dB down rule would come in play.

What all they said...plus I would check your connection to the back of the TV. I found the entire circuit board/coax connection to be loose.

Are you using the same coax cable you've been using for years?
After fighting with reception when it went digital I bought a new coax cable. Made a big difference in reception.

Loose connection and bent up coax cable just doesn't hack it with digital.

Guys - I am confused. The first sentence said that he is looking for a satellite (and has tree interference) so this is not an OTA TV question.

That said, I don't know what the booster (button with light for OTA signals from the crank up antenna) has to do with the perceived difference in reception. Satellite TV has nothing to do with the boost from the antenna amplifier for the OTA antenna. It could be coincidence that after the button was pushed the 1 weak signal showed up.

In my experience with satellite TV - if there are trees in the way it is game over; you have to move the antenna. That is why I like portable satellite antennae, which allows you to park under the trees for shade but yet run the antenna out into the open so that it can see the satellites.

Is your TV switched to OTA in its software(Menu)? Is your distribution box switched from Cable/Satellite to Antenna?

Trees have a significant impact on TV signal so that's problem #1. You don't say how far you are from a source for TV.

Assuming you have a Winegard Batwing antenna, then you have a booster already in the head of the antenna and the green light indicates that power is going to the booster. If the antenna head does not have the Winegard Wingman add on component, you might try adding one assuming it will fit. Sometimes where the antenna is installed prevents the Wingman from being added due to other items on the roof interfering.

Did you try rotating the antenna in 90 degree increments and rescanning? digital signals are very directional and sometimes you have to almost be pointing dead at the station to get a good signal.

Winegard sells a replacement for the base power/booster switch that is supposed to further boost the signal. I have no experience with it.

You may want to check all of the external coax connections to assure they are corrosion free and secure.

Did you turn the antenna to find the best signal before doing the auto setup?
My digital tv doesn't have a signal meter so I found a TV signal finder works great when in remote areas.

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/king-surelock-digital-tv-signal-finder/68416