Winegard vs. Jack antenna (again)

MNtundraRet wrote:
Hi Tom:

It looks like you have so far just used the S.D. tuner you purchased to locate and scan for the RF channels. All the channels found are not very far from your location (only up to 45 miles).

I have both a HDHomeRun and HDHomeRun Tech3. I use both of them at home on my Home Theater PC (HTPC) using Windows 7 Media Center. I brought the Tech3 with me to use in my motor home.

I am not familiar with the tuner used. Since you are most likely there for a while have you connected your television to the cable and scanned for the channels? I would use the TV's strength meter to zero in the signal by moving the antenna. Then record the reading. Do this for each channel.

Then do the same for the other antenna.

My TV only displays signal strength in percentage, which is true for most TVs. Once the signal reaches a set level, it displays 100% so it's not very useful for comparison purposes. The HDHomeRun Tech3 is the commercial version of the HDHomeRun. The HDHomeRun is a dual tuner device that decodes the received signal and streams it out over a network connection.

The Tech3 is described as a "Digital Broadcast diagnostic/troublshooting" device that provides RF diagnostics including signal strength, SNR, and constellation plots.

Are both antennas getting all of the same stations? How do your television's strength readings compare when comparing the number's?

Both antennas receive the same stations.

At the moment you have nothing to verify readings taken from the tuner and your computer.

The numbers are the signal level that the tuner receives. The computer is just displaying this information.

Since the television stations output from their transmitters may vary considerably from each other the numbers don't say much yet.

The signals definitely vary, but that is not the issue. Each antenna is receiving the same signals. What I'm trying to do is measure how each antenna processes the signals. For instance, if the signal for channel 12 is 0db then my measurements would indicate that the Winegard has 8db of gain and the Jack has 5db of gain for that channel.

It's possible the dB numbers recorded from the first and second run came from slightly better or worse connections.

The same cable was used for both tests. The cable went directly from the antenna to the tuner. If there is a bad connection, it would have to be inside the Winegard. The only way to know is to find another antenna to test.

If the trend you think you are seeing is correct the strength readings taken from your television set should trend the same. By the way the television set is "real world" for sound and picture received. Also for it's strength meter for the signals actually reaching the set.

The HDHomeRun is also "real world". It's main purpose is for watching TV. The Tech3 happens to have some added diagnostic features.

I am not knocking any of your numbers yet. Just waiting for additional testing.

Mark

SCVJeff wrote:
Something's wrong with those UHF numbers.. Is it possible that (assuming the Batwing works properly) the AGC in your tuner if affecting those results? That's why you really cannot make critical measurements unless you can switch off ALL automatics that can fool your testing.

Is there a Wingman on the Batwing?

If the tuner has AGC it should affect signals from both antennas in a similar manner. The HDHomeRun Tech3 is the commercial version of the HDHomeRun and is described as a diagnostic tool, so it would make no sense to take signal level readings after an AGC section.

My Winegard does have the Wingman attachment.