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Jetstreamer's avatar
Jetstreamer
Explorer
Oct 21, 2017

Antenna reception diminishes after initial channel search

We’ll get somewhere,turn on the television and let the program conduct an automatic channel search. Usually finds a dozen or more over the air digital channels. When you search through the channel list most every one will come in pretty strong.
Ok - More often than not, by the following day, when I grab the remote and surf the previously found channels, most if not all will now come up with ‘no signal’.
I can’t understand why this happens. The antenna booster switch/system seems to be working as it should. I realize that signal strength may vary with time of day but it seems to be something other than that. Any ideas?
  • mikebreeze wrote:
    I've had the same issue. I've experimented with various antennas such as indoor amplified, outdoor amplified with rotor and outdoor omni-directional amplified. I've had the best success with an amplified outdoor with rotor like this one:

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/HDTV-Antenna-Amplified-Digital-TV-Antenna-150-Miles-Range-360-Rotation-Outdoor-/202078442770?epid=912188818&hash=item2f0cd05512:g:~4kAAOSwna1ZzJl-

    This has the best gain and pulls in the most channels, IMO. However, having an antenna like that in an RV is not practical because the elements are fragile and tend to break. So I got one of these 'flying saucer' outdoor antennas:

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/HD-8000-360-Degree-HDTV-Digital-Amplified-Outdoor-TV-HD-Antenna-VHF-UHF-120Mile/182594054244?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

    Not quite as good reception but it can be mounted permanantly on an RV or placed on a tripod (which is what I do).


    I have the rotating one as well. In N. Phoenix in my driveway I can get 83 channels.

    Up on the rim north of Payson most people get 2-3 or nothing, I was getting 32 channels.

    It seems a little frail but it works very well.
  • I'm not sure if all OTA channels broadcast 24/7. Also from personal experience, from trial and error, and scientifically repeatable... anybody standing or sitting in the vicinity (basically under) of the batwing antenna
    affects the initial channel scan and later reception. So standing back and scanning, say 24 channels. Sitting on couch under batwing, perhaps 8 channels. Standing back, same 24 channels. So that spot is off limits when the game is on.
  • I've had the same issue. I've experimented with various antennas such as indoor amplified, outdoor amplified with rotor and outdoor omni-directional amplified. I've had the best success with an amplified outdoor with rotor like this one:

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/HDTV-Antenna-Amplified-Digital-TV-Antenna-150-Miles-Range-360-Rotation-Outdoor-/202078442770?epid=912188818&hash=item2f0cd05512:g:~4kAAOSwna1ZzJl-

    This has the best gain and pulls in the most channels, IMO. However, having an antenna like that in an RV is not practical because the elements are fragile and tend to break. So I got one of these 'flying saucer' outdoor antennas:

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/HD-8000-360-Degree-HDTV-Digital-Amplified-Outdoor-TV-HD-Antenna-VHF-UHF-120Mile/182594054244?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

    Not quite as good reception but it can be mounted permanantly on an RV or placed on a tripod (which is what I do).
  • I have the same "mystery": I get to a site, perfrom a "search" on the tv and it finds (say) 15 channels. Upon completion, I get the "no signal" message from more than half of the channels.

    Next morning, I get maybe 1 or 2 channels. I know reception is weather related but I can't figure out what is going on. I find that reception is better at night than in the morning.

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