Channel 18-1 Reception/Signal

[Mags]

A question for the board..... I'm out by Lake Five and have a HD Tivo, with an antenna mounted in the attic.

I am currently receiving all Milw digital channels (except 30-1) with readings that at the low point are about 82, but most of them are in the mid 90's (even FOX - thank you for boosting your power Fox)!

However, channel 18-1 is variable - Sunday morning I was getting a steady 75 reading... however, last night it was 0 - No Signal.  I've had this problem the last 6 months.  Once in a while I'll get a signal, but lot of the time, I get nothing.

Is this a Channel 18 problem?  Could it be an antenna issue?  I was wondering, since it is digital channel 61, it may act differently.  All the other channels show a consistent signal no matter when I check.  It is just Channel 18-1 (61) that I have this problem with.

Any help would be appreciated!

[Mark Strube]

I used to have a very similar problem with a powered indoor antenna. The problem was solved by raising it higher right up next to my ceiling. It could simply be a terrain issue with you. However now I have problems with 12-1, just like you're having with 18-1. (Although that one rises up to 99 signal, and then bounces all around. Ugh.)

Is 18-1 at full power?

[Mags]

I have it in my attic - don't think i could get it any higher.... frustrating, cuz everything else is coming in very strong.... I wonder if 18 is mounted at a much lower high on their tower than everyone else, which causes this?

[Jimboy]

Currently 18-1 (channel 61) and 24-1 (channel 25) are operating at reduced or low power operation. Channel 61 is currently at 18.75kw and channel 25 is running at 25kw. Both stations will be at full power on or before July 1st, 2006 per FCC ruling.
Antennas for both stations are located at the top of the MPTV DTV complex's tower.

[Mags]

Thanks for the response.  

I have no problems receiving 24-1 - I get it consistently at a high reading.

18-1 is so strange - sometimes is shows up as 70's, sometimes it comes in at 10 or below... any ideas why this is happening???

[Gregg Lengling]

If you re-read Jim's post you'll notice that the power level is lower (approx 18kw) and the frequency is higher...channel 61.  There is more attenuation at higher frequencies and it's running lower power.  So in reality you will notice a 6 to 9 dB difference between digital 24 and 18...with digital 24 being stronger (3dB is equal to twice the signal power received...for your information.).

[Mags]

That's great info, and I appreciate it.

I just found it strange that the signal I receive would vary from below 10 to 70.  I was honestly wondering if there was something wrong with my equip - like the antenna or HD tivo.

It is just such a wide variance, it didn't make sense to me.

[Mark Strube]

Both stations will be at full power on or before July 1st, 2006 per FCC ruling.

Just curious... what's preventing you from going to full power right now? I hope it's not as simple as flipping a few switches.

[Jimboy]

Just curious... what's preventing you from going to full power right now? I hope it's not as simple as flipping a few switches.

4 IOT's (output tubes). Currently scheduled for 1st/2nd quarter next year.  Everything else is ready and set to go.

[audiopile]

This kind of thing is par for the course for attic mount antennas. Some piece of metal ( sewer vent pipe, electrical wiring - hell could be something in your neighbor's house if it's close enough) is reflecting a near in time piece of that station's signal back into your antenna. While we all talk about signal strength - that really isn't what we're getting from our tuners or STB's - it's Bit Error Ratio (BER) - multipath does cause problems and this is reflected in the goofy all over the place BER readings you get. Sometimes relativly small movement of the antenna will be a big help and then again sometimes small movements lead to dramatically worse performance on more channels. It's impossible to over emphasize this: DTV antennas work much ,MUCH - MUch better outdoors - always.

[pabasap]

I live just down the road from you in Colgate, and I have the same problem w/ 18.
I have the huge 50 mile Zenith outdoor antenna in the 2nd story attic of my garage with a powered amp. No obstrustions except roof/walls. I can get all local HD channels locked in the 90's with my voom receiver, except 18 hovers around 65. Hence, no picture ever.
I want to know if a different antenna might capture a better signal. Perhaps a small one I could mount outside. If anyone has a good suggestion let me know.

[audiopile]

Because I am rental scum I am forced to live with a attic install . having said that - outdoor works much MUCH better. I finally gave up on 18-1 for now because i could either get it or 58-1/2 - used a Digital signal strength meter and way more time than I care to think of. This kind of thing is pretty much par for the course for attic installs. While certainly not small in terms of height and width - a Channel Master 4228 is only about 8 or 9" deep. Because the lowest frequenciey we care about is 10-1 to 7 on VHF channel 8 - this antenna is probably the optimum choice for Milw. area DTV. Mount it outside at least 4 or 5 feet above the roof  and you should have the best there  is for this area. Will this get you 18-1? Maybe. The real issue here is they are operating as a STA at lower power levels and untill they go to full licensed power they will remain a question mark. Have you ever looked at a topo map for your area?  because we do have some signifigant ridges running  north to South through this area - the God enigineering can either help or hinder you.