WISN-DT Searching For Signal

[Mequonite]

I've got a roof top antenna connected to a Humax HFA100 OTA receiver.  My setup works awesome except for WISN-DT.  I get dropouts of the signal.  I've tried repositioning my antenna without success.  Here is a table showing the channels I get and the signal strength:  I live in Mequon

Channel   Netork   Compass   Miles   Signal
WTMJ-DT   4.1   NBC   167°   9.1   100%
WMVS-DT   10.1   PBS   168°   8.8   100%
WMVT-DT   36.1   PBS   168°   8.8   100%
WISN-DT   12.1   ABC   174°   7.5   60-90-100%
WITI-DT   6.1   FOX   199°   2.8   100%
WDJT-DT   58.1   CBS   175°   7.5   100%
WJJA-DT   48   IND   167°   9.4   100%
WCGV-DT   24.1   UPN   168°   8.8   100%
WVTV-DT   18.1   WB   168°   8.8   100%
WVCY-DT   30.1   REL   168°   8.8   100%

Any ideas why WISN-DT drops out and my Humax HFA100 reports searching for signal?  Could my issue be related to multipath signal interference?  Could I have too good of a signal for WISN-DT for it to work?

[Nels Harvey]

I'm also in Mequon, west of Port Washington Rd on County Line Rd.  I have noticed low signals from WISN-DT here as well.  I wonder if they are having transmitter trouble, or possibly antena problems.  Their signal has always been stellar here until recently.

Nels....

[John L]

Maybe it has to do with the fact WISN-DT signal is smack in the middle between WITI-DT and WMVT-DT.  UHF Band channels 33, 34, and 35 respectfully.  WITI uses 33, WISN 34, and WMVT is 35, and WMVT analog is 36.

All 3 DTVs are putting out a full power signal.  I used to get WISN-DT relatively easy until Fox 6 upgraded to full power.  I get WITI-DT and WMVT-DT with no trouble, but WISN-DT is difficult.

I think the FCC should have allowed at least a minimum 2 channel spacing between adjacent channels for DTV, just like the 6 channel minimum spacing between UHF-TV analog channels.

-John L.

[Nels Harvey]

Here is a table showing the channels I get and the signal strength:  I live in Mequon
Channel   Network   Compass   Miles   Signal
WTMJ-DT   4.1   NBC   167°   9.1   100%
WMVS-DT   10.1   PBS   168°   8.8   100%
WMVT-DT   36.1   PBS   168°   8.8   100%
WISN-DT   12.1   ABC   174°   7.5   60-90-100%
WITI-DT   6.1   FOX   199°   2.8   100%
WDJT-DT   58.1   CBS   175°   7.5   100%
WJJA-DT   48   IND   167°   9.4   100%
WCGV-DT   24.1   UPN   168°   8.8   100%
WVTV-DT   18.1   WB   168°   8.8   100%
WVCY-DT   30.1   REL   168°   8.8   100%

Looking again at the channel list above, I note Ch. 6.1 lists as being only 2.8 miles from Mequon.  Ch. 6.1 is now located on it's self supporting tower near most of the other stations on the list.  It used to be at low power at their studio on Green Bay Ave, but finally was moved, and increased in power, much to the joy of this impatient group!

In spite of the location between two other stations, I haven't had reception problems until recently.  Again, I suspect the station is, or was, probably operating at reduced power.  Now transmitters reduce to perhaps 1/2, or 1/4, power if one stage shuts down.  If replacement parts were needed, possibly the station operated that way for a while.  It seems to be strong here once again!

Nels....

[Mequonite]

The WISN-DT dropouts are continuing.  Please keep this post updated on how to improve OTA reception for ABC programming.  I'm updating the roof top to an Antennas Direct DB4 Multi-Directional HDTV Antenna (DB4).  I'll post my findings after the installation.  There must be a technical glitch at WISN-DT as all other stations continue to have 100% signals.  I revisted //WWW.antennaweb.org and entered my actual address (just West of Port Washington Rd. and North of Highland) and they recommend a multi-directional antenna.

Antenna   Call Sign   Channel   Network   Compass   Miles   Frequency
Type            Orientation   From   Assignment
yellow - uhf   WPXE-DT   55.1   i   175°   10.4   40
yellow - uhf   WTMJ-DT   4.1   NBC   175°   10.7   28
yellow - vhf   WMVS-DT   10.1   PBS   175°   10.4   8
yellow - uhf   WMVT-DT   36.1   PBS   175°   10.4   35
yellow - uhf   WISN-DT   12.1   ABC   182°   9.2   34
yellow - uhf   WDJT-DT   58.1   CBS   183°   9.2   46
yellow - uhf   WJJA-DT   48   IND   174°   11   48
green - uhf   WCGV-DT   24.1   UPN   175°   10.4   25
lt green - uhf   WVCY-DT   30.1   REL   175°   10.4   22
red - uhf   WITI-DT   6.1   FOX   203°   4.8   33
red - uhf   WVTV-DT   18.1   WB   175°   10.4   61

[Joseph S]

Two more lengthy audio drops during the Pats game today. Plus they still can't fix the damn overlapping logo garbage.

 :bang:

[Nels Harvey]

I revisted //WWW.antennaweb.org and entered my actual address (just West of Port Washington Rd. and North of Highland) and they recommend a multi-directional antenna.

Antenna   Call Sign   Channel   Network   Compass   Miles   Frequency
Type            Orientation   From   Assignment
yellow - uhf   WPXE-DT   55.1   i   175°   10.4   40
yellow - uhf   WTMJ-DT   4.1   NBC   175°   10.7   28
yellow - vhf   WMVS-DT   10.1   PBS   175°   10.4   8
yellow - uhf   WMVT-DT   36.1   PBS   175°   10.4   35
yellow - uhf   WISN-DT   12.1   ABC   182°   9.2   34
yellow - uhf   WDJT-DT   58.1   CBS   183°   9.2   46
yellow - uhf   WJJA-DT   48   IND   174°   11   48
green - uhf   WCGV-DT   24.1   UPN   175°   10.4   25
lt green - uhf   WVCY-DT   30.1   REL   175°   10.4   22
red - uhf   WITI-DT   6.1   FOX   203°   4.8   33
red - uhf   WVTV-DT   18.1   WB   175°   10.4   61

All of your TV signals are coming from the same direction.  Why would you need a multi-directional antenna?  Their website is showing WITI-DT 6.1 in the wrong place.  It is NOT on the tower at the Green Bay Ave. studio any more.  As I said, it is on the Ch. 6 tower in Estabrook Park, across from the WTMJ tower.  It's direction from you is probably 174 degrees, and the distance is very close to 10.7 miles south from you.

You are certainly welcome to experiment with your antenna system to try to achieve a better signal.  I doubt your antenna has a beamwidth of less than 10 degrees.  Most are more like 20 degrees.  You ought to be able to pick up all of the local channels with your antenna pointing essentially due south.  I do wish you well!

Nels....