Milwaukee HDTV User Group

General Forums => Milwaukee Broadcast Engineers => Topic started by: bigbwb on Wednesday Apr 16, 2008, 08:23:08 AM

Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: bigbwb on Wednesday Apr 16, 2008, 08:23:08 AM
Hello all,

Just recently I have been getting a weaker signal from my antenna for just fox 6.  I have the antenna in my attic with an amp running into my Directv HD box.  The signal meter varies between 60-70% where as the other locals are typically in the 90's?  The sound/picture cuts out now and then.

I did not chnage anything in my system.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Brandon
Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: Tom Snyder on Wednesday Apr 16, 2008, 09:42:56 AM
I was wondering the same thing.

I had to readjust my indoor antenna to find the perfect position for 36-1 and 58-1. I get 6-1 from DirecTV, so I don't need to pick it up OTA. But as I scrolled through the other signals, I notice that 6 was below 50%, so I couldn't get it over the air if I needed to.
Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: bigbwb on Wednesday Apr 16, 2008, 12:33:01 PM
Tom,

I get 6.1 thru Directv too but I record the OTA HD feed with my pc.

Can it be the station changing something temporarily or should i start adjusting my antenna?
Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: bigbwb on Wednesday Apr 16, 2008, 09:02:23 PM
Anyone having the same issue?  Tonight for example, American Idol cut in & out every few seconds and most of the show was completely unwatchable.

All my other locals via OTA come in fine except FOX as of just yesterday.

My signal meter thru Directv shows around 80-90% for almost every channel and FOX cust in & out from 0-60%?

This is very frustrating:(

Brandon
Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: gb4fan92 on Wednesday Apr 16, 2008, 09:09:56 PM
I have DirectTV and American Idol played without a hitch for me.
Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: bigbwb on Wednesday Apr 16, 2008, 09:50:28 PM
Were you watching the Directv HD local or the OTA local?

I am having issues with the OTA channel?

I am wondering if the wind has played a factor or somehting has been changed on the broadcast end, because my system has not changed and every other channel is fine.


hmmmm...............
Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: Tom Snyder on Wednesday Apr 16, 2008, 10:07:47 PM
I've moved this thread to the SBE Forum and sent John Workman from WITI a PM to let him know this thread is here.
Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: Bebop on Thursday Apr 17, 2008, 12:26:46 AM
No Problem here, getting 100%
Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: bigbwb on Thursday Apr 17, 2008, 07:05:12 AM
Quote from: Bebop;45888No Problem here, getting 100%

I wonder if its because you live much cloer to the tower?  I live out in the Mukwonago East Troy area which is almost 35 miles away.  The signal was never real strong but I awlays got around 80-85% signal strenght versus less than 50% now?

Thank Tom, also!


Let me know if you hear anything back,

Brandon
Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: StarvingForHDTV on Thursday Apr 17, 2008, 07:46:25 AM
I'm having trouble with their OTA signal too.  I hope they get it resolved before football season.
Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: troyriley on Thursday Apr 17, 2008, 09:15:10 AM
I'm out in Genoa City (46 miles from transmitter) and watched Fox 6 from 7:00 to 9:00 Wednesday night. I only had one moment of pixelization during that time. Otherwise, my Dish receiver was showing my signal at 100%.

However, it does seem like WITI's signal can be erratic at times. A while back, there were a few nights that the signal would be lost for a few seconds, then be right back at 100%. I eventually got frustrated and would switch over to Fox 39 out of Rockford.

I'll keep an eye on the signal from my neck of the woods and report back if I experience problems.
Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: cjucoder on Thursday Apr 17, 2008, 09:18:47 AM
My OTA DVR recording of Idol from last night had quite a few spurts of pixilation.  Still watchable though.  Normally I have no trouble with Fox.
Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: gb4fan92 on Thursday Apr 17, 2008, 12:02:07 PM
Quote from: bigbwb;45883Were you watching the Directv HD local or the OTA local?

I am having issues with the OTA channel?

I am wondering if the wind has played a factor or somehting has been changed on the broadcast end, because my system has not changed and every other channel is fine.


hmmmm...............


Directv HD local
Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: bigbwb on Thursday Apr 17, 2008, 12:23:47 PM
^^^^^

That would explain why you had no issues.  My signal issue stems from the OTA HD signal from the FOX station in Milwaukee.  The only thing Directv does is pull the station names thru the box but not anything to do with the signal.

I will check my signal again tonight,

Thanks guys,

Brandon
Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: bigbwb on Thursday Apr 17, 2008, 04:38:09 PM
update,

Still a very weak signal.  I am at about 40-50% when all other channels are still around 80-90%.

OTA Fox  ch 6.1 is still unwatchable for me.  It cuts out every few seconds and the screen goes blank.

Thanks,
Brandon
Title: WITI Channel 6 Signal Strength Issues
Post by: bschlafer on Thursday Apr 17, 2008, 09:16:26 PM
I've been using OTA for about a year now with a homemade antenna in my apartment attic.  I live in Sussex and have a LG 42" plasma.

WITI channel 6 is typically the "weak sister" of all the primary channels out of Milwaukee.  I usually see about 75-85% signal strength across the board, except for channel 6, which often flutters between 55-70%.  Weather often seems to be a factor.


-Bill
Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: bigbwb on Monday May 05, 2008, 09:30:10 PM
Just seeing if anyone has determined as to why Fox 6 signals been so weak the last month or so?  My signal is still very weak compared to what I have gotten in the past.  At one point last weeek or so, the signal was back up to full strength and today again probably around 60%?

I use to be able to record the OTA broadcasts on Fox from my PC and now all I get is "NO SIGNAL".

Anyone have any background info as to why this is happening?

Thanks again,
Brandon
Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: tbarney on Monday May 05, 2008, 10:16:38 PM
I'm in Germantown and my Fox 6 signal is over 90%, same as always.
Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: bigbwb on Tuesday May 06, 2008, 08:06:01 PM
well then I am at a true loss here.  I have not done anything with my system, antenna, or antenna amp.  I cannot imagine its the antenna or amp because all other locals OTA come in just fine as they always did.

Fox 6 is the only station that recently doe snot come in well at all.

Anyone have any thoughts as to a solution or what the issue might be?



Thanks in advance,

Brandon
Title: re: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: bschlafer on Tuesday May 06, 2008, 09:53:11 PM
I blame channel 6's bloated newcasts for dragging down the signal.  :D
Title: OTA Fox 6 weaker signal lately?
Post by: bigbwb on Wednesday May 07, 2008, 06:18:17 PM
I hear ya^^^^^^

Good thing I normally watch ch 12 for news coverage:)

The wife watches Idol, Bones, & House with me so Fox 6 is crucial each week.

Good news though,

When I got home I checked the signal meter again & guess what, the signal has gone up into the 80% region:rock:

I didn't change a thing..........oh well.

Brandon