I only recieve 6-1 ?

[chure]

I just moved to 130th and Burliegh and have put organizing the closet, basement and garage on hold until I get the TV figured out.  There is an existing large element antenna mounted on the chimney, which will be out of my realm to adjust.  The cable from the antenna comes in from outside to a 4-way splitter. I plugged in a cable to my Sam. t160 from one of the splits and the only OTA channel I received was FOX 6-1, and also 24-1.  4-1, and 12-1 never even came up on the guide much less able to be seen. 1-1, 10-1, and 18-1 came up on the guide but weren't able to be seen.  

Should I expect the existing antenna to land me 1-1, 4-1, 12-1 which I'm looking for.  At my previous house (in Tosa by the mall), I had a channelmaster 4228, and it didn't seem to recieve all the channels there either. I understand anything is possible but would I have better results with the 4228 in the attic here in Brookfield?

I guess the thing that is hard for me to understand is why would I receive FOX 6, supposedly the hardest channel to pull in, but I can't receive the others?  What's up with 4-1 and 12-1?  Is the 4-way splitter screwing things up?

[mrmike]

A splitter is going to lose you some gain, but it's just as likely IMNSHO that your antenna is pointed off in the weeds and you're catching a lucky side-lobe for 6-1.  Most folks just put the antenna up however it fits and don't pay much attention to orientation.

[audiopile]

I would suggest the following as a reasonable approach to troubleshooting your problem:
1.) if you can - use a small analog TV as a mobile troubleshooting tool. A 9" TV is something that a lot of people have floating around somewhere - borrow one if possible or use a 13" and make up/ purchase a RG-6 cable around 20' or so long. As far as I know - most TV stations are co-locating their digital transmit antennas on the same towers their existing NTSC service is using. If you can get any kind of half decent analog signal - you can probably get a good digital feed from that same station. I think the execption to this rule is 10/36 - their digital feed is located on 58s? new tower just  North of Villard on Green Bay Rd. - their analogs are widely seperated from each other and the digital feed. 10-1 -7 also is the only VHF (channel digi station at this time.
2.) Start as close to the antenna as possible and attach the TV. How's the pict? If you can get at least say half the local  NTSC signals well'  - reconnect and move lower in the signal chain - if at some point the picture goes to hell - what is in between the last good reception area and the point where your pict goes away or goes big time ghosty?
3.) If you can't get a good picture even with almost nothin between you and the antenna - try borrowing a spotting scope( not a rifle scope) from a target shooter and visually examine as much of the co-ax as you can see on the outside of the house - this stage does occasionaly lead to interacting with the Police - but they will understand what you're doing - no big deal. If anything doesn't look good - it's probably bad and needs to be replaced. UV and the weather will eventually take their toll on exposed cable - this is a basic problem you may need to address.
4.) Other things to look at:
       a.) cable ends should IMO ALL be snap and seals. These are somewhat expensive and the tools to install them are a lot more expensive than the RS ring cruncher - but they work every time! The cable companies didn't standarize on a connector that literally cost them 10 times what a "standard" RF connector does because they wanted to help out Thomas Betts - they did it because you don't get call backs on snap and seals ( well at least unless you're a complete idiot!) . You need to know what kind of cable you've got ( OA diameter plus diameter of shield/insulator structure) - usually you can find the manufactor's name, cable type or stock no. printed every few feet on the co-ax and cross reference this to find the specific snap and seal you want. I do not like to think what portion of my life I have wasted chasing down problems caused by bad terminations ( some of which I installed originally) - snap and seals eliminate this.
      b.) a classic problem is that  RF booster amp is installed someplace obscure ( attic/crawl space/basement floor joist's/closet,etc.) and it's either died of old age or is un-plugged from power..
       c.) another splitter is downstream of the antenna and is disconnected. Very common when the sat. co. decided to re-use the existing cable structure and the antenna is abandonded in place - not hooked up to anything . I really think this might be what's happening with you - since a alligator clip lead on the back of a HD reciever has been able to pick up several HD stations. Why you're getting 6-1 is really a mystery?
                                                                    Hope this is some help.