I am having an issue picking up 2 channels.
I have a roof antenna inheirited when I bought the house and also have a Silver Sensor on the armoire. I send these 2 signals to a combiner, then to a splitter, then to my two LG's. This has allowed me to have great signal for all my digital OTA's.
Recently, when I turn the channel to 2-2 or 2-1 (digital 34) or 29-1 (digital 21) on my LG 3410 or 3510, I get no signal.
When I walk up to move the Silver Sensor to gain a signal, sha-zam, the signal pops up to be a nearly strong signal. If I turn the channel to a different station and then turn it back to either of the 2-'s or 29, I am back to no signal. Walk up, touch the Silver Sensor, signal.

Does anyone have an idea what could be causing this, or have I discovered that I now possess some magical power? (For Heroes fans, no, I don't have a double-mark on my neck :) )

timmer

I am having an issue picking up 2 channels.
I have a roof antenna inheirited when I bought the house and also have a Silver Sensor on the armoire. I send these 2 signals to a combiner, then to a splitter, then to my two LG's. This has allowed me to have great signal for all my digital OTA's.
Recently, when I turn the channel to 2-2 or 2-1 (digital 34) or 29-1 (digital 21) on my LG 3410 or 3510, I get no signal.
When I walk up to move the Silver Sensor to gain a signal, sha-zam, the signal pops up to be a nearly strong signal. If I turn the channel to a different station and then turn it back to either of the 2-'s or 29, I am back to no signal. Walk up, touch the Silver Sensor, signal.

Does anyone have an idea what could be causing this, or have I discovered that I now possess some magical power? (For Heroes fans, no, I don't have a double-mark on my neck :) )

timmer

It is usually impossible to diagnose reception problems and give possible cures because of the multitude of variables that can cause problems. However, from what you have reported, most likely multipath on channels 21 and 34 is the cause. The ATSC receiver chip needs to lock on to the transmitted signal in order for it to decode. In the presence of multipath, it may have a difficult time locating the correct signal sync, and by being near the antenna, your body is acting like an extension to the antenna, changing the characteristics of the received signal. By aiding the signal, (perhaps blocking the interfering signal) it may find the correct sync and can lock on. You may find that locating the antenna in another spot can reduce this effect, but may introduce problems on other channels. I have found the Silver Sensor to be quite sensitive to even minor changes in its location. Hope this helps.

I am having an issue picking up 2 channels.
I have a roof antenna inheirited when I bought the house and also have a Silver Sensor on the armoire. I send these 2 signals to a combiner, then to a splitter, then to my two LG's. This has allowed me to have great signal for all my digital OTA's.
Recently, when I turn the channel to 2-2 or 2-1 (digital 34) or 29-1 (digital 21) on my LG 3410 or 3510, I get no signal.
When I walk up to move the Silver Sensor to gain a signal, sha-zam, the signal pops up to be a nearly strong signal. If I turn the channel to a different station and then turn it back to either of the 2-'s or 29, I am back to no signal. Walk up, touch the Silver Sensor, signal.

Does anyone have an idea what could be causing this, or have I discovered that I now possess some magical power? (For Heroes fans, no, I don't have a double-mark on my neck :) )

timmer

Multipath is the reception of the same signal from different paths. Combining two antennas together is an excellent way to create multipath (not good for digital reception) and creates ghosting in analog reception. I would suggest using one antenna or the other, not both.

Thanks Mgibsoj and jimboy,
What's weird is that losing these two stations just started happening.
I originally got the silver sensor to help me pick up my local ABC station as it is digital 50 and I would contstantly lose signal for that. Adding the SS really helped in that I was able to position the roof antenna and the SS and then pick up every local digital station without having to move anything constantly. This has worked flawlessly for the past couple months. As I record on my DVR, I wanted to have signal for everything without having to be there to reposition stuff. Maybe as the seasons are changing, I am losing something that used to be present in the winter? Can't remember if/which summer vs winter digital reception is better/worse.
I guess I will have to go downstairs, use the rotor to move the roof antenna, and see if I can get everything again. I am reluctant to only use one or the other as I have had such good luck combining both, but thanks jimboy for the lesson.

timmer

Located at multipath central (midtown Manhattan), I've encountered similar problems with Silver Sensor reception. Standing near the SS, or touching it, varies multipath sensitivity and lock-in. Used to experiment with a magazine-size sheet of aluminum foil propped behind the SS. Sometimes that locked in hard-to-tune channels. Might be a problem with so-called microreflections--signals bouncing about the room. From other posts, it reads like newer 4th/5th-generation-chip tuners (6ths are coming) can overcome many multipath problems; some sets have these chips built in. -- John

John,

Thanks for the advice on the aluminum foil, I might have to give that a try.

I should also mention that after I touch the SS and then walk away, the station will stay locked in.
Once I turn the channel and then turn back, no signal.
Oh well, I'll keep experimenting because that's free ;)

timmer

Mount the SS where you sit so you can always reach up and touch it.....problem solved.

Hi Timmer,

Don't you just hate that get up and touch it. I just going to suggest what John said, but I would add is try different sizes and to the side of the antenna just will have to do a lot of trial and error experiment. another suggestion, take a flat sheet foil and put across the room you will be shock it will work unless someone walks in front of it kinda like a around conorer spot mirror. I am not suggest it will cure the problem but worth the try like you said it free.

Good Luck

Willie

I guess I'd hafta ask why doesn't the outside antenna on the rotor work well enough on its own. Perhaps a replacment is in order, and check the cableing.

Good question jimboy,

The reason I got the SS was because my roof antenna would not pick up my local ABC station (digital 50 - i.e. ultra uhf and staggered on the tower from the rest of the transmitters) while still picking up all the other locals and because the rotor was in the basement and my system is upstairs. No way was I going up and down the stairs anymore, wearing my wireless headphones, turning the rotor, listening for audio (meaning I'm getting a signal), watching whatever for an hour, and then going back downstairs to re-rotor. Plus my DVR, I wanted to be able to be gone for the night and still have stuff record. My solution; add an extra antenna. As you can tell, I hate getting up off the couch, so getting up and touching the SS which is a staggering 8 feet away on top of the armoire is out of the question :) But holding a piece of tinfoil in my hand and waving it in the air like I just don't care, although looking ridiculous, might work. And - free.

couch potatoes unite !!

timmer

I am having an issue picking up 2 channels. I have a roof antenna inherited when I bought the house and also have a Silver Sensor on the armoire. I send these 2 signals to a combiner

the reception issue may be more induced by combining 2 antennas....the situation centers around the combination of antennas and the nebulous hodge podge of signal processing occuring in your setup.

the foil may just mask/tame the situation.

I would explore what is going on with your main setup. your signals should be stong .

before you know it, the next step will be... instead to touching your ss... adjusting it everytime you change the channel. the ss is rather directional. the exercise is good for you but gets rather old after awhile.

you may want to replace the main antenna with one that tames multipath more and also cleanup your setup and connections.

what is your main antenna anyway?

Rick,

I am not sure what make/model my antenna is, I have done very little research on this as it has always just been there and worked O.K. with the rotor.
I will have to go up on the roof to check this out.
I am sure it is old, I am sure the cableing is old (jimboy), I am sure one of the splitters I am using is old, but I still get good-great digital reception for the rest of my local OTA's.
So if it ain't broke, ... oops, it kinda is broke, but so am I.
Tinfoil is cheap though.
I will see if I can figure out the make/model and report back.

timmer