I have this HUGE digital antenna on the roof of my house. It was installed by a professional. When I look at signal strength it is between 81-96 on all channells.
But then it just drops to 0. AThen it goes back up. It makes watching HD OTA annoying.

I may have a branch in the way, but it's not a big one and it's pretty far away from the antenna.

So what do I need next? Should I put an in line signal booster? Perhaps I need to mount the antenna on a longer pole and get that puppy 30 feet above my house that sits on Top of a hill?

It's not just one tv. zThis happens on both.
Can anyone offer some good advice?

FYI: I am using Dish Network. With a seperate OTA antenna.

Problem sounds like a multipath issue. Got a better location so we can give you some better advice ?

Hopefully some of the experts here (I am not one) will chime in, but I am wondering if this is a multipath issue. You might experiment with changing the direction of the antenna, not necessarily finding the strongest signal, just one that stays consistent. Also I don't think a signal booster would help your problem, as you have already seen that you can get a strong signal.

Problem sounds like a multipath issue. Got a better location so we can give you some better advice ?

My zip code is 40059. This is from antenna web.
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Stations.aspx


I don't know what a multipath issue means but I will look it up right now.
The hardware is a VIP722DVR.

Multipath is caused by a signal coming from more than one location. Using analog TV, you would see this as a "ghost" because one signal would arrive just a bit later than the other. In the digital realm, this often causes interference, causing the signal quality meter to do what you are seeing. You should try to move the antenna a bit to the left or right until you aren't getting the big jumps any more. Having a rotator for your OTA antenna makes this easy.

Multipath is caused by a signal coming from more than one location. Using analog TV, you would see this as a "ghost" because one signal would arrive just a bit later than the other. In the digital realm, this often causes interference, causing the signal quality meter to do what you are seeing. You should try to move the antenna a bit to the left or right until you aren't getting the big jumps any more. Having a rotator for your OTA antenna makes this easy.

With about 80 foot of coax cable could the cable itself be acting like an antenna causing multipath issues?

I wouldn't think so. How's buildings, trees around your area ? How far are you from the antennas?

I wouldn't think so. How's buildings, trees around your area ? How far are you from the antennas?

I'm on a hill. Less than 15 miles from the various towers. Little, if any, tree interfearence.

Perhaps I need to get the antenna up and over the crest of the roof?

My zip code is 40059.
For your zip code and adding an antenna height of 200' under options to get a more complete list, the edited antennaweb results for the digital stations are:

* yellow - uhf WHAS-DT 11.1 ABC LOUISVILLE KY 275° 13.7 55
* yellow - uhf WKPC-DT 15.1 PBS LOUISVILLE KY 278° 12.8 17
* yellow - uhf WAVE-DT 3.1 NBC LOUISVILLE KY 279° 12.7 47
* yellow - uhf WDRB-DT 41.1 FOX LOUISVILLE KY 273° 13.7 49
* yellow - uhf WKMJ-DT 38.1 PBS LOUISVILLE KY 278° 12.8 38
* yellow - uhf WLKY-DT 32.1 CBS LOUISVILLE KY 279° 12.7 26
* yellow - uhf WMYO-DT 58.1 MNT SALEM IN 273° 13.7 51
* green - vhf WBNA-DT 21.1 ION LOUISVILLE KY 205° 23.7 8

The last number on each line is the actual digital broadcast channel. All of your nearby locals except for the Ion station are currently on UHF and only around 13 miles away. BTW, WHAS-DT ABC 11 will be switching from UHF 55 to VHF 11 in Feb, 2009 after the analog shutdown, so you do need upper VHF and UHF coverage. Do you know what model antenna the installer put on the house?

Based on your numbers, I would have suggested a smaller short to medium range antenna, not a huge long range model. But you have what you have. Can you adjust the aim of the antenna or does that require a risky climb up to the roof to do? Your drop-outs do sound like multi-path, but if all the channels do this, another possibility is a poor connection that cuts in and out when the cable moves in the wind. Can you unscrew and reconnect any of the connections?

A useful website for antenna basics and info is http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ISSUES/erecting_antenna.html.

Perhaps I need to get the antenna up and over the crest of the roof?Being below the crest of the roof can even be what's causing multipath problems - from the roof itself.

You can at least try it if it's not too much trouble.

This is starting to feel like a Saturday thing. Right now it's pouring down rain and my roof is pretty far up there.:eek:


The antenna is a rectangle. About 3 foot by 4 foot with fencing on one side and v shaped little bars on the other. We are using a radio shack thing that connects the coax to the antenna.

So come Sat I need to:
1. get up on my roof.
2. Install a device used to turn the antenna.
3. Mount said antenna on a 14 foot pole vs. the 4 footer it is now on.
4. Check all conections.
5. Tune the direction of the antenna.
Poof. Fixed. :)

Providing I don't bust my rear end comming off the roof, I'll post my results.:p

Sounds like a plan - be careful up there. And check in when you're done please.

Your antenna needs to be aimed a little bit north of due west. If you can get a compass - that will help greatly.

Yes- be careful. Adding the rotor will make the mast very top heavy its not easy for one person to lift up a 14+ ft. mast with a huge antenna and rotor on the end of it, even on level, solid ground.

I wanted to add that the antenna being used is a Channel Master 4228. Does this change anything?

the 4228 is a very well regarded antenna around here for UHF and even acceptable for upper VHF (7-13). All you really need to do on the mast is get the bottom of it over the crest of the roof by a foot or two and you should be OK.

Posting results:

A. I am Alive! :) aka: Did not fall off the roof.
B. The antenna was turned around backwards. I turned it around and poof- Perfect Picture. :) Getting 98-100% and it stays locked it.

Thanks for the help guys.:D

A. I am Alive! :) aka: Did not fall off the roof.
B. The antenna was turned around backwards. I turned it around and poof- Perfect Picture. :) Getting 98-100% and it stays locked it.
The professional installer put up the CM 4228 facing backwards?! Does not exactly inspire confidence in the installer. :rolleyes: (You should give them a call and complain just to let them know.)

Good to hear that you got it aimed and working! And did not fall off the roof. :D