Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!van-bc!ubc-cs!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!ists!sparrms!sparatd!mb
From: mb@sparrms.ists.ca (Mike Bell)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: TV Antennas
Keywords: Antenna TV
Message-ID: <1990Dec11.160624.17690@sparrms.ists.ca>
Date: 11 Dec 90 16:06:24 GMT
References: <12765@milton.u.washington.edu>
Organization: Spar Aerospace Ltd, Toronto, Canada
Lines: 32

In <12765@milton.u.washington.edu> amigo@milton.u.washington.edu (The Friend) writes:

>     Anyone have some hints to improve TV reception from a TV Antenna?

>     I bought a Rat-Shack 100 mile antenna, and set it up properly (avoiding

>     My problem is that it won't pick up much at all. Well at least it seems


Quick suggestions:

(1) Is the polarisation correct for the stations? Eg. in Toronto area
    Ch 49 from Buffalo is vertically polarised, all the other channels
    are horizontally polarised. Worth a check.

(2) Is the coax cable very long or very lossy? If so, a mast mounted
    amplifier is one possibility. 

(3) Antenna correct for bands in question?
	Ch 12 is one end of VHF band
	Ch 28 is low UHF

(4) Antenna not accurately pointed. (OK, you said it was, but check.
    The higher the antenna gain, the smaller the acceptance angle...)

Just a thought: since Ch 12 is VHF, Ch 28 is UHF, and both stations are
in opposite directions, you might be able to split the antenna... 
Also, a cheap VHF antenna might be an alternative to a rotator.

Best of luck.

-- Mike --