Signal Breakup Problem

[DanJr]

Equipment:

Pioneer Plasma (HD4270) DB4 Antenna (installed in garage attic)
Winegard AP-8700 Pre-Amp
Using a run of about 50 feet of 75 ohm cable from the garage to ONE (1) TV.
Zip = 80120
No tall buildings within 3-4 blocks (residential neighborhood with a two-story residence next store barely cutting off line of site to Lookout Mountain.

Desired stations (2, 4, 7, 9 and 31...basically all of the main networks plus Fox) are all located on Lookout Mountain in Denver, so aiming is relatively easy. According to the Pioneer plasma, we get a signal strength of around 53 for all channels without the pre-amp, and about 73 for all channels with the pre-amp.

Now the problem. Channels 7 and 31 breakup shortly after switching to the channel, with or without the pre-amp. Channel 9 occasionally breaks up, but not often. Channels 2 and 4 always look great! The others would also look great too, if they didn't then break up.

If we use the remote to "reconnect" to one of the bad channels after its started breaking up, the screen "noise" (I guess you call it???) goes away for a few seconds, then starts again making the channel unwatchable.

Thought about installing DB4 outside on our 2 story chimney, but think that we're already getting a decent signal??? Plus chimney is located between the house next door and Lookout Mountain.

After installing pre-amp, rescanned the TV a few times after changing the direction of the antenna a little bit. Doesn't help.

Could the problem be related to the Pioneer's tuner?

Any ideas would be appreciated!

Thanks! Dan

[tigerbangs]

A DB-4 mounted in a garage is like having no antenna at all: you need to get the antenna outdoors, on the roof, as high as you can. You are in a VERY strong signal area, and should seee all of the local TV stations at close to 100% if you use the correct antenna and cable, and mount the antenna on the roof. Unfortunately, the DB-4 is a poor choice because it does NOT do VHF very well, which explains why you have issues with KMGH.

I also believe that the bauln transformer that connects the coax cable to the antenna may be faulty.: your signal quality is not even close to what you should be experiencing, and I believe that the bauln transformer or the coax cable may be bad.

If you own a Pioneer plasma TV, you have a substantial investment HDTV, and it would behoove you to consider starting from scratch with a VHF-high-band plus UHF antenna mounted on the roof. You shouldn't need a preamplifier if you good cable and keep yoyr coax cable lengths lesss than 75'. I would replace the DB-4 with a Winegard HD-7694P aimed at 290 degrees by your compass, adn your reception issues will be over.

If you are concerned about any HOA restrictions, please read that link rom the FCC: the HOA cannot prevent you from installing a TV or radio antenna on your owner-occupied, single family property.

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

http://www.winegard.com