The government stole my free TV

[Newsman]

I guess I'm screwed. Its been two months since my original post. Two months since the guys "I from the government and I'm here to help you," said digital is better and whatever you were getting, well it'll only get better.
Not!!!
OK now Tiger, I did everything you told me to.
"You are a candidate for my deep=fringe prescription, which is the system that I think that you were referring to in your post. You need a Winegard YA-1713 VHF high-band antenna and an AntennasDirect XG-91 UHF antenna mounted on the same mast 4' above the VHF antenna. Combine the output of the two antennas with a Channel Master Titan 7777 preamplifier, which has separate VHF and UHF inputs. Replace ALL your antenna cable with new RG-6u coaxial cable! Mount the antenna array on top of a Channel Master 9521a rotator. Get as much altitude as you possibly can. Run the coax cable from the preamp and the rotator control cable into the house, and connect the preamplifier power supply to a 4 way high-quality 1 Ghz or better splitter then make your run to your TV tuners."
Guess what? I've got crap, actually less than crap.
The YA-1713 isn't even getting the three channels that my 25 yr old Channel Master got.
Well, I shouldn't say that, It went from 4 God channels to 8.
And as far as the XG-91 , I don't know what to expect, I'm getting nothing.
By the way, how exactly do they work? On the VHF there at physical links from each arm down to where the antenna lead in attaches.
On the UHF there aren't any physical connections from all of those wings. It looks like they just, for lack of a better word, focus the signal to the BowTie pickup, by bouncing it off the rear wedge shaped basket, unless something is missing.
The antenna is higher than the old one, about 25 feet off the roof and pointing at 166.5 degrees where TV Fool says the towers are.
BTW , rotating does absolutely nothing, no new and we don't lose God.
So does that mean that not only am I now out $400 or so, but I'm gonna have to throw away the new stuff and get the old antenna back on the roof????

[tigerbangs]

You have hooked up something the wrong way, but it's hard to say where to begin looking based on your post. Can you take a couple of photos of the installation and the wiring and let me see what you did??

You need to unscrew and open the preamplifier and switch the 'combined-separate' switch to the 'separate' position, for starters.

[Newsman]

OK> I went back on roof, lowered mast to check everything out and I can not find any mis-steps. I'm just saying it looks right to me. I know that I had changed the switch but opened amp anyway to check. It is set on the separate signal option. Took ohm readings on leadins and there are no shorts between center wire and ground. Used compass to set direction, both to align to North and also to check the 162.5 to transmitter. Well, actually the .5 is a guess. Ck'ed all connections, seem to be good. I'm either stumped or screwed. Here are some images. Hope they shed light on situation.

<a href="http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb286/nighteditor/?action=view&current=Anniecampandantenna011-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb286/nighteditor/th_Anniecampandantenna011-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>

<a href="http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb286/nighteditor/?action=view&current=Anniecampandantenna014.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb286/nighteditor/th_Anniecampandantenna014.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>

<a href="http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb286/nighteditor/?action=view&current=Anniecampandantenna018.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb286/nighteditor/th_Anniecampandantenna018.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>

<a href="http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb286/nighteditor/?action=view&current=Anniecampandantenna020.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb286/nighteditor/th_Anniecampandantenna020.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>

<a href="http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb286/nighteditor/?action=view&current=Anniecampandantenna023.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb286/nighteditor/th_Anniecampandantenna023.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>

<a href="http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb286/nighteditor/?action=view&current=Anniecampandantenna026.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb286/nighteditor/th_Anniecampandantenna026.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>

[Newsman]

Not sure if those links are working properly since I don't see images like I do when I post elsewhere. Trying another setting.

[tigerbangs]

I don't understand what's wrong: that antenna system should pull Tierra Del Fuego for you! I have to wonder about two things: aiming the antenna, and supplying power to the preamplifier. How many TV sets are you attempting to run from this system, again?

The XG-91 is know for an issue with it's bauln transformer that strips out and disconnects if the connection is over-tightened. I wonder if that's your problem on UHF.

I keep looking at your TVFool.com report, and the numbers are there: you should be seeing all the major NYC stations with that antenna without a problem. If your VHF ( Channels 7, 11, and 13) are coming in, and you have NO UHF from NYC, then my best guess would be that the bauln transformer on the XG-91 is bad. I would contact the dealer from whom you bought the antenna, or AntennasDirect itself to resolve the issue.


After re-reading your original post, it occured to me that you may still have that radio-shack amplifier in the line, and, if you do, remove it, as I am sure that the additional noise that it makes would damage your reception. The Titan 7777 has more than enough gain to power 4+ TV sets when run with a good splitter installed AFTER th power supply of the preamplifier.

[Newsman]

On the xg-91 hand tightened so doubt it is stripped.
The old amp was never in the line.
Right now I am only trying one set.
The VHF only came in on a 25 yr old Channel Master.
On the New Winegard antenna- NOTHING.
Question- How do I know amp is working, without lowering entire setup to bypass? Is there a voltage ck on output of
power module to ck or will that short the thing out.?
Have tried changing direction of antenna, actually the rotor is the only thing working. Move 5 degrees, rescan, do it again.
No sign of signal.
Tried different converters, Zenith TT901 and a Tivax STB-T9 with same results.
I would same that the common denominator would be the lead in Coax but I do get the 8 god channels so I have to
believe the coax is alright.
At this point I am almost ready to put the old 300 ohm Channel Master back up.
Suggestions please.

[tigerbangs]

Without actually being there, I am at a loss as to tell you where to go next: I wish I could help.

[IdahoBuff]

Newsman,
I'm just a rookie on this stuff; however, I do have a few suggestions... I would put my preamp as close to the UHF antenna as possible. Also, as I understand it the 7777 has an internal switch for setting the UHF/VHF inputs. Make sure you have it set for *separate* inputs. One more thing... TVFool has you station transmitters at 166 degrees magnetic... you might want to adjust your antenna accordingly. Good luck!!

[Newsman]

Is there a way to verify that all of the components are working? How do I know that I don't have a bum amp, or antenna?

Found this posted on another site as a "sticky." Now, this was in "04, before digital transition, but wondering if the rating for the antennas is still the same and does it make sense for me to change? I am especially upset that the YA 1713 isn't picking up anything when the 25 yr old channel master did.
Here are the posts:

"Originally posted by tigerbangs and has been needed repeatedly, so I'm reposting to have a convienent spot for this great suggestion.
tigerbangs
Antenna Maven
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: West Hartford, CT and Ottawa, ON

OK, once again, for clarity: the deep-fringe perscription is as follows,

1 Channel Master 4228 UHF antenna
1 Wade-Delhi VIP-306 VHF antenna
1 Channel Master Titan 7777 preamp
1 Channel Master 9521a rotator
30'+ antenna height from the ground

install carefully, avoid bodily injury

scan your digital tuner.

sit back and enjoy all-channel analog and digital reception

Do NOT substitute!"

And then there was this follow-up:

"the deep-fringe perscription listed in the sticky memo on the top of the thread page: don't deviate from it: it WORKS, and it has been proven time and time again! The real advantage of using the Channel Master Titan 7777 is it's dual inputs, eliminating the need for an external antenna joiner and the associated losses and additional connections. Don't make the mistake that most people make when selecting a deep-fringe UHF antenna: More gain is NOT the solution to recepton at great distances: capture area is the answer, and it is capture area where the 4228 excels. UHF signals scatter significantly beyond distances of 30-35 miles: moving the antenna even 6" can often make the difference between seeing a signal, and not seeing it. The larger the capture area of the antenna, the better it's chances of seeing a fringe-area signal. Differences of 1 or 2 DB of gain are meaningless when looking for UHF signals at distances of 35+ miles. We can always amplify a weak signal, but if the signal doesn't appear at the receiviing elements of the antenna, there is nothing to amplify! You didn't mention whether you are looking for digital or analog signals, or both, but in any event, the formula for success is the same."

Now are the changes in the antennas due to technology changes, or should I be considering trying them.

[tigerbangs]

That was MY recommedation 5 years ago whenn analog was still a consideration. Neither the Wade-Delhi VIP-306 nor the Channel Master 4228 are made any longer: the antenna system that I suggested to you is my current best recommendation.Unless you are seriously mis-aimed, have a bad preamplifier or wiring issues, or you should be seing all the NYC channels. Try one of the channels that you DO get , check it for signal strength using the meter on your TV set, then unplug the preamplifier and see what happens.