NBC HD - Fluctuating signal strength

[Gerryex]

Has anyone seen changing signal numbers for NBC's HD channel (7-1)? I have the equivalent of a DTC-100 built into my TV, and my signal is from a community master antenna, and all the digital channels come in real strong. However, over the last few days NBC's channel sometimes comes in with wild fluctuations from 70 down to 0. Usually its solid around 88. Last night (Wed) it was so bad that I could not watch The West Wing in HD. But this morning it was back to its solid 88.

Anybody else see this?

Thanks,
Gerry

[t0mryan]

In am all over this problem, anyone else seen this lately?

I am trying to watch the olympics, but can not stand the fact that the digital picture is so freeaking choppy!!!. Bothe 8.1 and 8.2 have feeds, different feeds of the Olympics, very cool, but the signal stability sucks. This has been goign on with NBC for a more than a few weeks. I am in South Tampa, and the only signals I anm not over 80% on would be NBC and WB. Some days the signal will be solid as a rock no waver, and other days I am forced to watch the SD signal of something that looks fantastic in HD, but not worth watching.

Help, any one have a number for engenering at the local NBC station? I am willing to give them a call to ask if they are doing something with hteir antenna.

Thanks
Tom

[t0mryan]

Ok, I have been doing a bit more research (trying different things).

Have the antenna in the attic, it was giving me the fluctuation signals, and for NBC it was lower than anywhere else. Everything else was nice and strong. Sooooooooo I started by trying an set of RCA ammplified bunny ears. Guess what, much stronger signal for NBC, so strong I could not believe it, started checking other channels, a bunch did not show up at all, for instance ABC. Started getting interesting at this point. I checked my connections and cable paths. My attic antenna was going through my power conditioner (surge Protector), a Monster Power 5200. So I disconected it, and just feed the cable from the antenna dirrectly into the Sony HD200 box. Signal strength went WAY up. Still fluctuates a little. I need to check the attic, but I think I may have a preamp on this line. If that is the case here is what I expect was happening. Signal fluctations were being ammplified, and then when they went into the conditioner, it was clipping the signal because of the variations, and peaks. It thought these peaks were bad things, and filters clamped reducing the signal to nothing.

So what do you guys think, any one experience this? Think I am nuts or wrong. Anyone have a better explanation?

Regards,

Tom

[sfollenius]

I have had the same problem for the past 3 weeks. I get 70-80% signal strenth, then it drops down to 0 for a second or two, comes back, and every once it will just get choppy and not drop out at all, drop down to about 20% its weird.

[t0mryan]

Ok,

I changed the cable set up, my OTA is going directly into the Tunner, not into the conditioner/filter. Seams to make a little difference. BUT in the early evenings there are still stability problems. I am using an HD-200, but everything else is rock solid (except WB of course).

Any one know if NBC is F#@$*&G with their tower? Because it is gettign frustrating. The Wife just looks at me and says "FIX IT".

Joy Joy Fun Fun.

Tom

[teampozer]

If you're in south Tampa there's no way you should be having these problems with WFLA. I'm farther west in St. Pete and get it strong. In my opinion based on everything you've said, you've got too much going on there. Lose the amp, the power "conditioner", and just run the coax straight to the box. See what that does. You actually may be putting too much signal to the box and overpowering it. Also you could have multipath issues. You don't have a metal roof do you? If you've got 2 antennas connected without using a jointenna, that could be the issue. I'm just guessing here and am no way claiming to be right. I found out the hard way too that the the more gadgets you add in your wiring, the more frustation you'll have with digital channel reception.

[Bschneider]

I agree with teampozer on this..

There is nothing wrong with the NBC signal.. I would lean more toward a multipath problem.

[Bschneider]

Please post to the NBC thread.

http://www.tampahdtv.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=725&sid=ce3a64550cc5fc6c70f659e6f541924d