Samsung TS-360 in Lutz. Advice?

[brstar]

I'm looking for any kind of input regarding OTA reception. I recently had D* installed with a Samsung TS-360 and a Winegard MS-2000. When I run the Digital Channel Scan - it picks up all of the HD stations, but only Fox 13 comes in uninterrupted. The majority of the xx-1 channels have a rating of 40-50. I live in Lutz - which I'm assuming is the biggest part of the problem. The installer mounted the antenna on top of the roof about about 6 feet above the D* dish that he mounted on the side of the house. The MS-2000 has a pretty-much unobstructed view of the direction to Riverview - which I calculate as 30 miles away in a SSE direction. Would a larger Direction antenna help me? Or, do I have about all I'm going to get?
Thanks in advance for any input.
Brett

[jaymer]

hi,
well, i'd suggest searching the OTA section for "Lutz".
several others have posts there and you can see what they are using.

the 'rule of thumb' for Tampa when you have the transmitters in different directions is that you'd need 2 antennas, with a jointenna (see our Reviews section). there are exceptions to this though.

you can see info about this antenna here
http://www.starkelectronic.com/wms2000.htm

but it doesn't much matter what the docs say if it doesn't work for you.
yes, for reliable signal, you may have to change. a directional (vs. omni) would seem to nail the Riverchannels from where you are. that may be a good start without worrying about CBS now until the new season starts.
so, try a simple directional uhf/vhf and enjoy all channels but CBS. if that works, then consider bringing in another cheapo antenna to aim to the coast PLUS the jointenna.

jaymer...

(gee... no "sniping" at all <G> )

[tampatom]

The D* installer just installed the same stuff at my house in Wesley Chapel. antennaweb.org shows me between 23.8 to 25.6 miles away from Rview.

The only difference from your installation is that he installed my MS-2000 in the attic. We got all the channels, but 38 was pixelating pretty badly. He told his helper to rotate the antenna about a half inch toward the south, and 38 came in as clear as all of them, including CBS.

The next day, I noticed a couple of channels having problems, and since I had nothing to do, I took the antenna, mounted it on an old tripod I had and slowly started rotating it. As omni-directional as they may like you to believe, you can rotate it, so you can't get any signals, or pretty much all the signals. You may need to play with it a little.

As time goes on, I may get a little stronger antenna and see if I can pick up Orlando, Sarasota, etc.

[brstar]

Thanks for the replies. Jaymer, I've read a whole lot of posts here before posting my own question - an after posting for that matter and here's what I did. I went to Home Depot and got an RCA 110" directional. I threw that up on the roof in place of the Winegard - then, rushing to see my new 100 on the strength meter - I bumped the dish mounted to the side of the house!!! I came inside, went to 8-1 and was getting a great picture in HD with no pixelation. I then went to satellite channel 8 and was receiving all kinds of interference - I checked the satellite strength meter and was at a fluctuating 60! Next, I tried in vain for 2 hours to get my satellite strenght back to no avail. So, today I'll be spending all morning trying to locate the sat signal... What a kick in the a$$...

[brstar]

Well, here's a lesson learned. In hooking up the directional antenna, I didn't bother to check the line or I might have noticed the winegard preamp connection that OBVIOUSLY doesn't work with the directional antenna. So, instead of spending 3 hours screwing around trying to get my D* signal back, I could have just replaced the preamp with a diplexer and would have got the satellite picture back!
I'm still getting fluctuating digital strength, but I'm "assuming" that it's just the way the Samsung D* HDTV STB works? Any input on this? I'm getting all the major networks digital channels well, including CBS - with only minor pixelation during the olympics, usually on replays and fast motion. Should I try a preamp specific to my directional antenna.
Again, any input is really appreciated. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to help someone else on here when they try to replace the winegard!
~Brett

[jaymer]

LOL _ bumped the dish - haha

well, at least it wasn't really that, but the amp issue.

so, if you are getting a strong signal on "all networks" (and these would infer the Riverview stations, since CBS is at a 90-degree angle (more or less) to you), then you're in pretty good shape.

there's 2 broadcast anomalies that can occur...
1) temporary loss of signal, which can manifest in large graphic blocks on the screen and big stutters, or half the screen sticking for a moment, etc., and
2) the poorer visual picture when high-speed action is on a screen - most usually sees in a water scene. thats just a bandwidth issue and doesn't have anything to do with your antenna.

you may have one, or both, but they are not related. you may try moving the directional a bit, because now you'd obviously prefer to never get thos hiccups on NBC... although many others have recently reported this type of loss of signal during NBC olympic coverage... and likewise, Bryan has stated "nothing wrong with NBC".

Now that I'm back in town, I'll be watching some events and will see if I notice anything.

Also, once you've nailed the Riverview channels and can see how great the HD picture is, you're ready to proceed to that next step of getting a good lock on CBS (possibly with the Jointenna, maybe not). You're just getting lucky to pick up some of it while you are pointing South, but you might find you could point SOUTHWEST and maybe be lucky enough to get BOTH - will just take some fiddling around if you are up to it.
jaymer...

[brstar]

Thanks for the reply. I think I'll buy a Jointenna and see where that gets me. I used a magnetic compass to make sure I was pointed at 153 degrees per antennaweb, but again I'm still get a flux of readings on the STB. I was not getting all the stations that I receive now when I was using only the winegard ms2000 - although the signal strength was roughly the same on the channels I was receiving. I'll try the southwest attitude and see if I get anything. It's kinda hard to do when it's one person running up the ladder and back. But, my wife is off this weekend... she should be able to get up and down from there pretty quickly!
If all else fails, I'm gonna erect a 40' tower screw the neighbors!
Go Bucs,
Brett