[mythtv-users] HDHomerun signal strength required

[Craig Treleaven]

At 10:52 PM -0500 2/21/08, backuppc at sundquist.imapmail.org wrote:
>On Thur, Feb 21, 2008, 2:07 PM, beww said:
> > ...
>> If your signal gets poor in bad weather for much longer periods, your
>> problem might be poorly weatherproofed connectors in your antenna
>> feed, Trees in the path becoming laden with water, snow building up on
>> your antenna and other factors only indirectly related to the bad
>> weather.
>
>This image can address both of these comments:
>
>http://www.remotecentral.com/hdtv/toronto-buffalo.png
>
>I am located right about at the southeast corner of the box that says
>"WIVB 4/39".  So the two directions from which I need to receive signals
>from are almost 180 degrees apart, with the old big 3 networks to the
>south-southeast, and the rest on on Grand Island to the north-northwest.
>My understanding is that so long as they are in opposite direction
>things are OK.  But I should probably check the aim.  The antennas, 300-
>75 ohm connectors, and 3-foot leads to the splitter/merger are
>identical, so phasing should be OK.
>
>Another goal is to try to get some of the stations on the CN tower in
>Toronto (same direction as Grand Island).  It's far away, but it's the
>tallest freestanding structure in the world so a lot of people in the
>area can pick up (at least NTSC) stations from there.
>
>Also, as you can tell from the map, the "bad weather" I refer to is
>snow, not rain.  I also have some evergreens near the house that can
>collect snow.  Right now the antenna is the attic, so weatherproofing
>isn't an issue, but I may consider moving it outdoors next summer.
>
>And that bad weather is actually good weather -- I'll be out skiing this
>weekend even though my HDHR will be beckoning me for to set it up!

I wonder if you could receive the south Buffalo transmitters through the 'backside' of an antenna, like the CHannel Master 4221, and the Grand Island and Toronto signals through the 'front'.  These antennas have a small lobe of reception off the back that may be quite sufficient to pick up the 3 that are nearby to the south.  Lots of people in Toronto are using 4221's to receive Buffalo signals so the reverse ought to work well for you.  Diagram of the 4221 pickup pattern is at:

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/cm4221.html

Mounting outdoors is obviously far superior to in the attic.  Amping a poor signal often results in a poor signal at higher levels.  Combining antennas works for some people but seems to be a black art with a ton of little details that all have to be just right.  Start with the simplest solution and see if it is sufficient.  Digital reception is way easier than analog. 

Craig