I just posted this at the Home Theater Forum and figured I'd post it here also.

I have a peculiar problem with a new antenna... maybe. After posting at the HTF, I realized the problem may have another source.

For some time I've been looking to replace a 20 year old, well weathered ChannelMaster antenna. I found good deal on the Clearstream 2 antenna at Costco. I did a bit of research and thought it would work for our situation. It has a 50+ range and we are located about 35+ miles from where all broadcast towers are located.

Naturally, after purchasing it, I find out that three of the major TV stations in our area are still broadcasting in the VHF range (according to Antennaweb.org), which the Clearstream won't pick up. These stations are 8, 10 and 12. More about them later in the post.

I debated about whether or not to try out the Clearstream or just return it. I decided to try it out.

I left up the old antenna in case the Clearstream didn't work out, and rigged up a temporary pole to mount the Clearstream to. The Clearstream is about three feet higher than the old antenna. I switched the cable from the old antenna to the Clearstream.

Inside, I checked out reception on a Toshiba in a bedroom, a Samsung in the living room, and an ElGato EyeTV unit on a Mac mini attached to the Samsung. Surprise, every station continued to come in and, according to my wife, some looked better than before.

For about 30 minutes.

Then the Samsung and the EyeTV unit stopped receiving two of the three VHF stations… but not the same two. I rescanned channels on all three devices. The Samsung picks up channel 10, but not 8 or 12. The EyeTV picks up channel 12, but not 8 or 10. ??? Meanwhile, the Toshiba continues to receive all channels. More ???

I found all this odd because the antenna cable goes to a digital signal splitter in the attic where a separate cable (of the same make and length) goes to each device. And this is where (after posting at HTF) I realized the problem may be. The digital signal splitter. Although... why would that affect reception now?

Any ideas on what's going on and/or suggestions to fix Or should I just say forget it, and return the Clearstream and buy a new ChannelMaster?

Many thanks.

While antenna tech doesn't need to be any different, the digital streams do seem to behave a bit differently from the analog ones of the past. You should try turning the antenna a bit to either side, constantly measuring the readings. Perhaps via cellphone to someone in front of the TVs. My (pretty directional) antenna is now angled in a way that I really didn't expect, now that all signals are digital. It's at something like a 10-20 deg angle to the direction of the transmitters. Also, when I had some problems recently, I found it was the vertical angle that was the problem, not horizontal. I now have 2 EyeTV Ones and a Tivo all getting acceptable signal.

If it doesn't work, try a model that is designed for both VHF/UHF signal.

Antennas Direct is the only company that has ever seemingly competed well against the old standard Channel Master and Winegard companies. So, in this case, I wouldn't think a CM version would be better just because of the brand. But if your old model was working perfectly, apart from age/damage, getting the exact same style does seem like the best course of action.

After a quite a bit of time spent going up to (and down from) the roof about a dozen times today, along with TV testing of station signal strength, I've come to the conclusion my weird reception issue is signal degradation due to use of a signal splitter, different (and poor quality) cables, and cable lengths. And maybe TV receiver sensitivity. When I connected the Samsung directly to the Clearstream with a 30 foot cable, it received all channels despite being lower on the roof and not perfectly oriented horizontally or vertically.

Fixing all the issues just to use the Clearstream isn't worth it at this time. I'm keeping the ChannelMaster up, for the time being, but it's clearly seen better days.

Of course, none of what I've figure out explains why the Clearstream is picking up VHF stations.

Isn't it fun?!

Well, VHF is pretty easy to receive. That's why so many people went to "UHF-only" antennas and didn't really notice the difference. For comparison: FM antennas these days are usually just a single wire you drape somewhere, and that is right in the middle of the VHF band.

I use a simple 4-way splitter that claims 2GHz bandwidth or something, designed for digital sat wires. And all RG-6 quad shield cables, trying to keep them from being overly long, as well. I replaced every inch of coax in my house years back when I was setting everything up. And grounded it properly outside. This has eradicated a lot of potential problems, I think.

Although if there is a cable issue, the first place to look is probably the connectors, not the cable itself.

Oh, yes in deed! The most fun I've in ages!

It was my understanding that the "UHF only" (or HD antenna) thing was due to the digital switchover. Although some stations in certain areas were granted exceptions by the FCC because of reception issues, all stations were supposed to go to the UHF band. In researching my problem a day or two ago, I read the three stations I was having a problem with all switched to UHF and then switched back to VHF.

FWIW, my Toshiba has a signal strength indicator (1 to 5 bars) that pops up every time the channel is switched. My three problem channels show only three to four bars while all others have five.

When we moved back in and remodeled our old home last year (we had been renting it out for ten years), I replaced an old analog splitter in the attic with a left-over DirecTV splitter. At that time I used some off-the-shelf, pre-made coax I had on hand and ran it to new locations. I would have installed an amplifier between the antenna and splitter, but there is no power in the attic.

I had thought I used identical cables last year, but memory failed me. When I removed the coax outlet cover in the bedroom, I discovered the cable to the Toshiba was much thicker than the cables to the Samsung and EyeTV. It doesn't come out of the wall as far as the cables to the Samsung and EyeTV, so it's shorter than those also.

My presumptive conclusion is that the Toshiba is receiving the VHF stations and the others aren't because the Toshiba is new (probably has a better receiver), and the cable to it is shorter and thicker (and probably better insulated).

Well, if you can, replacing some cable might help.

The stations all had to go to UHF when both analog and digital were running, since they were still running analog on VHF. Some in the upper VHF were always planned to go back to their old places once the analog shut off. I've got 2 or 3, also. It was the lower VHF that was going away, back to the govt. They changed the plans for what they did with it, but not back to TV, I don't think.

The best kind of amp is 2 piece. The preamp goes at the antenna outside, and the amp/power goes anywhere along the line you need it. The right splitters (most of them, these days) can pass the power back through them, so you could put the power supply by any of your TVs, rather than before the splitter in the attic. Some reading: http://www.starkelectronic.com/allamps.htm