MS-2002 dropped channels

[gpetersen]

I am seeking advice on a problem that has me baffled. I live in a valley in zip code 68428 and purchased the MS-2002 last August in hopes of receiving local channels so we could drop the local channels on Dish Network, which we weren't happy with. I mounted the antenna about 15 feet high and fed it into my Dish Network box and was very pleased with the results. We could receive not only the Lincoln channels most important to us (8,10, 12, 15, 42) but also marginal reception of channel 6 in Omaha, the closest NBC channel. We didn't immediately drop the local channels from Dish Network because we would occasionally have lost signals. About 3 months ago I moved the antenna, mounting it to a pole that raised it to over 30 feet. This increased our signal strength and allowed us to pick up additional channels from Omaha. We were so happy that we were almost ready to cancel Dish Network entirely! Then one evening during a thunderstorm we lost channels 8, 10, and 12, the 3 channels we watch most. I thought maybe it was due to power outages at the transmitters but they didn't come back. I checked out the antenna and it looked like it may have rotated a bit in the wind so I put it back to where I thought it was, but I still got no reception on those channels. I have since tried every conceivable position of the antenna to no avail. So at this point we receive channels 3, 6, 7, 15, 42, and 51 just fine but get no signal at all for 8,10, and 12 (which used to be the strongest signals). I can occasionally get very weak signals for 8 and 12 if I unplug the amplifier (all other channels go away). When I plug it back in with 8 or 12 on the tv the signal immediately drops. Nothing whatsoever about the setup has been changed since all channels were coming in great. Is there anything else I can try short of buying a new antenna?

[winegard]

Good morning gpeterson -


It seems to me like the VHF portion of you antenna has gone out from the storm. All the channels you have listed as “lost” are VHF channels and the channels that you are receiving are UHF. I would suggest getting a new MS-2000 and you should be fine.

[gpetersen]

Thank you for the prompt response. Will the MS-2000 work with the amplfier I already have that came with the MS-2002? In other words is the MS-2000 an exact replacement for the antenna portion of the MS-2002?

[gpetersen]

Also, aren't 3, 6, and 7, which I do receive, also VHF? Do they differ in some way from those I do not receive (8, 10, and 12)?

[gpetersen]

I now see that the MS-2000 is simply the MS-2002 with a 50 foot cable included. I was thinking of the MS-1000. Does the MS-1000 work with the amplifier from the MS-2000? If not, is it possible to replace the antenna for the MS-2000 without getting a new amplifier?

[Bill Adams]

If you go to www.tvfool.com and enter you zip code you will find that channels 3, 6 and 7 are broadcast on the UHF frequencies (45, 22,20) while channels 8, 10 and 12 are actually broadcast on VHF 8, 10 and 12.
What you see on your TV is a "Virtual Channel" number and may or may not indicate the actual frequencies as they have in the past.

[gpetersen]

Thank you for the information Bill. That clears up the mystery.