Metrostar 2000 dead when properly, work great with no power

[jpcallan]

I have a bizarre set of circumstances with my new Metrostar 2000 antenna. The Metrostar 2000 is dead when properly connected, but works great with no power injector. It is worse than dead when powered (less signal than with the end of the coax dangling in the attic), but works great with power injector removed.

I live next to an antenna farm in the heights of Portland, Oregon. I bought a Metrostar 1000 two years ago when I switched to off-air HD from cable. The antenna was installed by me in the attic above the 2nd story of the house. The trouble I have with the MS-1000 is I can't receive channel 6 (KOIN) and 2 (KATU) unless the atmospheric conditions are just right. Both of these stations transmit from an antenna about 3/4 miles away in plain sight to the east-southeast. I called the engineering department at KOIN and learned they transmit at a 9 degree down angle; I am below that down angle. All the other stations I like but these two come in great.

So I bought a new Metrostar 2000 from SolidSignal to see if I could reliably receive channel 2 and 6 with better hardware. The Metrostar 2000 is connected to a TiVo HD Series 3 Model TCD652160 and the TV is a Sony KDS-R50XBR1 high-def set. There is quite a bit of radio frequency energy where I live; I can sometimes hear radio stations on the telephone and through the computer's speakers. I carefully hooked up the new MS-2000 to find I had virtually no signal (not any) on any frequency (yes, the power-injector did have the red light ON and the coax leads were connected correctly with 26V DC measured, and the 6' length of coax provided with the MS-2000 is not shorted core to braid). Obviously this was very disappointing. At the power injector in the attic I disconnected the coax cable coming up from the crawl space and checked the signal again - good signal on the four stations I live under from just the dangling dead-ended coax. Just to see what would happen, I connected the coax cable coming up from the crawl space (the living room TiVo) directly to the new Metrostar 2000 (power injector bypassed); strangely, I now have wonderful reception on all stations with the signal strength pegged on almost all of the channels. How can this be??? I have a so so O-scope and good multi-meter available, would you like me to take some readings?

[TomV]

You are too close to the antenna farm for an amplified antenna.

You may need to attenuate your signal more that you expect because of the close proximity and your description of RF interference. I suggest using the MS-1000 with some attenuation added inline between it and the TiVo. You can use a multi-port splitter, such as a 4 port, that allows for 7 dB path loss, as an experiment.

If you had a directional antenna I would suggest rotating it by 90 degrees away from the farm and see what improvement you get. An inexpensive indoor antenna will suit you fine as well.

[jpcallan]

What I find beyond understanding is I had at best intermittent access to channels 2 & 6 with the Metrostar 1000 antenna, but with the Metrostar 2000 without the power supply I have big across the board improvements in signal strength on all channels per the signal strength meter in the TiVo - this is not a subjective estimate. I would have expected little or no signal without power to the amp, instead the Metrostar 2000 is dramatically outperforming the Metrostar 1000. I couldn't be happier, I just can explain why or how its working so well.

[TomV]

It sounds like you have a bad MS1000. You should be able to pick up the stations with the simplest of antennas.