zero signal strength?

[gamerdogbert]

Hello. I just purchased a HD-1080 to put outside the back of my mother's apartment. Unfortunately, after installing it tonight, I'm getting no signal at all. Here are the details:

It is mounted at ground-story level because we do not have access to the roof.
I am certain that it is assembled properly.
From the antenna, it runs thru a 25-foot Philips Quad-shielded coax cable that is brand new.
The other end is connected to a digital converter box, which works properly when attached to an RCA amplified indoor antenna.
The signal strength meter on the digital converter box reads 0%, and absolutely no channels are detected.
I am in ZIP 50158, Marshalltown IA, which is 39 miles from Des Moines stations located to my SW.
Digital channels came in okay during the transition, but once it was completed and the channels switched back to VHF, reception on the amplified indoor antenna virtually went away.

Why would the signal strength be zero on all channels, when even rabbit ears are picking up a decent number of channels (just not strongly enough to avoid cutting out)? Is it possible that the "matching transformer" that came with the HD-1080 is bad? Is an amplifier necessary to get the antenna to work? Did I choose the wrong antenna?

I appreciate any suggestions. Thank you.

[KNP 2516]

Winegard HD-1080 2-Bay Bowtie UHF and High Band VHF Antenna (HD-1080)

• Range 0 - 40 miles
• VHF/UHF Antenna (channels 7 - 69)
• Unit dimensions 34.5”W x 18.25H”
• Shipping weight and dimensions 4.4 lbs. 42.75” x 6.50” x 6.50”
• Includes hardware for mounting to a mast, and 75ohm transformer for coax connection
• This antenna has a 60 Degree Beam Width

Stations less than 40 miles away

Call Sign: KFPX
Affiliate:
Analog Channel: 39
Digital Channel: 39
Distance: 24.1837723239742 miles.
Heading: 221.747114018717°
Power: 116.0 kW

221.747 is basically to the south south west.

Which side of the building does she live on and which side of the building is the antenna on?

Why did it work before and not work now?

Licensee: ION MEDIA DES MOINES LICENSE, INC., DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION
Service Designation: DT Digital television station

Channel: 39 620 - 626 MHz Modification of Construction Permit
File No.: BMPCDT-20080620AMG Facility ID number: 81509
CDBS Application ID No.: 1251532

41° 49' 48.00" N Latitude
93° 36' 54.00" W Longitude (NAD 27)

Polarization: Horizontal (H)
Effective Radiated Power (ERP): 1000. kW ERP
Antenna Height Above Average Terrain: 610. meters HAAT -- Calculate HAAT
Antenna Height Above Mean Sea Level: 903. meters AMSL
Antenna Height Above Ground Level: 599.1 meters AGL

I don't have the information of the station before 6/12/09, but here is my reason.

Before 6/12/2009, the signal was broadcast on either a different frequency at a different rate of power, or the signal that you watched was analog tv.

UHF is line of sight, it does not go through buildings, trees, houses, hills or mountains between you and the transmitter, it does not transmit through buildings 4 or more stories high.

Analog TV, especially VHF was very powerful and had a good range. Even if you lost 70% of the signal, you could still have a signal. Digital tv is all 1's and 0's just like the binary codes used by a computer. Either you have a signal or you don't!

You are beyond the range of most of the television stations with anything less than a very good roof top antenna, with a rotor. UHF is line of sight, and if your antenna is not pointed directly at the signal, chances are you might either have a poor signal or no signal at all.

My report is not good, due to the fact that your only options are for you to get access to the roof and mount a antenna as high as possible and buy a very good antenna and probably a pre amplifier and a rotor.

Pay for cable tv

Or MOVE to a different area of that town or the other side of the apartment building.

Personal message me if you wish to have any more advice.

"The biggest mistake people make is buying an antenna that's too small to do the job". This couldn't be more true. Everyone wants a small antenna and I will recommend one when it's appropriate.

Beware of antenna hype and mumbo jumbo. New so-called breakthrough antenna technology is everywhere. The simple fact is you can't cut corners. Antennas have to be of a certain size and shape to work properly. One that will provide consistent quality digital TV reception rain or shine.

[winegard]

The matching transformer could be a problem or we could have defective cable from the factory. Try a different matching transformer and a different cable to see what happens. The HD-1080 is a small antenna and should probably have an AP-8700 preamplifier installed on it. Also try moving the antenna around and up and down to see if you can find a stronger signal spot. Take your indoor antenna and attach it to your cable to see if you receive the indoor antennas signal through your cable.



The HD-1080 antenna will not receive channel 5 from Ames since this antenna is designed to receive channels 7-69. You might be better off with the GS-2200 amplified antenna since it will receive channels 2-69.