FV-HDCO no VHF channels

[zihaoyu]

Hi. I purchased FV-HDCO from Costco.com. According to Antennaweb.org, broadcast stations are 18.4 to 20.7 miles away and compass headings from 77 to 82 degrees. Situation seems not bad for me however I can only get UHF channels (including four HD channels CBS NBC FOX PBS). I did several scans but could not find ABC (channel 7.1) and CW(11.1). They are both VHF, 18.3 miles away and compass heading 81 degrees. I'm wondering is there any way I can get the two channels? Will a preamplifier work? Will SS-3000 model make a difference? My location does not have a clear line-of-sight to the towers, I live in an apartment so I cannot mount antenna on the roof either. Thanks.

[winegard]

Good morning zihaoyu,

Could you please provide your zip code so we can take a look at the channels you are trying to receive?

Also, please describe how you have the FreeVision mounted. Is it indoors? What story? What obstructions are between the antenna and the signal?

[zihaoyu]

Thanks. My zip code is 07066. I mount the antenna indoors on the first floor.There are several trees outside my apartment building.

[winegard]

The problem can not be solved with a preamplifier because a preamplifier can only amplify and build up the information a TV antenna receives and can pull in signal or extend the receiving range of the antenna.


VHF DTV signals do not reflect or bounce around very well, which creates a problem in your case since you do not have a clear line of sight toward the TV stations and you must depend on a reflected signal. Try raising the antenna as high as possible in your apartment and using a long coax cable try the antenna in different rooms or different locations in the same room. You may be able to find location where you will receive all of the stations. The SS-3000 indoor antenna most likely will not perform as well as the FV-HDCO because it is a smaller antenna so it will receive fewer signals.

[zihaoyu]

I'm going to try mounting anntenna on the balcony which is outside the room. Will a 50 ft cable impact the signal?

[winegard]

When you start getting around 75 feet of cable or adding some splitters then we start looking at adding a pre-amp. But with one 50ft cable run you will not experience a great amount of loss.