GWIZ2260 said:
I have just installed a Winegard HD8200P antenna. On my HDTV I can pick up all the analog/digital signals fine, however, on the 622, (digital only), one of the stations only shows up at 66 signal strength and is basically unusable. Are there any issues with the 622's tuner? Or should I just delete that channel and rescan to see if it would pick up OK? Again, this channel WTHR 13 out of Indianapolis, IN comes in perfectly fine if I connect directly to the HDTV. Thanks for any insight or advice on this problem.
I have the same antenna with a Channel Master 7777 preamp. Some of my signals from 80+ miles away show 50-60 on the 622 relative strength meter but lock solid on the 622. For some of the stronger stations I found rotating the antenna slightly would provide more stable signals. The HD8200 seems to work best for UHF HD signals if the front of the antenna is about 10-15 degrees (either direction) from head-on to the transmitter.
I was using the weakest transmitter (via analog transmission) to peak my pointing direction. I found out thru trial and error that the strongest signal from the analog transmitter did not necessarily produce the best digital strength from the same transmit tower. They are close but you might try slewing your antenna +/- 15 degrees. An example, PBS analog from Montgomery is on analog channel 26, the digital is on channel 56. The best picture quality for analog 26 did not produce the strongest digital signal on channel 56.
Distance, atmospheric propagation conditions, hills, trees and other obstructions can greatly affect the end results. I marked my rotor for the best signals at both extremes, then positioned the antenna in the middle of that span and get good digital signals from all the 80+ mile transmitters without continually tweaking the rotor.
I think we will all be happier with the digital signal quality in early 2007 when all analog transmitters are off the air and stations can transmit their digital signals on their native frequency. 26 will be 26, etc., and the upper tier of the UHF band goes away. Only a few TV stations will have to transmit on a new frequency, something like UHF 52 and up if I remember correctly. Someone else may clarify this.