OTA TV signal fades 50 min into program

[RedDirt]

Sounds like the preamp, the second one due to a faulty first, is getting hot and conking out. Once it cools, it works again?

Wishful thinking. No, without turning off or touching anything the signal just returns in ten-fifteen minutes.

I'm thinking it may just be a coincidence that we loose signal just before a program ends. We actually loose it at other times too, sometimes for a few minutes, sometimes for hours, then it returns. The reason we notice it more just before a program ends is at those time we've invested the 50 +/- minutes, just getting to the "who done it", the signal fades and then we are aggravated.

I think the cause may simply be that we are way out on the fringe and the digital signal is so particular that if a butterfly farts in South America we loose signal. Another cause could be some timed interference coming from who knows where that kicks in at ten minutes before the hour.

We are getting ready to bite the bullet and go to satellite. It is just irksome to now have to pay (and pay and pay) for something we've gotten free all our lives. I was fine with analog. Snow was OK and at least the show was viewable at less than optimum signal strength.

Mostly I wrote this post to see if any others were experiencing the same type of end of program phased signal loss. Apparently not so I can rule out a widespread phenomena.

 

[alchemysa]

I'm no expert but my experience is that the digital signal is VERY directionally sensitive. You have to point the antenna perfectly to maintain good reception. 'Near enough' is not good enough.

 

[keegs]

I asked my antenna questions here:

Antenna Talk • HDTV Labs Forum

I followed their Antenna Guru's(screen name:tigerbangs) recommendation with great results.

I bought from Solidsignal.com. They are within driving distance of my place. I went and picked up the antenna I had purchased. The Solidsignal warehouse was nice, clean organized and appeared to be well stocked.

Don

TBD...tigerbangs knows his stuff. Thanks for the link.

 

[archerm3]

Actually it is a plot to move 'over the air' TV into a very small section of spectrum so the government can auction off the relatively large section of spectrum used by analog TV. They made billions auctioning off spectrum to cell phone companies and they are looking for a repeat.

QFT

There's a lot of money to be made in cell communications AND cable/satellite TV.

Digital tv SUX!