Testing TV antenna signal

13 years ago

Back in the CB days I bought a SWR meter so I could 'tune' my CB antenna. Can I use it to view signal strength for OTA TV signals?
When the OTA signals went digital, I installed an antenna in my attic so I could view local channels.....Off provider.
Much better HD reception on both audio and video than from provider!
Of the dozen or so local OTA stations, most all are on one tower about 15mi away and all 'look down' on my location.
Bougth a Tivo to record those signals and had a problem yesterday. The signal from the local Fox station kept pixelating and the recorded program was unwatchable....NASCAR race.
The Tivo has a signal-strength meter for all signals received and it kept going from 0 to 80+ on that one station only.
The day was VERY windy, but unless there was a problem at the tower, that shouldn't matter.....right?
My antenna is not amplified, so that could be a problem on that one station, or maybe going through the Tivo degraded the signal strength enough to cause the pixelating?
Anyway, I'm curious if my SWR meter is of any use with this problem?
Thanks

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Comments (5)

yosemitebill
13 years ago
Sorry, but an SWR (standing wave ratio) meter will not help you here - it reads the transmission line reflections from a radio transmitter which you are transmitting on - has nothing to do with reception.

OTA digital signals are very prone to disturbances that may have only caused a little snow or ghosting on analog signals. A large tree swaying in the wind in a direct path of your antenna and the transmitter could cause a situation like you described.

Get an antenna "pre-amplifier" that mounts at the antenna - often a two piece amplifier and power injector system - not a "distribution" amplifier that is meant for feeding multiple locations. Then use the digital tuner signal strength meter to aim your antenna on the weakest station.
davestexas
Original Author
13 years ago
Hi Bill. So the SWR meter isn't helpful and remains on the shelf. I have a SP-813 amplified antenna on the way that should do the job. I found the compass direction for the stations I receive. The one I had the trouble with was about 5ÃÂ° off so I reoriented it and that helped a little.
Thanks for your advice. I appreciate the help.
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yosemitebill
13 years ago
Dave - hope the new antenna solves the problem. Please post a follow-up as to how it works for you - it's become a fairly problem common that lots of people have had to deal with.

What's really amazing though, is that the pixelation and breakup always occurs at the best part of the movie or football game!
yosemitebill
13 years ago
Or, NASCAR race!
davestexas
Original Author
13 years ago
Follow up:

Since OP I bought an amplifier for the square-grid antenna I've had installed in my attic for years. It did help some.
Bought and installed a lava motorized antenna. It does ok, but having a motor on it is pretty-much useless, since the controller does not indicate where it's is pointing or what direction it is rotating. Basically it's a set-it/forget-it type.
I also bought an SP100 omni-directional antenna. It too does ok and found a few more channels. I do not have a signal strength meter but have one on the way. It, hopefully, will help tune the antenna better than me using only a compass.
I will try to mount the omni unit outside and out of sight to the HOA spys. It doesn't look like tv antennas once did. Looks more space-age.....frisbee with a 24" wing on each side 180ÃÂ° apart.. That installation will be the best I can do given where I live. That will involve a little more work (grounding the mast and grounding the cable-shield). I think my biggest problem with OTA signals has more to do with the 70' Red Oak tree in my front yard tho....