What you describe is precisely the issue I tried to describe. When the signal is barely strong enough*, it will seem to cut in and out (it's just moving from "+1" to "0" based on any and all of the factors which cause interference.
Some "antenna amplifiers" or "amplified antennas" can help with this ... other times (as you note) it's positional (and you might need different positions for different stations). IF you have a signal strength meter you can observe this directly. Sadly, most of us don't ... most antennas don't have one (understandable, as they are more expensive than the antenna itself) and while TV's could easily provide that interface, many don't ... or do but don't make it accessible). *) that is, the signal is that much more powerful than the noise ... Keith Bierman [email protected] 303 997 2749 On Mon, Sep 16, 2019 at 3:06 PM Andy Baracco <[email protected]> wrote: > They are there, or not has to do with how you tune to find the signal. In > the old days you could move the antenna around to find the sweet spot. > Now, you can recieve a clear signal and a few seconds later it just > disappears. Of course, it is still being transmitted, but its path to the > receiver has somehow been disrupted. often moving or turning the antenna > does not result in getting the signal back. The best you can do is to try > to find an antenna location that gives you a clear path to the transmitter. > > Andy > > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Keith Bierman <[email protected]> > *To:* [email protected] > *Sent:* Monday, September 16, 2019 1:58 PM > *Subject:* Re: OT over the air antennas > > " digital signals are either there, or they're not." > > Well, yes and no. *All* signals are analog (even your "digital media" > like a hard disk). Internally, what is sensed directly by the electronics > is analog. We then convert the signal to digital ... for example we might > sense "+3.4 volts" ... in a "5v circuit" that's going to read as a "1". > 2.4v will read as a zero. The tricky cases are between 2.4 and 2.5v, > especially if it is moving up and down rapidly .... the *result* is > going to a "zero or a one" which in the aggregate is going to result in > your having a picture (sharp) or nothing ... rather than a fuzzy picture. > (and yes, I know antennas aren't going to be simply measuring voltage ...). > > Whether you can get good signals inside your home will depend a lot on > > 1. Where the transmitter is > 2. What's between you and the transmitter > 3. What your walls are made of (metal? plaster?? drywall???) > 4. What (if anything) in your house generates noise in those > frequencies (think big electric motors, for example). > > it may be that you can get good results with careful placement, or you > might not have a prayer. Even outdoor antennas aren't necessarily > effective, or are effective only if/when pointed at the specific > transmitter (really good antennas get around that by actually being a > constellation of antennas internally ;>...your phone for example ;> ). > > Consumer grade antennas hardly ever provide any useful feedback, a few > TV's do provide signal strength diagnostics (I haven't seen any with > appropriate assistive support :<). > > > Keith Bierman > [email protected] > 303 997 2749 > > > On Mon, Sep 16, 2019 at 2:24 PM Andy Baracco <[email protected]> wrote: > >> My experience has been that indoor digital TV antennas are very suspect. >> Unlike analog signals, digital signals are either there, or they're not. >> They are not forgiving. >> I know someone who had some success with this type of antenna when he >> stuck >> it out of an open window. He was lucky because the window happened to >> face >> in the direction of the TV transmitters, but there were several channels >> that he couldn't get. >> >> If you insist on an indoor antenna try to find out where the TV >> transmitters >> are in relation to your home and place the antenna near to a window >> facing >> in that direction. Also, place it as high in the room as possible. If >> your >> dwelling has multiple stories, place the antenna as high in a room on the >> top story as possible. Your best bet is an outdoor antenna placed on the >> roof, or on a mast that is above the roof or any trees. >> >> Andy >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Wendy Alling" <[email protected]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Sent: Monday, September 16, 2019 10:11 AM >> Subject: OT over the air antennas >> >> >> > Hi everyone, >> > I'm wanting to purchase an over the air antenna for my Insignia fire TV. >> > Can anyone give me some good recommendations for an antenna? Thanks >> for >> > any >> > help on this. Please send replies off list. >> > >> > -- >> > The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone >> > list. >> > >> > If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, >> or >> > if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the >> > owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >> > >> > Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: >> > [email protected]. 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