Mohu Arc 40

With the switch of Spectrum going all digital, I was summoned to the in-laws to install their new cable box (previously the TV had been connected to the cable directly).

I finally got it set up and activated and had a problem with only every other channel being tuned.  A call to customer service and a reset of the box fixed the problem.

But the next morning, I got a call that they couldn't watch the channel any more.

So I figured I'd try an antenna since they don't watch that many channels and they live on the fifth floor so they might get good reception.

I stopped by Best Buy and saw a reasonably priced (i.e. cheap) antenna that had decent reviews.  4.3 on the label.  It was the Mohu Arc 40 which is featured in the Mohu video on the Best Buy web site.  Oddly the website doesn't explicitly list this model, but a more generic listing of a Mohu - Arc Indoor Curved HDTV Antenna - Black/White.  The description states a 30-mile range, while the box of the antenna I bought states a 40 mile range.  But it's has the same item number MH-110951, so it must be the same product.

Anyway, I set it up and got mixed results.  It turns out the results can change quite a bit depending on where you locate the antenna.  Only a few feet can make a difference.

I scanned several times, trying different locations.

My worst result was when I put it on the floor below the TV.  My best result was when I put it on the coffee table facing the ewa window.  In the middle was when I put it on top of the TV cabinet.

Calling Spectrum, they were able to schedule a tech to visit that afternoon.  Sure enough the problem was a weak signal and he hooked up a booster to boost the signal (the channels that were having problems were KBFD, CNN, ESPN).  After the fix, the signal looked OK and I took home the antenna.

The next day (morning), I decided the try the antenna on my TV.  I got less channels.  I got the KHON channels (channel 2), the KITV channels (channel 4) and the KAAH channels (channel 26).  That wasn't bad, because CW is included with the KHON channels so I could watch Dog Whisperer: Family Edition.  After moving around the antenna to see if I could get a more stable picture, I rescanned and was able to get KHET channels (channel 11), but the signal was really weak and the video was blocky.  Not sure if I was able to get KFVE also?  I forget, let me scan again.  Nope, no KHET or KFVE this time.

[5/16/18 - tried scanning again at home moving the antenna as close to the front door as possible.  Oddly, I lost KHON, but gained some other channels.  I noticed my TV can indicate the signal strength.  There's a current strength and peak strength, I'll put in the number that first comes when the peak stabilizes a second after the initial reading.  Moving it around to get a better signal for KITV.  OK let's try the mauka/ewa corner of the coffee table and scan again.

Now let's try to find a better signal for KGMB.  OK, I'm getting like a 50% signal when placing it on the makai/ewa corner of the lauhala mat on the floor angling between the front door and the hallway.  KHON remains about the same, but that gives me a 0% on KHET.  Also a 0% on KBFD.  But that's not bad, I'm getting pictures on KHON, KITV, KGMB, KFVE.  Just missing KHNL.  I'm surprised that the difference in orientation of the antenna makes so much difference.]

So here are the latest results (X means there's a signal.  W means a weak signal.  Blank means no signal.  A number is the approximate signal strength).

              floor cabinet table  home  door  ct  mat
2-1  KHON HD    X      X      X      W         75   85
2-2  KHON CW    X      X      X      X         78   85
2-3  KHON GT    X      X      X      X         78   81
2-4  KHON LF    X      X      X      X         81   86
4-1  KITV HD    X      X      X      X    76   83   73
4-2  MeTV       X      X      X      X    75   83   72
4-3  KITV D3    X      X      X      X    77   82   72
5-1  KGMB                     W                23   49
5-2  THIS                     W                24   52
5-3  ESCAPE                   W                22   51
9-1  KFVE DT           W      W           52   50   59
11-1 KHET-1                               63   55   
11-2 KHET-2                               62   49
11-3 KHET-3                               66   55
14-1 KWHE-D1    X      X      X      X    97   98   67
14-2 KWHE-D2    X      X      X      X    98   98   67
26-1 KAAH-D1                  W           52   47   55
26-2 Hillsng                  W           45   44   57
26-3 KAAH-D3                  W           51   44   58
26-4 KAAH-D4                  W           50   42   59
26-5 KAAH-D5                  W           55   46   58
32-1 KBFD-D1    X      X      X      X    97   93   
32-2 KBFD-D2    X      X      X      X    97   92
44-1 KWBN-DT           W      W           38

[5/7/18 - took it to my neighbor's house up the street and the signals seemed pretty strong there.  Caught all the channels (AFAIK) except for KHNL. OK, found a good home -- you can keep it :)]

[6/27/18 - she moved the antenna because PBS was weak.  So I re-scanned and now she can catch KHNL.  Good for her.