How do digital TV signals react to multipath(ghosts)?

[markn2wae]

Hi everyone, I just popped in from my usual vintage audio forums to explore digital TV.

I just got my feet wet in digital TV reception (I got a converter box for my older TV) and wounder how digital signals react to "multi path" reception (that would cause ghosting in analog TV reception).:scratch2:

The reason I ask is is, can I mount two antennas on one mast, one pointed at Philadelphia and one pointed at New York (I live in north central New Jersey) and just lock them down, (instead of using a single antenna with a rotator) and combine the signals from both?

This would mess up analog TV reception but what about digital TV, is there a "capture effect" where the (digital) receiver responds to the strongest signal and shuts out the weaker one from reflections (something like FM reception)?

I use a rotator now, but if the two antenna system works, I will need the rotor only for an FM antenna.

Thanks!

Mark T.

[electroking]

What's wrong with using two antennas as described, with a manual switch
to select the desired one? Regardless of the type of signals, what you
are suggesting will result in a weaker signal to your receiver, increasing
the probability of the screen going blank if signal strength is marginal.
Just my two cents' worth...

[OdorCide]

Troubleshooting multipath interference with DTV is a pain in the neck. Normally when a receiver 2 different signals it wont even decode the stream. Acts like the signal strength is weak.

I like the A/B switch idea posted above.

If you want to dig into the more technical side of it check out this link.

http://www.sencore.com/newsletter/archivedarticles.htm

Scroll down to the SLM1453I Signal Level Meter and read those. Hope that helps.