Off Topic question

"Six_O'Clock_High"

"Six_O'Clock_High"

Ed, you are correct we are not getting the main VHF stations digital signal strong enough for the converter to latch on to them. We already have a preamp in service which is one reason I am thinking I might need a RF signal strength meter to check it.

The antenna only spent about 5 years or so outside and for the last 17 has been inside. There are no broken elements. When it was installed in this house, we used new coax.

Seebee's suggestion will sort of work but I really didn't want to lug a television and converter box from connection to connection and set them up each time.

We are in a fringe area that antennalabs.com says needs an antenna that meets the violet tier grouping. Winegard 8200 and Terk HDTVo is another. Yes, I spent lots of time doing research and am ready to take action. However, buying new and replacing everything may not be the correct answer which is why I want to look with a signal strength meter.

Currently the discussion is to install the new antenna about 10 or 12 feet higher in the attic. Outside installations are prohibited by the local HOA.

TIA

Well Jim, over here there is almost no cable.

This is how we do it.

First of all get teh right antenna. When we 'went digital' they used more widely spaced channels requring a broader band yagi.

Now if you are like us, the same transmitter does analogue and digital, so once yu have a decent yagi strap a bit of satellite grade coax on it look at a map and work out which way the transmitter is, and line it up for the best ANALOGUE picture. Noise is OK but ghosting is not, especially fast changing ghosting from trees blowing.

A really chep portable set is good enough to do this

Then once you have that antenna firmly in place, run some more quality cable to where you want it. If using many TV's get a distribution amplifier, and wire than to sockets round the house.

Then start with a digital receiver, and see what you get.

Digital TV is great. the less commercial it is the more we like it.

I'd disagree. The quality needs to be good, but they will work down to about 6dB signal to noise IF there is no ghosting or multipath. Thats a very washed snowy anlague picture.

Again, if you have severe multipath or not enough signal you are just boosting crap to make more crap.

Totally agree on top quality satellite grade coax. Its cheap enough..

Ok thats even easier. Take a portable and your new antenna up into te loft and literally wave it around till you get the best signal.. Is digital not in UHF? it is here.

Most set top boxes/digi TV's of reputable make have a signal strength feature built in.

My Sony ones do anyway. Also show 'quality' (signal to noise I guess)

We've noted that if the quality is good the signal can be pretty low..

On Fri, 6 Feb 2009 08:53:09 -0600, "Six_O'Clock_High"

On Fri, 6 Feb 2009 13:29:37 -0600, "Six_O'Clock_High"

Six_O'Clock_High pisze:

Congrats! There is 2 of us :)))

Use this as the final reason to...

...SHOOT YOUR TELEVISION!

Good flying, desmobob (TV-free since 1995)

Keep in mind that a preamplifier amplifies anything that goes into it, so you want it right on the antenna to get the best signal to noise ratio. It _will_ help with old coax that's attenuating the signal, and with splitters that attenuate the signal. It _won't_ help if you've got one weak station next to a bunch of strong ones, or if you're just so far out that your antenna isn't getting tickled by the RF (only a better and higher antenna will help there).

-- snip --

Do you mean "Belden", or has the river of time carried away all the known professional brands when I wasn't looking?

We are not disagreeing, but saying the same thing in different ways.

I gather that Jim lives out in the country where electrical noise should not be a problem, compared to living in a city. The recommended higher tier antenna makes the preamp useful because of its directionality. I would not recommend a preamp for use with an omni directional antenna.

The quality of the preamp matters significantly. Analog is more sensitive to crap than the digital modes. As long as there is enough signal, even polluted with crap, the demolation software in the converter should be robust enough to sort the wheat from the chaff. This is a clear advantage of digital over analog and is the reason that the switch to digital is occurring in the first place.

Jim, I agree that your circumstances are much different than what I thought in the original post. Indoor antennas are a bear to have work properly. The vapor barrier (aluminized Mylar) in many roof laminations makes indoor antennas an iffy proposition.

Dish Network offers basic service for $20 per month. Local station reception from Dish costs an additional $5 per month, plus you may have to elevate your service to a higher tier to qualify for local broadcast reception. Yes, it is highway robbery. While I hold Dish Network in low regard, they are the best of the satellite companies.

Good luck figuring this out. I hope you find a satisfactory solution. Please let us know how this works out.

Ed Cregger

An excellent suggestion, Ray.

Or, if you have a laptop computer, hams have many programs that let you run diagnostics and display it on the PC screen. The most expensive and work hardy part is making the interface to your PC, which is really easy stuff to do for an experienced RC'er like you.

Ed Cregger

Yes, I changed it to Belden in a previous post when I found the error. Thanks.

Ed Cregger

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On Fri, 6 Feb 2009 08:53:09 -0600, "Six_O'Clock_High"

A couple of sites that will detail the channel lineup and transmitter band, both pre- and post- digital transition, and assist in determining feasibility of reception wrt antenna style/size/placement and whether a preamp may be required...

Thanks. I have already spent lots of time reading on the antennaweb.org web site and now have added tvfool.com to my reading list. I am not sure I want to build my own antenna, but that is still under consideration. I finally found a contractor who installs OTA equipment and is going to give me a bid tomorrow. I am fairly sure I will be able to identify any muffler throw out bearings included in his cost estimate. There is a significant chance his bid may become trash can liner. We shall see.

Again, thanks guys.

Jim Branaum

Yep, those muffler throw-out bearings can be pricey.

Good luck in solving your dilemma.

Ed Cregger

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"Six_O'Clock_High"