Cutting the Cable ang using only OTA...

[pjpjpjpj]

Originally Posted by scott2020

I think WBBM (CBS) is on VHF 12 (?)

I apologize if I missed that - Pix, is that right? Remember to look at the actual channel numbers, not virtual (remapped).

Depending on how strong your signal is, and how you build your antenna, you can sometimes get VHF-hi on what is supposed to be a UHF-only antenna. I get two local VHF-hi channels - 10 and 12 - on my "DB4"-style antenna, but those are from only about 14 miles away.

[PiX64]

Ill have to check, try it out and let ya know. once i get the thing built then i can tinker and hopefully get all the local HD's channels i want.

[rmac321]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

Depending on how strong your signal is, and how you build your antenna, you can sometimes get VHF-hi on what is supposed to be a UHF-only antenna. I get two local VHF-hi channels - 10 and 12 - on my "DB4"-style antenna, but those are from only about 14 miles away.

+1
We get VHF-9 really well on my 9-1/2" mclapp uhf model.

[Fuzzy]

of course, if your that close to the transmitters (where a UHF antenna is picking up the out of band VHF stations), then you probably don't need anything fancy, and a medium combo antenna from the home store would work just as well...

[PiX64]

Finally got the antenna built and tested...AMAZING! works perfectly. thanks so much to all of your for your help especially PJ...!!

Now i just got to get in actually hung instead of standing in the attic. :-)
and of course get the angle right which is kinda of being a pain right now. Thanks again everyone

~Pix

[PiX64]

My coax run from the antenna in the attic down to my server is a bit longer than i thought. I had to use a100ft cable that i had laying around for testing purposes. 50ft is def not long enough to get all the way to the attic.

I did notice that when i put a signal amplifier i had laying around my channel scan on my HDHR went from 12 to 24....so should i

1) Go by a 75ft RG6 cable (the one i am using is a bit old and kinky...not that good.
2) By a better inline signal amplifier
3) Just give in, take PJs suggestion and move my HDHR into the attic :-(


any suggnestion?

~Pix

[wrems]

PJPJPJ is not advocating that you should place your HDHR into your attic. Not a good idea really. Ideally, in a closet just below the attic would be best if you go that route. The temperature extremes in the attic would probably not be too good on your HDHR.

[PiX64]

fair enough. so with that said, should i just upgrade my cable to a new RG6 cable, and throw a signal booster on it?


Since i am able to receive so many channels my end goal is to be able to use this antenna for 4 inputs to Sage. 2 on the HDHR and 2 on the HVR2250.

What i was thinking is doing the following

antenna -> short run to in/single out signal booster -> 75 feet through the PVC down to my basement and over to my server -> input to really good 1 to 4 signal amiplifier that i already have set up -> 2 leads to HDHR 2 leads to HVR2250.

Does that sound like a resonable plan to everyone?

~Pix

[Fuzzy]

With a good 75ft or so cable, you really shouldn't need an amp. At least try it without it first. Amps are okay, but they amplify noise just as much as they amplify signal, so should only be used if it's found to be needed. The HDHR and HVR2250 are both quite sensitive, so you don't need a very STRONG signal for them.. but you do need a CLEAN signal.

[PiX64]

Took the amp off, and went right to the hdhr at the end of a 75 - 100 ft run, and you were right fuzzy, Im able to get the same number of channels as with the amp, except better quality. They tune faster, do NOT pixelate, and come in clearer. Thanks for the advice.

One thing i can't figure out however is i have my antenna setup pointing at compass heading 73 degrees as it says on antennaweb.org, And i am having trouble tuning WPWRTV. Im not sure what to try, as it is the same distance as other channels which come in perfectly, and the same direction as well. I can get teh cannel to tune, but it pixelates and is to choppy to watch.

any ideas?

~Pix

[wrems]

pix, what type of OTA antenna did you end up constructing?

[PiX64]

i built the 2nd youtube one from PJPJPJPJPJ previous post. it is the one that has the longer whiskers on it with the PVC stand-off(s). I also used cardbaord covered in tinfoil to make it unidirectional as suggested...

~Pix

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by PiX64

One thing i can't figure out however is i have my antenna setup pointing at compass heading 73 degrees as it says on antennaweb.org, And i am having trouble tuning WPWRTV. Im not sure what to try, as it is the same distance as other channels which come in perfectly, and the same direction as well. I can get teh cannel to tune, but it pixelates and is to choppy to watch.

any ideas?

First thing that comes to mind is your antenna probably isn't getting the higher frequencies as strongly. WPWR-DT is actually the highest frequency in your area (UHF-51), according to your tvfool map. While your long cable run will attenuate the higher frequencies MORE than the lower frequencies, that distance shouldn't cause a LOT of problems. My guess is the antenna isn't all that ideal at those frequencies.

[PiX64]

Understood.

is there anyway anyone can think of to make this antenna more ideal for picking up this channel?

i realize it is only one channel but the issue is that WPWRDT is one that my wife watches regularly...

thanks,
Pix

[Fuzzy]

use a 'real' antenna? j/k. I'm not too familiar with tuning the multi-bay antenna's.

[PiX64]

are you dissin' my homebrew antenna Fuzzy? :-) ....no worries, thanks for the help that have you provided thus far.

[PiX64]

So here is something weird i'm hoping one of you can enlighten me on.

Got everything hooked up. HDHR tuning 2 antenna broadcasts (no WPWRDT) and from the same antenna HVR2250 tuning 2 antenna broadcasts (WITH WPWRDT)

hvr2250 picks up WPWRDT perfectly 100% signal strength no quality loss????

can someone please explain to me how this can be?

~Pix

[Fuzzy]

Try doing a channel scan with the HDHR's software, and see if it picks up the missing station there.

[PiX64]

Yup i tried that...it will pick up the channel, and i can tune to it, but the signal quality jumps from 0 - 30% and the channel is unwatchable...works perfect with hvr2250 though..

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by PiX64

Yup i tried that...it will pick up the channel, and i can tune to it, but the signal quality jumps from 0 - 30% and the channel is unwatchable...works perfect with hvr2250 though..

Is that the same on BOTH hdhomerun tuners? how about trying to switch the cables between the HDHR and the HVR, see if that makes a difference. If, for some reason, your HDHR has just lost sensitivity in the frequency range (which, i suppose would be possible), you can always just use two separate lineups and have only the HVR grab that channel.