Central/Eastern USA, Gulf Coast, Mexico, Caribbean

[RickleDickle]

majortom,

Have you considered building something?

Noooooooo! No way.

What type and size are your two windows? How close to each other are they?

The fact is, I don't think it matters because a) the antenna needs to be indoors, and b) from any indoor position, putting my HDA-5700 close to the window is counterproductive because of the huge drain pipe running right over both windows. It can be close to the window as long as it's above the drain pipe. I currently have it down low right next to me, so I can move around my little makeshift reflector. But otherwise the best spot for the HDA-5700 is high, above the drain pipe yet close to the window because that's where the roof nearly meets the ceiling.

I spent a lot of time testing different positions. Can't imagine it'll be much different for a better antenna. (shrug)

What's the building construction?

Brick. Any useable Chicago signal has to come through the roof. It's not going to make it through the half block of concrete and wire on my south side.

Thx,
Rick

[ChannelMaster]

Good morning all. I'm currently monitoring the DXFM videostream in Lexington Kentucky and as of about 9:00 ET this morning, Girard W has been receiving Clobal WInnipeg on Channel 2 analog along with a low power French repeater of what I assume to be SRC Winnipeg. This of course is attributable to a mid-morning Es event.

Could anyone tell me where those (especially Global) can be received locally? Thanks.

[Dr.Dave]

According to TV Fool:

CKND-TV-2 (Analog)
Channel: 2
Network: GTN
Coordinates: 50.283333 -100.110833
about 40 miles north of Brandon MB or 130 miles west of Winnipeg

CBWFT-7 (Analog)
Channel: 2
Network: SRC
Coordinates: 49.768333 -94.504722
Near Kenora, Ontario

[ChannelMaster]

Thank you very much Dr. Dave. I've got to give up being so stubburn and brush up on my TVFool.

[darklife]

Here in Wisconsin US we have been getting some serious heatwaves with no rain.
Normally we pick up 25 channels (11 stations) OTA all digital on UHF using a 25' pole and a homemade 4 bay bowtie.
In the last few days we noticed that a few channels suddenly lost signal strength or just won't come in at all that normally comes in clear as day.
In total 4 stations are not coming in. Occasionally one of them fades in for a short bit.

I checked the antenna, the dual preamp I use, the coax itself. All checks out fine from what I can tell.
Signal strength on all the other channels are about normal, possibly slightly less strong than usual.

Is this some effect because of it being in the dead of summer time?
Could it be something to do with the sun?
Maybe I am missing something. It hasn't rained at all in the last few weeks so that rules out rain getting into connectors or the like. No wind either so the antenna should be fine.

Thanks.

[ProjectSHO89]

It will fix itself by the fall.

[twoeastlawn]

Good day everyone,

Two weeks ago I cut the cable and have been using a Terk indoor antenna to receive DTV from Chicago. Reception has been OK, but inconsistent. That led me to research other antenna options and this forum.

I would like to build a Gray-Hoverman Antenna (GH10). My plan is to place it in the attic (safety reasons preclude a roof install because I'll be doing this by myself). My initial install requires one cable drop to the first floor of my house. Depending on the results of this initial build, I may put in a second drop to the television in my bedroom, on the second floor. My home also has a basement, but I have no plans to put a TV down there.

Here is the tvfool.com report for my location:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...9900bb6b257d90

Here are my questions:
1. Can I use a single antenna to receive both Chicago and Milwaukee television stations? Would a double antenna be better, or should I consider ganging two antennas? My wife is a Packers fan, and I like having a variety of PBS stations to choose from, hence the desire to receive Milwaukee stations, too.

2. Should I use a reflector, and if so, what kind do you recommend?

3. Do I need to use a preamplifier? For what it's worth, the cable run from the attic to the television should be no more than 50 feet, although it should be close to that length.

4. Should I also build top hat NARODs for Hi-VHF reception? WBBM (Chicago's CBS affiliate) broadcasts its signal on Hi-VHF, and reception is iffy at best. Or would simply putting the antenna in the attic, and properly pointing it towards the tower fix the reception consistency?

Those are my questions for now. I'm looking forward to your replies and advice.

Thanks

[atarinox]

Hi everyone,

I've been experimenting with a number of store-bought antennas trying to optimize my reception. Here is my TVfool report:

I'm currently using a Mohu Leaf Plus, and receiving the following channels:
8-1
8-2
15-1
15-2
21-1 (weak)
21-2 (weak)
33-1(weak)
43-1
43-2
43-3

I would like to be able to receive 21 and 33 more reliably, and to pickup 27-1. Anything else I could pickup would be a bonus.

Can you recommend a DIY design which would suit my location? I would be setting it up inside on the first floor. I'm a renter and am not able to setup a rooftop antenna or run cable from the top floor.

Thanks for your help!

[Fletchjr76]

Hello,

I am currently looking to upgrade my antenna due to poor reception with my current setup. Channels 2.1 - 10.2 do not come in consistently and often are breaking up.

Any help you can offer would be much appreciated.

TV Fool Report:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...cc492498347caa

Current Setup:

Antennas Direct Gear:

- ClearStream™ 4

http://www.antennasdirect.com/store/...V-antenna.html

- CPA19 ClearStream Pre-Amplifier Kit

http://www.antennasdirect.com/store/...ifier_kit.html

- 4 Way TV / CATV Distribution Amplifier

http://www.antennasdirect.com/store/...amplifier.html

RG11 Cable



Wanting to try another antenna and was interested in some of theb below:

Winegard:

HD7698P Platinum HD Series Antenna
HD8200U Long Range HDTV Antenna

Channel Master:

CM-5020 Masterpiece

[MelG]

Hi everyone, tried to follow all the rules, but in the reception thread the SE US is not represented. I live in Marietta, GA, a NW suburb of Atlanta, and here are my TVfool results: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...cc49f79d85ee5f
These results are for ground level, as I wanted a worst-case report.

I have been reading this forum for a couple of weeks now, having gotten frustrated with my two previous store-bought cheapo piece-of-junk antennae (I hadn't found this forum yet when I bought them). I don't have the money for a quality commercially-produced antenna and besides, I love to build my own gear (my dad was a ham so I guess it's in the genes). I'm ready to go to home depot for pvc, wire, etc., and between the M4 and the Grey-Hoverman I think the M4 (mclapp's four-bay bow-tie), specifically the 9.5 X 9, would be the best choice for me. My available channels run almost the full gamut, (real) 8 through 51.

I live in an apartment so roof-top or attic is out, but my current p.o.s. antenna is mounted to an old fan stand and perched atop my kitchen table, pointing toward a window. My apartment is 3 stories high, but I am in the treeline. I don't have a signal strength meter on my Sanyo tv w/digital tuner, so I have only the degree of pixelation and whether my tuner will lock onto a station to go on. My favorite stations are the worst for a lock: (real) 8, 21, & 51, in best-to-worst order. In the summer at night with the antenna pointed through the building NNW I can get 51 pretty good with little pixelation unless it's windy. Right now (November) I'm getting 19, 20, 27, 39, 25, & 10 with no pixelation unless it's REALLY windy. Everything else is more frustrating than it's worth, often resulting with me turning off the tv!

What do you guys think? Any opinions would be appreciated, and if this is posted in the wrong spot I apologize.

[overunity]

Hey everyone. I've been a lurker here for years. I built my first antenna in 2010 based on my research, much of which came from this forum. It served me well, and I've recently updated it, but I'm looking for even better performance in a smaller space, and thus I'm interested in fractals. Currently, I'm using a 4-bay bowtie in my attic (photos in my profile).

Here's my TVFool report:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...cc493602ecba8f

My channels are:

Callsign	Real	Virt	Chan	Path	Distance	Strength
WGAL		8   	8	2	2edge	73.5		59
W14DF		14	12	1	2edge	63.4		26
WLYH		23	15	2	2edge	57.7		71
WNEP		50	16	2	LOS	33.9		92
WHP		21	21	2	2edge	55.2		76
WYOU		13	22	1	LOS	33.8		77
WHTM		10	27	3	2edge	58.6		33
WBRE		11	28	1	LOS	33.8		90
WSWB		31	38	2	LOS	47		52
W43CO		43	43	3	1edge	35.8		40
WVIA		41	44	3	LOS	33.9		90
WOLF		45	56	3	LOS	34		92
WQPX		32	64	4	LOS	47.1		77
				29

[phr0ze]

TV Fool

I just want ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX. All of them are 50+DB and the same direction (39 degrees)

I've tried lots. GH0n, Some futuristic Yaggi, Leaf, etc. Tried them in a window pointed at 39 degrees, tried them in the attic. I just don't get it. I only get channel 2.1 (38) consistently. Channel 4.1 some, some PBS/religous types and the rest are just missing. All antennas are performing the same.

Going to make the GH0N into a GH0n3 and try that again.

Any advice?

[tvlurker]

phr0ze, your neighbourhood is very hilly, so reception can vary widely over a very few feet. I would use the TVFool online maps feature with satellite view to place your antenna precisely at the location you`re using, not in the middle of the road as the address method does.
Then post the results of that TVFool for us to have a look at. Be sure to put the hieght above ground for your antenna, too. In the online feature, you plug that in on the first page.

[phr0ze]

My post was moved so I have not been able to find where it went for days so sorry for the delay.


Here is the update. I can tell you it has not changed much. My key channels desired are ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX for baltimore. All over 50DB still.

[phr0ze]

Problems solved. GH0n plus RCA pre amp with FM trap.