Good to know. That's pretty much how we have it, LOL!

I did try the splitter going after the reciever going into the converter box, but it didn't help (as usual). I'm gonna keep it how I have it now (sans splitter). It's been working pretty well in this configuration and much better than going thru the splitter. Some channels take a little longer to load but Im ok with that as long as it comes in well.

How many Madisons can you get at night?

How many Madisons can you get at night?

I used to get 27, 47 and 57. Now it's just 27, which isn't that bad. Hey, it's free, I can't complain!

I used to get 27, 47 and 57. Now it's just 27, which isn't that bad. Hey, it's free, I can't complain!

I get 27 on a 24/7 basis- it actually has a higher noise margin than any of the Milwaukees. 57 and 21 come at night, and lately 47 has also (they are currently using a temporary antenna).
After 47 moves to RF49, I hope I will be able to get it during the day like 27.

I was wondering if 3 or 15 was ever available to you. I can only get them is there is strong tropo to overcome WGN & WXFT.

I get 27 on a 24/7 basis- it actually has a higher noise margin than any of the Milwaukees. 57 and 21 come at night, and lately 47 has also (they are currently using a temporary antenna).
After 47 moves to RF49, I hope I will be able to get it during the day like 27.

I was wondering if 3 or 15 was ever available to you. I can only get them is there is strong tropo to overcome WGN & WXFT.

Nope. I did get WGN for about 5 seconds though. My downstairs neighbor doesnt get it either, with their little Radio Shack antenna hooked onto their mailbox. I'm surprised I get anything from Chicago cos I got tall trees all the way to the eastern city limits.

I get 70% locked on 17 and 23 Rockford indoors, LOL Better percentage than when I tried outside.

i live over by Ruger ave and Wright Rd in Janesville i get in 17 and 23 regually and 13 with my outdoor one by 39 is a pain i know its the most powerful but for whatever reason it comes in the worst this way!!!!

Here ya go! The main antenna is pointed towards Chicago, and the little one pointed at Rockford (which also gets Madison at night).

I have never seen a Winegard look like those. The look like Jerrold antennas insted.

I live south of Edgerton/Indianford in a small wooded valley near the river and cannot get 39 with my indoor antenna either. I was disapointed that it doesnt come it since it's 900kw (the most powerful in Rockford) but its short stick must be the problem.

That would be it. At 600', and when they were 2,300 watts I got it 35 miles away, antenna pointed 120 degrees off-axis, but I was up high enough to get it.

I have never seen a Winegard look like those. The look like Jerrold antennas insted.

Could be, could be. All I know is that it works, LOL! There's quite a few of these same models around the neighborhood too. I'm too afraid of heights to get on the roof and actually find out what kind of antenna it is.

I have charter for cable and subscribe to the expanded basic. I have one tv with a QAM tuner that I could get the locals in HD threw the cable. I noticed the other day that now all those channels have no signal. I thought that if you had a QAM tuner and cable that the locals of HD would be free or unscrambled?

Try re-scanning - they might have moved them around.

Try re-scanning - they might have moved them around.


That worked........... Thanks so much!!

WREX started broadcasting the local news in HD, if anyone's interested. Just need to get WQRF/WTVO to get onboard.

Interesting tropo this AM, got Madison til about noon today! Just waiting for the snow to come screw it up tomorrow!

Greetings all. Anyone know if Comcast in Rockford, IL area requires a Tuning Adapter (TA) for their cableCARD subscribers yet? (ie, they've switched to SDV - switched digital video)

Thanks in advance!

Greetings all. Anyone know if Comcast in Rockford, IL area requires a Tuning Adapter (TA) for their cableCARD subscribers yet? (ie, they've switched to SDV - switched digital video)

Thanks in advance!

You should go to the Chicago Comcast thread. theyre talking about this over there.

WIFR screwed up big time last night. They cut to local commercials DURING The Late Late Show. :mad::mad::mad: (<---They did it 3x) If that wasn't bad enough, there wasn't ANY sound during Dr Oz, except for the commercials. Do they even realize that people actually watch these shows???

WIFR screwed up big time last night. They cut to local commercials DURING The Late Late Show. :mad::mad::mad: (<---They did it 3x) If that wasn't bad enough, there wasn't ANY sound during Dr Oz, except for the commercials. Do they even realize that people actually watch these shows???

So they just went to commercials during the show? Not during a break?

So they just went to commercials during the show? Not during a break?

Yeah, local commercials DURING the show. The network breaks were normal, and showed those dumb "CBS Cares" commercials where WIFR usually puts their local ads. I couldn't believe it. To top it off, Larry King and Dr Sanjay Gupta were guests that night. Local ads cut in for about 3 minutes, cut back to Larry King saying "These past 3 minutes have been the most serious 3 minutes in 6 years (of Craig hosting the show.)" :eek:

Well, it is a tiny market, easily the smallest in the midwest. 4 stations with 7 channels to cover 5 counties. Stuff happens?

I live in Loves Park and have fairly good rooftop antennas that produce consistent reception of the 7 locals.

If I were to swing these antennas (7-13 channel Yagi and 4 bow-tie with screen for UHF) and point them at Madison what might I get out of Madison besides the 4 networks I already receive?

People talk about getting additional channels but do they produce additional program material over what Rockford offers?

Thanks for your help.

Dick

Dick,

Yes, they do. Madison has Retro TV Network, although it will be going to "MeTV" soon, if it hasn't already. They also have ThisTv (movies), Wisconsin PBS (WHA-DT) that gives you 3 PBS channels, including sports from the U-W Badgers. They also have The Cool TV (music videos), and Country Network (country videos).

So yes, they do have more stuff.

If OTA is all you have, Rockford is pretty limited. Madison has a lot more, and it's definitely worth a try. If you can spin the antenna to the north and get all of the Mads, and still have the Rockfords, you'd have over 20 channels.

Thanks to you guys for providing info about the content of alternate/additional channels that might be available by swinging my Loves Park antennas to point at Madison.

A little research shows that these additional channels mentioned show mostly old (some really old) movies or TV programs -- replayed. And, if I am patient, here is what the Me-TV web site shows:

You can watch Me-TV in the Rockford area on the following stations:
Over the air: WFBN 33 - Coming Soon

The PBS channels from Madison I believe are all shown on Comcast's several PBS channels.

Personally, I am not "into" music videos, either pop or country.

So the additional offerings are not too exciting, for me personally, and not worth the hassle of getting up on the roof to change antenna azimuths. There is no free lunch, it seems. Besides, I live one mile from the local library that has a couple thousand DVDs on its shelves plus provides a convenient way to put items not available on hold or transfer from other libraries in its cooperative network. All of this means I can easily get movies to watch as desired and most of them are recent items.

Whatta' life!!

Dick

Reception reports of various channels at many locations and with suitable antennas are of great interest and value. Thanks to all of you who contribute to this subject.

At the top end of my teen-age years many (many!) years ago, the US Air Force sent me to one year of Russian language training at Syracuse University, followed up by the remaining 3 years of my enlistment collaborating with radio intercept operators at different intercept stations. This experience taught me a lot about radio wave propagation, by frequency, by time of day, and even by season of the year. In addition I learned a lot about antenna design and construction. All of this was, of course, mostly for what we used to call "short wave." Russia is a very large country and at that time had almost no internal infrastructure of land lines. Therefore, great reliance was placed on radio telephony for communication, both military and civilian. Much of this traffic was easily intercepted at various locations with a collection of large rhombic antennas and super sensitive receivers.

After discharge I purchased a moderately expensive Hallicrafters receiver and, when possible, installed long wire antennas to receive Russian and later Cuban radio stations. I was an avid "DX-er" for many years.

Three years ago, when my roof was re-shingled, I removed the big multi-element FM only antenna from its 20 foot tripod on the top of my roof. This antenna, for 25 years, provided consistent reception from Rockford of Madison NPR FM stations plus its independent FM station WORT. Rockford area commercial FM stations don't provide listening experiences that suit my tastes. Now, these Madison FM stations, and other similar ones, are streaming their program contents on the Internet so my antenna and FM tuner were retired.

Years ago TV DX-ing, mostly of longer wave length channels 2-6, was a sometimes interesting hobby and I always had a rooftop antenna on a rotor. But, as we know, as DTV is migrating to the UHF channels, their DX attraction has diminished. Their short wave lengths only allow for, at best, unpredictable DX capability, mostly of the short time span trophospheric or auroral type. So, I have turned my hobby interests in different directions.

Next on my list will be a large flat screen plasma TV coupled with an up-converting DVD player so as to get the best video experience possible out of my moderately large DVD library.

Time marches on . . . :)

Dick

Great story! Thanks Dick.

For some reason yesterday evening (June 1st) my TV required a rescan to set OTA digital channels. Lo' and behold, it found WKOW channel 27, that also included 27.1, 27.2, .3, .4 (I believe that was all). This was about 10PM.

Now, the next morning, 27 has disappeared. My UHF antenna has only a modest 2 bowties. It is pointed WSW to get local channels 23 and 39, which is almost at a right angle to Madison ch. 27. This azimuth pointing supposedly puts ch. 27 in its reception null, so this reception is all that much more surprising.

Did any of the rest of you notice this short term phenomenon?

For some reason yesterday evening (June 1st) my TV required a rescan to set OTA digital channels. Lo' and behold, it found WKOW channel 27, that also included 27.1, 27.2, .3, .4 (I believe that was all). This was about 10PM.

Now, the next morning, 27 has disappeared. My UHF antenna has only a modest 2 bowties. It is pointed WSW to get local channels 23 and 39, which is almost at a right angle to Madison ch. 27. This azimuth pointing supposedly puts ch. 27 in its reception null, so this reception is all that much more surprising.

Did any of the rest of you notice this short term phenomenon?

I get WKOW all the time, from 85 miles away, as long as the antenna is pointed towards it. It's a signal that travels better than most.
If you are ENE of the Rockford towers, I suspect that you could get WKOW, WISC, and maybe the other Madisons, if you aimed the antenna north. You're only about 40 miles away, and those Madison towers are twice as tall as Rockford's (and on higher land as well).

I just checked TV Fool for Loves Park. Even if you are down low, all of the Madison stations are above a +10 noise margin...you should be able to get them easily with the antenna pointed north. Since the Rockford stations all have a noise margin ranging from +50 to +70, they should come in off the side of the antenna.
You could tripple your channel count from 7 to 21.

I'm not questioning the capability of a Loves Park antenna pointed towards Madison to receive channel 27. From my location I can pretty much "look up" the Fox River Valley towards Madison. My surprise was that this signal was coming through so loud and clear that it could be received off my antenna's null side (at a right angle). I just wondered if anyone else noted this transitory event?

I would reorient my rooftop antennas to Madison except I like to get the local news channels, something not available when receiving ABC (ch 27) from Madison. I see a couple of other 4 bow-tie antennas in my neighborhood pointed towards Madison. When out on a neighborhood walk I will be alert for the possibility of asking questions about their performance.

This summer, when on the roof to do maintenance to prepare the wood stove's chimney for Winter, I will temporarily reorient my UHF antenna towards Madison and try it for reception. If this venture proves out I might get a longer mast and install a UHF antenna pointed towards Madison and run its down lead separately, then I could physically swap UHF antennas with a switch at the rear of the TV set. A fly in the ointment of this trial is a large tree over on the next block that is smack dab in the middle of the direction to Madison, and a tree on the north side of my house in the next door neighbor's yard. Perhaps in the Winter, when these tree's leaves have fallen reception could be more dependable.

Years ago I lived on slightly higher ground in this area and sometimes could get Channel 9 out of Chicago, and sometimes channel 9 from Green Bay -- depending on antenna orientation. One evening, all I could get on this channel, regardless of my antenna's pointed direction, was Channel 9 out of St. Louis. The incoming signal was so strong it swamped anything else on that channel. Such are the vagaries of tropospheric events.

Questions:

1. How much of a wind load is safe for chimney attached antenna masts?

2. How much space between antennas should be set for the installation of 2 different UHF antennas mounted on the same mast? My memory tells me that similar antennas should be spaced at least a wave length apart from each other to reduce the possibility of their interfering with each other.

I don't want to poke holes my my roof so if a chimney mounted mast can't handle this extra antenna all bets are off.

Well . . . Whatta' hobby. Right?

I guess it depends on the size and condition of the chimney. As long as the mortar is in good shape, small 2 and 4 bays should be no problem. So many old, crumbling chimneys have big ol' VHF low monsters on them.
Separation distance isn't an issue with 2 UHF panel antennas, as the reflectors are always bigger than one wavelength. Experimenting while you are doing roof work is a great idea, as you will be up & down anyway. Just be careful!

Heck, the ChannelMaster 4228HD antenna (warrenelectronics.com in the Quad Cities has them) should be fine, too. I can lock WKOW-DT here in DeKalb at night. A friend in Waterman, 9 miles south of me AND behind a ridge locks it and WHA at night. All using the 4228HD.

I guess it depends on the size and condition of the chimney. As long as the mortar is in good shape, small 2 and 4 bays should be no problem.And as some of you guys would say concerning channel counts, "The mortar the merrier!". :D

(Have to give credit to Larry Fine for that one.)

And as some of you guys would say concerning channel counts, "The mortar the merrier!". :D

(Have to give credit to Larry Fine for that one.)

I hear you Ram. I think the key is that if HD channels were left alone on a station, and SD channels were grouped together , it would be the best of both worlds- good PQ for HD, high channel count for SD.
But for someone in the Stateline area who is OTA-only, 7 measely channels from Rockford is not much of a choice of programming. Adding Madison's 14 makes a big difference.

Doesn't sound like it would even be worth the bother and risk of getting on the roof.

Streaming is where it's at these days, and there is lots of free stuff available (with a Roku, Squeezebox, Blu-ray player that also plays SD-DVD's, etc.).

Well, I've been up on my roof several times in the last 3 days. On the roof I have a DB-4 (4 bow tie with screen back) which is like 1/2 of the Channel Master 4228. It is about 28 feet above ground level. I rotated this antenna to point to Madison, did a rescan and, lo and behold, 6 and sometimes 7 stations appeared! Most of them have sufficient signal strength to provide dependable reception. Also, I believe some of their transmitters produce a better picture and sound than similar channels in Rockford.

Channel 13 (NBC) in Rockford continues to be handled by a separate 7-13 Yagi (5 element).

Presently, my VHF and UHF antennas are joined with a splitter hooked backwards in the basement where their two lead-ins pass, so only one cable goes to the baseboard connector at the rear of the TV set.

I tried the VHF without this combiner and the VHF reception to Madison is slightly better but, of course, channel 13 suffers. The all-channel splitter I am using is not the best for combining VHF with UHF!

As you know the FCC is quite canny in the method it assigns channels by locations and transmitter power to cut down on the chance of channel interference. I am in Loves Park and the Rockford antennas are WSW of me whereas the Madison transmitters are NNW of me. This means that when my antenna is pointed towards Madison it is at a right angle to the Rockford stations, therefore local reception is very marginal and from the antenna's null spot.

So, what to do? The Channel Master 4228 has about double the sensitivity of my present DB-4 and, supposedly, the more recent HD version of the 4228 is quite good at also getting channel 13. If this antenna were pointed towards Madison would its increased size enable acceptable local channel reception off from its side? This Channel Master antenna will cost around $90 with shipping which is really too expensive for casual experimentation.

I'm going to scout around Rockford to attempt to locate a used 4228, perhaps an ad on Craigs List, and an inquiry at the business that does most antenna installations in the Rockford area will produce results. Do any of you have a used 4228 to sell?

Also, Monday I will try to find a UHF/VHF combiner to ascertain if it produces a result better than the all channel TV signal splitter I have been using. A properly designed combiner has considerable signal rejection for VHF vs: UHF and UHF vs: VHF. It should help reception of lower power Madison stations, such as 47 and especially 57 and sometimes channel 21.

What is curious is that none of the the Madison channels received here includes NBC. TV-Fool lists channel 19 (15.1) as NBC but my rescans have not produced that station. Is my tuner rejecting it because of its closeness to Rockford 13? Years ago my little rooftop with rotor got NBC on channel 15 so I suppose the station is still operating. What channel do you guys get Madison NBC on?

So, I apologize for my wordiness but the extra Madison channels would be nice to have if doing so does not interfere with local reception and/or cost too for a better antenna. It is my understanding that UHF/VHF antennas can be combined OK, but combining two VHF pointed in different directions does not produce good results and they interfere with each other. So, if one good antenna (channel master 4228) pointed towards Madison can't also get Rockford channels 17 and 23 off its side, all bets are off. The expense and complexity of rotor would be too much.

Comments? I appreciate your help.

It is interesting to see the increased mention in articles about computer users cutting their cable connections. The only reasons I continue with Comcast is for CNN, MSNBC and occasionally Fox news. There has got to be a cheaper way to get just these stations on a cable hookup. I can't find any realtime news feeds for them on-line. Drat!

Dick

What is curious is that none of the the Madison channels received here includes NBC. TV-Fool lists channel 19 (15.1) as NBC but my rescans have not produced that station. Is my tuner rejecting it because of its closeness to Rockford 13? Years ago my little rooftop with rotor got NBC on channel 15 so I suppose the station is still operating. What channel do you guys get Madison NBC on?

Is it possible that you are receiving interference from Chicago? WGN is on channel 19 in Chicago, and people half-way in between often have issues with both stations.

It is interesting to see the increased mention in articles about computer users cutting their cable connections. The only reasons I continue with Comcast is for CNN, MSNBC and occasionally Fox news. There has got to be a cheaper way to get just these stations on a cable hookup. I can't find any realtime news feeds for them on-line. Drat!

Dick

Is it CNN and MSNBC you need, or 24 hour news in general? A small free-to-air satellite dish can get you Al Jazeera and RT. (I'm watching Al Jazeera right now.)

- Trip

The only reasons I continue with Comcast is for CNN, MSNBC and occasionally Fox news. There has got to be a cheaper way to get just these stations on a cable hookup.Yeah, pretty much the same situation here. I only have SD Dish just for less than a handful of stations and/or programs that I watch pretty regularly, which is mostly stationary or talking heads kind of stuff (and it looks more than passable on my Pio Elite plasma). All my HD comes from OTA (would have to pay like $300 or $400 to upgrade to HD now, because I didn't originally get it - and that's not even including a DVR, if I wanted that). I used to get three markets at first (Chicago, Rockford, Milwaukee), but the rotor went out since then, and because the majority of the programming was redundant, I just never bothered replacing it.

Since you can have antennas where you're at, can you have satellite? Dish is generally the cheapest of the bunch. You can get their AT 200 (with "Free HD for Life", if you want), which is the lowest package that has all those channels (the one lower doesn't have MSNBC), to two TV's (HD/SD, or SD/SD), for $39.99 a month for 12 months, then $59.99 thereafter. Also, being in IL, there are no taxes on it.

A small free-to-air satellite dish can get you Al Jazeera and RT.I didn't even think of that. Yeah, he can get a lot of extra, free stuff with that. Add a BUD, and get even a lot more (wish I could get away with having a BUD myself - most of the stuff I'd want is on c-band).

I believe one of the main reasons I can't get at least some of the Madisons here is because the interference from Chicago is so strong. I'm about 45 miles ESE of him.

Same here, WMTV-15 is almost never there because WGN just destroys it. I think 15 is weak to the SE to protect WGN.
Another option for news is PBS Mhz, which is available in Chicago on WYCC-20. They do RT news, DeutchWeld, France 24, Al Jazeera, and even NHK Japan. But there is very little US news on these networks.
Agree with Ram that Dish is by far the best deal for cable channels.

Thanks guys. Lots to chew on here in your last few posts.

I am down in the Fox River valley with a fairly clear shot north to Madison but no mater what antenna or its orientation I have never been able to get Chicago or Milwaukee. There is a north/south ridge of higher ground east of me. It is not very noticeable but it is there so my TV should not be getting interference from Chicago on 15 as it scans for stations available.

You folks need to help me with some of your nomenclature. What is a BUD? Is RT "real time?"

I have done a little research on a DISH package and agree that its lowest price package would give me most of what is desired, except usually for MSNBC. Introductory prices for DISH service are enticing but after the initial year their price goes up to very close what I am now paying for Comcast ($63/mo). So all things considered there is too little inducement for me to switch. I have no plan to subscribe to HD content and hope SC content will continue to be watchable, which is one reason I have yet to get my coveted 50" Panasonic Plasma I remain content with a 27" flat screen CRT from Sanyo to watch cable SD stuff. The network stuff shown by Comcast has been improving the last year in picture quality to the point I doubt SD would be better on a big Plasma.

What is "AT 200 (with "Free HD for Life", if you want)." Is this a package from Dish Network?

Can you point me to a link/s with more info about the small free-to-air satellite dish? That would be a bold move and perhaps a challenge that would hold my interest for some time.

I have come to like the news as presented by certain personalities on CNN and MSNBC so news per se is not desired as much as news packaged by the various commentators on CNN and especially MSNBC (which tells you something about my progressive political leaning).

I did find a RT feed (on-line) for a special Whitehouse event on FOX so it might be worth exploring its web site's offerings further. Ditto PBS and C-SPAN.

Movies for me are easy to come by. I live a mile from a nice library system that has thousands of DVDs and a nice way to put some on hold. I watch several movies per week, some very recent issue, so entertainment content is easy to come by.

Well, all of this is interesting. . . . .

BUD = Big Ugly Dish. That's those huge, 8'-10' monsters for C-band.

Ku-band uses the smaller dish. Here'a a channel list of what's available right now:

www.ftalist.com/master.php

"AT 200 w/HD free for life" is Dish's "America's Top 200 channels", SD package. The "free HD" deal is with the two-year commitment and paperless billing. It normally costs about $10.00 extra as an add-on, I think. You can also pay an upfront, $99 fee to get it without the commitment.

Here's a calculator for Dish:

www.dishnetwork.com/quote_builder/calculator/calculator.html

Is RT "real time?"

RT is Russia Today. I don't watch it, but some people do enjoy it for their news.

Can you point me to a link/s with more info about the small free-to-air satellite dish? That would be a bold move and perhaps a challenge that would hold my interest for some time.

Here are links to posts about the two past setups I've had. I have yet to put up a similar post for my current setup, which has a motor to move the dish for me.

http://www.rabbitears.info/blog/index.php?post/2011/02/20/Free-to-Air-Satellite-Done-Dirt-Cheap
http://www.rabbitears.info/blog/index.php?post/2011/03/08/Free-to-Air-Satellite-Done-Dirt-Cheap%3A-Home-Edition

I mostly watch Al Jazeera but there's lots of other stuff up there, but now that my setup is motorized and as soon as my new satellite receiver arrives that'll deal with AC3 audio, I'll be able to watch multiple PBS feeds without dealing with my stupid local PBS station.

I have come to like the news as presented by certain personalities on CNN and MSNBC so news per se is not desired as much as news packaged by the various commentators on CNN and especially MSNBC (which tells you something about my progressive political leaning).

Understood. I hold similar views, but cannot stand the opinion media.

- Trip

Trip in VA,

Many thanks for the info about FTA satellite reception:

"Here are links to posts about the two past setups I've had. I have yet to put up a similar post for my current setup, which has a motor to move the dish for me."

This may be a new area for me and I will begin to study about it. Many years ago two homes down the street had C-band dishes but their owners said that the networks began to encrypt the more interesting feeds to the point these neighbors sold their BUDs.

The Rabbit Ears web site is an excellent source of info and new links for DVT. I have been reading them almost all day.

Question:

Has the dust settled yet about the change in the Channel Master 4228 antenna since it was sold and moved to China? It would seem from some posts that the smaller CM 4221 HD model has better specs for higher channels and is a better buy than the 4228, considering it is about 1/2 the price. After reading all the postings I am doubting my earlier intention to get a CM 4228HD. If the before and after changes are so large it seems silly for the Chinese folks to continue with the 4228 model as now available when some simple changes could improve its performance.

Would you guys get a 4228 or something else?

Trip in VA,

Many thanks for the info about FTA satellite reception:

"Here are links to posts about the two past setups I've had. I have yet to put up a similar post for my current setup, which has a motor to move the dish for me."

This may be a new area for me and I will begin to study about it.

If you have any questions, let me know. I'll likely be making a post about my current setup in the near future, so you can examine that as well when I get it posted.

Many years ago two homes down the street had C-band dishes but their owners said that the networks began to encrypt the more interesting feeds to the point these neighbors sold their BUDs.

A lot of stuff has been encrypted, but things like the PBS feeds and assorted other odds and ends are still available.

The Rabbit Ears web site is an excellent source of info and new links for DVT. I have been reading them almost all day.

I'm glad you enjoy RabbitEars. Some time this week I expect to launch a section about free-to-air satellite. :)

- Trip

A small free-to-air satellite dish can get you Al Jazeera and RT. (I'm watching Al Jazeera right now.)

- Trip

How much would one of *those* cost?

I got my box at a swap meet for $40, the dish and LNB I'm using was $10 at a different swap meet, and the mast it's on was free from a friend.

- Trip

I got my box at a swap meet for $40, the dish and LNB I'm using was $10 at a different swap meet, and the mast it's on was free from a friend.

- Trip

Hmm, my house has a directv dish thats not being used. would that work or no?

Possible, but unlikely, as the dish is too small. The LNB definitely cannot be used since it is circularly polarized and free-to-air content is linear.

- Trip

Possible, but unlikely, as the dish is too small. The LNB definitely cannot be used since it is circularly polarized and free-to-air content is linear.

- Trip

Ok, just as i figured: It's useless. Maybe i should hang a wreath on it for Xmas. :rolleyes:

I you went around and collected all of the unused dishes sitting on roofs all over America, you'd have quite a pile of metal. How many homes have both a DTV and DN dish up there?

I you went around and collected all of the unused dishes sitting on roofs all over America, you'd have quite a pile of metal. How many homes have both a DTV and DN dish up there?

I've seen quite a few around the Elgin and DeKalb areas.

I don't really know what DeKalb's like these days, but Elgin's right down the road from me, and it really doesn't surprise me at all, with all those huge, old houses filled with multiple families, each of which has their own satellite dish.

Some neighborhoods in Chicago have a ridiculous amount per house.

If OTA is all you have, Rockford is pretty limited. Madison has a lot more, and it's definitely worth a try. If you can spin the antenna to the north and get all of the Mads, and still have the Rockfords, you'd have over 20 channels.

FWIW, I have a DB-4 UHF antenna on a mast on my roof. Last week I pointed it at Madison instead of the TV towers to the west of Rockford. I usually still get Rockford channels 17 and 23 off the side of this antenna -- and now also receive Madison Channels 3, 21, 27, and 47. Because the antenna is pointed at Madison the reception on its channels is about 90% stable and predictable. Local Rockford channels 17 and 23 are only 60% predictable and stable off the side of this antenna. It is my opinion that the transmitters from the Madison stations produce a better picture, better detail and colors, and obvious better sound.

I have a separate VHF antenna up on the roof for local channel 13 (NBC). It is a 5 element Yagi designed to receive channels 7-13. Its reception of channel 13 is 100% stable.

Several of the Madison channels have 3 sub-channels, not just 2, albeit these sub channels show low value old stuff, just as the sub-channels do on local 13, 17 and 23 channels.

Tomorrow I am going up on the roof again to move the UHF antenna up to the very top of the mast (where the channel 13 antenna is now located) to determine if an additional 6 feet in elevation is enough to improve reception both of Madison and local channels off the left side of the antenna.

Moving the VHF down a few feet to a lower position on the mast should not make a difference as it receives channel 13 so well with apparent good signal strength. So far I have not noted any interference between these two types of antennas which each have their own separate downleads; then their signals are joined in the basement with a UHF/VHF signal combiner to provide just one cable at the wall plate for TV set connection. I've tried VHF and UHF reception with/without this combiner and note no apparent difference. The combiner presents very little signal loss it seems.

Whatta' hobby :)

Dick

Whatta' hobby :)

Dick

Yeah you know you're in deep when you watch an infomercial on a station from 200 miles away rather than a real program on a local station.

By the way, Dick, you've revived the almost-dead Rockford thread. We actually got it to go to a new page!

Point well received! There has got to be better uses of the public airwaves than watching 40-year-old episodes of "I Love Lucy."

We need more active involvement from users of free OTA TV to encourage more innovation and better quality of available programming.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-20072711-266/cea-chief-broadcasters-dont-innovate-q-a

The goal of my latest foray into rooftop antennas was to get both Rockford and Madison OTA stations with the least extra expense possible.

I already had a DB-4 UHF antenna combined with a channel 7-13 Yagi. The addition of another DB-4 pointed at Madison now provides almost 100% reception of Madison as well as Rockford stations.

The DB-4 and Yagi pointed West get the Rockford channels and the DB-4 at the top of the mast gets Madison. The Rockford antennas are ganged with a combiner. The Madison DB-4 has a separate downlead with is combined with the others in the basement using a coupler in reverse. All of this provides one connection at the wall plate for the TV connection.

The 2nd DB-4 purchased from Solid Signal a few days ago was listed as "refurbished" but looks and functions as brand-new at considerable saving in cost. I am happy :).

Dick

The goal of my latest foray into rooftop antennas was to get both Rockford and Madison OTA stations with the least extra expense possible.

I already had a DB-4 VHF antenna combined with a channel 7-13 Yagi. The addition of another DB-4 pointed at Madison now provides almost 100% reception of Madison as well as Rockford stations.

The DB-4 and Yagi pointed West get the Rockford channels and the DB-4 at the top of the mast gets Madison. The Rockford antennas are ganged with a combiner. The Madison DB-4 has a separate downlead with is combined with the others in the basement using a coupler in reverse. All of this provides one connection at the wall plate for the TV connection.

The 2nd DB-4 purchased from Solid Signal a few days ago was listed as "refurbished" but looks and functions as brand-new at considerable saving in cost. I am happy :).

Dick

Swwweeeet! I love it when a plan comes together, even when it's not mine. Very nice rig.

It sure would have been nice if Rockford's channel 13 had stayed on the UHF frequency it was using before the digital switch. I'm in Beloit and have half of a channel master 4228. (I forget the correct number and it's no longer offered) I have to point my antenna towards Rockford and pickup all the Madison channels through the backside. My main objective was to get the Rockford channels in HD because they're not offered over charter cable. I doubt I'll ever put up a VHF antenna just to get WREX.

WREX was using channel 54, a channel which was taken back by the FCC. They could not have kept it.

- Trip

Same here, WMTV-15 is almost never there because WGN just destroys it. I think 15 is weak to the SE to protect WGN.

Those two were battling it out at my house today. Nobody won. :rolleyes:

Yeah, RF 19 is super crowded around here-Chicago, Madison, Peoria, Grand Rapids. I got an RF 19 out of Des Moines last night, but very briefly.

WTVO and WQRF are offline right now, probably thanks to this storm. Hopefully it's not something serious.

They were back by morning. Power outage, maybe?

WTVO and WQRF are offline right now, probably thanks to this storm. Hopefully it's not something serious.

They were back by morning. Power outage, maybe?

Yea, power outage, according to their facebook page. Not that it mattered to me cos nothing was worth watching last night anyway...

If my memory serves correctly, WTVO goes off the air the most frequently of the local stations and WIFR is 2nd. If they are losing power it would seem simple to correct their power feed.

COMCAST was off at the same time for me in Loves Park. I was grateful for the other OTA stations to keep me informed of what was happening. DSL, of course, remained reliable. People complain about AT&T but I would not have my DSL with anyone else as it has always been there when needed.

At the time of the storm I was able to get spotty reception from Madison OTA stations, which helped provide storm info on a wider scale.

So far my antennas attached to the chimney have remained upright through all the recent storms, 75 mph winds, etc. I do, however, need to get up there and make a better connection to the grounding wire on the mast.

Have you and others who post here been keeping up with attempts to auction off parts of the OTA bandwidth and limit power to certain stations? Legislation to do so was attached to one of the latest budget negotiation bills but was removed. Later this year this move will be reinserted. Go here to read about it:

http://www.thefutureoftv.org/

http://blog.thefutureoftv.org/

We need political activism to protect our access to the OTA we enjoy.

For those that are interested, WQRF is adding a subchannel on Sept 26th: Bounce TV, aimed specifically for African Americans.

WIFR's weather subchannel PQ was pretty bad this morning. Boxed in a little further than normal. And when the local forecast came on, the audio cut out a lot. I wonder what the heck happened.

EDIT: fixed as of 10am Sept 13.

Thinking of getting one of these to put on the roof to try and get Wisc channels. I live near Main and Auburn. Will it work?

Ebay ID 290609672424 (Can't post URL yet).


Am also wondering if it would pick up the Rockford channels on it's side if pointed North?

Also, I noticed SiliconDust's website was showing we now have 39.2 (Bounce) as WQRFDT2. And that it was 1080i? Anyone managed to pick up a test picture?

SiliconDust is confused. The 39-2 you see listed is WNDU 16-1. Examine the images and you'll see the WNDU bug in the corner.

- Trip

SiliconDust is confused. The 39-2 you see listed is WNDU 16-1. Examine the images and you'll see the WNDU bug in the corner.

- Trip

I tuned it at home. 39.2 is Bounce TV, starts 9/26. In glorious 480i..

Very good then. Yesterday when I looked at SiliconDust, the images it was showing for 39-2 were from WNDU.

- Trip

Is there a timeline to convert the sound to 5.1 on WREX. The sound quality of Stereo is so inferior to 5.1 from the other channels it's hard to watch.

Is there a timeline to convert the sound to 5.1 on WREX. The sound quality of Stereo is so inferior to 5.1 from the other channels it's hard to watch.

The one thing that bugs me is the audience mics on shows like America's Funniest Videos and DWTS on ABC. God awful, like white noise. Not everyone has 5.1, so why punish those ears with a bad stereo downmix? Or is it a fake 5.1 upmix from stereo and downmixed back to stereo? Heck, some people don't even have tv's with stereo speakers.

Rdoac,

I live in the same area(Camp Ave) and am wondering about your reception thus far. I am thinking of switching to OTA with a channelmaster dvr but would like to be able to get more channels from WI. Antennaweb doesn't make it sound too hopeful, so I'm curious of your results. Let me know.

After a couple of weeks I'm ready to get back on the roof again (when the rain stops). Generally the Wisconsin reception is OK. I get 27 (real channel 26) dropping out in the mornings. However, local channels are a pain. It picks up 17 & 13 fine, but 39(42) and 23(41) are a pain. I am probably getting multi path reflection issues. I will probably end up putting a small antenna on the mast pointing up towards Auburn to resolve that, and would like to try and tune the antenna to 27 in a morning where I am losing it. I did some satellite stuff when I lived in Italy, using a 2 metre ku band dish where aiming was everything. I think that an antenna is nowhere near as fussy.

The program quality of the WI stations seams generally higher, with 3.1 having syndicated content in HD, as well as 15 and 27. Fox is about the same and probably uses the same remuxer as WQRF. MeTV is a bonus and having the CW in HD is a definite plus. NBC comes with 5.1 audio, which is a big deal to us and sounds much much better with a 5.1 amp.

More updates if anyone is reading them. I tried a second antenna, but didn't get much luck. I was considering playing with a Jointenna but they don't make them with channel 41/42 so played around with some other things (variable amps and such like - with no luck). I think the problem is a signal overload on channels 41/42 (WIFR/WQRF) and multipath, these then take out any kind of amplifier used to strengthen Madison stations. I have just ordered a Winegard UT-2700, a variable attenuator to try and attenuate those channels down a bit. With those down, I may try an amplifier to see if I can make 27.1 more stable. Will let you all know.

My opinion is that most receiver sections are very sensitive and amplifiers are usually not needed. You can't amplify a signal unless it is being received. To get Madison is dependent on topography (high ground between you and there) and troposphere conditions. For me, most of the time, Madison stations 21 and 45 come and go depending on temperature layers in air and I haven't figured out a way to predict when and why. For example, at 6:30 PM this eve, Ch. 21 was blocking terribly. Now, at 7:30 PM it is rock solid. Ch. 27 is almost always available, ditto Ch. 03. You can see my antenna setup by clicking the link below. I am at Elm and Renrose in Loves Park.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=20621134#post20621134

Hi Dick,

Thanks for responding. Still in testing phase, but I think I now have it working.

I have noted that most of the time my antenna (yagi style, very directional) pulls in Madison really well. I only lose 27 (actual 26). During daylight. Although I am getting real problems with WQRF..

Once working, I then tried to attach it to too many things, and that was where I ran into problems.

I bought an amp with only .4db noise, which I thought would be the secret, but lost 27 and the CW (57.1 actual 32). I also was dealing with huge multipath problems with 41 & 42 (WIFR and WQRF - the latter being important, as I work there - although not in a technical role). I was thinking all along that it was multipath hitting the antenna at the wrong angle, so played with an additional antenna but didn't get very far..

Reading here, I realized I am probably overloading the tuners with both 41 and 42, as they're only 5 miles due West (I'm near Main and Auburn, so a little further west and south than you). Today my variable attenuator arrived (Winegard UT-2700). Armed with my HDHomerun android app and a small screwdriver, I've just spent 2 hours trying to tune the thing, and have finally got one half sitting on 41, the other on 42, so they lower the signal meter down from 96 to 73 and my set top box testing thing lost WIFR (WQRF was never locked due to even worse multipath).

I then took the output of the attenuator and plugged it into my Amp, and noticed I can now pick up 27 (26) and 57 (32), so suspect the really strong local signals was causing the amp to distort the other frequencies.

I now have enough power to feed the signal through a four way splitter for my 3 HDHomerun tuners I want to use, and then onwards to my TV's and FM Computer input.

Have just wired it up, more directly, again, and discovered I'm missing channel 57 (32), have replaced the super low noise amp with my trusty Radio Shack cable tv amplifier, and am getting much better results. I think the super duper amp will be going back..

I will try out 27 tomorrow during the day, as that's when I lose it. I have also wired in my little antenna after the amp to reprovide 41 & 42 (WIFR and WQRF). I don't seem to be having any multipath errors with WTVO as the signal was 100% off the main antenna and never dropped out like the others. WREX is VHF and always worked well from the main antenna.

Will update again if I notice wierd things happen.... At some point, I suppose I should put my little antenna on the roof, as it's just 6 foot off the ground screwed into an old sat bracket onto the back fence..

I'm always having problems with WQRF. I usually don't watch it unless i know im getting a decent signal. It's a crapshoot most times.

@SycamoreSeej

What sort of problems do you have? It's the strongest transmitter and not very far from WIFR, WTVO, so if you get those, you should get WQRF. Although it maybe that you're overloading your tuners if you're using an Amp like I was.. Have you tried it without an amp if you use one?

Amost always, if you can see the tower's red lights at night, you do not need an amplifier to get that station, and using an amplifier that close usually causes overload, resulting in blackouts that your set calls "weak signal."

Madison and local OTA stations are almost 90 degrees apart (on the azimuth). I have lost track of what you have tried, but did you try pointing your UHF antenna to the transmitters on the west of town and not using any other signal processing? This should get you good local reception but you will lose all Madison reception.

The short wavelengths of UHF frequencies make antenna positioning very critical and UHF antennas are designed to have a null in reception at 90 degrees. I don't think you will be able to get Madison and local stations without a rotor to point the antenna at the station/s you wish to receive. You can see I use two UHF antennas, one for local and the other for Madison. No way one of them can do the job alone.

I tried to orient one UHF antenna to split the difference between Madison and local and got nothing. From my location these stations are 90 degrees apart on the azimuth and antennas must be pointed accordingly.

I wonder how much loss you're getting with the signal going backwards through the combiner and back out the other cable and antenna? I know when I plugged my two antennas directly together I lost 27 almost always.

Does the blockyness improve on 21 when you're having trouble if you just plug that cable in without the Rockford antenna and combiner?

If so, you might want to consider amping just the Madison cable just before the combiner to increase the signal and allow for cable loss.

@SycamoreSeej

What sort of problems do you have? It's the strongest transmitter and not very far from WIFR, WTVO, so if you get those, you should get WQRF. Although it maybe that you're overloading your tuners if you're using an Amp like I was.. Have you tried it without an amp if you use one?

I get signal loss, blocky pixels, and the sound sometimes drops in pitch when the signal isn't that strong. :eek: I don't know why I can get WTVO better than WQRF since they're basically the same station but on different freqencies. It's been like this since I moved here. I always get a great signal from WIFR, damn near 100%. The only antenna fix was a couple dipoles that were dislocated by wind when we got our converter box last year. I dont use an amp, but I should have Dad check the cables between the Chicago and Rockford antennas before it gets too cold. I do want to uprgrade to quad shielded rg6, disconnect the RFD antenna & get a rotor on the CHI antenna eventually. Can't afford it til i get my own income. I'm not really bothered by the signal problems. If I need to watch Fox, I switch to WFLD, maybe Madison's Fox47 if it's coming in well.

Just did a quick TVFool generic look up on Sycamore. Looks like they think WQRF is 2Edge while WTVO is LOS? Not sure why as the antennas are pretty close together. Fox is between ABC and CBS slightly further East. It's also more powerful..

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d60b55eab098c6b

Though WTVO and WQRF share a tower, WQRF is much lower on the tower than WTVO is.

- Trip

I wonder how much loss you're getting with the signal going backwards through the combiner and back out the other cable and antenna?

My UHF antenna that is pointed at Madison, that is at the very top of my mast, has its own separate lead in. This lead in is not combined with the lead in from the other 2 antennas until they are right behind the TV set where I have tried different combinations of signal joining -- all to no avail.

What you and others fail to realize is that the reception of Madison signals is a "sometimes" thing. TV signals go out in a straight line and Madison from Loves Park is "over the horizon" so no TV signals can be received directly. There is some electron scatter that enables some over the horizon reception, but reception at this distance is mostly dependent on temperature/humidity variations in the overlying air layers.

When warmer more moist air overrides air at lower levels the signal can be ducted between these layers and so it can be curved downward, toward the earth, to enable over the horizon reception. This is why distant reception is often better in the evening when the earth's surface has cooled, due to radiation cooling, while the overriding air layers still remain relatively warmer.

The opposite to all of this will bend or duct the signals upwards, away from the ground.

Blockiness can be a transitory thing because over the horizon reception can vary greatly in short periods of time, depending on atmosphere layers heating or cooling. But, if there is no signal present to be received no attached amplifier is going to make any difference in reception.

And, of course, all of these effects can and do exist along a continuum. A taller mast with greater receiving antenna height, a larger antenna that has greater area to receive signals, can help improve reception consistency. As can transmitter height and power, things which improve line of sight and over the horizon electron scatter. Regardless, over the horizon TV reception will continue to vary widely, often within minutes, and if no signal is present no amplifier will help. You can't amplify something that does not exist.

Though WTVO and WQRF share a tower, WQRF is much lower on the tower than WTVO is.

- Trip

That could be it. Like I said earlier, I'm not buggered by it.

OTA channels for Madison and Rockford

For those of you who enjoy watching the Madison OTA channels, here are the program listings for ZIP 53716.

http://tvlistings.aol.com/listings/wi/madison/over-the-air/53716

This 2nd link (below) will show you the Rockford plus most Madison OTA TV channels.

http://tvlistings.aol.com/listings/wi/madison/over-the-air/61103

This should be a useful combo listing that gets almost all pertinent channels on one page.

Dick

A friend of mine lives 15 miles out in the country (on Harrison Road) NW of Rockford. From his rooftop I believe the Rockford TV antennas would be visible. They are only about 8 miles south of his house. Madison would be almost a straight shot from his home about 40 miles to the North. And because he lives in an old farm house out in the country there are no close by structures or anything else to get in the way of reception.

Is there an antenna that receives OK off its back side so that it can receive stations both to its north and south? To the north of this antenna would be Madison, to the south would be Rockford. The signal strength from Rockford would be quite high because the Rockford transmitters are only a few miles away and the hope would be that there is an antenna that receives well enough off its back side to be usable in this location. And, the hope is that this antenna could be mounted high enough to get the Madison OTA channels.

If such a bi-directional antenna were available he might be able to get both Rockford and Madison without a rotor.

Any suggestions on an antenna that can receive fairly well off its back side and well as from its front?

Thanks...........

A friend of mine lives 15 miles out in the country (on Harrison Road) NW of Rockford. From his rooftop I believe the Rockford TV antennas would be visible. They are only about 8 miles south of his house. Madison would be almost a straight shot from his home about 40 miles to the North. And because he lives in an old farm house out in the country there are no close by structures or anything else to get in the way of reception.

Is there an antenna that receives OK off its back side so that it can receive stations both to its north and south? To the north of this antenna would be Madison, to the south would be Rockford. The signal strength from Rockford would be quite high because the Rockford transmitters are only a few miles away and the hope would be that there is an antenna that receives well enough off its back side to be usable in this location. And, the hope is that this antenna could be mounted high enough to get the Madison OTA channels.

If such a bi-directional antenna were available he might be able to get both Rockford and Madison without a rotor.

Any suggestions on an antenna that can receive fairly well off its back side and well as from its front?

Thanks...........

Go with the ChannelMaster 4228HD. While it has a -20 dB front-to-back ratio, he's still so close that he should get them all.

Go with the ChannelMaster 4228HD. While it has a -20 dB front-to-back ratio, he's still so close that he should get them all.

What will the 4228 do for Channel 13 off its back side?

What will the 4228 do for Channel 13 off its back side?

Should be able to get it. Last week, WREX bumped up their power to 18 kw. I can get them in DeKalb, with my 4228 antenna 25 miles away...behind a hill...pointed 120 degrees off towards Chicago. In an attic.

Go with the ChannelMaster 4228HD. While it has a -20 dB front-to-back ratio, he's still so close that he should get them all.Are those the specs for the newer design? Just checking.

Should be able to get it. Last week, WREX bumped up their power to 18 kw. I can get them in DeKalb, with my 4228 antenna 25 miles away...behind a hill...pointed 120 degrees off towards Chicago. In an attic.Good to hear. I'm 45 miles away, but I should be able to find a way to adjust or adapt my generally fixed setup to get them all the time, without too much fuss or any added expense.

Are those the specs for the newer design? Just checking.

Yep. the 4228HD.

Yep. the 4228HD.

I think the concern is that Channel Master no longer makes this antenna. Its design was sold to a Chinese firm where it is now manufactured. This happened (5?) years ago. The problem for some is that the design has been altered and the original specs are no longer valid.

Here is stuff for the older (original) version of the 4228.

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/cm4228.html

Here is stuff for the newer version of the 4228.

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/TemporaryPage.html

Somewhere on AvsForum is a review of the latest version from China. Or, maybe the published review was on a Canadian web site (can't remember). The Canadian topography is quite flat north of Buffalo so there is a lot of interest in distant OTA reception for Canadians living in that area as they also can get stations from down in Northern NY state.

I read all this stuff 2 years ago so opted to get the DB-4 antennas for my rooftop set up, including a separate Yagi for Ch 13. There is a lot of nonsense published about antennas and it is difficult to get an accurate and timely review of UHF OTA antennas. This is also why I posed the question a few messages back about getting local Rockford OTA off the back side of a UHF pointed toward Madison. I am confused and skeptical about the supposed performance of the newer 4228.

Does anyone have accurate and timely info about an antenna that can get a the local Rockford OTA channels off its back side while pointed toward Madison? It is good to know about the increased power of Ch 13 that was put operational last week. Thanks Sebenste.

Dick

P.S. I have my eye on an original 4228 version on a rooftop a few blocks from here. My hope is that the owner of the house is not using it and will sell it to me in return for my help to remove it from his roof.

I think the concern is that Channel Master no longer makes this antenna. Its design was sold to a Chinese firm where it is now manufactured. This happened (5?) years ago. The problem for some is that the design has been altered and the original specs are no longer valid.

Here is stuff for the older (original) version of the 4228.

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/cm4228.html

Here is stuff for the newer version of the 4228.

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/TemporaryPage.html

Somewhere on AvsForum is a review of the latest version from China. Or, maybe the published review was on a Canadian web site (can't remember). The Canadian topography is quite flat north of Buffalo so there is a lot of interest in distant OTA reception for Canadians living in that area as they also can get stations from down in Northern NY state.

I read all this stuff 2 years ago so opted to get the DB-4 antennas for my rooftop set up, including a separate Yagi for Ch 13. There is a lot of nonsense published about antennas and it is difficult to get an accurate and timely review of UHF OTA antennas. This is also why I posed the question a few messages back about getting local Rockford OTA off the back side of a UHF pointed toward Madison. I am confused and skeptical about the supposed performance of the newer 4228.

Does anyone have accurate and timely info about an antenna that can get a the local Rockford OTA channels off its back side while pointed toward Madison? It is good to know about the increased power of Ch 13 that was put operational last week. Thanks Sebenste.

Dick

P.S. I have my eye on an original 4228 version on a rooftop a few blocks from here. My hope is that the owner of the house is not using it and will sell it to me in return for my help to remove it from his roof.

Actually, I have both the old classic 4228, and at two places, the new design 4228HD. Both perform admirably. I'd say the dB loss is 1-2 dB for UHF with the 4228 HD, but a gain of a few dB uniform across the VHF-HI dial. I really like it. I haven't tried the Antennas Direct 91XG, and I suspect that it can do 1 or 2 dB better on some UHF channels. But for uniform reception, the 4228 HD is still an excellent antenna, and still king. BTW, from a heigh of 35' in a river valley in DeKalb, a buddy of mine who has the 4228HD can get a breaking-up picture of WSBT-DT South Bend, IN, at least once or twice a minute, on non-tropo days. That's 140 miles. A friend of mine from 5 miles northwest of Champaign can lock WTWO-DT from Terre Haute, IN during the day with some breakup (100 miles).It's up 40' high, and he is down low in a creek valley, and he's pointing it through a forest to boot.

And BTW: that's how I got one of my 4228's. :)

Actually, I have both the old classic 4228, and at two places, the new design 4228HD. Both perform admirably. I'd say the dB loss is 1-2 dB for UHF with the 4228 HD, but a gain of a few dB uniform across the VHF-HI dial. I really like it. I haven't tried the Antennas Direct 91XG, and I suspect that it can do 1 or 2 dB better on some UHF channels. But for uniform reception, the 4228 HD is still an excellent antenna, and still king. BTW, from a heigh of 35' in a river valley in DeKalb, a buddy of mine who has the 4228HD can get a breaking-up picture of WSBT-DT South Bend, IN, at least once or twice a minute, on non-tropo days. That's 140 miles. A friend of mine from 5 miles northwest of Champaign can lock WTWO-DT from Terre Haute, IN during the day with some breakup (100 miles).It's up 40' high, and he is down low in a creek valley, and he's pointing it through a forest to boot.

And BTW: that's how I got one of my 4228's. :)

I find discussion about OTA reception and antennas very enlightening. How would you guys like it if this part of the spectrum were sold off to commercial interests who began charging you a fee for its use? Free OTA TV has long been considered a right for all American citizens. This free right is coming under attack:

http://savelocaltv.com/

There are too many big commercial interests who want to charge us for the use of what has for generations been a free right for us. No, I am not a political kook but a person who has seen too many free rights taken away by big money interests. This free right especially will come under attack as more and more people cut the cord to their cable companies and begin to rely on free OTA for their TV program content.

Dick

Free OTA TV has long been considered a right for all American citizens. This free right is coming under attack:

http://savelocaltv.com/There's actually a whole, big Sticky Thread discussion on that over in the "HDTV Technical" forum, if you're interested in reading it.

Really surprised that none of the RFD channels didn't simulcast the NIU game last night. Would've been nice to watch on 17.2. Shame since they WON!!! :cool:

Really surprised that none of the RFD channels didn't simulcast the NIU game last night. Would've been nice to watch on 17.2. Shame since they WON!!! :cool:

Yeah, I know. But that's because ESPN carried the game and had exclusive rights to it.

Yeah, I know. But that's because ESPN carried the game and had exclusive rights to it.

Which is weird cos ABC simulcasts ESPN's college football games on Saturdays. God forbid they put off the Sunday repeats of Desperate Housewives for a local football game. :rolleyes:

Hello. I live in the north side of Janesville on fairly high ground near the Briarcrest "ridge". I have a 5 element VHF/UHF ratshack antenna I've used for years. Originally, when the house was built, I just threw the antenna across the collar joints (bottom of the trusses) in the drywalled garage attic space. I usually got all Rockford and Madison channel this way and even picked up occasional Milwaukee 18 and 10 in the summer.
Well, earlier last year I decided to actually mount the antenna up a bit higher between the trusses. In order to do that, I had to position it front end south, backend north towards Madison. I still get all the stations but have a weak signal on 47 and also 57. I initially had two feeds from a 2 port 15db SVI amp to feed a living room TV and lower level TV. The amp was mounted up in the garage attic with about 8 feet of RG6 to feed it, and a 55 foot run and 70 foot run of RG6 from the amp to the two TVs. Since I moved the antenna, the amp blew during a thunder storm from a lightening strike about less than 1 block away:o I know this , because I had the TV on at the time and after the strike ( I heard and saw the flash immediately) the signal was lost. Sure enough, the amp blew. . . EM overload I would say? But even in the garage attic??

Anyway, what would be my best bet as an additional small antenna to point straight towards Madison for a stronger signal? And, can I just combine the two antennas in the attic with a reverse splitter to then feed my two TVs? I plan on connecting an amp after about a 20 foot feed to the basement before it goes on to the two TVs. That way the amp will be grounded to a water pipe and also out of the attic heat in the summer.

So. . . does this sound like a "plan" or should I do something else? And what would be a good small antenna especially for 47 from Madison?

I'd get a rotor instead. You could point the antenna anywhere you want, eliminating the need for a 2nd antenna, but that's just me. Or you could get the 2nd antenna and use each one for each tv you have, which might be better without the need for an amp (which you should connect as close to the antenna as you can to get a better amped signal). I take it you have newer tv's?

http://www.wifr.com/news/headlines/WTVO_Evacuated_141251193.html

- Trip

http://www.wifr.com/news/headlines/WTVO_Evacuated_141251193.html

- Trip
Wow. That's a major problem.

WTVO/WQRF got set up temporarily at a banquet hall until the transmitter tower gets repaired. For how long is anybody's guess.

Tower was certified Ok.. We're now hapilly working underneath it again..

Any chance WQRF will ever get moved to a higher position on the tower? Here in northern Rock County I get no signal for 39-1 (42). All other Rockford stations come in fine with much lower power levels.

Can't see it happening, it's on the same mast as WTVO/ETVO..