Turned on the projector tonight to watch the Handler. Checked WCAU fro the heck of it and it was booming in. finished watching The Handler and went back to ch. 67 hoping to watch Leno later. Signal back down in the mud and could not get a lock.

Hopefully they are testing and the final results will be what I saw tonight. Signal strength for WCAU was the same as KYW!

Still watching Leno here in Somerset at around midnight. Signal strength was strong and solid at 69% earlier this evening....occasional blip down to 45% now....but most of the time its at 69%.

Tropo is also very strong tonight.

Ya, nice tropo, but, i dont get a blip on the meter for 10.1 or 12.1 amazing

10-1 and 12-1 are doing fine...but 29-1 is zippo....go figga

Im the opposite,29.1 is fine , great ufc tonight

Tropo forecast for the entire week looks pretty bleak. Wondering what reception will be like for 10-1, 12-1, and 29-1 once the summer's tropo is gone until next year.

Originally posted by SteveK2
Tropo forecast for the entire week looks pretty bleak. Wondering what reception will be like for 10-1, 12-1, and 29-1 once the summer's tropo is gone until next year.

How's your 29-1 reception been? I had it steadily locked during the 2nd half of the Jets/Cowboys game. Then, at like 8:30 pm it was a steady 100 on my E86. Strange.

17-1 was at 44 or so...but not giving me a picture.

6-1 was a steady 100

57-1 has been at 100 or so since I put the antenna back up...which is odd because I used to have to aim it off the mark from KYW/WPVI to get it at 100. Did they do something to their signal at the same time that 29-1/10-1 was working on theirs?

3-1 and 52-1:5 are always 100.

10-1 and 12-1 are dead dogs. Beaten dogs.

Strangely, for the last week or so 34-1 has been at 100. Solid. That station seems to come and go with the wind. Multipath like effects were seen on my end from about May-a few days ago. Signal strength would go from 100 to 0 to 50 to 20 to 30, etc...

Did I leave out any Philly area stations?

I must be alone, but for the past few days, KYW-DT has been really weak for me; generally 10-20%. Historically, its been 75-100%. Anyone aware of any changes they've made?

I pulled in 6-1, 29-1, and 10-1 perfect up here in Northwest Jersey last night, but no 3-1.

KYW has been the same good signal for me. I am hoping WCAU did some tweaking today on the new tower and I can get a good locked signal but I am not holding my breath. I will check when I get home but that won't be until much later tonight.

jaypb...

All the Phillys are looking good. 10-1 is booming at 71%, 12-1 is at 69%. 29-1, which had really been gone on my stb for over a month, is now back at 83%....all it took was a slight movement of my antenna mast....its not attached to anything....just leaning against the outside wall of my attic. it must have gone off-vertical, so i moved the bottom about an inch and 29-1 came booming in.

and i'm really happy cuz the tropo is supposed to be pretty bad once yesterday's cold front came thru. so, hopefully, i'll hold these stations during the fall and winter.

Originally posted by SteveK2
jaypb...

All the Phillys are looking good. 10-1 is booming at 71%, 12-1 is at 69%. 29-1, which had really been gone on my stb for over a month, is now back at 83%....all it took was a slight movement of my antenna mast....its not attached to anything....just leaning against the outside wall of my attic. it must have gone off-vertical, so i moved the bottom about an inch and 29-1 came booming in.

and i'm really happy cuz the tropo is supposed to be pretty bad once yesterday's cold front came thru. so, hopefully, i'll hold these stations during the fall and winter.

Sure, rub it in.... ;)

I'm going to wait and see what happens when the damn leaves fall off the damn trees....and see if that improves my signal strength for WCAU and WHYY and to a degree WPHL.

I'm STILL dying to find out if WCAU has indeed moved to the new tower. It's a hoot reading people say that, while one station is booming for them....another is a dog....and then you've got boobs like me who have the dog alive and kicking....and the booming station being a dog! :p

Man, this OTA stuff is a pain in the tuckus....:eek:

I too want to know if/when the transmitter is moved and on with full power. I don't want to start playing around with the antenna's in a search for the Holy Grail for nothing.

Originally posted by MartyJ
I too want to know if/when the transmitter is moved and on with full power. I don't want to start playing around with the antenna's search for the Holy Grail for nothing.

I ALMOST got WCAU last night; was just barely watchable, but mostly a frozen picture. Well, today is the end of the month..........any word confirming if WCAU will "crank it up" today??????

Steve , seems tropo is still booming up here, even though its supposed to be non existent this week, go figure

are all of the philly stations coming in or just a few? which ones?

my phillys are real strong....like good tropo.....the usual suspects 10-1, 12-1, 29-1 are at 77%,69%,83%, respectively.

sorry jaypb....i don't mean to be rubbing it in;) just amazed at my good fortune in getting these signals......like i said....hopefully they will all hang around.

Not all, i never get 10.1 or 12.1 ,not even a blip on my stb, the others are in the normal to good ss on my hd 200.On the dtc100, its very sporadic, if at all. The sony tuner makes a huge difference.

Originally posted by SteveK2
are all of the philly stations coming in or just a few? which ones?

my phillys are real strong....like good tropo.....the usual suspects 10-1, 12-1, 29-1 are at 77%,69%,83%, respectively.

sorry jaypb....i don't mean to be rubbing it in;) just amazed at my good fortune in getting these signals......like i said....hopefully they will all hang around.

You know me, I'm a glutton for punishment ;)
I'm just kidding about the rubbing it in part. Based on my VERY unscientific findings, me and my E86 will *probably* be sniffing 10-1 in a few weeks....as those leaves return to whence they came. I'm already noticing a signal increase from the dog days of summer (00-06ish to 15-18 now on my meter) for 10-1 and similar #'s for 12-1. The ONLY time I saw a stable picture on 10-1 was back in Feb or March....for a few nights....and I got to see Leno for a little while. I'm sure he'll return.

I'm NOT convinced that WCAU has indeed bumped up their power and/or moved to the new tower (hey that rhyme's....:p)

I've even noticed that now 29-1 is stable as soon as I get home from work (7:30 ish) and 6-1 is now in the 55-72 ish range on my meter....where over the summer is was locking at 37-44ish range on most nights.

Interestingly, my 17"LCD HD TV in the kitchen, which has a totally separate CM4228 running to it (at a LOWER height than the one that feeds my 50" TOshiba HDTV in the basement) can lock onto 17-1 while the TV/Antenna/STB in basement can not. I've also been able to catch 12-1 on the Kitchen TV a few times in the AM....whereas downstairs I haven't sniffed it since March or so....and the coup de' gras was getting 38-1 out of Maryland a few weeks ago---again, in the kitchen, while it didn't register nary a blip downstairs.

Again---keep in mind....same STB's...same Antenna's....2 different pre-amps...2 different antenna locations...2 different antenna heights.

How's THAT for a freakin' case study!!!
:cool:

I live in Monmouth County (Central NJ). Picked up WCAU on CH67 last PM. Looked good, no problems. Didn't check signal strength versus ABC or CBS though. Will try tonite.

Originally posted by rross111
I live in Monmouth County (Central NJ). Picked up WCAU on CH67 last PM. Looked good, no problems. Didn't check signal strength versus ABC or CBS though. Will try tonite.

Well, I sure HOPE that last night was Tropo. Picked up all Philly stations at much higher SS than normal. In particular WCAU was just watchable at ~33-40%. This morning was actually better at 40-50%. At the SS WCAU is reporting to be at when then go full power, I would expect the SS to much better than this. I would be nice if someone actually knew for sure whether they moved or not. :confused:

Originally posted by Calabs
Well, I sure HOPE that last night was Tropo. Picked up all Philly stations at much higher SS than normal. In particular WCAU was just watchable at ~33-40%. This morning was actually better at 40-50%. At the SS WCAU is reporting to be at when then go full power, I would expect the SS to much better than this. I would be nice if someone actually knew for sure whether they moved or not. :confused:

You know the drill:

tim.osullivan@ nbc.com

I've given up :p

Tried to get WCAU tonight, No Luck! I haven't seen a mention in the Philly thread about the new tower being on the air. so I guess the wait continues.

I may break down and move the antenna out of the attic.
Too bad Cablevision won't get me all my local networks.

Originally posted by MartyJ
Tried to get WCAU tonight, No Luck! I haven't seen a mention in the Philly thread about the new tower being on the air. so I guess the wait continues.

I may break down and move the antenna out of the attic.
Too bad Cablevision won't get me all my local networks.

I can almost SNIFF WCAU -DT! My E86 bumped up to 21 tonight....unlockable of course but ALMOST good enough :D

When the leaves....leave....I'll be in like flynn! :cool:

What a shame that I've got to rely on mother nature to help me out...

BTW---for you E86 users out there...anyone else notice that now you can ACTUALLY tune in 52-5....and have it go to the PBS loop? Webboy.... :confused:

Also---is anyone able to pick up 44-1 out of AC??? I noticed it started showing up in my on screen guide....but I have nary a blip on the meter.

52-2 showing up on my Samsung TS-160, too. 52-2 is gone. 44-1 is on the guide (been there for a while), but I didn't know where it is and I don't get a signal.

Originally posted by jaypb
I can almost SNIFF WCAU -DT! My E86 bumped up to 21 tonight....unlockable of course but ALMOST good enough :D

BTW---for you E86 users out there...anyone else notice that now you can ACTUALLY tune in 52-5....and have it go to the PBS loop? Webboy.... :confused:



Me too, I was really close to locking, but no go. Too bad, cause I wanted to see the West Wing in HD. Camcast feed for this show is ALWAYS grainy and almost unwatchable!

I too picked up 52-5. Same programming that was on WHYY last night. Nothing on 52-2, where I normally get the PBS look and programming.

Come on WCAU.........Show me the picture!!!!!!!

Originally posted by Calabs
Me too, I was really close to locking, but no go. Too bad, cause I wanted to see the West Wing in HD. Camcast feed for this show is ALWAYS grainy and almost unwatchable!

I too picked up 52-5. Same programming that was on WHYY last night. Nothing on 52-2, where I normally get the PBS look and programming.

Come on WCAU.........Show me the picture!!!!!!!

Before I left this AM I decided to pop on the TV in the kitchen (the one hooked up to the CM4228 that is not as high as my basement TV) and lo and behold I had a decent lock on 12-1....Sesame Street was on! And, then I went to 10-1....and I had a frozen NBC AM show on the screen! With audio---but a frozen picture....so I'm getting there....makes me NOT want to raise the antenna! And, supposedly this was a poor tropo day/week....so we'll see.

Anyone able to get a decent signal strength for PBS Channel 8 out of New Brunswick? My STB shows the strength fluctuating from 27-51...but no pictures (maybe they are simply testing the signal?)

I'm *almost* convinced that WTXF-DT bumped their signal up....or something along those lines....because I can't (for the life of me) understand how I'm getting it in at 55 or better EVERY night for about a week now....unless it had something to do with part of that tree (which is directly in my antenna's path) coming down during the hurricane ?!?! :confused:

Originally posted by jaypb
I can almost SNIFF WCAU -DT! My E86 bumped up to 21 tonight....unlockable of course but ALMOST good enough :D

When the leaves....leave....I'll be in like flynn! :cool:

What a shame that I've got to rely on mother nature to help me out...

BTW---for you E86 users out there...anyone else notice that now you can ACTUALLY tune in 52-5....and have it go to the PBS loop? Webboy.... :confused:

Also---is anyone able to pick up 44-1 out of AC??? I noticed it started showing up in my on screen guide....but I have nary a blip on the meter.

Yes ive noticed that also hard to tell whats what over here the last few days with the weather im getting alot of channels ive never received before. Strange enough ive been getting 2-1 cbs out of NY. It sucks that they send grey bars with all 4:3 programming. Ill stick with 3-1. I need to get my new antenna ordered.

I got this alert message from Dianne from WHYY:

Back in May WPHL TV 17 discovered their transmission line was damaged and
could no longer handle full power. Since then they have been operating at
low power. They have purchased new transmission line and are now ready
to install it. This is a fairly major project that may take several
weeks for the tower workers to complete. (weather permitting) This
will impact WHYY in various ways for a few nights when the workers are
actually close to our antennas.

Starting Tuesday Oct 7, 2003 between the hours of 12:00 AM {midnight} and
5AM (Mon night, Tue morning) and continuing for the next two-three nights
WHYY will be off the air while the tower workers are in close proximity to
our transmitting antennas.


I asked if this would affect either the analog or DT antenna, but haven't gotten a response yet. I will post when she replies.

Thanks for the heads-up, Calabs!

A..L...M..O...S..T.. had a lock on 10-1 late last night (Leno time). No stable picture/audio though.

Also---anyone else stay up to watch the MNF game on WPVI-DT? Seems on THE GW FRICKIN FG....my signal went to pot! Was I the only one? I was at 73-100 for most of the night...then at the moment of the game winning kick, the signal started WILDLY fluctuating.

Damn annoying....:mad:

Originally posted by Calabs
I got this alert message from Dianne from WHYY:

Back in May WPHL TV 17 discovered their transmission line was damaged and
could no longer handle full power. Since then they have been operating at
low power. They have purchased new transmission line and are now ready
to install it. This is a fairly major project that may take several
weeks for the tower workers to complete. (weather permitting) This
will impact WHYY in various ways for a few nights when the workers are
actually close to our antennas.

Starting Tuesday Oct 7, 2003 between the hours of 12:00 AM {midnight} and
5AM (Mon night, Tue morning) and continuing for the next two-three nights
WHYY will be off the air while the tower workers are in close proximity to
our transmitting antennas.


I asked if this would affect either the analog or DT antenna, but haven't gotten a response yet. I will post when she replies.


I got a reply from Dianne this morning. Here's what she said:

>Is this antenna the analog or digital antenna? I seem to be getting WPHL
>just fine on DT station. And again, will this affect analog or DT WHYY?

Hi Ralph:

It is WPHL's analog antenna - WHYY's analog and DT air will be affected.
We have both antennae's on the same tower.

Regards,
Dianne

Signal is still booming in this am 9;22, , i expect everything to magically dissapear any minute tho. Tropo has been very poor for the last week, yet. signal has been fairly stable at night.

WOW, everything from philly is coming in now 10;01 am, i've never been able to get any signal on 10.1 or 12.1 , but, right now thier booming :)

Originally posted by dapope
WOW, everything from philly is coming in now 10;01 am, i've never been able to get any signal on 10.1 or 12.1 , but, right now thier booming :)

Could it be that 10-1 has flipped the switch?!?!?!?! :eek:

Its gone now, but i believe they both are playing around with the power .I never ever got 10.1 or 12.1 , an this morning is was as if they finally thru the switch. Of course their gone now 10;30

Originally posted by Calabs
Could it be that 10-1 has flipped the switch?!?!?!?! :eek:

You know this "thing" isn't going to be THAT easy :p

Any word out of Senor~ Sullivan over at NBC?

I never got a response back.

Shocking eh? :rolleyes:

Originally posted by jaypb
You know this "thing" isn't going to be THAT easy :p

Any word out of Senor~ Sullivan over at NBC?

I never got a response back.

Shocking eh? :rolleyes:

Wishfull thinking on my part jaypb! I posted a request on the Philly thread to JWhip, who seems to have a wealth of connections in the OTA industry. Haven't heard back yet, but I would presume most of us subsribe to THAT thread as well, so you'll hear when I do.

BTW - FOX was screaming at 75% last night, just in time to watch the BoSox and A's. Good timing, althoug I must admit FOX has been abnormally high the past couple of weeks.

Originally posted by Calabs
BTW - FOX was screaming at 75% last night, just in time to watch the BoSox and A's. Good timing, althoug I must admit FOX has been abnormally high the past couple of weeks.

Yes I noticed the MUCH improved SS on that channel (29-1). I was hoping it was the fact that leaves are leaving the trees...but I even had a solid lock from halftime of the Redskins game on Sunday....in daylight no less.

So I'm not sure if they've increased the juice or did indeed move to a higher spot on the tower....or changed their antenna propagation (if that's the terminology) patterns ?!?!:confused:

If NBC goes to their new tower spot out of Philly I'll have (pretty much) no need for the ESB combiner.

Phoofy on them.
;)

Im pretty sure NBC and 12.1 did some testing this morning, i have never gotten a bleep of a signal on either station in 2 months, yet this am, for about 20 mins, they were booming. Lets just hope they go on line soon.

Ok south Jerseyians what zipcodes do you use so that youe E86 boxes grab the right guide data.

If i use my zip 08527 my E86 tries to map all the NY locals of course all i get is a black screen. This plays havoc with my stand alone tivo.

Im using a philly zipcode now that seems to work great. But UPN doesnt have any guide data all it says is local programming... I actually have like 3 channels like this. Is this a PSIP issue or is it due to the zipcode?

Originally posted by webboy10169
Ok south Jerseyians what zipcodes do you use so that youe E86 boxes grab the right guide data.

If i use my zip 08527 my E86 tries to map all the NY locals of course all i get is a black screen. This plays havoc with my stand alone tivo.

Im using a philly zipcode now that seems to work great. But UPN doesnt have any guide data all it says is local programming... I actually have like 3 channels like this. Is this a PSIP issue or is it due to the zipcode?

I actually use TWO different zipcodes for both of my E86's...and both show NO real programming info for 57-1 or 32-1 for that matter.

I'll try and check when I go home.

I know you asked that question a few months ago....and my *almost* senility ridden 32 year old mind MEANT to go look....and forgot.
:D

Originally posted by webboy10169
Ok south Jerseyians what zipcodes do you use so that youe E86 boxes grab the right guide data.

If i use my zip 08527 my E86 tries to map all the NY locals of course all i get is a black screen. This plays havoc with my stand alone tivo.

Im using a philly zipcode now that seems to work great. But UPN doesnt have any guide data all it says is local programming... I actually have like 3 channels like this. Is this a PSIP issue or is it due to the zipcode?

First zipcode I use for BOTH E86's is my own (08831)
2nd zipcode I use is 08611 on one of them and the other uses 19151.

Neither shows true guide info for 57-1/32-1.


BTW 29-1/17-1 were dogs tonight....first time in a LONG while it's been that way in the same night. Even 6-1 was "down" (58 ish).

Originally posted by jaypb

BTW 29-1/17-1 were dogs tonight....first time in a LONG while it's been that way in the same night. Even 6-1 was "down" (58 ish).

Yeah, 29-1 was gone for me as well. I always get 17-1 pretty well, so that didn't really affect me. Still no word from JWhip on the new WCAU tower.

The wait continues!

Yep, i've gotten nothing from philly since tues am :(

Well. signal seems to be booming thru again tonight, started around 6pm

For the first time im able to lock in on 10.1 and 12.1, they must have upped their power

TROPO again tonight!

Originally posted by dapope
For the first time im able to lock in on 10.1 and 12.1, they must have upped their power

I'm still not convinced.

I still have nary a blip on 12.1

And 10.1 is it's normal dog self.

As much as I KNOW I'm in a trough of a location....I'd hope I'd see a wee bit more signal strength where I am....compared to where you are in Brook-a-leen.

:confused:

Hey Calabs...if you're watching this thread check your PM.

jaypb, 10.1 AND 12.1 , are 2 stations that i never ever got a blip of a signal from till this week. Thats over a period of 3 months. Their gone now[ nothing ,nada,zero] but, for the first time i've been able to pull them in this week. dunno why, i just hope they're playing with their antenna

Being less than 10 miles from the esb , you'd think i would pick up pbs 13.1 , but i never have been able to. go figure , i like philly :))

Originally posted by dapope
Being less than 10 miles from the esb , you'd think i would pick up pbs 13.1 , but i never have been able to. go figure , i like philly :))

I assume being in Sheepshead Bay you are aiming out over the water...towards NJ correct?

Im about 2 miles from the ocean, and there are 2 different sweet spots for phillly for me, about 25 to 30 degrees apart. Im using a Blake jb21, and a cm4228, both on rotors, both have the 2 sweet spots.
btw, im not able to receive anything from philly right now, not even pvi :(

Originally posted by dapope
Im about 2 miles from the ocean, and there are 2 different sweet spots for phillly for me, about 25 to 30 degrees apart. Im using a Blake jb21, and a cm4228, both on rotors, both have the 2 sweet spots

I only ask because I too have 2 "sweet spots" with my CM4228....either one to the opposite side of 2 large trees (I have a separate CM4228 for EACH HD box I have....and each 4228 has a different tree in the way :p)

Only thing is...I can't pick up 67-1 or 12-1 no matter WHICH spot I'm on....and I'm pretty sure it has to do with their power, spot on the dial (upper UHF) my distance from the towers...and the kicker is that I'm only like 14 inches (:rolleyes:) above sea level.

:eek:

Kinda of wierd, but up untill a few days ago i would get wpix [vhf 12 ny ] , even while pointed to wards philly,but since whyy started popping up , the ny station is now gone.
WHYY has a fabulous picture
Ive never gotten 67.1

Tropo was great last night more so for the stations to the north of ne I was able to pick up WLIW-DT 21-1 last night what a great looking picture.


On the Philly front I picked up all of the usual stations except 12-1 and 10-1

Dead tonight :(

Tropo who?

Anyone else getting 10-1 tonight who usually doesn't?

I'm sniffing it...on the verge of getting a lock.

:eek:

nope, not even close

10-1 good and strong tonight....although 29-1 is pretty iffy....didn't get it tonight, but friday and saturday nights i was viewing 9-1 (a cbs affiliate) out of somewhere in maryland.

Originally posted by SteveK2
10-1 good and strong tonight....although 29-1 is pretty iffy....didn't get it tonight, but friday and saturday nights i was viewing 9-1 (a cbs affiliate) out of somewhere in maryland.

a Hershey bar in Rosie O'Donnell's hand!:mad:

As per the usual, 10-1 and 12-1 were the dogs. Everything else came in....

Tonight's tropo looks good (http://www.iprimus.ca/~hepburnw/tropo.html)

Guess we'll see.........:(

Got wind of this from a post on the Philly thread....and then noticed a UPN HD related thread on the Programming Forum (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=2779333#post2779333)

The gist of it??

UPN 57 is pleased to announce that ENTERPRISE will be broadcast in HDTV on Wednesday nights, beginning this week!

Wednesday, October 15
8:00 pm ENTERPRISE - all new!
"Exile"

I don't watch much UPN....but if it's HD I'll pop by...especially since lowly UPN 57-1 booms in!

Enterprise....is that some business process methodology documentary?
:D

Anyone else noticing SEVERE dips in strength this AM after the great tropo last night?

I gotta leave for work...so I'll keep it short...but for me, on BOTH TV'S/ANTENNA'S...6-1 is at a 06...not 60....06! Last night it was 100 on both!

It's 6:41 am right now. I noticed the same thing for 17-1.

What gives? Tower repairs/issues? Even 26-1 is "only" at a73 or so.

Anyone?

JayPb

I noticed the same this morning I checked around 7:30 this morning I still had decent signal on WPVI-DT (the game looked great and the sound was not too bad either) it was around 54, WPSG-DT was around 32 with slight drop outs and KYW-DT was hovering around 56.

I almost always can get KYW-DT all day long. But here is the big news last night I also picked up (drum roll please) WCAU-DT for the first time yes the elusive 10-1 it was around 12 or 12:30 last night I had finished watching Monday night slaughter ball (what a blow out) did a scan and there it was. The signal strength was around 40 and steady.

I also picked up WPHL-DT for a short period of time and then it faded out by this morning WPHL-DT was totally gone and WCAU-DT was hovering around 22 - 28 with no picture.

Originally posted by wward
JayPb

I noticed the same this morning I checked around 7:30 this morning I still had decent signal on WPVI-DT (the game looked great and the sound was not too bad either) it was around 54, WPSG-DT was around 32 with slight drop outs and KYW-DT was hovering around 56.

I almost always can get KYW-DT all day long. But here is the big news last night I also picked up (drum roll please) WCAU-DT for the first time yes the elusive 10-1 it was around 12 or 12:30 last night I had finished watching Monday night slaughter ball (what a blow out) did a scan and there it was. The signal strength was around 40 and steady.

I also picked up WPHL-DT for a short period of time and then it faded out by this morning WPHL-DT was totally gone and WCAU-DT was hovering around 22 - 28 with no picture.

Wward---you are using the built in receiver in your RCA TV correct? How is that at handling "weak" signals? With my E86 I seem to have issues with weak signals and/or mulitpath...for example, last night at around 8:30 pm I was able to see part of "American Dreams" in HD on WCAU...but it was supremely pixelated. It was obvious that last night was a mega tropo evening. When I checked the signal strength on WCAU (67) all night I was hovering between 51 and 65...but I KNOW for a fact that wasn't a "clean" 51-65....because it was supremely pixelated. For my E86, I can *usually* lock onto a signal at a steady level of 37-44...which I've had happen in the past. But last night....I was all jazzed up to see "Leno" in HD....and then the damn thing wouldn't lock/stay steady....so I just gave up.

I couldn't get a steady lock on WHYY (12-1) either....so, as per usual, 10-1 and 12-1 were the "Dogs" of the evening....whilst all the other Philly stations came in (3-1/6-1/17-1/29-1/34-1/43-1:5/57-1.

Anyone ever to pick up 53-1 out of AC or even 39-1 out of Lehigh (I think Steve2K is able to get this station).:confused:

The internal receiver doesn’t do too bad with multipath it also helps that I am using two Silver Sensors in a combined configuration so I can really focus into the null of the signal and go for maximum gain and usually avoid the issues with multipath assuming I can get a decent enough signal to begin with.

On a side note I have been able to pick up channel 39's analog signal but not the digital they are broadcasting at very low power and are quite a distance from me.

Anyone else getting the crap kicked out of their OTA signal since last night's winds came through?

The leaves they are a-rustlin'....and my signal she is a sufferin'!!!

WPVI for me (last night and when I checked this AM) was fluctuating from 18 all the way up to 65 on my E86's signal meter. From my past experiences, this is multipath...pretty bad I might add. And it was the same no matter how many times I tried to tweak the direction with the rotor. This was on my basement set up. On the kitchen set up, WPVI was at 24 solid....unwatchable but not fluctuating. The reason (in my not so knowledgeable opinion) is because I have less foliage to shoot through with that antenna.

I also noticed that this AM (6:25 am) 42-1 was at a ZERO on both antennas.

Maybe (based on the last few AM's viewings) they are working on the towers over in Roxborough???

Originally posted by jaypb
Anyone else getting the crap kicked out of their OTA signal since last night's winds came through?



Well, Fox Philly was in the cr*pper last night! Couldn't watch the ball game for more than 30 seconds without dropouts. Do you believe in AM radio Tropo affects!?!?! I really never get great reception on ESPN radio from my car. This morning, it was coming in loud and clear with no static at all! Interesting!

Anyone know a good installer in the Monmouth County area? I have been telling myself that I would get around to taking my UHF Only RadShack antenna from the attic to the roof. Well, it's late October and it is still in the attic. Fine for now, but what if ABC comes back up in Jan. or Feb. and my signal is almost but not quite? I would kick myself.

Thanks.a

Originally posted by JAKEJ
Anyone know a good installer in the Monmouth County area? I have been telling myself that I would get around to taking my UHF Only RadShack antenna from the attic to the roof. Well, it's late October and it is still in the attic. Fine for now, but what if ABC comes back up in Jan. or Feb. and my signal is almost but not quite? I would kick myself.

Thanks.a

I tried one place on Rte 18 in East Brunswick for a "quote" on an installation and was told that they needed to come out to the house and check things out before they gave an estimate. Guy wouldn't even give me a "ballpark" figure. Another placed I checked in Staten Island wanted $375 to put up an antenna....without a rotor....and without a pre-amp. That was the extent of my investigation....so I did it myself!:cool:

BTW---anyone else see the Philly commentary regarding 6-3 WPVI'S radar channel? And the OTA NYC thread had a commentary about how WABC-DT will start testing/transmitting at the beginning of November.....now if only WNBC-DT could wake the ($*&($*& up!!! I see a theme developing....WNBC-DT....WCAU-DT....both seem to be committed to HD on the same level :p

$375, sounds a bit steep to me. Maybe I will give it a try myself this weekend if the weather is good. I have composed the following list of materials:

Antenna
Antenna Mast
Antenna Mount (rooftop)
Guy Wire for stabilizing antenna
100ft RG6
Grounding Block

I am not going to install a rotor, I have waiting this long for NBC and ABC, I can wait a little longer. Other than various screws and connectors, is there anything major I am missing? Should I "weather proof" the connections with some type of tape or silicone?

Preamp? Not sure if you need one, but something to consider. Easy enough to install later, just leave enough RG6 to cut at the mast and connect preamp. When I bought my mast, I had to buy a separate clamp to ground the mast. Don't forget the grounding wire! Are you putting the antenna ON the roof via tripod, or on the chimney? If chimney and the mast is less than 10 feet, guy wires are not necessary.

Good luck! :cool:

Originally posted by JAKEJ
$375, sounds a bit steep to me. Maybe I will give it a try myself this weekend if the weather is good. I have composed the following list of materials:

Antenna
Antenna Mast
Antenna Mount (rooftop)
Guy Wire for stabilizing antenna
100ft RG6
Grounding Block

I am not going to install a rotor, I have waiting this long for NBC and ABC, I can wait a little longer. Other than various screws and connectors, is there anything major I am missing? Should I "weather proof" the connections with some type of tape or silicone? :cool:

I think you will need a rotor:

a compromise is to run a rotor cable along with the coax so if you decide to add the rotor, the cable will be there (rotor cable is a standard Radio Shack item)

Originally posted by JAKEJ
$375, sounds a bit steep to me. Maybe I will give it a try myself this weekend if the weather is good. I have composed the following list of materials:

Antenna
Antenna Mast
Antenna Mount (rooftop)
Guy Wire for stabilizing antenna
100ft RG6
Grounding Block

I am not going to install a rotor, I have waiting this long for NBC and ABC, I can wait a little longer. Other than various screws and connectors, is there anything major I am missing? Should I "weather proof" the connections with some type of tape or silicone?

Yes, I thought the price was steep as well. But I *think* if you go and check some of the other local forums, it is pretty expensive (compared to doing it yourself) to have someone install it for you.

The weather should be nice this weekend (if this AM's 5 day forecast holds its water)...temps in the 60's to 70's. Sunny.

You can go to Lowes or Radio Shack for your antenna Masting if you don't already have it (think it comes in 5 or 10 foot lengths). RS would have your rooftop mount (I used the side mounts and mounted it near a side peak on the house---but I'm in a ranch style home...so it was easier to install...but I don't have the benefit of having a nice, high clearance to gain those damn finicky signals from Philly)

I used guy wire on the mast that is 10 feet high. Five feet go into the rotor, then the rotor, then another 5 feet of masting. It's not an optimal set up based on what "others" have said about having 5 feet of masting sitting on the rotor base....but for my situation it has worked so far. Again, I probably wouldn't have to go to such radical lengths if NYC was up at optimal levels on ALL channels, but that ain't the case. Philly beckons.... :p

The total length of your RG6 would depend on how high up you're going to be with the antenna relative to where you are running the line to. I went through a 25 foot length of Rg6 on one antenna with little to spare and the 100 foot length I have served me well on the other antenna.

I can't comment on the grounding block...since I still haven't hooked up that aspect of my set up yet. No lectures please.... :eek: I'll get around to it...when I get around to it...and I'm certain that my antenna is going to stay where it is...as I still can't get all the digital channels from Philly/NYC that others seem to get.

As far as weather proofing your connections, just make sure that you buy the RG6 that is rated for outdoor use (it has rubber rings on the inside of the F connector...waterproofs your connection to the balun (if you are using a Balun). RS also sells a taping like compound that you can wrap around your F connections...or you can purchase a rubber boot type attachment and just throw some electrical tape around it (like I did).

I would make sure to silicone any screws/bolts you put into the side of your house/roof as well.

Originally posted by Calabs
Preamp? Not sure if you need one, but something to consider. Easy enough to install later, just leave enough RG6 to cut at the mast and connect preamp. When I bought my mast, I had to buy a separate clamp to ground the mast. Don't forget the grounding wire! Are you putting the antenna ON the roof via tripod, or on the chimney? If chimney and the mast is less than 10 feet, guy wires are not necessary.

Good luck! :cool:

:cool:

Yeah....what he said.... :p

If you are going to use the whole 100 feet of RG6 you *may* want to hook up a pre-amp to offset any signal loss from the length of the run. I know with my set up, I only picked up KYW-DT and WPSG-DT out of Philly without a pre-amp. After the pre-amp, WPVI-DT was lockable (after futzing with getting the antenna higher) and WTXF/WPHL-DT are still hit and miss.

If you are going to do the Chimney Mount check your bricks/mortar. I didn't go that route only because I wasn't comfy with ruining any of my chimney parts....which probably can use a little repointing and some TLC as we speak.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I do have a pre-amp already with my attic install, makes a huge difference with my NY signal levels. I saw a rooftop clamp at a Home Improvement Warehouse that showed guy wires in the installation, it seemed pretty straight forward. Does anyone recommend a tripod over this type of install? I want to stay away from the chimney so that is not an option for me.

As far as a rotor, running the wire is a good idea, though I doubt I will ever use it. No harm I guess. I also think I can get away with only a five foot mast since my house is two stories and I get pretty decent signal from the attic, which is about 8 feet below where the antenna will be once installed on the roof.

According to the venerable TITANTV.com, 11/1 is supposed to show us the following channels rearing their digital heads:

PBS 8 WNJB-DT Nov 1 2003
PBS 24 WNYE-DT Nov 1 2003
PBS 22 WNJS-DT Nov 1 2003


Anyone have any info if indeed there will be digital pictures coming off of any of these channels on the above dates? My CM4228 running through a CM VHF/UHF amp can actually pick up a somewhat stable signal on Digital Channel 8....but I get pixelization and breakups....but I can't get a stable picture. Quite odd....anyone able to even GET a signal (my E86 registers anywhere from 37 to 51) on Digital 8? Or 22 for that matter?

And hopefully the rumors about WABC-DT out of NYC going live in the next few weeks....and HOPEFULLY it's a powerful enough signal to reach those of us in the boonies (AKA Central NJ).....and hopefully it's not a WPIX type low power situation :mad:

I get nada on those channels. Hope the rumors about ABC are true. BTW, I tuned into 5-2 tonight, UPN, Star Trek or something and the little HD light was showing on the channel banner of my SAT520, but no way was that HD. What gives? Who is UPN kidding?

Originally posted by JAKEJ
I get nada on those channels. Hope the rumors about ABC are true. BTW, I tuned into 5-2 tonight, UPN, Star Trek or something and the little HD light was showing on the channel banner of my SAT520, but no way was that HD. What gives? Who is UPN kidding?

Well, if you put up that rotor you can always tune into 57-1 and watch it in glorious 1080 :p

I too hope that the rumors for 7-1 (45) are true, as my 2nd HDTV antenna isn't as high as my primary one....so 6-1 out of Philly is hit/miss on that setup. Knowing that I could leave the upstairs antenna pointed towards NY and allow the wife to watch 2-1/5-1/7-1 would be A LOT easier than letting her down into the basement to watch it on MY primary TV.

;)

WABC 45-1 is up and running! Just got off the phone with the wife, figured I'd ask her to rotate the CM4228....but I didn't have to ! It picked up the signal while facing Philly! Go figure!

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=2862422#post2862422

Im pointed at philly and ABC 45 is booming in :)

Real Strong signal. Kind of anti-climatic since I was able to get ABC from Philly. Now if only the vaporware station's of NBC would actually do something to have a signal I might be closer to HD bliss!

Originally posted by MartyJ
Real Strong signal. Kind of anti-climatic since I was able to get ABC from Philly. Now if only the vaporware station's of NBC would actually do something to have a signal I might be closer to HD bliss!

It is pretty comical that those of us in the Largest DMA in the US can't pick up a digital NBC signal (without getting cable).

Thankfully, NBC has NO major sporting events....or I'd probably be a wee bit more peeved.

And I must say, since this is my first year with HD, I've noticed that I won't miss a first run of "Without a Trace", "CSI:Miami", "Everyone Loves Raymond", "King of Queens", "Still Standing" or "Yes Dear".....while I've yet to watch the 5 or 6 episodes that I have on tape of "Friends" and "Will and Grace".

Makes sense in a way though doesn't it? :p

HDTIVO where are you......:mad:

I haven't tried to tune in WABC 7-1 because I have no need. Philly stations are solid and strong for CBS, NBC, ABC, UPN, WB, PBS, etc. But I realize that for some strange reason, I am luckier than most HDers in this part of the state. Even if I could get WABC, if I can't get as many OTA channels from NYC as from Philly, why bother.

And I know I am probably in the minority on this, but I *do* think that the weather radar on 6-3 is useful. Ever since I dumped cable, I've had to go to the PC to see the local radar on weather.com.....but even those shots are usually 20-30 minutes behind real-time....and that can be important when there is severe weather (t-storms, tornadoes, etc) like there was earlier this week.

Originally posted by SteveK2
I haven't tried to tune in WABC 7-1 because I have no need. Philly stations are solid and strong for CBS, NBC, ABC, UPN, WB, PBS, etc. But I realize that for some strange reason, I am luckier than most HDers in this part of the state. Even if I could get WABC, if I can't get as many OTA channels from NYC as from Philly, why bother.

And I know I am probably in the minority on this, but I *do* think that the weather radar on 6-3 is useful. Ever since I dumped cable, I've had to go to the PC to see the local radar on weather.com.....but even those shots are usually 20-30 minutes behind real-time....and that can be important when there is severe weather (t-storms, tornadoes, etc) like there was earlier this week.

WCAU-DT doesn't exist.....;)

I brought that up on the Philly thread.....I've got Scully and Mulder working on the case :p

If I was in the boat you're in, I wouldn't rotate either! But, as you say, you are in the minority....at least my VERY unscientific info tells me that. 17-1/29-1 are still hit and miss for me....on both antenna/stb/tv hookups. So, I can just set the wife up on the upstairs TV aiming towards NYC and let her watch her ABC/CBS/Fox stuff....and I can futz around in the basement!

HD Bliss (almost)....give the wife some HD and then you are free to do your own HD thing..... :cool:

I also don't mind the 6-3 subchannel....as I too don't have local cable...and I HATE going to the Weather CHannel and missing out on the "8's" local forecast with radar!

Originally posted by jaypb

HDTIVO where are you......:mad:

Get a PC and a MyHD card and start recording OTA now:D

Originally posted by MartyJ
Get a PC and a MyHD card and start recording OTA now:D

MyHD this and MyHD that... 2000 grand later ive got a pc that can make my coffee... whats the point of a 32 bit OS recording HD i'll wait for a 64 bit Win OS, at least then i'll know the pc can do more than one thing at a time while recording HD.

Talked with a level 2 tech and engineer over at D* a few weeks ago (FFDVR deal) I actually got them to pay for my eagle aspen 5x8. Any way they said the techs are in training on the HD Tivo boxs. and Corporate issued a memo about the availability starting in November.

I know I know its D* so i wont hold my breath either. But who knows? The first HDTivos will be D*'s box so...

Originally posted by webboy10169
MyHD this and MyHD that... 2000 grand later ive got a pc that can make my coffee... whats the point of a 32 bit OS recording HD i'll wait for a 64 bit Win OS, at least then i'll know the pc can do more than one thing at a time while recording HD.

Talked with a level 2 tech and engineer over at D* a few weeks ago (FFDVR deal) I actually got them to pay for my eagle aspen 5x8. Any way they said the techs are in training on the HD Tivo boxs. and Corporate issued a memo about the availability starting in November.

I know I know its D* so i wont hold my breath either. But who knows? The first HDTivos will be D*'s box so...

I actually signed up about 8 months ago for a Beta testing that Hughes was supposed to be doing regarding HDTivos'....but I was never picked...nor do I think the Beta testing ever started. Well, about 3 weeks ago I got an e-mail from Hughes to sign up again for another "round" of Beta testing....which I'm assuming was for an HDTivo unit...as most of the questions on the survey dealt with HDTV and Tivo's and such. I'm anxiously waiting to see if things pan out AFA being selected to test their unit....:o

Originally posted by jaypb
I actually signed up about 8 months ago for a Beta testing that Hughes was supposed to be doing regarding HDTivos'....but I was never picked...nor do I think the Beta testing ever started. Well, about 3 weeks ago I got an e-mail from Hughes to sign up again for another "round" of Beta testing....which I'm assuming was for an HDTivo unit...as most of the questions on the survey dealt with HDTV and Tivo's and such. I'm anxiously waiting to see if things pan out AFA being selected to test their unit....:o

Yup Yup got that email too will wait and see not holding my breath, The beta test im stoked about is the possibility of testing the next audiotron...

PS:
6-3 good for me
45-1 no go

Originally posted by webboy10169
PS:
6-3 good for me
45-1 no go

The OTA NYC Thread (or maybe it was the WABC-DT thread) has some commentary that there's no signal right now.

Did you see anything last night on 45-1/2???

Did you ever get your outdoor antenna set up?

And, since you have an E-86 I've got to ask (since my feeble mind WANTS to ask you this question all the time....but always forgets)...

Are my E86's the only ones who sometimes show a video image from literally 12 hours earlier if it can't lock onto a stable signal from an OTA channel? IOW's....on BOTH of my E86's I've noticed that it will show me a video image of something I watched a whole 10/12 hour earlier if it can't display a current image from the OTA station I just tuned into.

I'll go to 17-1...the SS will be marginal (27-37)...and I'll see a visual on my screen of 6-1 from the night before. Or, I'll go to 29-1...and again, the SS will be marginal...and I'll see an image of 3-1 that I was just watching 10 seconds before that before the current image for 29-1 starts up and pixelates.

Is this a consistent quirk of all HD boxes? Or just the E86? Because I notice this tendency on BOTH of them...only on OTA stations that are marginal at the time.

It weirded me out on a Tuesday when I came home from work and popped on 29-1 to watch a WS game on Fox...and the first image that came up was of ABC's MNF! Albeit for a second or two until I got a pixelated image of 29-1...but it was just odd.

After re-reading this....I just hope someone understands what I'm trying to convey....:confused:

2000 grand later

My, oh my! That *is* an expensive PC!!:eek:

Originally posted by jaypb
The OTA NYC Thread (or maybe it was the WABC-DT thread) has some commentary that there's no signal right now.

Did you see anything last night on 45-1/2???

Did you ever get your outdoor antenna set up?

And, since you have an E-86 I've got to ask (since my feeble mind WANTS to ask you this question all the time....but always forgets)...

Are my E86's the only ones who sometimes show a video image from literally 12 hours earlier if it can't lock onto a stable signal from an OTA channel? IOW's....on BOTH of my E86's I've noticed that it will show me a video image of something I watched a whole 10/12 hour earlier if it can't display a current image from the OTA station I just tuned into.

I'll go to 17-1...the SS will be marginal (27-37)...and I'll see a visual on my screen of 6-1 from the night before. Or, I'll go to 29-1...and again, the SS will be marginal...and I'll see an image of 3-1 that I was just watching 10 seconds before that before the current image for 29-1 starts up and pixelates.

Is this a consistent quirk of all HD boxes? Or just the E86? Because I notice this tendency on BOTH of them...only on OTA stations that are marginal at the time.

It weirded me out on a Tuesday when I came home from work and popped on 29-1 to watch a WS game on Fox...and the first image that came up was of ABC's MNF! Albeit for a second or two until I got a pixelated image of 29-1...but it was just odd.

After re-reading this....I just hope someone understands what I'm trying to convey....:confused:

Nothing on 45-1 /2 at all lastnight i did a rescan to pick up the channels nothing...

This may sound stupid but i have STILL not purchased the antenna yet cash is low and i opted to run the 100 feet of monitor cable to get the pc wired to the plasma... soon very soon

I get what i like to call ghost images from time to time of earlier programming or a previous channel too I think its the E86 box. Ive never seen this on the neighbors toshiba box.

I get ghosting of 3-1 on 12-1 all the time and 12-1 is around 30ish on my E86 but no signal lock...


Originally posted by SteveK2
My, oh my! That *is* an expensive PC!!

Your right! should have been 2 grand. weed and keyboard dont mix

weed and keyboard dont mix

yep....definately a bad combo!

Anyone know anything about this box:

http://www.circuitcity.com/detail.jsp?c=1&b=g&oid=81891&catoid=-9712&department=Satellite+TV+Systems&category=Satellite+Receivers

Just noticed it this PM whilst perusing CC's site. I'm a BIG fan of HUghes boxes....and I believe their next HD box was supposed to be manufactured by LG/Sony.....anyone have a new LG/Sony receiver? Does it handle multipath well? As much as I was waiting for the new HD Tivo....I'm intrigued to get my hands on this bad boy to see if it'll handle weaker signals better than my current E86.:confused:

Anyone else catch "Blade" on UPN57 in glorious HD? I thought it looked AWESOME....and sounded even better! Was it 5.1? I was too damn lazy to get up off the couch and check my receiver. Fight sequences sounded phenomenal on my Kenwood system. Visuals looked pretty crisp too. Letterbox presentation was sweet as well. WIsh I had realized it would be on....would've tuned in earlier.

:mad:

No Blade for me, great movie though. ABC NYC was in the Normal range (SAT520 signal indicator) for most of night though. And that is with my antenna in the attic, should be better once on the roof... Are you ready for some football?!?

Originally posted by webboy10169
MyHD this and MyHD that... 2000 grand later ive got a pc that can make my coffee...

I know I know its D* so i wont hold my breath either. But who knows? The first HDTivos will be D*'s box so...

My HTPC cost nowhere near $2K You can buy any surplus 2 gig box and put a MyHD card it. Probably less then $500 total now. You can spend big bucks for an HDTV. So why worry about another box, all your Av stuff basically only does one thing. You will pay big bucks for a TivoHD box and all that does is record TV shows ( i know I have two Tivos in my house).

One thing I do know is that I can record HD now and I won't have to worry about Dave compressing the hell out of an HD signal.

Last night I picked up 23-1 it looked like a PBS station I cound'nt tell if it was from Philly or Jersey anyone have any idea what station this is?

On another note tropo looked pretty good lastnight I picked up WLWC UPN 28 out of Providence RI!!

Sorry I missed the news earlier (off from work on Halloween and just got hung up in the holiday)! Yes, I'm also getting WABC-DT while facing my antenna toward PA. Mostly multipath I'd imagine, as signal would drop like a rock once and a while, then boom back to normal. Picture quality is about equivalent to WPVI, I'd say. Noticed they also have a 7-2 subchannel, but no radar yet. :rolleyes:

In a way, I'm gald WNBC didn't go live first; then I would have to choose whcih way to point my antenna: southwest or northeast. And the race is on; will it be WNBC or WCAU first?

Calabs

WABC-DT's siganl is all over the place right now last I was told they are having a power problem that should be fixed by next week.

Originally posted by wward
Calabs

WABC-DT's siganl is all over the place right now last I was told they are having a power problem that should be fixed by next week.

I can still pick up a pretty stable picture on my CM4228 that is facing Philly for my LCD HD TV....but my basement TV's antenna, again facing Philly, again a CM4228....doesn't even register a BLIP for Digital 45! Talk about splitting hairs and the difference in a few dozen feet of distance between 2 antennas ....facing in the same direction! I figure my upstairs TV's antenna is picking up the signal from a rather VERY large tree that still has it's canopy of leaves on it....and it's bouncing the signal back at the antenna. While the basement TV's CM4228 isn't shooting through the same tree towards Philly.....:eek:

Good news (in a way).

WNBC is workingon getting a transmitter up on the GE building for OTA Digital/HD broadcasting over the next few weeks:

http://www.mediaweek.com/mediaweek/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2016900

Only problems is: If it'll be strong enough to reach those of us in Central NJ. Kind of like WPIX's issues I guess......

Wanted to test the funky weather's effect on NYC and Philly digital reception. Still getting all of the Philly stations (3-1, 6-1/2/3, 10-1, 12-1, 17-1, 29-1, 35-1, 39-1/2/3/4 (Lehigh Valley), 52-1/2/3/4/5 (Trenton/Camden), 57-1, and 65-1/2). Although signal strength is a bit lower than on clear days (lowest is 29-1 at 36%). My 29-1 signal seems to be back full-time after I replaced the f-connector on the coax coming from the pre-amps output connection. That was probably the culprit all along, but the connection finally broke off (bad crimp) and all signals were lost temporarily.

Also switched over to my indoor coax antenna to see what's cookin on the NYC front. Was able to receive WABC 7-1/2 in addition to the usual 2-1 and 5-1/2. WABC and WCBS both coming in at 77%. Now the wife can watch Sam Champion in digital beauty. ;)

Originally posted by SteveK2
Wanted to test the funky weather's effect on NYC and Philly digital reception. Still getting all of the Philly stations (3-1, 6-1/2/3, 10-1, 12-1, 17-1, 29-1, 35-1, 39-1/2/3/4 (Lehigh Valley), 52-1/2/3/4/5 (Trenton/Camden), 57-1, and 65-1/2). Although signal strength is a bit lower than on clear days (lowest is 29-1 at 36%). My 29-1 signal seems to be back full-time after I replaced the f-connector on the coax coming from the pre-amps output connection. That was probably the culprit all along, but the connection finally broke off (bad crimp) and all signals were lost temporarily.

Also switched over to my indoor coax antenna to see what's cookin on the NYC front. Was able to receive WABC 7-1/2 in addition to the usual 2-1 and 5-1/2. WABC and WCBS both coming in at 77%. Now the wife can watch Sam Champion in digital beauty. ;)

I'm sorry....did you say Mike Piazza and Sam Champion ???;)

You are one lucky dog WRT those Philly stations. I've pretty much given up on the Philly direction since ABC went online. And now that WNBC *may* be coming back to life, I'm a wee bit happier. 29-1 would come and go on my upstairs HDTV ....and downstairs it was good at night. 17-1 was pretty solid on the upstairs setup....but a dog downstairs. 57-1 was solid on both TV's....but other than the Friday night movie...I'm not a Jake2.0 or Enterprise fan....so, for me, NYC is my direction now!

That could change depending on which NBC (Nuttin' Butt Complaints) up's their signal/setup first :D

I'm sorry....did you say Mike Piazza and Sam Champion ???

....but the wife still thinks he's the cutest weather man. Hope you caught my winky smilie at the end of my last message.

Yep, really surprised (pleasantly) that the Phillys are still doing so well considering the weather. Even D* HD reception broke up about an hour ago because of the T-storms....but the Philly OTAs hung in there.

Hopefully the NYC situation will now really start to work out for you and others who are not able to get the Philly stuff.

Not that i can actually watch the channel but 57-1 finally shows program data. I guess they fixed their PSIP problems.

jaypb i finally ordered the channelmaster should be here any day oh what fun its going to be squeezing it into the attic access.

Originally posted by webboy10169
Not that i can actually watch the channel but 57-1 finally shows program data. I guess they fixed their PSIP problems.

jaypb i finally ordered the channelmaster should be here any day oh what fun its going to be squeezing it into the attic access.

Figures....they fix their guide issues, and I've had both antennas aimed at NYC since 7-1 went live :p

Now, if ONLY one of the TWO NBC stations would get with the frickin' program, I'd make my decision on WHERE I was aiming :mad:

Glad to see you took the plunge with the CM4228. Did you order a pre-amp as well? If you do a search on the forums you'll see that a few people figured out a way to disassemble the antenna and then reassembled it once it was in the attic.

:eek:

Originally posted by jaypb
Figures....they fix their guide issues, and I've had both antennas aimed at NYC since 7-1 went live :p

Now, if ONLY one of the TWO NBC stations would get with the frickin' program, I'd make my decision on WHERE I was aiming :mad:

Glad to see you took the plunge with the CM4228. Did you order a pre-amp as well? If you do a search on the forums you'll see that a few people figured out a way to disassemble the antenna and then reassembled it once it was in the attic.

:eek:
I havent bothered with the NY signals since i have no issues with CBS, ABC philly, now NBC and FOX are a different story all together. I didnt purchase a preamp just yet Im almost possitive ill have issues with one of the local vhf's bleeding threw, cant remember which one it is maybe 47( spanish channel) It takes out 12-1 and 39-1. I may take it apart or i may take out the window in the attic not sure yet. First i must fugure out how to mount this sucker in the attic.

Originally posted by webboy10169
I may take it apart or i may take out the window in the attic not sure yet. First i must fugure out how to mount this sucker in the attic.

Have the same 4228 antenna in my attic. Wasn't too bad getting it through the attic opening. The word "squeeze" comes to mind. (It doesnt miss by much and once you find the right angle, and strategic bending, its fits right in). The pre-amp in my opinion is a must-have, since it increased by reception by 20%.

Installation was performed by litterally tieing the antenna to the top cross rafters using twine. Attached the first piece of twine to the center, to secure it, then by twisting the antenna, and using my wife as my co-pilot for signal stength rotated the antenna until the best signal was found and then used the twine to secure the antenna at the ends.

I am thinking about getting a rotor, and obviously this set-up wont fly. I am assumming that the only way I can do it is to put plywood down on the floor and get a tripod mount....

Good luck !!!!

Originally posted by gjohnsen2002
I am thinking about getting a rotor, and obviously this set-up wont fly. I am assumming that the only way I can do it is to put plywood down on the floor and get a tripod mount....

Good luck !!!!

Good morning ladies! ;)

I think I have a link at home to a fella who posted his attic solution to mounting his CM4228 (or maybe it was the 4 bay model) onto a CM 9521a rotor in his attic. Pretty nifty setup IIRC.

I don't have the link here at work. I have it at home on my PC. If you want you can do a search for it on these forums....or even in our own thread. I think I posted it before....and I believe I found it here before as well. The fella was in San Diego and was using one of the CM 4/8 bay antennas with a CM rotor. Try searching on those terms and see if you can find it.

Or I'll post it tonight.

I'm itching for NBC4 to go live out of NYC. ITCHIN! Because I have abso-tively NO faith in WCAU10 in Philly adding a few gerbils/hamsters/squirrels to that transmitter they've got running now.

:mad:

Originally posted by gjohnsen2002
I am thinking about getting a rotor, and obviously this set-up wont fly. I am assumming that the only way I can do it is to put plywood down on the floor and get a tripod mount.... I got a 5-foot antenna mast from Radio Shack and a mounting kit for attaching it to the side of a building (not much more than a metal bracket and some U-bolts). I cut about 10" of the post such that I could secure it to a joist on the floor of the attic using the mounting kit. I then attached the rotor to it, and used the rest of the mast on the rotor. At the attic ceiling in the rafters I attached a piece of 2x4 across the rafters such that I had a large-head screw in the 2x4 that I placed into the top of the mast, to allow it to rotate but still maintain a secure position. The 4228 is attached to the mast. It rotates the full 360 degrees without hitting anything.

If that wasn't clear I can run up there and take a couple pictures. It might've been around $15 in parts.

Originally posted by jaypb
I think I have a link at home to a fella who posted his attic solution to mounting his CM4228 (or maybe it was the 4 bay model) onto a CM 9521a rotor in his attic. Pretty nifty setup IIRC.

Ok....here it is:

http://www.fota.net/antenna/

Anyone else suffer IMMENSELY tonight WRT OTA reception? CBS from NYC was abominable.....I actually turned my antenna around to Philly to watch "Without a Trace". ABC and FOx out of NYC were also beaten down by the winds.....everybody's antenna's survive these winds? :eek:

I got a few things wrong in my description... bad memory, I guess. :)

I drilled a hole up top in a piece of plywood. The angle of the photo is extreme. The antenna clears the rafters as it rotates.

http://www.2150.com/doug/images/cm4228_top_500x375.jpg

http://www.2150.com/doug/images/cm4228_rotor_500x375.jpg

thanks for the pictures... That setup will work for me very nicely !!!

Originally posted by jaypb
Ok....here it is:

http://www.fota.net/antenna/

Anyone else suffer IMMENSELY tonight WRT OTA reception? CBS from NYC was abominable.....I actually turned my antenna around to Philly to watch "Without a Trace". ABC and FOx out of NYC were also beaten down by the winds.....everybody's antenna's survive these winds? :eek:

OTA was horrible last night with the exception of CBS and ABC. WB/UPN were all over the strength meter. Looked up this morning, and the antenna hasn't budged! Whew!

I WANT MY NBC!!!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by Calabs
OTA was horrible last night with the exception of CBS and ABC. WB/UPN were all over the strength meter. Looked up this morning, and the antenna hasn't budged! Whew!

I WANT MY NBC!!!!!!!!!!

You are still aimed at Philly right? I've noticed a sharp decrease in a solid lock on 56-1 CBS out of NYC. As have others that I've noticed on the OTA NYC thread. It's weird....but I wonder why?

I believe I asked this question a few weeks ago...but has ANYONE been able to lock onto 8-1 PBS out of New Brunswick? My E86 picks it up...and locks on a solid 44-51 Signal Strength....but it's weird....I see flashes of images....and no sound....but I can't tell if it's a PBS station.

Anyone seeing anything there?? :confused:

You'll need either a VHF antenna....or a UHF without a UHF only pre-amp....if that makes sense :p

Originally posted by gjohnsen2002
Have the same 4228 antenna in my attic. Wasn't too bad getting it through the attic opening. The word "squeeze" comes to mind. (It doesnt miss by much and once you find the right angle, and strategic bending, its fits right in). The pre-amp in my opinion is a must-have, since it increased by reception by 20%.

Installation was performed by litterally tieing the antenna to the top cross rafters using twine. Attached the first piece of twine to the center, to secure it, then by twisting the antenna, and using my wife as my co-pilot for signal stength rotated the antenna until the best signal was found and then used the twine to secure the antenna at the ends.

I am thinking about getting a rotor, and obviously this set-up wont fly. I am assumming that the only way I can do it is to put plywood down on the floor and get a tripod mount....

Good luck !!!!

Antenna came and fit in the attic opening with no problem. Pull down access must be bigger than i thought. Off to ratshack for a mast and mounting hardware and what ever else the wife needs..., Thanks for the pics dswallow as this will most likely be the same install. Not real sure if i should even bother today installing it as the wow factor will be most likely diminished with these high winds.

Originally posted by webboy10169
Antenna came and fit in the attic opening with no problem. Pull down access must be bigger than i thought. Off to ratshack for a mast and mounting hardware and what ever else the wife needs..., Thanks for the pics dswallow as this will most likely be the same install. Not real sure if i should even bother today installing it as the wow factor will be most likely diminished with these high winds. You have high winds in your attic? I'd patch the hole in your attic then install the antenna. ;)

Well the antenna is in the attic and installed facing just about the same path as the silver sensor was. Reception has improved, im able to watch Fox philly 29-1 with about 50% lock. List of Channels are as follows:

3-1 CBS
6-1/3 ABC where is 6-2???
12-1 WHYY weak at best
17-1 WB
29-1 FOX
52-1-5 great my kid can now watch clifford in HD
55-1 UPN streached to fit??
57-1 UPN
64-1 ABC but from where??
and the usual spanish channels in HD

webboy10169

I believe 64-1 is WPVI-DT (ABC) out of Phily which would map to 6-1.

Originally posted by webboy10169
64-1 ABC but from where??
WPVI-DT 64 Philadelphia (ABC)

WDPB 64 (analog), Seaford, DE (PBS)
WQPX 64 (analog), Scranton, PA (PAX)
WNAC 64 (analog), Providence, RI (CBS)

Originally posted by wward
webboy10169

I believe 64-1 is WPVI-DT (ABC) out of Phily which would map to 6-1.

Correct i added another zipcode to the E86 and it hasn't remapped existing channels. Hmmm I my try my Panny tuner and see if everyones claims that the E86 is weak at pulling in OTA.

Also tempted to point this thing at NY and see what comes in.

Hay jaypb I cant check signal strength right now but im pretty sure that im receiving 29-1 with about 50% signal lock and 12-1 is weak almost unwatchable at times but i could care less about PBS. I no longer use the PBS demo loop as demo material now that we/i have Discovery. Aside from that all other locals are great (NBC still dead). Do you think ill see any benefit from a preamp? I know you mentioned 20% gain but i dont see it getting me any more channels unless im wrong.

Originally posted by webboy10169
Hay jaypb I cant check signal strength right now but im pretty sure that im receiving 29-1 with about 50% signal lock and 12-1 is weak almost unwatchable at times but i could care less about PBS. I no longer use the PBS demo loop as demo material now that we/i have Discovery. Aside from that all other locals are great (NBC still dead). Do you think ill see any benefit from a preamp? I know you mentioned 20% gain but i dont see it getting me any more channels unless im wrong.

The beauty of a pre-amp, as I'm sure those who are more experienced than I am can tell you....is that YMMV!!! For me, adding the pre-amp has allowed me to pick up a solid lock on 6-1 out of Philly and more than 1/2 the time I can get 17-1 out of Philly downstairs and 29-1 as well. But, it will probably overload any "local" digital channels that you are receive. How close are you to the PBS station tower in Trenton/Camden (or wherever TF it is :p)?

I'm starting to wonder if the reason I can only see a pixelated video image on 8-1 is because I'm overloading the signal....which is coming from the "tower" in either Somerset or New Brunswick....not sure where it is...but I believe I'm only 15 miles from it. I have that CM 6041DB (??) model pre-amp that pushes through VHF and UHF...hence the reason why I can pickup 8 on my CM4228 (UHF only antenna).

What are your "signal strength" #'s right now for your digital channels? Give that a shot tonight....which is when you're digital reception will probably be better. I wouldn't be surprised if you see a lock on a few additional channels that you don't have as of this afternoon.

This happens for me (at night) with 29-1/17-1....and the ficitious 10-1 has only come in after 11pm....on the 3rd friday of the 9th month of the year...when I sat on the couch with my right foot in the air....and a snow cone was balanced on my right shoulder.

10-1 is a myth.... :D

Check those signal readings on your menu. For me, I can't get 10-1 above a steady 18 on solid tropo nights....and 12-1 is about the same. Can you get 65-1 or 66-1?? Spanish stations? How about the AC channel? 44-1 I think? Have you tried doing a scan on your E86 to see if it will let you lock on 6-2/6-3? Try tuning in 64-2 and 64-3 and see if it remaps. I had to do a re-scan last night on my E86 after I rotated back towards Philly to watch CBS last night. Pixelation/dropout hell on CBS out of NYC last night.

Just read on one of the other threads that NYC NBC will be at "low power" next week. Not sure WTF low power means. Hopefully it's better than "low Power" WCAU...and low power "WPIX".
:confused:

Originally posted by webboy10169
Well the antenna is in the attic and installed facing just about the same path as the silver sensor was. Reception has improved, im able to watch Fox philly 29-1 with about 50% lock. List of Channels are as follows:

3-1 CBS
6-1/3 ABC where is 6-2???
12-1 WHYY weak at best
17-1 WB
29-1 FOX
52-1-5 great my kid can now watch clifford in HD
55-1 UPN streached to fit??
57-1 UPN
64-1 ABC but from where??
and the usual spanish channels in HD

That PBS station isn't technically (or untechnically HD :p) it's digital.

Which still looks better than the D* picture you get for 4.99 a month ! :eek:

When you key in 55-1 does it bring you to analog 57? Mine does. 55-1 on my E86 SHOULD be the 55 LI station that D* provides...but for some reason the E86 remaps to 57 analog. Same thing happens when I key in 12-1 sometimes....it brings me to a PBS analog station (58 maybe???)

Damn strange.....

BTW---what are you able to "stay locked on" with the E86? I've noticed that most of the time if I have a "stable" 37....I can stay locked. But other times I'll have a steady 67 or so....and be pixelated to death. That's one of the ugly quirks of the E86. I was contemplating trading up to the new Hughes D* tuner that just came out ....HTL HD??? But apparently it's not even ANYTHING like the Hughes E86 we have. It's based off the new LG HD receiver. I'll have to wait for the Hughes HD Tivo to come out <wistfully he thinks to himself>
;)

Originally posted by jaypb
That PBS station isn't technically (or untechnically HD :p) it's digital.

Which still looks better than the D* picture you get for 4.99 a month ! :eek:

When you key in 55-1 does it bring you to analog 57? Mine does. 55-1 on my E86 SHOULD be the 55 LI station that D* provides...but for some reason the E86 remaps to 57 analog. Same thing happens when I key in 12-1 sometimes....it brings me to a PBS analog station (58 maybe???)

Damn strange.....

BTW---what are you able to "stay locked on" with the E86? I've noticed that most of the time if I have a "stable" 37....I can stay locked. But other times I'll have a steady 67 or so....and be pixelated to death. That's one of the ugly quirks of the E86. I was contemplating trading up to the new Hughes D* tuner that just came out ....HTL HD??? But apparently it's not even ANYTHING like the Hughes E86 we have. It's based off the new LG HD receiver. I'll have to wait for the Hughes HD Tivo to come out <wistfully he thinks to himself>
;)

55-1 brings up 55-1 looks like uhf/vhf 57UPN snowy picture and streached to fit.

A good lock seems to be somewhere around 30 - 37% usually but with this wind or shall i say less than favorable weather conditions lock is usually higher. I'll have to report back on this in a week or two after tweaking the antenna. Im also doubting the purchase of a rotor at this point as it "seems" im getting all the locals (NBC the only exception). Of course only time will tell so we'll see in a week or two. And i believe pulling in NY locals will be a streach as its 70 miles as a crow flies. Still debating the preamp.


Im on the list for a HDtivo if and when it becomes available. I was hoping in time for christmas but that looks very unlikely. Now im estimating March - April. I bit the bullet and purchased a Directivo DVR a few weeks ago. It was to much of a pain to make sure I was in SD mode so my SA Tivo would record more than a blue screen.

The new hughes box looks great newer OS HD and SD at the same time. Less audio dropouts although i dont have this problem at all, sharper picture. But no one has reported if it outputs 720 native.

Any one got that tropo site link available.

Originally posted by webboy10169
Any one got that tropo site link available. http://www.globalserve.net/~hepburnw/tropo.html

jaypb.....
which is coming from the "tower" in either Somerset or New Brunswick.
I think the transmitter is along Route 1 in New Brunswick (at Cook College), but I may be wrong.

the D* picture you get for 4.99 a month

I think the price incremental for getting locals is down to something like $2/month. D* did a bit of a price increase last year that was hidden with the right combination of packages. I would drop my locals (and save the $2 per month), but I have receivers in 2 other rooms and i don't want to lose the locals on them (and I'm not interested in distributing my antenna signal thru the house).

Originally posted by webboy10169
55-1 brings up 55-1 looks like uhf/vhf 57UPN snowy picture and streached to fit.

What a weird quirk eh? :p

I tried the same thing with either 22-1 or 23-1 and it pulled in analog 22. You'll notice now after you do a scan that you probably pick up QUITE a few analog UHF stations....pretty neat on tropo nights as well...if you have the time to futz around that is.

A good lock seems to be somewhere around 30 - 37% usually but with this wind or shall i say less than favorable weather conditions lock is usually higher. I'll have to report back on this in a week or two after tweaking the antenna. Im also doubting the purchase of a rotor at this point as it "seems" im getting all the locals (NBC the only exception). Of course only time will tell so we'll see in a week or two. And i believe pulling in NY locals will be a streach as its 70 miles as a crow flies. Still debating the preamp.

I'd go for the pre-amp. Look on Ebay if cost is an issue. Look for either the Weingard low noise pre-amp (not sure of the model #) or the CM7775/7777. I've seen then on Ebay....if you can find one and the bidding doesn't get *too* out of hand, it's a good deal. That's how I picked up my 2nd CM9537 remote control rotor controller. Saved some money instead of getting it from Stark/Warren/Spectravox, etc...



Im on the list for a HDtivo if and when it becomes available. I was hoping in time for christmas but that looks very unlikely. Now im estimating March - April. I bit the bullet and purchased a Directivo DVR a few weeks ago. It was to much of a pain to make sure I was in SD mode so my SA Tivo would record more than a blue screen.

That was the Beta testers list....right? I got the same e-mail...and also signed up....but I'm not holding my breath. It would be heaven to have one...but I'm skeptical that ANY Of this stuff will be released on time. I contemplated upgrading to a Tivo....and I'll never forget the first time I forgot to toggle between Action/Input when I set my E86 to tape something. That blue screen nearly made me snap the remote!


The new hughes box looks great newer OS HD and SD at the same time. Less audio dropouts although i dont have this problem at all, sharper picture. But no one has reported if it outputs 720 native.

I was *THIS* close to ordering that HTL-HD. But after downloading the 127 page manual off of LG's site....and reading it, I realized that all the reasons I like Hughes receivers....were gone off of the NEW "HUGHES" HD receiver. One line guide. Audible OTA "signal strength" meter. RF remote. I couldn't IMAGINE trying to tune in our area's OTA signals without some sort of a meter reading. It's enough of a pain in the arse NOW with a meter...and a rotor with all the damn trees in my paths. I couldn't imagine it without one!

Just happened to wake up early today (a 3 year old can do that to you :p)

Put on 3-1 at around 5am....it's 6:45 now. No signal at all on KYW-DT.

Anyone else notice this?

Originally posted by jaypb
Just happened to wake up early today (a 3 year old can do that to you :p)

Put on 3-1 at around 5am....it's 6:45 now. No signal at all on KYW-DT.

Anyone else notice this?


Same here. Dead as a door nail!

Just checked KYW-DT is up and running for me although the signal strength is lower than normal.

Originally posted by jaypb
The beauty of a pre-amp, as I'm sure those who are more experienced than I am can tell you....is that YMMV!!! For me, adding the pre-amp has allowed me to pick up a solid lock on 6-1 out of Philly and more than 1/2 the time I can get 17-1 out of Philly downstairs and 29-1 as well. But, it will probably overload any "local" digital channels that you are receive. How close are you to the PBS station tower in Trenton/Camden (or wherever TF it is :p)?

I'm starting to wonder if the reason I can only see a pixelated video image on 8-1 is because I'm overloading the signal....which is coming from the "tower" in either Somerset or New Brunswick....not sure where it is...but I believe I'm only 15 miles from it. I have that CM 6041DB (??) model pre-amp that pushes through VHF and UHF...hence the reason why I can pickup 8 on my CM4228 (UHF only antenna).

What are your "signal strength" #'s right now for your digital channels? Give that a shot tonight....which is when you're digital reception will probably be better. I wouldn't be surprised if you see a lock on a few additional channels that you don't have as of this afternoon.

This happens for me (at night) with 29-1/17-1....and the ficitious 10-1 has only come in after 11pm....on the 3rd friday of the 9th month of the year...when I sat on the couch with my right foot in the air....and a snow cone was balanced on my right shoulder.

10-1 is a myth.... :D

Check those signal readings on your menu. For me, I can't get 10-1 above a steady 18 on solid tropo nights....and 12-1 is about the same. Can you get 65-1 or 66-1?? Spanish stations? How about the AC channel? 44-1 I think? Have you tried doing a scan on your E86 to see if it will let you lock on 6-2/6-3? Try tuning in 64-2 and 64-3 and see if it remaps. I had to do a re-scan last night on my E86 after I rotated back towards Philly to watch CBS last night. Pixelation/dropout hell on CBS out of NYC last night.

Just read on one of the other threads that NYC NBC will be at "low power" next week. Not sure WTF low power means. Hopefully it's better than "low Power" WCAU...and low power "WPIX".
:confused:

Im not to sure how close i am to the towers in Trenton/Camden but it has to be closer than philly (21 miles as a crow flies). I would guess maybe 10 miles. I think i can drive to the soverign center in about 20 mins.

Cant check signal locks as my father in law is watching the college football game in HD. Ill check tonight. But i do know that 3-1 and 6-1 are 100% lock. I may have to remove all ota's reboot and resetup to fix channel remapings and loss of channels. missing 6-2, is it still alive? i read in the NY forum that this channel should go away when NY was back up. I also still have 64-1 and 6-1, so i know i still have an issue. Im still tempted to add the panny ota tuner but i think the wife will kill me if i have to add more programming and an extra step to the pronto. Right now my WAF is very high.

Ive given up on NBC officially I dont think i could take Jay's big chin in HD, gave up on ER years ago, I was a Law and Order fan some time ago but casting changes killed it for me much like NYPD Blue. And im sorry but Whoopi hasnt done a dam thing worth peanuts since Jumping Jack Flash.
Ill let my Tivo deal with friends for the wife but thats about it. I dont see nascar upgrading all there cameras at their cost to do auto racing in HD. And if any racing fan want to dispute this do the math first 5 cameras in 43 cars plus track cameras. Were talking multiple digi-trucks.

Isnt there a filter that will reduce pre amped vhf signals, i thought i read that somewhere on these forums maybe someone else can chime in on this.

Anyway ill report signal strength later.

Swung the antenna towards ny (281 degrees) and was able to pickup CBS (hate the fact they place grey bars on the sides) ABC and both FOX channels. Slight peep out of NBC maybe a pre amp would help. Nothing from UPN or WB. both of wich i get out of Philly. Hooked up the silver sensor also but i guess its too small to pull in NY. So now im temped to either get the preamp or just another antenna to point at NY. But im not allowed in the attic until i lay down some wood (wife's orders) since i fell threw the ceiling OUCH! repair work is almost done.

Originally posted by webboy10169
Swung the antenna towards ny (281 degrees) and was able to pickup CBS (hate the fact they place grey bars on the sides) ABC and both FOX channels. Slight peep out of NBC maybe a pre amp would help. Nothing from UPN or WB. both of wich i get out of Philly. Hooked up the silver sensor also but i guess its too small to pull in NY. So now im temped to either get the preamp or just another antenna to point at NY. But im not allowed in the attic until i lay down some wood (wife's orders) since i fell threw the ceiling OUCH! repair work is almost done.

You got a single on NBC-DT out of NYC? Channel 28? I don't think they are broadcasting yet....at least not in the "testing" phase---unless you got lucky and found them "testing" :p Someone posted on the NYC thread that NY Newsday said that they would begin OTA brodcasting this week. Hopefully.....

As far as Channel 11 out of NYC I think it's a dead area for us below the northern Central NJ area. I can't get a peep out of Channel 12 on either of my antennas. And that 2nd FOx station is actually UPN 9 out of NYC---horribly pixelated and mutilated.

Sorry to hear about the attic/ceiling....but it's another reason why my wife would rather have me on the roof...and fall...than put a hole through the ceiling with my foot....she's seen my attempts at Spackling :D

Originally posted by jaypb
You got a single on NBC-DT out of NYC? Channel 28? I don't think they are broadcasting yet....at least not in the "testing" phase---unless you got lucky and found them "testing" :p Someone posted on the NYC thread that NY Newsday said that they would begin OTA brodcasting this week. Hopefully.....

As far as Channel 11 out of NYC I think it's a dead area for us below the northern Central NJ area. I can't get a peep out of Channel 12 on either of my antennas. And that 2nd FOx station is actually UPN 9 out of NYC---horribly pixelated and mutilated.

Sorry to hear about the attic/ceiling....but it's another reason why my wife would rather have me on the roof...and fall...than put a hole through the ceiling with my foot....she's seen my attempts at Spackling :D

A slight peep couldnt tell if it was actually NBC or Crosstalk/bleed over I checked twice to make sure i was tuned to NBC. I was shocked also.

Yeah i thought WB was a dead issue out of NY. I few more weeks i guess. For now I'll stay swung at Philly as im getting Many channels infact all are watchable except nbc.

As far as the hole goes 36" x 17" cut new sheetrock screwed in place. Lots of joint compound and joint tape. She's not as pissed now. I still must sand and paint though.

It was nice to have all these HD channels coming in from all directions. Almost make the investments worth it.

Found this on the NYC OTA thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=2940616#post2940616

FWIW.....

Originally posted by webboy10169
A slight peep couldnt tell if it was actually NBC or Crosstalk/bleed over I checked twice to make sure i was tuned to NBC. I was shocked also.

Yeah i thought WB was a dead issue out of NY. I few more weeks i guess. For now I'll stay swung at Philly as im getting Many channels infact all are watchable except nbc.

As far as the hole goes 36" x 17" cut new sheetrock screwed in place. Lots of joint compound and joint tape. She's not as pissed now. I still must sand and paint though.

It was nice to have all these HD channels coming in from all directions. Almost make the investments worth it.

Live in Millstone (south of Monroe, north of Jackson) and occasionally check this thread for progress on OTA HD in our area. Could one of you summarize what is reasonably attainable at this point?? Alot of what I read here is still disappointing!! Rotors, signal meters, etc. Reminds of pre-cable days at the Jersey shore!! Currently I get HD via DirecTV, but would love to get OTA, too! (predominantly sports -- Super Bowl -- plus networks). A nice summary for some of us would be really useful!!

THANKS!!!

Originally posted by perilous
Live in Millstone (south of Monroe, north of Jackson) and occasionally check this thread for progress on OTA HD in our area. Could one of you summarize what is reasonably attainable at this point?? Alot of what I read here is still disappointing!! Rotors, signal meters, etc. Reminds of pre-cable days at the Jersey shore!! Currently I get HD via DirecTV, but would love to get OTA, too! (predominantly sports -- Super Bowl -- plus networks). A nice summary for some of us would be really useful!!

THANKS!!!

Ah Millstone! Nice area. Have you checked to see what your "height" is on a tropo map? Just for $hit$ and giggles I mean. I only ask because where I am in Monroe....I'm something like 18 feet above see level. Which is *somewhat* ridiculous....when some of the other forum members are 200-300 feet above sea level. Sounds dopey, but when you couple it with the fact that my house is a ranch style house, it's easy to see why I have *quite a few* OTA issues....

In summary:

-You'll most DEFINITELY be able to get one of the CBS's (NYC or Philly) from where you are. KYW-DT just BOOMS! You may even be able to get WCBS out of NYC---but my reception has been quite spotty lately--as have others in the NYC OTA thread. Not sure why...or what they've done to their signal.

-You'll *probably* be able to get WPVI-DT (ABC out of Philly)...and perhaps WABC-DT now too

-NBC out of Philly is the touch and go barometer for most of the thread...and WNBC is supposed to go live in a few days...but a map posted above this post shows that reception in the area below Monroe *may* be spotty.

-WTXF (FOx Philly) for me is touch and go...as it is for a few others. WNYW out of NYC should be receiveable where you are. Not sure about the WB out of Philly (which I get sporadically on one TV and solid on another). Getting the WB out of NYC is a dead end for those of us in the sticks at this point....because WPIX is low power on VHF channel 12 right now.

-UPN out of Philly should be as solid as KYW---but there's little HD programming on there and NO HD yet that I've seen. UPN out of NYC is piggy backing on Fox5's signal....is as disturbing as Al Michaels hair in HD :p

A few questions for you:

-Where will you mount your antenna? Ranch or multi-level? Trees in the area?
-Since you have D*, I'll assume that your STB also does OTA. What kind of STB are you using?
-Got anyone else in the neighborhood playing the HD game?

A quick and easy way for you to see "what you can get" would be to go out and get a Zenith Silver Sensor STB antenna. $25 or so at various internet merchants. Give it a shot.

I am in the Rumson area and have poor reception of NYC stations because of the Highlands hills that essentially block a direct view of the Empire State Building

I can get 5.1, 5.2, and 7.1 but sometimes it is spotty: the only way I can get 2.1 is to point the antenna south and pick up a reflected signal off a condo building

my antenna is roof mounted approx 40 feet high: it is a yagi with a preamp

I was considering a Rohn 25G tower that would make the antenna height 57 feet but the installer could not guarantee that height would resolve the issue: he said the only way to guarantee results is to hire a mobile truck fitted with a 70 foot hydraulic mast/antenna and measuring gear to come to the site and take measurements: trouble is that is almost as expensive as the tower installation!

Originally posted by perilous
Live in Millstone (south of Monroe, north of Jackson) and occasionally check this thread for progress on OTA HD in our area. Could one of you summarize what is reasonably attainable at this point?? Alot of what I read here is still disappointing!! Rotors, signal meters, etc. Reminds of pre-cable days at the Jersey shore!! Currently I get HD via DirecTV, but would love to get OTA, too! (predominantly sports -- Super Bowl -- plus networks). A nice summary for some of us would be really useful!!

THANKS!!!

Well im sure others closer to you can chime in but Im not that far from you (527->527A->33) I receive with no problems:

3-1 CBS
6-1/3 ABC
12-1 WHYY (PBS)
17-1 WB
29-1 FOX
52-1/5 PBS
57-1 UPN

The only channel that is constantly dead for me is NBC 10-1

If i swing the antenna to face NY (28 degrees) all i get constant is:
CBS 2-1
FOX 5-1/2
ABC 7-1

Im using the E86 as my OTA tuner and all i have is a Channelmaster 4228A antenna pointing at philly (281 degrees)

Originally posted by webboy10169
Well im sure others closer to you can chime in but Im not that far from you (527->527A->33) I receive with no problems:

3-1 CBS
6-1/3 ABC
12-1 WHYY (PBS)
17-1 WB
29-1 FOX
52-1/5 PBS
57-1 UPN

The only channel that is constantly dead for me is NBC 10-1

Im using the E86 as my OTA tuner and all i have is a Channelmaster 4228A antenna pointing at philly (281 degrees)

Glad to see your attic install helped things immensely. Are you still having issues with that E-86 and 52-5? I tuned in last night for the PBS HD loop and had chirps galore on the audio....and no sound basically. On BOTH of my E86's. Does that PBS station have an engineering line???

I can't receive 12-1 AT ALL...other than when the planets are in alignment. And the winds lately have been wrecking havoc with my OTA pleasure on certain Philly channels (where I assume I'm "fringe"--29-1 and 17-1...as well as some NYC channels for some odd reasoning 2-1.

Originally posted by jaypb

A few questions for you:

-Where will you mount your antenna? Ranch or multi-level? Trees in the area?
-Since you have D*, I'll assume that your STB also does OTA. What kind of STB are you using?
-Got anyone else in the neighborhood playing the HD game?

A quick and easy way for you to see "what you can get" would be to go out and get a Zenith Silver Sensor STB antenna. $25 or so at various internet merchants. Give it a shot.

Thanks for info...what is the website again re: maps, etc.?? "Could" try attic -- I have a pretty high spot on a 2-acre lot. Will try the Zenith STB antenna. My current STB is a Samsung 160, but everything is in basement (thanks to the wife). Any good local "installers" in the area to discuss with? Looks like there is enough OTA to look at more seriously. Will be watching to see how NBC-NY works out on this thread!!

Originally posted by webboy10169
Well im sure others closer to you can chime in but Im not that far from you (527->527A->33) I receive with no problems:

3-1 CBS
6-1/3 ABC
12-1 WHYY (PBS)
17-1 WB
29-1 FOX
52-1/5 PBS
57-1 UPN

The only channel that is constantly dead for me is NBC 10-1

If i swing the antenna to face NY (28 degrees) all i get constant is:
CBS 2-1
FOX 5-1/2
ABC 7-1

Im using the E86 as my OTA tuner and all i have is a Channelmaster 4228A antenna pointing at philly (281 degrees)

Thanks to all for great info!! Am actually pretty close to you -- right next to Assunpink Preserve (on western edge of Millstone). You're using an attic setup, right?? I have one thin row of trees at 281, but hope it won't be a problem! 28 is clear...looks like its worth pursuing as I already have the tuner, just need an antenna setup of some type...Thanks again for great info!

Originally posted by perilous
Thanks for info...what is the website again re: maps, etc.?? "Could" try attic -- I have a pretty high spot on a 2-acre lot. Will try the Zenith STB antenna. My current STB is a Samsung 160, but everything is in basement (thanks to the wife). Any good local "installers" in the area to discuss with? Looks like there is enough OTA to look at more seriously. Will be watching to see how NBC-NY works out on this thread!!

The Topozone site I had bookmarked is http://www.topozone.com/finddms.asp (http://www.topozone.com/default.asp?404;here

Just put in your your town....or one close by and see if you can "tell" how you're doing above sea level wise....not exactly important to know....but IMHO helpful when considering why a guy a town away can get 3 more channels that you can :eek:

Millstone shows a roundabout height of 100 feet...where as Spotswood for me shows 31 feet :mad:

That's a start...

Steve2k can also help you AFA figuring out your "height"...or a general elevation. :D

Generally (as you've probably heard) rooftop antennas will get you a better signal than attic based....but, as Steve2k is living proof, YMMV! Depends on the type of roof you have and other environmental characteristics I'd gather (trees and what not). My setup was in the basement as well...and I too bought the Silver Sensor and it didn't work...but that's because I didn't run a wire upstairs and "test" it that way. I put it on my TV and said, "Dammit, this will never work"...wherein I should have just run the sucker up the basement steps with RG6 and set it outside to "see" what I could glean basically.

AFA local installers, you're probably looking at a few (200-500$???) to install an antenna. I tried to get a quote....and couldn't because they wanted to come out to my house and see what my situation was. So I just did it myself. I'm not sure of anyone in Millstone...the one I called was in East Brunswick on Rte 18....but I don't know the name off the top of my head. Do you have a 2 level house or one level? Mounting an antenna outside is easier (obviously) on a Ranch....that's why I did it myself. Just ran the wire down the side of the house, into the unfinished part of the basement...and through the wall into the TV area. Ran a rotor wire as well. And hooked up a pre-amp on the antenna/mast mounted on the side of the house (peak area). Mounted TWO of them in fact....

It's not that hard....but once you do it...you'll be futzing with it for the rest of your days....at least in my experience, HD now rules the free-time technological aspect of my life!! :p

Perilous.....
Gimme an email, I think as a good neighbor I can help you out!
Live on Steeplechase!!!
Dave Korey

d.korey@usa.net

Originally posted by Dave Korey
Perilous.....
Gimme an email, I think as a good neighbor I can help you out!
Live on Steeplechase!!!
Dave Korey

d.korey@usa.net

Hmmm wondering if thats steeplechase drive by any chance remodeling a house there and am about ready to start installing HT soon. Real interested in knowing what the ota is over there before we go nuts.

Probably a neighbor that has experienced HD in my theatre!

Check ur email!
Dave

Originally posted by Dave Korey
Probably a neighbor that has experienced HD in my theatre!

Check ur email!
Dave

Hey Dave!! Sent you a PM and oh by the way I have never seen your HD theater!! Not your fault tho, I just never make it over...let's talk!!

Perry

Originally posted by webboy10169
Hmmm wondering if thats steeplechase drive by any chance remodeling a house there and am about ready to start installing HT soon. Real interested in knowing what the ota is over there before we go nuts.

Hook up with Dave and then we all can compare notes!!

Generally (as you've probably heard) rooftop antennas will get you a better signal than attic based....but, as Steve2k is living proof, YMMV!

I think it may also help that the gable end of my attic faces exactly in the direction of the Philly transmitters. I just lean my attic antenna against the gable end of the house. So, I don't actually go through any 'roof material'. So I suspect that the outside wall has less metal (nails) in it that the same sqaure footage of roofing (lots of roofing nails to hold down the shingles). And my siding is vinyl.

All I know is that during bad tropo nights and during the rain the other day, my Philly stations were still there....a bit weaker in signal strength, but still there.

Watching/scanning for digitals tonight between 10:00 and 10:30.. Here's what I've picked up and can (mostly) watch. Looks like really strong tropo from the southwest, but it seems to have weakened some Philly stations:

5-1 Fox5 - WTTG, Washington, DC
6-1 WTVR (picture pixelized/unsteady)
7-1 WJLA, Washington, DC (carrying ESPN HD feed of Dolphins/Redskins game)
7-2 WJLA, Washington, DC (carrying ESPN SD feed of Dolphins/Redskins)
9-1 WJZ, BAltimore, CBS
11-1 WBAL, Baltimore NBC
49-1 WMAR, Maryland?? ABC (picture comes and goes, but watchable when its there)
50-1 WB from ???

All strong and watchable except as noted above.

Interestingly, 10-1 NCB WCAU shows a 93% signal strength, but no video or audio.

This is definately a bonanza that won't last very long, I'm sure.

Originally posted by SteveK2
Watching/scanning for digitals tonight between 10:00 and 10:30.. Here's what I've picked up and can (mostly) watch. Looks like really strong tropo from the southwest, but it seems to have weakened some Philly stations:

5-1 Fox5 - WTTG, Washington, DC
6-1 WTVR (picture pixelized/unsteady)
7-1 WJLA, Washington, DC (carrying ESPN HD feed of Dolphins/Redskins game)
7-2 WJLA, Washington, DC (carrying ESPN SD feed of Dolphins/Redskins)
9-1 WJZ, BAltimore, CBS
11-1 WBAL, Baltimore NBC
49-1 WMAR, Maryland?? ABC (picture comes and goes, but watchable when its there)
50-1 WB from ???

All strong and watchable except as noted above.

Interestingly, 10-1 NCB WCAU shows a 93% signal strength, but no video or audio.

This is definately a bonanza that won't last very long, I'm sure.


You're not alone :p

I was watching 36-1 with some heavy dropouts/pixelation at about 10:30 pm. Was a Fox station from (I assume) Maryland area....Maryland Terrapins Head Football Coach Friedgen was doing an interview with a red headed sports caster (think it was Dave???? who used to be here in NYC??)

Also had diminished signals on the Philly stations and was wondering WTF was up until I found 36-1....and additional stations had a signal....but no lock (picture/audio). 39/40/50 all seemed to have a signal...but no picture.

BTW---last I heard tomorrow was a possible kickoff date for WNBC-DT (read it on the NYC OTA thread).

Hopefully.....

SteveK2 / JayPb

Also noticed great tropo oddly enough the only Philly station I could receive was WTXF-DT all others are gone. My distant signals are coming from North of my location in South Jersey.

22-2 WLIW-HD Riverhead Long Island PBS
22-3 WLIW-SD Riverhead Long Island PBS
23-1 WUTF-DT Marlborough Massachusetts Univision
48-1 WRNN-DT Kingston New York Regional News Network
53-1 WTBY-DT Poughkeepsie New York Trinity Broadcasting religious

....so I rotated around my upstairs CM4228 towards Philly and picked up the GEorge Michael Sports Machine on 38-1 (WJZ out of Baltimore) and a few other stations that "locked" on my E86 but wouldn't show any audio/video (even though the signal said 37 and above---usually I can show video on that strength).

Also checked out NYC direction tropo....was able to pick up 21-1 WLIW pretty steady (a rarity for me) and also picked up 23-1 (Spanish--"The Big Red One" was on :p.....Lee Marvin in SPanish....Si!)


Also picked up:
23-1...WFTY out of Smithtown (83 miles or so)
48-1..WRNN .out of Kingston NY (80 miles or so)
27-1...WGTW out of Burlington NJ (50 or so miles)

BTW---WJZ seems to be 138 miles away from here...not bad :p

And using 2150.com: http://www.2150.com/broadcast/default.asp

I'm able to see that 36-1 (The station I noted earlier with Ralph Friedgen on ) is WTTG, 173.5 miles away!!!!

Originally posted by wward
SteveK2 / JayPb

Also noticed great tropo oddly enough the only Philly station I could receive was WTXF-DT all others are gone. My distant signals are coming from North of my location in South Jersey.

22-2 WLIW-HD Riverhead Long Island PBS
22-3 WLIW-SD Riverhead Long Island PBS
23-1 WUTF-DT Marlborough Massachusetts Univision
48-1 WRNN-DT Kingston New York Regional News Network
53-1 WTBY-DT Poughkeepsie New York Trinity Broadcasting religious

I'm almost tempted to go back and keep rotating to see what I can pick up :p

I saw the RNN one you have above....and I too noted a dip in Philly Signal strength....actually the highest my E86 would top out on KYW-DT was a 79....which, to me, almost seemed "artificial"! Which is why I'm assuming I couldn't get a lock on some of the distant stations I was showing a SS of 44-51 on.

Well according to the Hepbern forecast this could be another wild night for tropo in our area.

Originally posted by wward
Well according to the Hepbern forecast this could be another wild night for tropo in our area.

Man, I tell ya, as Geeked up as I get for Tropo...I'm more geeked up to see WNBC_DT flip it's switch!

:mad:

JayPb

I hear that!!

I getting WNBC-DT here in West Keansburg, NJ!!!!!!

Of course I have to work late tonight:(

But all they have on in HD tonight is Leno:D Should be home by then!
Just hope I will have enough signal to lock on

Originally posted by MartyJ
Of course I have to work late tonight:(

But all they have on in HD tonight is Leno:D Should be home by then!
Just hope I will have enough signal to lock on

Told her to tune in either 28-1 or 4-1....she said nothing came in. I'm not sure if I left the antenna facing NYC or Philly.

I don't trust her enough to let her futz around with the setup options.

And the kids were screaming in the background.

Not worth the aggravation when I STILL have 2 1/2 hours of work left.

:mad:

Jaypb, I'm getting WNBC-DT on 4-1.

Isn't it nice when a station says it's going to broadcast on a specific day, and they actually DO IT!!!???? Eat your heart out WCAU!

NBC rocks. :cool:

Originally posted by Calabs
Isn't it nice when a station says it's going to broadcast on a specific day, and they actually DO IT!!!???? Eat your heart out WCAU!

NBC rocks. :cool:

So does this mean you'll be climbing up on your roof in the dark tonight to see if you can pick up 28-1?? :p

Originally posted by jaypb
So does this mean you'll be climbing up on your roof in the dark tonight to see if you can pick up 28-1?? :p

Well, if I can get it as well as ABC without moving my antenna, I may just opt to leave the antenna where it is. If I can't, I've got some serious thinking to do (or just put up TWO antennas like someone else I know)
;)

Originally posted by Calabs
Well, if I can get it as well as ABC without moving my antenna, I may just opt to leave the antenna where it is. If I can't, I've got some serious thinking to do (or just put up TWO antennas like someone else I know)
;)

Don't you have to make an appointment with the boss if you want to raise another mast on the roof??? lol.....

Did you get anywhere with the previous agenda....or was that tabled?? :p

Well I guess I'll know before leaving work at 8PM tonight whether it will be go or no go. Some of those south of Rt. 33 folks hopefully will chime in. Got the silver sensor pointed towards NY and get everything fine. Maybe have to turn the CM around from Philly if its a no go. At least my antennas are in the attic so I can do it at night.

Got home and fired up the theater. Leaving everything as is I got an 11 with my Silver Sensor in the attic but no signal. Moving the antenna around in the attic got me a 25-30 with an occassional lock. So I decided to move the CM 4228 around from Philadelphia and point it at NY. Getting a 40-50 with a lock.

ABC is at 100, CBS is at about 85.
:D

No problems getting WNBC here; stronger than ABC, too.

But WPIX for the last 2 weeks has been pixelation city; completely unwatchable.

It seems like there always has to be one NYC station that's non-existant.

Part of my WPIX problem was I'd left the FM trap switched out on the preamp when I was fiddling with things... I can now get a consistent picture, but still have more breakups/pauses than I'd had 2 weeks ago. But there's more hope now. :)

I don't believe I forgot to come back to this thread to post that I'm receiving WNBC_DT! :eek: Idiot...

I got home last night and tuned right into 4-1....was solid at 79 on my E86...but for some reason I had pixelation and macroblocking....similar to what I experience on 52-5...STILL to this day with a 100 signal.

By the end of the night the signal stayed solid...even bumping up to 93...and I was able to FINALLY see Leno in HD! (Man Kelly Preston is hawt....:p)

I'm receiving it on both of my CM 4228's. Hopefully the wife will get to see L&O tonight...as SHE is the big NBC fan. OTA life feels....better now! All major networks can now be received from either Philly or NYC for me now....remote controlled rotors makes life easier as well!

Anyone notice if 8-1 has went "live" out of New Brunswick yet? I'm STILL getting a signal strength of 44-51 out of my CM4228 with the VHF amp pass through....but I only get blocks of visual images....with nothing discernable.

Anyone???
:confused:

Originally posted by jaypb
Don't you have to make an appointment with the boss if you want to raise another mast on the roof??? lol.....

Did you get anywhere with the previous agenda....or was that tabled?? :p

I'd prefer to raise a "dish" first. ;) Still working on that one. I tried the capture NBC last night, but to no avail. Surprising, as I'm able to pick up CBS and ABC without turning the antenna toward NYC. I may have time this afternoon to get on the roof and give the antenna a "whirl". Wth all the lousy luck I've been having with the Philly stations, I may just keep it there if I can catch NBC's wavelengths.

Originally posted by Calabs
I'd prefer to raise a "dish" first. ;) Still working on that one. I tried the capture NBC last night, but to no avail. Surprising, as I'm able to pick up CBS and ABC without turning the antenna toward NYC. I may have time this afternoon to get on the roof and give the antenna a "whirl". Wth all the lousy luck I've been having with the Philly stations, I may just keep it there if I can catch NBC's wavelengths.

All the more reason to put up a rotor :D

I'm on the fence as well AFA where to aim my antenna....but the rotor makes it MUCH easier to decide! I gain 57-1 out of Philly...and ocassionally 17-1 downstairs....and 17-1 all the time upstairs. But, there really isn't anything on either of those channels that I care to watch...unless 57-1 has a good movie on in HD (as when Blade was on...)

I wish 57-1 would start passing through some HD feeds of the Flyers/Sixers games....since I *believe* Comcast SportsNet has equipped the arena with HD gear for their broadcasts....but alas, I doubt it'll happen.

AFA NYC....ABC/NBC/CBS and FOX....the "Big 4" are now live and rarin' to go!

WCAU-DT is still an urban myth in my book....and now a forgotten memory.... :p

What a great evening. Watched 24 in ED then a choice of HD on all 3 major networks.

Finally last night I was able to get NBC. All the other stations cleared up as well. Whatever was going on for the last week was even screwing up analog for me. So now the only one I'm not able to get is WPIX. Only a blip on my HD200.

CM Roof / amp / HD200

I put this in the NYC OTA thread. Figured it deserved to be in here too for any "newbies" wondering about Antenna heights/placements:

I have two seperate CM4228's on rotors....feeding two separate HDTV's/STB's (Hughes E86's). One of them is higher than the other. Both are on rotors. I'll give you some examples of my reception progress from Philly, as that's where I turned to since NYC wasn't too hot OTA wise back in February when I started playing this game:

The "higher" one, is able to lock onto 64-1 out of Philly solidly. The "lower" one cannot do so reliably. The "higher" one can lock onto 29-1 out of Philly more frequently than the "lower" one can. The "lower" one can ALWAYS lock on 54-1 out of Philly, whereas the "higher" one can only do so occassionaly. Neither can lock onto 67-1 or 55-1 out of Philly too frequently if at all, while at different heights they both lock onto 26-1/43-1:5/32-1 all the time. During heavy tropo evenings, the "lower" one locks onto Baltimore/Maryland/Delmarva stations more frequently than the "higher" one. The "higher" one has a better chance of locking onto the Connecticut/LI stations than the "lower" one does on the same tropo evenings.

The antennas are about 65 feet apart mounted on the side of my house....and there are trees in both directions (Damn you multipath...:mad The "higher" one is only "higher" by about 3 feet or so. The "higher" one has a CM7775 pre-amp...the "lower" one a 6041DSB preamp.

My point is: From my experience, even the slightest bit of height changes things where fringe/low signal/tree interference problems are going to be an issue. Even the slightest bit of horizontal placement on a roofdeck will affect things....if it's a touch and go issue. If you have the time....and the inclination....move some stuff around. Raise it higher.

I have the CM9521a remote controlled rotor on both. I mounted the rotor at the end of a 5 foot length of masting....and then put another 5 foot length of masting into that....it's not the optimum condition/setup for this rotor (too much drag I'd guess when I rotate it)....but it's working for me. The "higher" antenna also has some guy wires attached to the rotor...and I'm planing on buying a bearing that will allow me to attach guy wires to the top mast....but I haven't gotten around to it yet. I'll probably lower the height when ALL the NYC stations go back online at full power (Whenever TF that is.....)

For now it works.

JayPb

Sounds like you have your own little antenna farm there.

Originally posted by wward
JayPb

Sounds like you have your own little antenna farm there.

Yeah tell me about it. Some people tinker with cars. Others play video games. I'm now an HD fiend. And trying to convince everyone I know to jump into the pool.....

:cool:

Jay
As your neighbor in Millstone, I know the whole antenna dilema.

What I have come to find out after much trial and error is that the CM pre-amps were overloading as a result of NJN ans NOT allowing for Rxing of the "Philly Farm". I now use the smallest Rat Shack Yagi with the Winegard 4700 19 db Uhf amp and have no more problems with ANY Philly stations including the elusive WCAU-NBC! I even have my antenna mounted on a mast 4 fett above the ground..Go figure.

My quest of monster antennas, pre-amps boiled down to a very directional antenna with a modest amp ans all is well!

Dave

Originally posted by Dave Korey
Jay
As your neighbor in Millstone, I know the whole antenna dilema.

What I have come to find out after much trial and error is that the CM pre-amps were overloading as a result of NJN ans NOT allowing for Rxing of the "Philly Farm". I now use the smallest Rat Shack Yagi with the Winegard 4700 19 db Uhf amp and have no more problems with ANY Philly stations including the elusive WCAU-NBC! I even have my antenna mounted on a mast 4 fett above the ground..Go figure.

My quest of monster antennas, pre-amps boiled down to a very directional antenna with a modest amp ans all is well!

Dave

I actually tried the Radio Shack Yagi I think you are talking about ($19.99???) VU-75R maybe ?!?! :confused: on the antenna masting with the "lower" height....and I was only able to get 3-1 and 57-1 without a pre-amp. Putting the DSB6041 CM amp into the loop allowed me to get 17-1 cleanly and pick up higher signal strength on 29-1 and 64-1 but without a lock.

On the higher antenna masting (CM 4228), without the pre-amp I was only able to get 3-1 and 32-1 cleanly, and by adding the pre-amp and tinkering with the height I am where I am today.

With BOTH setups I was always able to receive 52-1:5 cleanly. I didn't try a different antenna on the higher masting....but I did try a silver sensor in both spots for $'s and Giggles.....and neither spot pulled in the signals that the higher mast mount antennas could.

I can't comment on the NYC stations without the pre-amp, as when I was setting things up there was really NO reason to aim that way ;)

I will say that for some reason, last night, my E86 that is hooked up to the lower antenna had a solid lock at 79 on the meter....yet I had pixelation and green "shemears" (macroblocking???) at that high strength level. I'm wondering if the pre-amp is boosting CHannel 28's signal to a level that is TOO high (based on the CM4228's high gain in the channel 28 area)??? I see this same thing on Digital 43 (52-1:5) quite often. But the odd thing is I don't see this effect on channel 28 on my other TV...also with an E86 and a CM4228...and a low noise CM pre-amp.

Odd....:confused:

Does anybody here subscribe to Cablevision's Digital I/O. If so, how often, do you switch from your OTA antenna to I/O? And why, (to see HBO, for example)?

Thanks,

Mike

Does anybody here subscribe to Cablevision's Digital I/O. If so, how often, do you switch from your OTA antenna to I/O? And why, (to see HBO, for example)?

Thanks,

Mike

Here's a little blurb I got from WHYY today. Intersting! Very interesting!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Changes to the WHYY DTV Programming

PBS Distribution Services recently announced in February 2004, PBS will
launch the PBS HD feed. The feed of PBS currently being shown on WHYY
channel 12.1 has been a “test” laboratory feed containing HD content
clips (known as the HD Loop) along with some PBS and APT HD programs.

Starting in February, the channel will no longer contain “HD Loop”
material. Instead, it will be a service of complete programs along with
HD interstitials. (In fact, effective December 8, 2003 PBS will begin
replacing the HD Loop with complete programs. PBS is considering the time
between December 8 and February 1 as an unofficial test period.)

Coming Spring '04

12.1 will be a 24/7 simulcast of WHYY's Channel 12 programming.

Phase 2 of WHYY’s digital broadcast strategy currently under development
will offer a second choice (12.2) program schedule comprised of selected
encore WHYY productions, other content available to WHYY not currently
aired on TV12, unique new content and premium PBS delivered High
Definition programs during the primetime evening hours.

As our plans are finalized and we are ready to launch our new DTV service
(12.2) , we will keep our "DTV Viewer Community" up to date via email and
postings to our DTV Web Site.

Originally posted by Calabs
Here's a little blurb I got from WHYY today. Intersting! Very interesting!


Anyone able to pick up PBS 8-1 out of New Brunswick now? I've been getting a signal on the digital channel on my strength bar....but no steady picture/audio....just odd flashes of video. I don't know if I'm seeing that because I have a pre-amp hooked up and it's overmodulating the signal (I think I'm only about 10 miles from the supposed tower)....or if it's just what everyone else is seeing.

:confused:

For those of you who have satellite, please cast your vote on a poll I'm taking in the DBS forum here at AVS on how many times you've had to re-adjust your dish. Every vote counts!

Thanks for your support! ;)

Originally posted by Calabs
For those of you who have satellite, please cast your vote on a poll I'm taking in the DBS forum here at AVS on how many times you've had to re-adjust your dish. Every vote counts!

Thanks for your support! ;)

Geez....the lengths that some {married} folks will go to in a democratic household..... :D

Good luck! Let me know if you need an expert witness....especially since I just got called for Jury Duty next month ....:mad:

JayPB

No luck on that 8-1 is that analog channel 58?

Originally posted by wward
JayPB

No luck on that 8-1 is that analog channel 58?

Yes, I believe it is. I actually had a stable picture for a few minutes on 8-1 and 8-2 over the weekend (guess it was the snowfall giving me a more solid lock ??) before it started fluctuating wildly and not locking anymore.

Hey all,
For those who have satellite, please take the time to contribute to the poll I'm taking on loss of signal.

Thanks for your support!

Originally posted by Calabs
For those who have satellite, please take the time to contribute to the poll I'm taking on loss of signal. How about linking to the poll?

NBC (10-1) Is booming here in Jackson, NJ signal locked at 67% now if it stays i might be able to watch leno in HD for the first time.
<homer voice>
MMMMM Nicole Richie in HD.
</homervoice>

Originally posted by dswallow
How about linking to the poll?

How do I do that?

Link to Poll (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=338394)

Originally posted by markrubin
Link to Poll (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=338394)

Thanks for setting that up mark!

Originally posted by Calabs
Thanks for setting that up mark!

glad to help

you know- I would have liked to see a poll that includes/compares outages of other services as well (suggested by another member)

every service has outages: cable, Dish, VOOM, OTA, even the BUD

such a poll might yield some interesting results

Originally posted by markrubin
glad to help

you know- I would have liked to see a poll that includes/compares outages of other services as well (suggested by another member)

every service has outages: cable, Dish, VOOM, OTA, even the BUD

such a poll might yield some interesting results

Agreed - That type of poll would certainly be a little more complicated to construct, it would be interesting to see the results. If I had to guess, VOOM and Dish would be similar to D*. Cable, on the other hand, would be very interesting, since what I've gathered from folks I've spoken to, seems to be regionally related, vs weather, etc.

Originally posted by markrubin
glad to help

you know- I would have liked to see a poll that includes/compares outages of other services as well (suggested by another member)

every service has outages: cable, Dish, VOOM, OTA, even the BUD

such a poll might yield some interesting results It still would be observation-based when observation wasn't always focused on determining this.

For DirecTiVo users, I wonder if it would be possible to hack something that would automatically log loss and reacquisition of signal so that we could accumulate some hard data about it.

How are the Central NJ folks with antennas pointed towards Philly doing in picking up WCAU (10-1)? I just miss picking it up and I am wondering if it is worth going into the attic to tweak the antenna.

Originally posted by pabuwal
How are the Central NJ folks with antennas pointed toward Philly doing in picking up WCAU (10-1)? I just miss picking it up and I am wondering if it is worth going into the attic to tweak the antenna.

I've been successfully getting 10-1 for quite a while. I use a roof mounted CM 4248 Yagi with preamp. I'm about 40 miles ENE of the Roxborough antenna farm. I have a bit of an advantage with 100 feet above sea level elevation.

There was some talk earlier in either this or the Philly thread that some folks were seeing higher signal strengths on 10-1 recently. If that's the case, some tweaking is probably worthwhile.

Ray

Originally posted by pabuwal
How are the Central NJ folks with antennas pointed towards Philly doing in picking up WCAU (10-1)? I just miss picking it up and I am wondering if it is worth going into the attic to tweak the antenna. I see maybe 15% signal strength right now -- best I've ever seen. Not even close to being able to get a picture from it though. ;)

I've never had a problem with WCAU. I don't receive WTFX! When I first installed my antenna I could get FOX but since Nov 2002 nothing. I think I may be getting interference from WNJT since I'm within three miles of their antenna.

Originally posted by pabuwal
How are the Central NJ folks with antennas pointed towards Philly doing in picking up WCAU (10-1)? I just miss picking it up and I am wondering if it is worth going into the attic to tweak the antenna.

Im sitting in Jackson NJ not sure if thats central or not but Ive got NBC 90 % watchable all the time. Channel master antenna in the attic pointing at philly.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by pabuwal
How are the Central NJ folks with antennas pointed towards Philly doing in picking up WCAU (10-1)? I just miss picking it up and I am wondering if it is worth going into the attic to tweak the antenna.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nothing here in Freehold. Its been that way since I purchased my set two years ago with the exception of one night of extream tropo effect back in the summer.

Originally posted by wward
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by pabuwal
How are the Central NJ folks with antennas pointed towards Philly doing in picking up WCAU (10-1)? I just miss picking it up and I am wondering if it is worth going into the attic to tweak the antenna.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nothing here in Freehold. Its been that way since I purchased my set two years ago with the exception of one night of extream tropo effect back in the summer.

I can honestly say that since ABC/NBC have "gone live" from their respective locations, I haven't rotated back towards Philly but 2 or 3 times to "see how things are". All I feel I'm really "missing" is a PBS station while facing NYC. If UPN57 has a decent movie on in HD on a Friday, maybe I'll pop back that way.

I will say I've found less tropo oddities whilst facing NYC than when I was facing Philly. It would be nice if WPIX_DT went "higher power" in time for MLB season....I'd like to see a Mets game or 10 in HD. :D

I watch more WB than NBC and can not turn to NYC until the combiner is done. Seems like it may make sense to tweak my antenna a bit to see if I can pick up WCAU.

Originally posted by pabuwal
I watch more WB than NBC and can not turn to NYC until the combiner is done. Seems like it may make sense to tweak my antenna a bit to see if I can pick up WCAU.

Are you able to slap an antenna up on the roof? So you can see if anything improves after you get it out of the attic??

I'm not going through the roof thing. I've read about the other Central NJ experiences and it's a pretty steep pitch. It will definitely improve if I put it on the roof. The attic (crawl space) cuts signal down 30%. I'm just out of the range to pick up WCAU.

Originally posted by pabuwal
I'm not going through the roof thing. I've read about the other Central NJ experiences and it's a pretty steep pitch. It will definitely improve if I put it on the roof. The attic (crawl space) cuts signal down 30%. I'm just out of the range to pick up WCAU.

So much for that :p

Hopefully the combiner is up and running in the timeframe the powers that be have guesstimated it will be.

But, the way things have been going in the NYC DMA with regards to Digital signals, it's a crapshoot!

So there! :D

I live in East Brunswick and I'm about to take the plunge into HD. I am trying to decide whether to go back to cable (Comcast here in EB) or to put up an antenna for Hi-Def. I would appreciate input from those of you in Central Jersey to help me make this decision. I have a few months left on my DirecTV contract. I would also have to buy a new set-top box and put up an external antenna. For those of you who went this route, why did you choose this over cable?

I went with the antenna because I already have DirecTv and I have made a nice investment in the TV, HD package etc... and I refuse to bring cable into my house.

Originally posted by dan57
I live in East Brunswick and I'm about to take the plunge into HD. I am trying to decide whether to go back to cable (Comcast here in EB) or to put up an antenna for Hi-Def. I would appreciate input from those of you in Central Jersey to help me make this decision. I have a few months left on my DirecTV contract. I would also have to buy a new set-top box and put up an external antenna. For those of you who went this route, why did you choose this over cable?

Dan,

Not sure how much you've read on this thread, but AVS member Calabs is in East Brunswick....and he's doing the OTA "thing" right now along with Comcast's analog cable. I *think* he's getting D*'s service hooked up tomorrow---so he would be able to at least explain why he went with D* over Comcast Digital/HD. I *think* it was mostly a cost issue....which is the same reason I went with D* over Comcast (who I assume is your cable provider since you are in EB)

If you go to comcast's site they ACTUALLY updated it to allow you to ACTUALLY see their rates for EACH package. I'm of the opinion that D* is a better value for your whole house to get digital channels...not just the HD package....and if you're a sports fan, Directv is better IMHO as far as NFL/MLB packages.

Putting up an OTA antenna on your rooftop isn't too difficult to do yourself (with the disclaimer than I don't know what style home you have)...and usually it's MUCH cheaper than hiring someone. Or you can just pop an antenna in your attic and see how that works of course.

As an existing D* sub, you can call up and ask about their HD special pricing package for existing subs....think it's $399 for a Triple LNB and a HD STB...no choice of receiver though (think the Hughes HTL_HD and the Samsung HD receiver are the potential contestants though).

But if you are crafty, you can always look for an open box receiver at Best Buy or Circuit City, call D* and see if they'll give you a credit on your account to "purchase" your own receiver....but don't tell them you've already purchased one. Then see if they'll throw in a "movers package" special on the Triple LNB dish install. I purchase BOTH of my Hughes E86 HD receivers at BB open boxed (one was $250 and the other was $125). Then I utilized the movers package to get my dish installed for around $57 IIRC.

If any of this is sounding too Greek feel free to ask questions! :p

Originally posted by wward
I went with the antenna because I already have DirecTv and I have made a nice investment in the TV, HD package etc... and I refuse to bring cable into my house.

Who's your cable company over there?

Originally posted by jaypb

If any of this is sounding too Greek feel free to ask questions! :p [/B]


Greek! Swahili! Arabic! Hebrew! and several other languages whose alphabet I don't recognize.

Thanks jaypb for your help. Yes, cable is very expensive!! To get digital cable from Comcast with one premium channel (HBO) is something like $84 a month. Each additional box after that is like $7. That's a lot!

DirecTv is less monthly after the inital investment (btw, I think I already have a dish with a triple lnb because I wanted to get a HD ready dish when I got DirecTV) but money is not the primary object. Frankly the thought of putting an antenna up myself is rather daunting. (I gotta climb up where??!!) More to the point, I am concerned about running wires into the house and putting holes into the hard-wood floors my wife spend $6K to install. (Not much good tv viewing out in the doghouse.) Cable just seems much easier.

Anyway, I am leaning toward having someone come in and put up the roof antenna. Is there a big difference in PQ or channel availability. What stations can I expect to get clearly OTA. Can I get any of these with an indoor antenna? Thanks to all - I really appeciate you all helping an HD newbie.

Originally posted by dan57
Greek! Swahili! Arabic! Hebrew! and several other languages whose alphabet I don't recognize.

Thanks jaypb for your help. Yes, cable is very expensive!! To get digital cable from Comcast with one premium channel (HBO) is something like $84 a month. Each additional box after that is like $7. That's a lot!

DirecTv is less monthly after the inital investment (btw, I think I already have a dish with a triple lnb because I wanted to get a HD ready dish when I got DirecTV) but money is not the primary object. Frankly the thought of putting an antenna up myself is rather daunting. (I gotta climb up where??!!) More to the point, I am concerned about running wires into the house and putting holes into the hard-wood floors my wife spend $6K to install. (Not much good tv viewing out in the doghouse.) Cable just seems much easier.

Anyway, I am leaning toward having someone come in and put up the roof antenna. Is there a big difference in PQ or channel availability. What stations can I expect to get clearly OTA. Can I get any of these with an indoor antenna? Thanks to all - I really appeciate you all helping an HD newbie.

You *may* be able to get away with getting SOME channels with an indoor antenna (the Zenith Silver Sensor is a highly rated set top box antenna) but I don't know if you'll get ALL the OTA channels with an indoor antenna. Couldn't hurt to buy a box at BB or CC if you've got the money....and then "test " out the OTA reception with an indoor antenna...and then if things aren't to your liking return it. BB/CC have pretty decent return rules IIRC. If you pay someone to install an OTA antenna it will *probably* run you a few hundred dollars (I believe one company I spoke with wanted upwards of $300 bucks to install just a rooftop antenna...no pre-amp, no rotor) and the other wouldn't give me a cost---rather they preferred to come out and "check" the site and then they'd give me an estimate)

My own situation--I have a basement HD TV...so getting the wires there wasn't an issue. My house is a ranch style...so again, installing the antenna wasn't an issue. My other TV was in the kitchen...so putting up a 2nd antenna for that TV wasn't an issue since we redid the Kitchen over the summer and it was easy for me to hook up all the wiring myself.

I've never actually SEEN an HD picture via cable...only via D* and OTA so I can't really comment on that aspect. OTA reception does leave you at the mercy of a stations signal strength/directional pattern as well as weather related issues....whereas I assume Cable doesn't. But, OTA is also free whereas cable/satellite isn't. I'm sure others will chime in.

If you get a chance you can read back through this thread and *try* and educate yourself on terminology and what not.

AFA channels go:

NYC: CBS/ABC/NBC/FOX are available to varying degrees to most of us in the Central NJ area with rooftop antennas. Set top reception probably varies for ABC/NBC. UPN 9 is piggybacking on FOX's channel designation/signal...and it's not in HD so that's a moot point. WPIX is only available to a "select" few in the area.....and I'm not sure if their low power is viewable in EB. I'm not sure if you'll be able to pick up any PBS stations out of NYC's direction....*maybe* WLIW out of LI....but I can't reliably pick that station up.

Philly: (my experience) CBS/ABC/FOX/UPN are available to varying degrees to most of us in the Central NJ area with rooftop antennas. Set top reception probably varies for ABC/FOX/WB. NBC out of Philly is an OTA myth IMHO for those of us in these parts :D The PBS station in Trenton is booming so that needs is filled in that area. There's also a few Spanish stations that you can pick up if that's your bag....babee :cool:

A rotor would be useful as well based on the geographical bounty that lies in two totally different directions for us Central NJ people.

More confused now ?!?!

P.s : If your wife was able to put the floors in, she's GOT to be handy. Can't you get her up on the roof and have her install the antenna ..lol ;)

I'm from Hazlet, NJ and as of today I'm getting WLIW-DT PBS HD on channel 21-1 on my LG 3100A using the Zenith Silver Sensor. The picture quality at 16:9 1080i on this channel is jaw dropping! Is anybody else getting this channel?

Tony

Originally posted by s236
I'm from Hazlet, NJ and as of today I'm getting WLIW-DT PBS HD on channel 21-1 on my LG 3100A using the Zenith Silver Sensor. The picture quality at 16:9 1080i on this channel is jaw dropping! Is anybody else getting this channel?

Tony

Only during REALLY good tropo type nights can I receive 21-1/2.

Anyone else experiencing the HEAVY pixelation/fluctuating signal strength on 7-1???

May be high time to rotate BACK to Philly to catch MNF :mad:

Both 6-1 and 7-1 are pixilating like crazy! Another quality ABC HD sports production. We should send them to CBS school to see how it's done.

I'm getting 10-1 well into an acceptable signal strength, but can barely lock a picture. I see nothing but pixilation and green. Anyone else have this problem?

I live in Spring Lake (07762), and just upgraded my D* receiver to HDTV (Hughes HTL-HD). I’m now thinking about putting up an antenna for OTA reception, and have a couple questions:
- What would be a good VHF/UHF antenna for receiving the NY stations?
- Can I get Philly stations? I think I’m about 60 miles from their antennas. If so, would that change the antenna choice?
- I will run the antenna into an Eagle Aspen 5x8 switch to send the antenna to 5 TVs. Do I need to do anything special because of this (e.g., special amp, bigger antenna)?

Thx!

-------------------------------------------------
Who's your cable company over there?
-------------------------------------------------

JayPb

Its Cablevision, Comcast is in my area but they do not serve the section of Freehold NJ I live in.

Originally posted by wward
-------------------------------------------------
Who's your cable company over there?
-------------------------------------------------

JayPb

Its Cablevision, Comcast is in my area but they do not serve the section of Freehold NJ I live in.

What HD channels does Cablevision offer ?

A friend of mine in Manalapan *thinks* his cable company is Cablevision (he has D*) and he's curious to find out what HD channels they offer in the area so he can decide whether to upgrade to D*'s HD package/setup or go to Cablevision.

Any info ?!?!

JayPb

Yes Cablevision is in Manalapan. The last I heard (almost a year ago) this is what they offer HDTV wise.

HBO
MSG
Fox Sports Net New York
Showtime
WCBS
WNET
WNYW

Originally posted by wward
JayPb

Yes Cablevision is in Manalapan. The last I heard (almost a year ago) this is what they offer HDTV wise.

HBO
MSG
Fox Sports Net New York
Showtime
WCBS
WNET
WNYW

Thanks. I'll tell him to call Cablevision and see if they've got anything else to offer now.....

More HD on Cablevision:
By Matt Stump -- Multichannel News, 12/9/2003 1:13:00 PM

Cablevision Systems Corp. president Tom Rutledge told analysts at a
Credit Suisse First Boston LLC conference Tuesday that the MSO will
launch four new HDTV channels Dec. 16.

The four networks are: The Movie Channel, Cinemax, Starz and In
Demand HD.

Originally posted by earlofessex
I live in Spring Lake (07762), and just upgraded my D* receiver to HDTV (Hughes HTL-HD). I’m now thinking about putting up an antenna for OTA reception, and have a couple questions:
- What would be a good VHF/UHF antenna for receiving the NY stations?
- Can I get Philly stations? I think I’m about 60 miles from their antennas. If so, would that change the antenna choice?
- I will run the antenna into an Eagle Aspen 5x8 switch to send the antenna to 5 TVs. Do I need to do anything special because of this (e.g., special amp, bigger antenna)?

Thx! A Channel Master CM4228 on a rotor, a Channel Master 7777 Preamp and optional a Channel Master Stealthtenna for a little boost on the VHF side because of WB11. I can get all NYC stations, and most of the Philadelphia ones... and the NYC stations have almost the same signal strength when I'm pointed to Philadelphia, too.

Originally posted by MartyJ
More HD on Cablevision:
By Matt Stump -- Multichannel News, 12/9/2003 1:13:00 PM

Cablevision Systems Corp. president Tom Rutledge told analysts at a
Credit Suisse First Boston LLC conference Tuesday that the MSO will
launch four new HDTV channels Dec. 16.

The four networks are: The Movie Channel, Cinemax, Starz and In
Demand HD.

Thank you very much!

Anyone know if WABC-DT is back "up" yet ?!?!

Originally posted by dswallow
A Channel Master CM4228 on a rotor, a Channel Master 7777 Preamp and optional a Channel Master Stealthtenna for a little boost on the VHF side because of WB11. I can get all NYC stations, and most of the Philadelphia ones... and the NYC stations have almost the same signal strength when I'm pointed to Philadelphia, too.

Doug,

Thx. That's good news on Philly. I thought the CM4228 was UHF only. You recommend the Stealth for helping w/ WB11. Will it receive all the NY VHF stations (still need locals on the old TVs)?

Originally posted by earlofessex
Thx. That's good news on Philly. I thought the CM4228 was UHF only. You recommend the Stealth for helping w/ WB11. Will it receive all the NY VHF stations (still need locals on the old TVs)? I can't really say much about the analog stations; while I've seen them at times, I can't say I've ever tried to tweak them to see how good they can get. Normally they look a little (well a lot) noisy. My Stealthenna (technically it's VHF/UHF but I block the UHF from it) isn't on a rotor.

I chose what I did because it was going in my attic; If I had been installing outside I might've gone with a UHF Yagi and a big traditional VHF antenna.

How would you deal with other TV's though if you used a rotor? Because you'll have to tweak at times and that'd affect the other TV's reception. Ideally you might consider a separate antenna for the non-DTV receiversin your house, or you might want to look at having a professional installar set everything up -- who would be able to use test equipment to determine best locations for everything, though I'm at a loss to suggest anyone, even a bad installer...

Originally posted by jaypb
Thank you very much!

Anyone know if WABC-DT is back "up" yet ?!?!

WABC is back up......now WNBC is down! :mad:

Originally posted by Calabs
WABC is back up......now WNBC is down! :mad:

Not only that but some sort of frickin' power outage hit Monroe (and from what I heard Sayreville as well ?!?!) and now my DVD/VCR combo won't turn back on........and I go down to the basement and my 50"....that wasn't even TURNED ON now has a red glow to the screen when I tune it to a "dead" channel! WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Both items were plugged into surge protectors! Neither one was "on" at the time!

#($*&$(*& I'm pissed now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:mad:

Originally posted by jaypb
Not only that but some sort of frickin' power outage hit Monroe (and from what I heard Sayreville as well ?!?!) and now my DVD/VCR combo won't turn back on........and I go down to the basement and my 50"....that wasn't even TURNED ON now has a red glow to the screen when I tune it to a "dead" channel! WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Both items were plugged into surge protectors! Neither one was "on" at the time!

#($*&$(*& I'm pissed now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:mad:

Alright---I calmy left the DVD/VCR combo unplugged for 10 minutes and when I plugged it back in it worked fine.

But---my 50" still has a red "tint" to the screen when I tune to a dead channel or a dead input.....almost like the red gun/CRT is "F'd" up. Is that possible? From a power outage? While plugged into a surge protector??

"Hello, Toshiba........."
:eek:

Originally posted by jaypb
Alright---I calmy left the DVD/VCR combo unplugged for 10 minutes and when I plugged it back in it worked fine.

But---my 50" still has a red "tint" to the screen when I tune to a dead channel or a dead input.....almost like the red gun/CRT is "F'd" up. Is that possible? From a power outage? While plugged into a surge protector??

"Hello, Toshiba........."
:eek:

If you're getting a red tint, it MAY be one of the other guns. When one gun fails, the other colors 'take over'.

Anyway, I hope it's not THAT!

Originally posted by Calabs
If you're getting a red tint, it MAY be one of the other guns. When one gun fails, the other colors 'take over'.

Anyway, I hope it's not THAT!

Yeah I figured it couldn't be a GOOD thing when I noticed it last night....I mean after I was done cursing, screaming and all.......:p

Weird thing is, the picture LOOKS fine when I'm watching something...no flicker, no haze, no tint so to speak. When I pull up the one line guide or on screen menu (which is blue) the "red" tint disappears...but my trained (and biased) eyes KNOW "it's" there. :mad:

This line of Toshiba's (50HDX82) has had a "colorburst" problem on start up/shut down that I became aware of right after I bought the set....and I've "lived" with it (so to speak) without a problem.....till now.

I think I'm going to take the plunge and call Toshiba. My one year anniversary for this TV is about 2 weeks away....and I did purchase an extended warranty with PC Richards....so I'll have to see how it plays out.

Damn transformers..........:mad:

Does Comcast scramble the QAM signal in central NJ?

Can someone recommend an antennal installer in central NJ? My antenna will be installed on the gable end of my house, which is 35' above ground level. That's higher than my ladder can reach, and also higher than I'd want to climb even if I had a long enough ladder :eek: . Roof access is also impractical (12 pitch slate roof). I checked my yellow pages, but I couldn't find a single listing.

What should I expect to pay? Other than the height, it's a simple job since I only need to run 30' of coax through my attic to a switch.

Thx!

I wouldn't have any idea who to recommend, but I'd start with some online directories and call around for references.

http://www.satelliteretailers.com

For what it's worth (and not knowing exactly where you are... "Jersey Shore" can mean a lot of places), I get all NYC stations and most Philadelphia stations (though it's sometimes right on the edge) using a Channel Master CM4228 (and CM7777 preamp) on a rotator in the attic. I'm not sure how much worse a slate roof would make things though, but there's also the chance your line-of-sight aim would be through the side of the house instead of the roof itself.

You could always give it a try. ;)

two I can think of: neither will be cheap but they are good:

Sky Web, Inc 732 219 7776 (Tinton Falls) www.skywebtv.com


and

Don the Antenna Man

Originally posted by markrubin
two I can think of: neither will be cheap but they are good:

Sky Web, Inc 732 219 7776 (Tinton Falls) www.skywebtv.com


and

Don the Antenna Man

If you go with skyweb ask for Greg you could even use my name "Tony from Jackson"

I was just playing around with my antenna and for the first I'm getting the WB 75-1! The signal isn't great breaking up a little but I'm watching the Rose Bowl parade in HD! Anyone else?

s236

I wonder if that is the WB national feed? I tuned to WPIX and they are showing the Honeymooners marathon.

I wonder if that is the WB national feed? I tuned to WPIX and they are showing the Honeymooners marathon.

It is because my OTA receiver (LS 3100A) shows 75-1 as "The WB" and 11-1 and 11-2 shows it as "WPIX-DT". Picture is dropping all over the place but this morning was solid.

Tony

I receive 10-1 well into acceptable range, but it pixilates like crazy. Anyone else have this problem?

Originally posted by pabuwal
I receive 10-1 well into acceptable range, but it pixilates like crazy. Anyone else have this problem?

I keep telling myself to rotate back towards Philly to *see* if WCAU-DT is available "for me" now....but I'm too damned lazy to try!! AND I have a remote control operated rotator for my Cm4228 (the _EPITOME_ of lazy :p)

*Maybe* I'll try tonight.....but in my E86's case, high signal strength and STILL pixelating usually means multipath type effect (high winds, rain causing trees/branches to move).

BTW----Ch 11 had "The Honeymooners" marathon on yesterday. Caught one of my favorites where Ralph/Ed went halfsies on a TV set...and the scene where Norton tells Ralph to "walk around the apartment" with the aerial to find a good spot for reception shows you how DAMN full circle OTA TV reception has come....because it reminded me of when I was up on the roof with the antenna in one hand and the cell in the other asking my wife how the picture looked on my HD set!

Amazing...."the more things change, the more they stay the same!"

;)

Originally posted by jaypb
I keep telling myself to rotate back towards Philly to *see* if WCAU-DT is available "for me" now....but I'm too damned lazy to try!! AND I have a remote control operated rotator for my Cm4228 (the _EPITOME_ of lazy :p)

*Maybe* I'll try tonight.....but in my E86's case, high signal strength and STILL pixelating usually means multipath type effect (high winds, rain causing trees/branches to move).

BTW----Ch 11 had "The Honeymooners" marathon on yesterday. Caught one of my favorites where Ralph/Ed went halfsies on a TV set...and the scene where Norton tells Ralph to "walk around the apartment" with the aerial to find a good spot for reception shows you how DAMN full circle OTA TV reception has come....because it reminded me of when I was up on the roof with the antenna in one hand and the cell in the other asking my wife how the picture looked on my HD set!

Amazing...."the more things change, the more they stay the same!"

;)

HA HA HA So true!!! you just know that 3D television Ralph was wating for was really HDTV :)

Originally posted by wward
HA HA HA So true!!! you that 3D television Ralph was wating for was realy HDTV :)

At least we don't need space helmets like Norton had on.

"Captain Video" must still be out there somewhere.......:)

Anybody have any luck getting NBC or FOX out of philly? I live in East Brunswick and just had a roof antenna with rotor installed. If so, what are the channels/frequencies?

I used to get fox from nyc and can lock onto nbc out of nyc but can't watch it without it sending my stb into a tizzy and restarting...

Originally posted by dan57
Anybody have any luck getting NBC or FOX out of philly? I live in East Brunswick and just had a roof antenna with rotor installed. If so, what are the channels/frequencies?

WCAU-DT 10-1 UHF Channel 67
WTXF-DT 29-1 UHF Channel 42

I have had not luck with WCAU-DT I pick up WTXF about 50% of the time depending om atmospheric conditions.

Originally posted by dan57
Anybody have any luck getting NBC or FOX out of philly? I live in East Brunswick and just had a roof antenna with rotor installed. If so, what are the channels/frequencies?

I live in E. Brunswick as well. I used to have my antenna pointed toward PA until NBC and ABC came back on line out of NYC. When I had it pointed toward Philly, I never got WCAU (NBC; 10-1). Fox (29-1) was sporadic as well. I would get a strong signal on some days, and on others, I would either get significant dropouts or no signal at all.