EV's Recommended & Top Rated DTV Indoor UHF/VHF Set Top Antenna Review Round-Up Guide - Page 104

The reviews on the Mohu Leaf are like testimonials of a miracle, so I ordered one and see what it can do.

im curious as well.keep us posted.

There is a review of the Leaf and Wall-Tenna at:

http://www.hdtvexpert.com/?p=1619

Hi all.

Love the thread.

My office is in Irvine Ca 45 mi from LA and 65 from SD. I am in a cement building with tons of computers.
I bought a HDTV box at w mart to go with a 10 year old 13" TV.

To just try it out I got the middle priced indoor rabbit ear antenna with a 6" square in the middle, a Phillips sdv6122/27 powered antenna. It was about 16 bucks and looks just like Quantum Amplified Powered HD/DTV/UHF/VHF/FM 230° Rotating Digital TV Antenna. The antenna sits on a plastic shelf 6 foot high 4 foot over the TV.

I was shocked to have gotten 60 channels. I am getting FOX SD on 11.? and Fox LA. As both LA and SD are in a line I don't have to move the antenna.
I have screened out the info channels and the languages I don't speak and still get 35+
I don't know if I have a freak or what but I love it.

It worked so good I bought a 24" flat screen and I now get a few extra channels.

I would love to hear opinions if I can do better. I told my son I would send an antenna to him at NC State.

Thanks

Ok here is my tvfool, any recommendations for what type of antenna I need to get the channels in green?

wcalifas831, welcome.

The budget RS antenna model 15-1874 should work well for your channels of interest. Do not buy an amplified antenna.

If you have problems, it could be from stucco walls, metal roofing, foil insulation in the walls or interference from electronic devices. If interference is suspected, move the antenna away from your electronics (including the TV), until you find a good reception spot. To add longer coax, use a barrel splice. If stucco exterior walls, try the antenna near a window.

I live about 43 miles away from the towers in the midst of tall trees, with the city of Houston between me and the towers.

Is there an INDOOR antenna I can use which will get me good reception for all the channels in Green and the CBS(11) and ABC(13) affiliates in Yellow?

I'll post my TV Fool link once I go and post another two times on the forum....

Here is an image in the meantime:


Thanks for the help!

Post 2....

Post 3...

Okay.. hope it works now.

Here is my TV Fool Report: TV Fool Report

Which INDOOR Antenna will work best for me including the two channels listed in Yellow (CBS 11 and ABC 13)?

Thanks for your help!

Scroll to the bottom of your TVFool report. It says:
"An attic-mounted antenna is probably needed to pick up channels at this level [yellow] and above"

Aw Crap... I already have a huge antenna and amp in my attic which i am currently using to pull in the OTA digital to 3 DTV Pals and one Sony DVR. Didn't want to split it again though just to run to a TV in my office, mostly used as background noise during the day. Was using basic cable in there but now you need a Comcast box to watch ANY channels via their cable, even local ones.

How many times can I split an OTA signal before it degrades enough to matter to the tuners in the DTV Pals?

Not sure on how many feet of cable will pull down the signal strength. I have two rooms going and no amp to boost signal and all is great with a medium size outdoor antenna in my roof. What amp do you have?? I was looking at the two at Radio Shack and thinking about doing this and connecting to the thrid room the cable company ran the cable too.
Post up what you find out if you hook up another room.

It depends on how strong the signal is to begin with, how many feet of coax are on the splits and how sensitive your tuners are.

I would try adding a 4th split. If the signal is weak on some channels or on some TVs, or weak at certain times of the day, just add a 4-port distribution amp.
http://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master...9SE/ref=sr_1_2

Hi all
If anyone remembers I had that phillips antenna in the office with a tin foil ceiling that was working well with the small diepoles pointed foward towards the channels
The other day it just stopped getting channel 13 (and 1 other) and would only get it when I had the V parallel to the ground and pointed away from the station. That was the exact opposite of what was working. With that setup I had to move it for the other channels. I hope it was just the day but it stayed like that.
I bought just to try a GE 2470 that I knew had diepoles twice the size and I get all the channels in a straight up V shape. (I'll send my son the old one)
Just wondering why it would change like that? Any clues?
Thanks!

DTV reception is either perfect, non-existent or intermittent, depending on signal conditions where you are for the channel you're trying to watch. Odds are, your signal was borderline to begin with, but still over the threshold of signal quality needed to lock onto the borderline stations. When atmospheric or weather conditions changed, the signal dropped below the strength/quality needed to keep a lock on the station. This is called the "cliff effect." Get close enough to the edge and the station falls below the strength needed to be decoded by the tuner.

Similar to a dropped cell call. One minute it's fine, the next minute, gone.

Thanks

Looking for some suggestions -
I am having issues with my current antenna Winegard HD-1080 2-Bay Bowtie UHF and High Band VHF TV Antenna (HD-1080) mainly with the following channels
2.1/42.1/6.1/24.1 2.1 is the big issue as I am only getting like 55 and if it is rainy/windy it goes down even more. I have tried different locations in the attic and no spots work any batter.

So I am thinking of trying one of these from Frys - any suggestion on which one -
Looks like Frys has a few to choose from -
CM-2020
CM-2018
CM 4228HD
Winegard 7694P
Winegard HD-7697P

I know someone mentioned to look for (HI-VHF/UHF Series Antenna) and the (HD7694P) has that. Also the CM-2020 digital HDTV mentions Hi-VHF.

cburbs,
Please post a link to the TVFool results for your address.

Here are the results.

Post 1

Post 2

Post 3

Hello all,
I am having an issue with my current setup. Linked is my TVFools Report.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...0b8625282aa152

I currently have the Budget Antenna from Radioshack. I am really only concerned about getting CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox. I am currently getting CBS (8.1) but am not getting any signal for ABC (10.1). They are nearly identical signals coming from the same direction and distance. Would a different Indoor antenna improve my reception? Does anyone have recommendations?

I am in an apartment complex so Indoor antennas only.

Thanks.

Reception in San Diego is pretty dorked up due to the location of the transmitters. Both 8 & 10 come from the same location in La Jolla, so you're either getting interference or multi-path. Given your apartment building is only several blocks from a good sized hill that's blocking your signal, the best you can do is to put the antenna in a NW-facing window (if you have one) and try your luck there. If you're on the other side of the building or have a large building in front of the direction towards La Jolla, you're likely SOL.

You'd do best seeking help in the San Diego section of the forum.

I'm guessing you're in this building or the one next to it... http://binged.it/w9qK92 or very close by.

Have you tried the antenna in different parts of the room (or in different rooms)? You may have interference from something in the vicinity of the TV. Use a barrel splice to add a longer coax to the antenna. Get it away from all electronics, including the TV, and put it near a NW-facing window, if possible. Move it around a few feet at a time until you find a hot spot in the room for the problem channel.

Also, make sure the dipole rods are extended in a "V" - no longer than about half the total length of each rod.

If you have any FM radio stations nearby, they may also be interfering with that pesky VHF station. Check distance/power of nearby FM stations at http://fmfool.com
If you have nearby FMs, get an FM trap from RS:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...uctId=10939219
Put it on the back of the TV.

If you are in a stucco building, definitely move the antenna near a window.

Thanks for the advice. I currently am using a splitter since I had one laying around. I thought if only one side is attached it should perform similar to a barrel plug.

I'll have to try the FM trap. If it doesn't work I can always return it.

I did a little bit of playing around last night and found that the strength of signal for 8.1 is 78 or 79, and the picture comes in perfect. When I play with the antenna a bit, it drops to 76 and gets choppy, and after that completely drops the picture (i'm guessing signal strength below 76). Is signal strength as measured by the TV a industry standard way of doing it, or is it just an arbitrary number that the individual manufacturers assign (like volume)?

Also, it seems like I'm just having too weak a signal. Is there any particular antenna that would improve performance over the radioshack budget antenna, but is still indoor?

A splitter reduces signal, regardless of how many TVs you have connected to it. It's the fact that it's a splitter that drops signal across all ports. Get a barrel splice for testing. You will likely find a reception hot spot if you have some patience and a long enough coax to get away from electronics and near a window. An FM trap may help, too.

Signal strength meters in TVs are arbitrary numbers by the manufacturers. Signal to noise ratio is a better measurement of when you will lose a lock on the station. Often, around 16 and above is the magic number.

Attached is the tvfool report. Can you please recommend an indoor antenna?.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...0b862d229b3e81

Thanks in advance

For your major network channels in green at the top of the list, this specific RS budget antenna (model 15-1874) should be all you need. Don't let the droids at radio shack sell you an amplified antenna, your signal strength is too strong and may overload the amp.

Exceptions to success may be metal or stucco buildings and foil covered wall insulation.