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Harrisburg, PA - HDTV - Page 28

post #811 of 939
1/5/11 at 4:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trip in VA View Post

It has "GRANTED" next to it in the FCC database. I'm not sure how much more approved it can be.

- Trip

Yes, I do see that; I was not so clearly referring to its more recent STA filing that is still pending. I am sorry about that confusion on my part. I contacted WGAL this week and was advised that they hope to get approval to double its power in the next couple of months. I'll email Bob tomorrow to get more specifics.
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post #812 of 939
1/5/11 at 4:32pm
Ah, okay. I see the extension is still pending.

- Trip
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post #813 of 939
1/6/11 at 3:10pm
Thread Starter 
I can confirm the 32.2 kW as current for WGAL. They still hope to boost power.
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post #814 of 939
1/6/11 at 3:28pm
Wow, they want a power level higher than 32.2 kW? I hope they get it, that'll be a blowtorch!

- Trip
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post #815 of 939
1/6/11 at 6:22pm
Anybody else notice pixelation on WPMT Fox 43 over Comcast? How about OTA? Can't pick it up OTA, so I thought I'd ask. Thanks!
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post #816 of 939
1/10/11 at 8:23am
I've been watching the new ANTENNA TV and noticed pixilation on 43.3 over the air.
I have a 82% signal strength

But on a related note, I sent a email to Fox 43 about switching Antenna TV , one time it's on 43.3 another time I tune in it's on 43.2 !
Screwing up my recordings
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post #817 of 939
1/10/11 at 4:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by HDTV Sparky View Post


But on a related note, I sent a email to Fox 43 about switching Antenna TV , one time it’s on 43.3 another time I tune in it’s on 43.2 !
Screwing up my recordings

Antenna TV moved to 43.2 last Thursday at 5pm. Your recordings should be safe going forward.
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post #818 of 939
1/17/11 at 2:53pm
Thread Starter 
I installed a Digitenna DUV-F antenna today. I finally am getting WPMT which I could not get before with an 8 bay or a Yagi at my new-to-me house. I am using a CM 7777 preamp and a TruSpec 8 way splitter. I got my stuff over at Cumberland Electronics.

TV Fool

Unfortunately, I can't get WGAL. I will have to wait for the power increase or, if necessary, the Harrisburg translator.

The Digitenna seemed well constructed and, at 33" long, does not look unsightly on the roof. It is aimed to optimize WPMT reception. The EyeTV One tuner reports signal strength at 72% and signal quality at 99% for WPMT.
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post #819 of 939
1/17/11 at 7:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jsb_hburg View Post

Unfortunately, I can't get WGAL. I will have to wait for the power increase or, if necessary, the Harrisburg translator.

You have plenty of signal strength to receive WGAL now. The 7777 preamp is likely overloaded & the reason you are not seeing channel 8. (and possibly other channels) I suggest a Channel Master 3418 distribution amp, plus an FM trap right before the input of the amplifier.

A good test would be to hook 1 TV directly to the antenna & see what you can receive with no amplification or splitter.
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post #820 of 939
1/17/11 at 9:30pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Digital Rules View Post

You have plenty of signal strength to receive WGAL now. The 7777 preamp is likely overloaded & the reason you are not seeing channel 8. (and possibly other channels) I suggest a Channel Master 3418 distribution amp, plus an FM trap right before the input of the amplifier.

A good test would be to hook 1 TV directly to the antenna & see what you can receive with no amplification or splitter.


I tested it without the preamp first on Sunday. I took my MacBook on the roof with a short run to the EyeTV One tuner stick. I got nothing for WGAL and a not so stable WPMT while getting the other Harrisburg stations just fine. The preamp stabilized WPMT. I am getting WHTM, WHP, WLYH, WITF and WPMT while using the preamp.

According to the makers of EyeTV, Elgato, a signal strength of 70% or more is required on their stick tuners for stable video. I'm just in a WGAL dead zone.

What you suggested was the route I was going to take if the initial test yielded good results for both WGAL and WPMT.
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post #821 of 939
1/17/11 at 11:05pm
It's quite possible that you have an FM station's second harmonic trashing WGAL, even without the amp. I would argue you should at least try an FM trap if for no other reason than to cut down on potential noise sources.

- Trip
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post #822 of 939
1/18/11 at 9:12am
I suggest using an HLSJ as a trap since the stations in question are at the low end of the FM spectrum. Most FM traps do not attenuate the 88-92 MHZ frequencies enough. And as Trip mentioned, it will help filter out any other noise below RF 7 which can also be detrimental to VHF reception.
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post #823 of 939
1/18/11 at 9:47am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Digital Rules View Post

I suggest using an HLSJ as a trap since the stations in question are at the low end of the FM spectrum. Most FM traps do not attenuate the 88-92 MHZ frequencies enough. And as Trip mentioned, it will help filter out any other noise below RF 7 which can also be detrimental to VHF reception.


I will give it a try once the roof clears up. Bad timing as to today's snow/sleet, I am off today due to the Governor's inauguration.

Earlier this morning, I tested all the outlets and everything looked fine aside from the WGAL issue. Then, signal strength dropped on WPMT to 62% and the signal quality to 10%, resulting in no picture.

Hopefully, it is due to the weather.
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post #824 of 939
1/19/11 at 6:09am
Thread Starter 
I am looking at the suggestion of an overload more closely. I am working with Holl_ands preamp chart.

TV Fool


My amateur effort is below...


 
..................UHF ... VHF
avg power.... -29.73 ... -21.2
gain............ 9 ... 3.8
peak adj...... 7 ... 7
cable loss..... 8 ... 8
splitter loss.. 10.5 ... 10.5
actual net.... -32.23 ... -28.9
CM 7777 max -35.8 ... -29.8
ss adj .........3.6
Net CM 7777 max -32.2 ... -29.8


I have not factored in any reduction in signal power to the strong UHF or VHF stations for pointing more than 45 degrees away. I have adjusted for three strong signals on UHF. Using these numbers, I am very close to overload on UHF and overloading on VHF RF 10.

Results are fine for viewable channels on all outlets except for the one with the shortest run that I will need to pad if I keep the CM 7777.

As a fix, should I swap out the CM 7777 for an AP-8780. Or should I add a pad at the splitter while keeping the CM 7777?
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post #825 of 939
1/19/11 at 3:09pm
Thread Starter 
Busy day today. I felt sick today but the weather cooperated to clear the roof; so, I went up and down - several times

My TV Fool Report

I am getting WPMT and WGAL now. I added a Digitenna VHF-Hi 5 element. It measures 42" long by 33" wide. WGAL comes in at a steady 100% signal quality with a signal strength of 58%.

For now, I still have the DUV-F. A Winegard AP-2870 combines the two which are stacked. WPMT comes in a variable 82 to 95% signal quality with a signal strength of 69% - but still wants to drop out occasionally.

The antennas are aimed to the left of two tall pines about a 100 feet back.

The 8 way splitter has been bypassed which was the only way I could get WPMT. I will need to split that signal.

Would a distribution amp work? Would overload rear its ugly head again? Or would a higher gain, more directional UHF antenna using the non-powered spitter be the better solution?

Thanks for all your help.
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post #826 of 939
1/22/11 at 9:14am
Thread Starter 
I believe I resolved my Fox 43 reception issue. I borrowed a Digiair 2 signal meter and recorded the readings for all my channels. After conferring with Cumberland Electronics, I swapped out the DUV-F for a Digitenna UXF - their UHF only Extreme Fringe model.

So far, this results in a 100% signal quality and 75% signal strength without dropouts. Tomorrow, when I warm up, I plan on taking some readings to see how the improved gain translated in the real world.

My situation was tough as my house is in a low spot, as TV Fool predicted 2Edge reception for WPMT and WGAL and as the antenna had to point over a row of high arbor vitae and to the left of a couple of tall pines.

The UHF antenna is about 50" long. Both antennas appear to be well constructed. Dealing locally was a huge plus.
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post #827 of 939
1/22/11 at 9:25am
Glad to hear the good news!! The 2870 amp seems to have made a huge difference on WGAL.
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post #828 of 939
1/23/11 at 6:09am
Thread Starter 
Attached are pics showing the antennas and nature's obstacles (pines, arbor vitae and low spot). The antenna is pointed towards the middle in the second photo. In looking at TV Fool's Google Earth map for the Harrisburg market, I am not supposed to get WGCB and I actually can't. Of course, just a couple of houses down the street, all of this would have been child's play.
LL
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post #829 of 939
1/31/11 at 8:21am
I have limited basic from Comcast. (no Box)
I get all my locals via the QAM tuner and have been rescanning twice a week looking for 43.2 Antenna TV
So far no luck. Maybe it hasn't been added to Comcast system in Hanover area.
Can anyone give me any info?
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post #830 of 939
2/2/11 at 11:47am
Thread Starter 
The transmitters for both WHTM and WLYH are presently down - thanks to Old Man Winter.
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post #831 of 939
2/5/11 at 6:43am
Thread Starter 
I optimized the location of my antennas yesterday. Making sure the reception for The Game is flawless is highly motivating. My wife went to that shell of its former hobby electronics store self, Radio Shack, for an Antennacraft heavy duty tripod. The staff, now trained to sell iPhone accessories and r/c gizmos, expressed shock and incredulity at the idea of putting up an OTA antenna to wean off cable.

Back to optimization, I learned that TV Fool is not fully featured on Safari for Mac. The option to show lines pointing to each transmitter from the pinpoint marking antenna location is not present on Safari. This feature helps to avoid siting antenna that leads to pointing it in the direction of trees and creating multipath problems. As a result, WPMT faded in and out during the course of a day.

By using TV Fool on Firefox for Mac, I found a spot on my roof that had a clear shot to WPMT. That's where I installed the tripod right after work yesterday to beat the next ice storm.

TV Fool Report

I have increased the signal strength to 84% and the signal quality is an absolutely stable 100%. I really like the Digitenna antennas. So, I had a browser problem all along. If you are a Mac person and prefer to virtually walk the roof to site your antenna through TV Fool, use Firefox.

Hopefully, this learning experience will save somebody several hours of frustration.
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post #832 of 939
2/19/11 at 7:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HDTV Sparky View Post

I have limited basic from Comcast. (no Box)
I get all my locals via the QAM tuner and have been rescanning twice a week looking for 43.2 Antenna TV
So far no luck. Maybe it hasn't been added to Comcast system in Hanover area.
Can anyone give me any info?

Finally, while running yet another channel scan, "Antenna TV" 43.2 poped up via my QAM tuner !
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post #833 of 939
3/24/11 at 1:51pm
Got this reply today from Holly Steuart from WHP-TV about DirecTV adding WLYH-HD:

"DirecTV always says to contact the station, but the fact is they are getting the network prime time and network sports in HD from us as a pass through just like we send it to Comcast or over the air. It's DirecTV's decision not to give enough bandwidth to providing WLYH in HD. We will be trying to make that happen when we renegotiate our retransmission consent agreement with them in the near future."

Not exactly sure what she means by "they are getting the network prime time and network sports in HD from us as a pass through", however.
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post #834 of 939
4/6/11 at 2:48pm
Just noticed the sub-channel 15-2 "CoolTV" on WLYH. Right now they are simulcasting the programming from the main 15-1 channel, but that branding seems interesting. Anyone know anything about this network?

Attachment 208095
Attachment 208096
LL
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post #835 of 939
4/6/11 at 3:01pm
http://www.thecooltv.com/

- Trip
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post #836 of 939
4/7/11 at 4:29am
Hmm, this channel seems interesting. Will be curious to see what variety of videos they show. Kind of reminds me of that old network "The Box." Thanks for the info!
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post #837 of 939
5/1/11 at 2:33pm
hi, is anyone else having trouble with WHTM, ABC 27? I lost the signal about a week ago. Before that I had good reception, now I have none. No problems with any other channels. Does anyone know if their transmitter is down?
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post #838 of 939
5/20/11 at 7:20am
Thread Starter 
WGAL has filed to increase power to 59 kW.

WGAL TV Query Link
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post #839 of 939
5/28/11 at 10:17pm
After several months of planning and procurement of a tower (craigslist), antennas (amazon), components (cumberland electronics), and other various hardware (local ace), I put up my first tower with my father in law.

It is a modest tower - 30 feet tall (although some 4 feet of it is buried under the 1200lb concrete base) with a 10 foot mast (7 feet above tower) connected to a rotor and bracketed to the house.

I put a Winegard 7084p near the tower on the mast (special emphasis was made to accommodate WPVI on RF 6 which was why I went with the 7084) and an Antennas Direct 91xg mounted some 6 feet above it for UHF. I stripped only the VHF out of the 7084p (it's not that great for UHF) and combined it with the 91xg using a Channel Master 7777

So far the results to report are good. Location is just south of Resser's Summit

Here's what is solid under today's conditions (Harrisburg stations excluded)

----Philly----
KYW
WPVI
WCAU
WHYY
WPHL
WTXF
WTVE

----Baltimore----
WMAR
WBAL
WJZ
WUTB
WBFF
WNUV

----Scranton----
WNEP

----Hagerstown----
WHAG


WQMY wants to come in, but I can't get a lock (the Summit is in the way).
The DC stations all suffer from co-channel interference. WWPX Martinsburg drops in and out from Co-channel interference as well.

So far, the only thing I can't figure out is why I can't get a lock on one of Maryland's PBS stations... I have RF29, RF42, RF28, and RF 44 to shoot at (Baltimore, Annapolis, Frederick, and Hagerstown ) and I figured between those I could get a lock on one.

Problem with RF 42 is co-channel from Philly.
Problem with RF 29 is co-channel with Williamsport.
Problem with RF 28 is co-channel with Pottsville
Can't quite figure out what the problem with receiving RF44 is, other than that I am outside their antenna pattern, and it is a long distance.

Other interesting observation is I can't believe they allowed WHYY and WWPX both RF12... I know most people aren't right inbetween with deep fringe towers, but with the right tropo ducting, that could cause nightmares.

Anyway, I'm very pleased with the results. Depending on where you are in South-Central PA, it can be a sweet spot for OTA.
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post #840 of 939
5/28/11 at 10:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CLT OTA Nut View Post
Depending on where you are in South-Central PA, it can be a sweet spot for OTA.
I would suppose that a rotor is a must for that region.

For the non-hobbyist merely interested in watching the market's station, what do most do there? Is there anything like an "LYH Special" to get the majors?

With the change to DTV, was there any thought to clustering the facilities at a common site?
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