Indianapolis / Terre Haute / Lafayette, IN - HDTV - Page 223

6 p.m. today.....Well, I guess that wasn't set in stone.
Perhaps they're in the "try this" phase of the operation, and we'll soon see some progress.

Edit:
4 hrs past due....Not looking good for morning TV.
Anyone know if they finished the new antenna install?

Just tried TSReaderLite....got signal....hurray!

North side of Bloomington:
40 --> strong before on 16
40 --> strong now on 20
I think they're still working on it, because the two channels are showing the same thing. They both look very good.

Ya..... Dropped out again just before 11am.

Back again sometime before 1pm. .....Fingers crossed...

Hi all,

I've been lurking a while and finally decided to post. I'm half looking for advice and half providing some feedback on some things that are working for me right now. I currently live south of Bloomington, near Harrodsburg. I think my elevation is about 260m, but I'm not certain on that front. Because I live far out, I decided to cut the cord and try OTA. I built a DB8 antenna using instructions I found on instructables.com, but had mediocre results (probably because I didn't/don't know what I'm doing and it's housed in the attic). I then moved on to a great antenna, for the cost, that I found on monoprice.

That little sucker, pointed to the SSE, has been great! I'm able to get most Indy stations and just about all the Louisville stations I need. It does come with a low noise amplifier and I finally hooked it up last night as close as I could to the little antenna in the attic, instead of hooking it up in the living room. That did seem to help, as we now get WHAS out of Louisville in the bedroom. I'd guess that the antenna is about 35-40 feet off the ground in the attic and there's no window pointing to the south in the attic. So, if anyone is looking for a cheap, small antenna, that model may just be what you need (though, maybe my house is in such a spot that I'm lucky). And I believe their return policy and customer service is outstanding.

Having said all that, I still have some issues from time to time, but again, I just moved that little cheap low noise amplifier that came with it up to the attic and that may help considerably. Anything I should consider or change? A Channel Master preamp or Antennacraft HBU 55? Maybe get off my butt and strap those 2 antennas I made from instructables.com together properly and pair them with a Channel Master preamp (if I even made them right )? Any omnidirectional antenna that would help with receiving signals from Terre Haute, Indy and Louisville? See below for my TV signal analysis from TV Fool.

TV Fool

Anyone else experiencing issues about WXIN-DT's OTA signal dropping out in Marion?

Until Saturday, WXIN's signal was really good in the daytime and now today, have not been able to watch at all with poor reception in Marion. I watched bits and pieces of American Idol last night and very concerned that I might not be able to watch the American Idol results tonight.

I am within LOS of the WXIN tower and the signal is always in and out for me. The signal seems to greatly flex from aroung 70% to 100%.

WXIN signal is jumping all over this afternoon. It is unwatchable and I can see the tower out the window.

Big, if you can see the tower, you might actually have too MUCH signal coming into your tuner. People do not understand that (especially) with digital signals, too high of signal levels can actually cause just as many problems as too little. And sometime adding an amp only causes MORE problems for OTA signals, than what (they think) it solves. And, if you are getting (strong) multi-path signals, that only makes the problem(s) even WORSE then.

If you can see the tower, I'll bet you can get it with a paper clip stuck in the input jack on the TV. I can get WFIU here in Bloomington that way.
I would guess you're just getting way too much signal.
WXIN is rock solid here in Bloomington.

Mods: apologizies if this needs to be moved or deleted.
Everyone: feel free to flag if I missed something.

Anyway, I have no need for my set top box anymore. It's a really high quality unit (or, at least, it WAS 5 years ago...). However, I can't see any completed listings for it on eBay, and have absolutely no idea the best place to sell it. Anyone aware of a decent place in Indy I might get some value out of it? Or just put it up on eBay and hope someone bites?

I'm going to be moving to West Lafayette next month, and I was hoping to hear if anyone there has had any success getting the Indy channels. If so, what equipment are you using?

I'm also wondering if anyone knows of any installers in the area so I don't fall of the roof and kill myself.

Thanks!

-Bill

I moved to the LaFayette area about 1.5 years ago (I'm on the south side). Originally, I was going to put up a tower. But, the time of year I moved, it was cold weather. So, I thought, "What the heck? I'll just put it up in my attic for now." My equipment--CM 4228 (original style) and a powered rf splitter (to feed four rooms). Well-to be blunt, I still have the antenna in the attic-haven't bothered with putting up a tower. Do I have problems with reception? Sort of. The main channels I have a problem with are 20 (WFYI) and 8 (WISH). They are marginal-especially during the afternoon hours (sun-fade? who knows). No problems in the morning or evening. For 8, it's not a big deal. 18 (WLFI) carries the same programming (except for local news). I'm positive that if I put my antenna outside (instead of the attic), there would be no problems at all. But, right now, for my viewing habits, my setup suits me. One benefit to having the antenna in the attic is that it won't be struck by lightning. Nor will the coax (and connector) weather degrade. The drawbacks-slightly lower rf reception level and no way to put a rotator on an antenna in an attic (confined area). If you still want to have a tower put up (which is the best way (signal strength-wise) to do it), go to LaFayette Electronics on Earl Avenue. They have business cards for people that will put up a tower for you. Short answer to your question-if you aren't in a valley (or blocked by buildings), you should have no problem getting the stations from Indianapolis.

Awesome, thanks a bunch! This is a big help.

-Bill

Great find !

Thanks

My wife and I decided to finally take the plunge and cut the cord from Comcast in West Lafayette. We have subscriptions to Hulu Plus and Netflix, and are looking into OTA TV. What sort of rig would we need to ensure getting WTHR and other Indy channels. I know that WLFI comes in with just typical bunny ear antennas, but do we need something mounted to the roof for WTHR and other Indy channels? It would be great to hear from someone in the area on their experience with their setup.

See my above response (#6672). If you have further questions, please let me know.

Perfect! Do you have any issues specifically in getting WTHR? We are huge thursday night NBC fans, and hope that it comes in well enough.

No problem at all. As mentioned, since my antenna is in the attic, my main problem station is 8 (WISH). But, 18 (WLFI) carries the same (CBS) programming (except for local news).

I'm on the other side of Indy from you folks, (Anderson) and I also have issues with RF9 Ch 8 CBS. You might try their UHF low power channel 17.1 .2. .3. It always seems to come through for me when the VHF channel is dropping out.

WISH-TV's translator on RF 17 most likely won't make it up to the Lafayette/West Lafayette area. The translator is directional to the southwest. They must protect WYIN Gary, who also broadcasts their station on RF 17. West Lafayette is probably about 80 miles SE of Lake Dalecarlia (an unincorporated part of Lake County between Cedar Lake & Lowell), where WYIN's tower is located. So kevinoshea might have a better chance of getting WYIN than WISH-TV's translator.

Hey all. Been busy, haven't been around much. Bought a house and moved recently. Previously had been in a third floor apartment and now in to a two-story house surrounded by trees. My OTA signal has overall stayed pretty decent, but even before the move WISH had been poor. Now, WISH is unwatchable using my cheap indoor flat RCA antenna. I'm located just south-west of the intersection of 56th and Reed, on the West side - south of Eagle Creek Park.

I've been reading good things about the Mohu Leaf, so decided to pick one up. Immediate results. Go from being unable to get a lock on WISH to immediately getting a lock with a strong signal. Impressive for what is basically a laminated sheet of paper. I do have an attic area above the garage where I could put a bigger antenna, and I still might eventually, but thought if I could get by with something simple like this I'd stick with it. I have the 'Leaf' pointed out an east-facing window on the second floor. This room has a vaulted ceiling, so its pretty high up -- although I could still move it up another 3 feet in the middle of the vault (though would no longer be pointing out the window).

Anyway, I'm mostly just rambling and wanted to say Hello again. Ciao!

If you're in or near Indianapolis, as it shows by your screenname, then you're most likely picking up WISH-TV's translator on RF 17, & not the main WISH-TV on RF 9. Do you get WTHR on the Mohu antenna? WTHR does not have a translator, & solely relies on their VHF signal on RF 13. So if you're not getting WTHR, then you're most likely not getting WISH-TV via RF 9. Indoor antennas don't work as well for VHF signals. Where I work at up in Merrillville (not in the Indianapolis area of course, but making a point here), I was using a regular outdoor antenna for picking up TV stations while working on weekends (antenna used indoors). I did not get a single VHF station, because the building didn't have many windows to allow VHF signals to travel through. That meant I didn't get WLS-TV on RF 7 or WBBM-TV on RF 12. I got most UHF signals, but didn't get the weaker UHF signals that were less than 250kw.

The fact is, unless you have a home with lots of big windows, chances of getting VHF stations steady are slim with any antenna indoors. My current home in Gary doesn't allow any stations thru, & must have an antenna outside.

I'm in Lafayette and am wondering if the MOHU Leaf would give me any difference than the old fashioned twin dipole wire hanging on the wall in a T config?
I can only get the local WLFI and wondered if the MOHU would allow any of the Indy stations or the Champaign station to be seen.

Champaign reception from Lafayette demands a full-blown outdoor (or perhaps attic) antenna. No indoor antenna will cut it on anything outside of a terrific opening. (If it did, Indy reception would be daily for me, instead of once or twice a Tropo season.) However, with a good indoor antenna, you should at least get WTTK on RF 29, and maybe even some of the stations from the antenna farm in Bloomington.

Bloomington is 100 miles from Lafayette, has no antenna farms, and has only a local PBS affiliate (WFIU). I really doubt there is much of a chance of getting WFIU from Lafayette with any setup.
There is also a smaller antenna farm in Trafalgar, but I doubt reception from Lafayette is very likely.
Indianapolis has an antenna farm located about fifty miles from Lafayette, and I would think if you're on the south side of Lafayette, a good outdoor antenna would make reception likely.
Ask Goldrich for his advice. (post 6674 above is great).

I hadn't realized just how far Lafayette was from Bloomington. It's about as far away as I am from Indy. I think I may have underestimated the distance between Indy and Bloomington. I thought the antenna farm was on the south side of Indy, which is why I confused it with Bloomington. Is it on the south side of the city, or was I mistaken? Still, the Mohu Leaf should be able to get Indy, and Champaign is out of the question.

The Indy farm, which has a whole bunch of transmitting antennas, is on the north-west side of Indy which makes it about as far from Lafayette as it is from Bloomington.
I live on the North side of Bloomington, and with a 25 feet outdoor antenna I get all of the Indy tree farm stations rock-solid.
I don't think I'd have much luck getting them solidly from indoors, but have never really tested it.