Greenville, SC - HDTV - Page 311

Look like from the zap2it.com Family Feud be back on Tomorrow NIght. on WMYA 40

Yes, and in addition to translator locations, this site provides the specific call signs of each translator. There's other good stuff on there as well to include technical data and ownership information.

Earlier I've picked up 43 over the air stations on my AntennaCraft C490 long range outdoor antenna. I've got all the big 4 networks from Columbia, SC and PBS too. I'm scanning again, I've picked up 48 channels which is my highest I've picked up WBTV 3 (CBS) which has bad signal and WCNC 36 (NBC) from Charlotte, NC. Thank you William R. Hepburn for your Tropo forecasts. I'm scanning once again after this.

This time I've picked up 44 channels which is my second highest. This time I've got Columbia, SC stations OTA except WLTX 19.

The best night so far. BTW, I've heard preamplifiers don't boost signals you have to get a higher mast. My uncle had a preamplifier years ago and it didn't work. "You're gonna get guaranteed low prices IGA!" I loved that jingle, I miss having a IGA grocery store here.

tylerSC, I'm thinking about getting telescoping mast 50 foot when I get my next SSI check. I've heard preamplifiers doesn't boost the signal. If I had a 50 foot telescopic mast with my AntennaCraft C490 on top, would it boost signals that way? What cities besides my market (Greenville) and adjacents (Augusta, Columbia, Charlotte) OTA with 50 telescopic mast?

Unfortunately it saids professional installation is recommended like the Channel Master 50 foot telescopic model (CM1850). How do I get a professional installer if I buy a telescopic mast?

I don't understand why WYFF 4's signal goes out and in a lot OTA. I've faced my antenna northwest and trees are in the way. Should I move it to the front yard?

tylerSC I've picked up WBTV, WSOC, WCCB, WCNC, and WJZY from Charlotte, NC OTA thanks to my AntennaCraft C490!

UPDATE I've picked up WUNJ 39 (PBS/UNC-TV) from Wilmington, NC over the air right now via Tropo. It's 272 miles from my house. I'm scanning for channels again. Around 9:50am I've picked up UNC-TV 39. That's what I call TV DXing.

BTW, I'm watching KLG & Hoda on WCNC 36 right now over the air. You're right, they don't do local scrolls.

Excellent!

That's very good. But you still may have more consistent reception from all markets with a preamp and a rotor, as GSP, Columbia, Augusta, and Charlotte are all different directions. A preamp can help stabilize distant signals from dropouts. And a taller mast may be more of a major project and rather expensive.

tylerSC which is better preamp? Winegard 8700 or 8725?

It depends upon whether you need medium gain or high gain at you location. The 8275 has more power, so it may be better at your distance.

tylerSC, I'm thinking about purchasing the Winegard 8725 when I get my next SSI. It's 29 dB: VHF and 28 db: VHF would I gain WLOS 13's signal if I used it. WLOS' dB is 11.0 in my location according to TV Fool and I gained it 29 db make it 39 db am I right tylerSC?

When you start getting mathematical and technical, that's when I ask a professional engineer to interpret your signal report numbers. You have to factor in signal power, antenna height, location, line of sight, signal to noise levels etc. Sometimes a medium gain preamp is all you need, but other situations may require a higher gain. Or other times no preamp at all. But since you're 70-90 miles from some towers, I am guessing the higher gain 8275 may work better in Greenwood. Unless there is a strong nearby signal that could overpower it. But again, I would like to have a pro engineer interpret your TV Fool report for Greenwood, SC and recommend the best preamp for you.

Also one good low noise preamp is Kitztech 200 with 24db gain. And I believe .05 noise figure, which is less than 1db very good. It has gotten good reviews on these forums for fringe applications.

tylerSC, My antenna is pointing northwest and I've got all big 4 Charlotte, NC stations during Friday morning despite the Charlotte, NC station towers are northeast of my direction. How can it be possible? I also got the Columbia, SC locals over the air on my same direction of my outdoor antenna despite it's being on the east of my direction.

How do I contact a pro engineer to interpret TV Fool report for my location and suggest a preamp for my house?

If you can post your TV Fool report here, perhaps some of the technical experts can offer suggestions. Just use your zip code but leave out your specific street address ... And to maintain more reliable reception of Columbia and Charlotte if possible, you should add a rotor.

Here it is tylerSC:



This is my report that doesn't include my home address nor height of antenna.

It looks as though some people are receiving signals from stations in more than one market (and at quite a distance, 50 miles or more), and sometimes some of the stations from the more distant market actually come in stronger than stations from the closer market.

 

In a situation like that, where there is a big difference in the direction headings for the two markets, is it worth it to have a rotor, or is it better to just pick a single market and point the antenna in the direction that does the best job for most of the stations in that market?

Would a preamp work? I'm getting of and on signal of WLOS 13 (ABC).

 

 

I'm not an expert on amps, but I always thought that a good "long range" outdoor antenna would have a range of maybe 70 miles, and a pre-amp might help boost some slightly weak signals enough to compensate for subsequent signal losses in the cable runs, but to consistently receive a station from 100 miles away would be unusual.

veedon, my honest confession I wish WLOS 13's signal wasn't inadequate I wish it was adequate like WYFF 4, WSPA 7, or WHNS 21.

Part of the problem with the WLOS signal on RF13 is that their directional pattern is not optimized to serve Upstate SC, which is a major portion of their viewing area. But they are protecting WBTW on RF13 in Florence, SC. If that station moves to UHF as requested, perhaps WLOS could modify their antenna pattern to better serve the SC side of their market. They have tremendous tower height on top of Mt. Pisgah which they are not taking full advantage of. If only they could have stayed UHF; they had a better signal on 56. But maybe this proposed translator on Paris Mtn. will fill in the gaps.

If you look at their coverage maps, that explains why you get the stations you do. You are outside of the WLOS viewing area. WYFF's and WSPA's tower is closer. I doubt a pre-amp will do much for you. In fact, it may make things worse. If you do get one, make sure it is a low gain on both U and V, or too much noise may make 13 useless.
Edited by jspENC - 8/19/12 at 7:06am

 

I found your TVFool report quite surprising. You are closer to the Augusta, GA stations, but some of the stations from Spartanburg/Asheville show stronger signals in the report.

 

If you are having trouble receiving WLOS out of Asheville, can't you use WJBF out of Augusta as your ABC affiliate?

Or do you just prefer the SC/NC stations over the Georgia stations?

veedon, Technically Greenwood, SC is part of the Greenville, SC DMA. I've watched WJBF before. Okay what's my chances of getting some of the Columbia, SC stations over the air if I point east?

That's why I said get a rotor. You may get ABC on WOLO-25 out of Columbia, RF8. And also maybe WIS-10. (NBC).

What kind of results have people had in receiving VHF signals?

It sounds as though they might have some advantages in rural areas, but in urban areas they were the cause of some consternation after the digital transition. Some stations had to petition the FCC to increase their power, and some stations decided to add circular polarization.

 

It would be great if the FCC could find a way to grant a UHF assignment to any station that is having problems on VHF, but I guess there are only so many frequencies to go around.

Well, WGHP in Greensboro moved back to UHF35 from VHF8 after they had problems. But in Columbia, SC, WOLO seems to do well on RF8, reaching into the Rock Hill/Ft. Mill suburbs of Charlotte. But they may have been at different power levels. And here in GSP, WSPA and SCETV do pretty good on RF7 and RF9. Only WLOS on RF13 is problematic because of its directional pattern.

tylerSC, I've pointed my antenna to East Southeast of my direction and I've got some Augusta, GA and Columbia, SC stations OTA. Earlier I've got every Augusta, GA station except WFXG 54 (RF 31) and WCES 20 (RF 6) over the air.. When I point it to that direction will it get some Charleston, SC stations in Tropo days?

My mom was right I need a rotor or a high gain preamp. BTW, is http://www.antennapoint.com The Antenna Point website a good source? Are you familiar with it?

Why is WYFF 4 showing Dateline NBC in crummy 4x3 SD instead of 16x9 HD at around 2am? I wish they had the warning for tape delayed broadcasts THIS PROGRAM IS NOT IN HD

It's unwatchable Doug.

It is a rerun at 2am. Not that big of a deal. Maybe someone fell asleep and forgot to flip the switch.