Orlando, FL - OTA - Page 93

I think I finally figured out why WGFL drops out on me every once in a while (maybe 1 to 2 times a month for 30 minutes to an hour a few hours after sunset.

Last night tropo was blowing in from Georgia. I didn't turn any antennas, just rescanned to see what was coming in when WGFL on RF28 dropped out about 11 pm (later than it normally does).

Sure enough WTXL from Tally town was pinning the needles here. Every time it would drop off the peg WGFL would decode again. Then it would go back up and bye bye WGFL.

I also had zero skip to the south. Everything was from Jacksonville, Savannah, Tally and even Columbus (virtual 3).

Considering I never could find a 28 that could possibly cause me to loss WGFL. Every time I lost WGFL before I never even tried looking on ch 27 rf, but instead would turn east and south to see if there was any tropo, of which I never found any, ever.

Another factor from my house WTXL is 2 degrees different than WGFL, so any comments I made about a longer boom yagi would not help at least for WGFL 28.

Of course with out a spectrum analyzer I am guessing as to what I saw, but the complied evidence I feel really sure WGFL is clobbered when tropo comes in from Tallahassee.

That could be bad if Bithlo even raises my noise on ch 28 by even 5 db or so, it could cause more troubles on the nights when Tally skips in.

I know from the days of playing on 2 meter SSB, that certain paths would often open for 15 to 30 minutes nightly around Florida right after sunset. My normal time for WGFL to drop is about 30 to 60 minutes after sunset (last night was odd ball and a different phenomena, meaning just strong tropo due to that low that was south of the panhandle last night).

So it's totally possible I have a weak path to Tallahassee during late Spring through early Fall, that happens right after sunset. If you look at my path to their tower, I cut right parallel to the Gulf so it could be a sea breeze event.

Mostly guessing, but I bet it is. Now next summer when I get those drop outs I can check 27.

By coincidence tonight I locked WGFL around the same time you were typing, a storm cell was moving right over me at the time and RF 28 came up on the GNX/ocala ant, since WGFL is short on haat and low on power it is pretty rare to ever see them here this early in the evening compared to WOGX which is 24/7, WUFT 18hr/7d, WCJB which is usually 12/7. Of course WGFLs other flea powered sister station WNBW VHF 9 has never been locked from here via my own over the air resources, but I have seen them via other sources with remote off air pickup and they have frequent problems keeping a stable signal @ only 15 miles from the WGFL/WNBW tower on both those stations. For the past few days I have noticed that the moon has been setting an hour or 2 after sunset and wonder if that had any influence on what you experienced. It also could be that the recent shuttle launch also changes the upper atmosphere above us and to the north. The reason I mention it is because I remember when I lived in Brevard county someone who worked at Nasa once said that everyone in central fl should avoid being outside for about a week after a rocket or shuttle launch because it creates an ozone whole over the area and changes the upper atmosphere.

What remote off air pickup? A cable head end?

As you probably know, I gave up on WNBW NBC9. They are just too weak and management has all be decided not to file to take out the null. Which makes no sense at all, as should not even bother Ch 10 in Tampa area on adj channel.

I really really doubt it was the moon. I am 99% sure why I was seeing stations to the NW and North was that low pressure area that moved into the panhandle from the Gulf yesterday and today.

The interference to WGFL really is pretty rare, part of why it has been so hard to pin down the likely cause or causes. Some times it's only 10 minutes then all is back to a solid locked signal for the night.

I know from playing on 2 meter ham band, even FM side, that just listening to the call channel (where people met so they can find each other), turning the beams, it was not unussual to suddenly hear a conversation between two stations out 100 miles or more. Break in and they hear me, but then 10 minutes later, they are gone. This happens when there is no other tropo apparently happening. So micro paths do open when everything gets just right.

As far as the shuttle changing the ozone's thickness for a week over the cape, I would defer to more research. Seems though I heard that also, but not from a confirmed source, though I am not discounting it either.

Dish point of presence / cheap omnidirectional receive antenna in downtown Gainesville.

I don't know what a Dish Point of Presence is, but I figure somehow it's linked back to your house via something.

Well I had more confirmation my WGFL dropouts are WTXL on 27. 28 dropped, I switched to 27 and it was pinning the needle. Also locked WRBL on RF 15 out of Columbus, GA for about 15 minutes, so the tropo is strong and long. Google maps put it just under 300 miles from me.

I remember when I loved skip, now I hate it. I guess I need to buy another 2 meter ham rig so when TV stinks, the 2 meter band will be booming. What I used to do.

I heard back from Winegard, they shipped the FreeVision antenna yesterday to me, so I guess I will have to change my signature getting freebees from them.

A point of presence = a local receive facility used by the satellite companies for collection and packaging for fiber optic transmission back to uplink center. One of those freebies would work better than the cheap RV type omni they are using for recieving the locals that don't have a direct fiber feed to the satellite providers.

Here in Daytona, I am getting WPXB-LD on RF channel 50 mapping to 50-1.

I am also getting WOPX on RF channel 48 mapping to 56-1.

They both carry identical programming, the ION network in 720p.

Are they both the same channel? Is WPXB-LD just a translator for WOPX-TV?

What does "LD" stand for?

Low-Power Digital

WKMG is now doing HD syndication as Dr. Phil is now being shown in HD. Hopefully they also have network timeshift like WFTV and WESH. Now hopefully WOFL/WRBW will join the HD syndication bandwagon or WVEN switching to HD.

Wow, Dr Phil, what a great investment in HD! Seriously though took them long enough, I checked 10 days ago to see if they had Legend in HD yet and it was still SD. We shall see if the time delayed Late Late Show is HD tonight.

This is a start. I will not be satisfied until all available Syndicated programming in Orlando is shown in HD.

The main thing for me is having Legend of the Seeker in HD and hopefully that happens this coming weekend.

Anyone heard anything of the progress or lack up on Ch 24 WKMG repeater in Ocala?

It looks now that WNBW will leave in the null they had pointed at WFTV when it was on analog Ch9 also. I don't think about it too much anymore but it's just crazy that the entire NE section of the Marion County has no NBC.

Hello AVS Forum. I hope this post isn't too long - seeking advice on choosing the right antenna for my Home near Bear Lake Road / 436.

My family and I are trying to cut back on costs, and with the availability of streaming content available online as well as OTA HD programming as well as the small amount of time we spend watching TV, we thought it would be good to cancel our DishNetwork subscription and go OTA.

We have a 25' tall antenna mounted outside, however it's about 30 years old. In fact so old that when I tried connecting the wires to it, the bolts it connects to actually crumbled off. Some of the elements are split off and I don't believe it's functioning properly. I did the best I could to wire that one up just to test what I could get with it, and was unable to pull any signal with my TV (built in digital tuner).

Here are my TVFool Signal Analysis Results:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...7d528bc0f11c2d

I went to the AntennaWeb site and these are my results:

Call Sign Channel Network City, State Compass Heading Miles From RF Channel

blue vhf
WESH-DT 2.1 NBC DAYTONA BEACH, FL 104° 23.6 11

blue uhf
WOFL-DT 35.1 FOX ORLANDO, FL 106° 22.1 22
W21AU-D 21.1 AZA ORLANDO, FL 197° 4.0 21
WKCF-DT 18.1 CW CLERMONT, FL 109° 22.5 17
W21AU 21 AZA ORLANDO, FL 194° 4.0 21

violet uhf
WFTV-DT 9.1 ABC ORLANDO, FL 111° 24.5 39
WTGL-DT 45.1 FMN COCOA, FL 109° 22.5 46
WOTF-DT 43.1 TFA MELBOURNE, FL 109° 22.5 43
WKMG-DT 6.1 CBS ORLANDO, FL 104° 23.6 26
WHLV-DT 53.1 FMN COCOA, FL 109° 22.5 51
WVCI-LP 16 UNI ORLANDO, FL 169° 5.1 16
WMFE-DT 24.1 PBS ORLANDO, FL 107° 21.6 23
WRDQ-DT 27.1 IND ORLANDO, FL 111° 24.5 27

BLUE/VIOLET for the antenna type? This seems kind of extreme.. I was looking antennas up online and to get a UHF/VHF antenna in the 'BLUE' Category the boom length would be between 120" and 180", which to me seems to be a MASSIVE antenna. I need the VHF to pick up WESH-DT, which is important to me.

I'm not in a rural area of any sort, the furthest channel is 24.5 Miles away. 20 of the channels in my area show up in the "Green" category on my TVFools Signal Analysis, and 9 more channels appear in the Yellow one. Why would I need such a large antenna? The product descriptions for these antennas talk about having 45-80 mile ranges. "Violet" is one of those antennas in addition to a preamp to increase the signal. This just seems crazy. I want to replace the 30+ year old antenna with something newer to pick up the channels but i'm not putting something up with a 10 and a half foot boom length up...

Perhaps I'm putting too much trust in the AntennaWeb site. Before I go buy a giant antenna, can a human with knowledge in this area make a recommendation of the type of antenna I would REALLY need? I need VHF to pick up Channel 11 (23.6 Miles away), and UHF for everything else.

I understand people have personal preferences when it comes to Antennas, and certain models are no longer available, so although a recommendation of a specific model would be appreciated, what I'm really looking for is what CEA Color code antenna I would really need so I can research from there and make the decision myself. Blue/Violet just seems crazy when I'm so close to the broadcasters.

Thanks for any knowledge or advice.

Lol, There's an understatement!

Antennaweb is so pessimistic that many here simply ignore it. It really is that awful!

Your TVfool plot shows all your Orlando stations in the 'green' zone and in the same general direction. A small high-VHF/UHF combo such as the HBU22 (Radio Shack) should suffice. Plus, it's easy to exchange or upgrade at your local RS store to the HBU33 or HBU44 should the smaller antenna prove inadequate.

The HBU22 is EXACTLY what I was looking at buying before I looked up what a Blue/Violet really is, then I freaked out because I thought I needed a 10-14 foot long antenna... WITH a preamp. Do you know any Radioshacks that carry the HBU22 in stock? I checked their website and none of them show up for 32703 or 32714. I was going to order it from SummitSource.com, Total ends up being $45 including shipping and they send 50' of coax with every order.

Understatement? Meh, just because the wires can't properly connect to it, doesn't mean it isn't working properly! :-P . I figured I'm better off scrapping it and getting a cheap new one that works and put it on the same pole. That whole Blue/Violet thing almost scared me away from OTA though.

Rabeatz, I'm going to be moving permanently to the area sometime next month. We've had a house in Florida for a year or so now, and have been sporadically moving stuff down there.

One of the first things I'm going to need is some kind of better antenna. For the recent past, we've been using a couple of indoor antennas, with sporadic results in picking up the Orlando signals. But my point is that with INDOOR antennas, - at 40 odd miles from the Bithlo antennas, we are picking up some OTA television. We regularly get ABC 9 and CBS 6, FOX 35, CW18 and some PBS and ION stations. Once, with great patience and exacting extensions measured to the inch, I was able to see WESH 2. So I figure that with a better antenna, perhaps mounted in the attic, I should do OK.

Where we're located (Davenport), we also pick up some Tampa signals fairly regularly. We seem to be dead center between the two, but Orlando seems easier to lock in on. TV Guide online tells me that my zip, 33837 is in Tampa!

I would think that at 20 miles, you should have few problems picking up what you need to. WESH 2 seems to be the challenge with its hi-VHF signal.

Harry
...soon to be a Florida resident...

I know you meant to type WESH, not WKMG. I haven't noted any CPs for WESH's translators yet. Nor for any other xltrs or LPs in Central FL. Doesn't seem like the FCC has made much of a dent in that huge crapload of LP apps that was dumped on them when they opened the filing window.

They must have heard me -- yesterday the FCC released a couple lists of proposed xltr/LP/class A construction permits -- apps that are not mutually exclusive with others, and will likely be granted if no petitions to deny are received within 30 days.

However, WESH's two apps (18 O.C. and 24 Ocala) are not on the list -- dunno if that's because the apps conflict with others on the same channels, or if it's just that these lists represent the earliest batch of apps filed (WESH, you'll recall, filed well after the initial deluge).

What ARE listed are two of WFTV's apps, for 36 Sebastian and 38 Williston. These were applied for as LPTVs, tho we're pretty sure they are meant to be translators given the locations (two problematic reception areas for Orlando stations).

Also of Central FL interest on the list: apps for 17 and 24 Gainesville (King Forward), and 33 Yankeetown (Budd Broadcasting).

Looks like the FCC will be taking its sweet time with those rural LPTV apps, and is postponing the start of taking apps for LPs nationally from January to July:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...4#post17769314

(I think the first reply to that post says it all....)

Does anyone if we can get RTN and This TV OTA with an antenna?

I am getting both of them here in the Suntree area.

WKCF 18.2 for THIS TV
WRDQ 27.2 for RTN

Both are getable' in Orlando.

I just moved back to OTA today after the last of my BNH nonsense.

In re-scanning channels, I noticed that WMFE 24-5 didn't come up on either TV. Please tell me it ain't so. My kids loved that channel.

Just an FYI for others in the area that may make the move to OTA.

I live in the Kelly Park/Rock Springs area of Apopka. I purchased the Antennacraft HDX1000 from Radio Shack and was very pleased. I just roughly pointed it east towards Bithlo and I get every channel listed on the orlando digital tv site, even WESH, with no problems. Antenna is only about 4 ft off the ground and needed no additional pre-amp/amp besides the one it comes with.

I just spent about a week at my sister's house, house sitting while they were on vacation. They have Comcast where they get the 0-100 and 400-499 channels, I'd call it a mediocre package. So, after the week of watching, I concluded that their cable is only slightly better than my OTA. If it were free, I would choose that package over my OTA, butt it isn't free. No way I would pay more than about 5 bucks a month for that, and it's probably about $60 (guessing). The signal isn't very good (actually, lousy on some channels), surfing is impossible (it takes about 4 seconds just to change channels), and to boot, the darn thing went out twice for a couple hours in that one week! I was actually glad to get home to my OTA since I was much more familiar with it, and was missing shows I watch that their package didn't carry.

I moved to Melbourne a few months ago from the midwest and I am currently building a house. It will be done in about 2 months. Here is the tvfool report of where the house is.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...b32b9c97beee6c

I want to avoid putting a tripod on the roof to support a tall mast and a big antenna. Just a preference. I have used a J-mount before with good success in a different city but the towers were closer. Also, I don't know how well the tripods do in hurricane winds (I assume I need some form of tripod for roof mount).

I would like to get all of the major DTV channels. What do you think about the Channel Master 3010 with amplifier? Any recommendations.

Me again. Has anyone used the AntennaCraft HDX1000 antenna. They sell them at Radio Shack. Pricy at $80, but it is compact and can be mounted on a satellite dish type mount. I am going to get it tomorrow and see if it works. I don't know if NBC will come though.

bommai,

You may want to consider a simple attic installation if you don't have a metal roof and the form factor of your attic permits. I have an attic installation of an old radio shack antenna ( multi-director yagi + reflector for uhf and swept elements for vhf--I removed some of the larger vhf elements for space considerations & limited local vhf channels). I do not even have an amplifier and I believe I receive just about all the local uhf channels from the Bithlo antenna farm and even the vhf NBC station on occasion (the swept VHF antenna elements are near an aluminum A/C duct, so that may degrade their performance).

I am located in Palm Bay, so your signal levels should be even stronger than mine. The attic installation certainly simplifies things during hurricanes and strong thunderstorms and a non-amplified system pretty much eliminates cross-modulation problems if you happen to have strong local interferring emitters.

Good luck with your new house and antenna installation.