Minneapolis, MN - OTA - Page 9

Ok, I'll give the 7695 a try. I'm assuming I can split the signal to two TVs. I'm told that an HD signal is an all or none deal, it's either received or isn't; not like analog where receiving a weak signal may still produce an image, even if snowy or low quality, rather than no image at all.

I thought I'd fasten it to the chimney and I've wondered if the chemicals in the smoke are too caustic for the antenna. Back in the era when lots of antennas sprouted from rooftops many were fastened to chimneys. I hope my assumption that 's an ok place to mount it is valid. Unless someone here thinks it's a bad idea, that's where it's going.

Are there different grades or quality of coax cable, splitters and the like, that might provide a more secure signal over the years? I also assume I'll just go to Cheapo Depot to buy a length of 1 1/2" to 2" conduit for the pole; right? Maybe 4' or 5' of height above the top of the chimney. Does that height seem ok?

Can the 7695 also serve as an FM or AM antenna. I've wanted to listen to the Twins games for years, but just as in WCCO's weak TV signal, their AM signal is also so weak we can't receive it here. And now it turns out we can't get KSTP's AM signal either. But the station I most want to receive on a consistent basis is the Mpls public school's KBEM, FM 88.5. I'm using what used to be considered a pretty good receiver/tuner. I can't pick it up at all, even though my car radio can grab it out here. I wonder if we're in some kind of transmission shadow? Any of you guys ever heard of anything like that out in my part of town?

Thanks very much for your help,
Daniel

I would not mount it on an active chimney, if there is any other option, it will be hard on the antenna and cable for sure.... A tripod would be a safer way to go....

1.5" EMT conduit works well for mast, if you go with the chimney mount; with the tripods they often will only take up to 1.25" EMT mast....

Weird that you have issues with AM... A decent radio and antenna should make that better...

As to FM: KBEM is one of the few FMs in the TC that does not broadcast at the Shoreview tower site... They on downtown (on the IDS building, I believe) at only 2.1kW... For that, you would prolly want a real FM antenna mounted outdoors... Maybe an omni FM antenna would get the job done...

The White House wants your opinion on The DTV Delay ACT Bill
President Obama wants to hear what the public has to say, you can comment here

http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing_room/dtv_delay_act/

As much as they want our opinion, just like the way Obama treats republicans, those of us opposed to the delay are ignored

Well the shut off of Analog Channel 23 went flawlessly...as expected. Channel 17 digital no longer exists, but does in Analog
Channel 41 has decided to hold off till 6/12 to move to Shoreview and to shut down Analog (their mistake)...and there was no mass
What we REALLY need is for KARE 11 or KMSP 9 to switch off Analog...that would force the delay weenies to catch up, otherwise I forecast that the switch over will be further delayed.

KTCI-DT now remaps to channels 2.3 and 2.4. You may need to re-scan to view them:
http://www.tpt.org/program/dtv/dtv_channels.php

KPXM doesn't yet have a construction permit to move to Shoreview. They can't move until the get it.

Not all receivers behave the same way. I checked my Zemiths and apparently I did not need to re-scan. It showed 2.3 and 2.4 and the 17s are gone. The LG LST-3510 sort of "blinked" when I selected 17.1. The "new Twos" are there.

My Sammy LCDs, on the other hand, needed as re-scan and my DISH 622 also needed a re-scan.

Anyone using a Directv HR20 with built in ATSC tuner? When I scan it shows 2-1 through 2-4 but only 2-1 and 2.3 come in? The banner indicates searching for signal on 2-2 and 2-4. Although when I check signal strength all 4 channels are the approx the same level. Around 100.
I used to get all the channels when 17-1 through 17-5 were in the guide.
As well as 2-1 and 2-2.
This must be a guide data issue for Directv? Any insight would be appreciated

question here my mom lives down in the st. croix valley and wants a new antenna cause her antenna is falling apart after some storms but she lives in st. mary's point but would a Winegard 7084 antenna be fine for her to reach all the stations in the twin cities?

I would look at the Winegard HD 7695.There is a larger version as well.
No need for Low Band VHF (2-6) anymore. Unless she is using her tv antenna to pick up FM channels? Then the 7084 would make sense.
The word "valley" in St.Croix Valley kind of tells a story on the potential difficulties with reception at your Mother's location.

yeah this is a big drop in the valley thats why i was thinking bigger the better to reach over the valley to Shoreview. And isn't channel 5 staying at 5, well she does have the convertor boxes so guess that would sort it all out for her.

No . . . virtual channels 5.x are currently on physical channel 50 and will be moving physical channel 35 after the transition.

Larry

ah so in this case of 30 miles to transmitters and my mom lives down i a big valley she would be ok with a uhf antenna like the one ddingle suggested right?

I purchased a CM-4228 for just this reason. Even though it's listed as UHF, it's supposed to have good high VHF capability. I figure it will be perfect when 9-x & 11-x move back channels 9 & 11. For more details, check out tvfool.com.

Larry

I seemed to have lost the OTA "Guide" information within the past couple of weeks. Re-scanned the channels yesterday, but still no guide info. Is anybody else still getting this in the TC area?

I have a few Zenith DTT-901 units and I just checked the guide data and all seemed normal here in rural Rosemount MN.

No, my HR10-250 (HD-TiVo) didn't lose all the OTA guide data, just the data for 11-1 -- and that's because its call letters have just changed from KAREDT to KARE-HD.

On March 11, my HD-TiVo was no longer able to receive channel 11-1; two recordings were lost: "... not recorded because the video signal was unavailable."

After rescanning ("Scan For Off-Air Channels"), four new channels appeared:
2-3 tptLife
2-4 tptWx
11-1 KARE-HD
11-2 KARE-WX
... but the old 11-1 KAREDT remained. ("Clear Scanned Off-Air Channels" was not able to remove it; I tried 3 times, and then again once more after removing KAREDT from Channels I Receive.)

The situation now:
KAREDT has the correct guide data but no signal.
KARE-HD has the correct signal but no guide data.
(Also no guide data for tptLife, tptWx, and KARE-WX.)
KARE-HD is still using 35 as its frequency.

I happen to have a new Pioneer Kuro 50" plasma TV, and it was able to tune in the new KARE-HD without my having to rescan first, but there are no program titles (like those I can see on channels 2, 4, 5, 9 and 29). I let the TV do a manual rescan, but there were still no program titles. Looks like KARE has some work to do.

I've called DirecTV about the missing guide data (they say to give them a couple of days), and I've e-mailed KARE11.

Can someone tell me whether NBC11 (KARE) is back to normal today on TiVo, DirecTV, and WMC boxes that use program information from Tribune?

Tribune fixed a number of their errors this afternoon, and I'm curious whether KARE was among the stations fixed. TiVo users can force a connection to download the latest available guide data under Settings -> Phone & Network.

Looks like you might have more problems as Channel 45 shuts analog off come May, on real Channel 44, but in August it plans to move back to 45
Channel 29 current DTV is Ch. 21, but not set on what date now to go to ch. 29; similar switch delay on ch 17 now on 16 but hoping to go to 26 sometime after Ch 9 leaves ch 26
As you can tell this delay in switch over has thrown all sorts of switch overs all over the place...

It sounds like they are selling this box for the price of the coupon.

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/n...is_Apr_17_2009

http://www.freedtvshop.com/fdtv/#

http://www.airlink101.com/products/atvc102.php

It seems like lots of folks had to do some trial and error before finding the right antenna for their location, which obviously entails some returning of the less successful antennas. So where are you guys buying these antennas from so you can return them no problem?

Also, can someone elaborate on how, exactly, you get the cable from the antenna in the attic or roof down one or more floors to the TV??

Buy locally, most of the Radio Shack, Best Buy, Target, and Wal-mart guys have a nice return policy, once you fine the right one find where you can get it cheapest. Outdoor antennae are a different issue when you get beyond the regular inner city ones. But there's been a lot of nice testing done and reported here so going by their recommendation is best.

Just got done with 4 months of research on this forum for a new tv (got panasonic g10 on the way) and hoping some of you could help me minimize my antenna research. I live just north of the international airport/highland park.

1. Currently get most channels, except channel 5 and 45, with indoor terk hdtva. I'm looking to install a roof antenna and wondering if something like the channel master 4228 would be overkill? Other recommendations?

2. We no longer use the direct tv dish. Can I somehow mount the mast onto the existing j-mast(old dish removed) and can I use the existing coax that was connected to the dish for the antenna?

3. Where can I get good antennas locally? The Best Buy near my work said they dont carry antennas. I did a double take and asked again and was told they only had small rabbit ear type antennas..

Thanks for any help you can give me

The 4228 might be overkill. The 4221 might be a better choice for rooftop use. However, you might still consder the 4228 along with rafter mounting, as an alternative to roof mounting.

FYI: I beleive 5 is transmitting from Shoreview, I'm not sure where 45 is transmiting from, but they were supposed to be moving Shoreview. Also, some of the twin cities stations are supposed be moving back to VHF-H once th etransition is complete. This makes the 4228 more attractive, since it has some VHF-H ability.

YMMV,

Larry

45 is at Shoreview. It's 41 that will be moving there after the transition (their up half way to St. Cloud)

Radio Shack has a nice selection of antennas and easy return policy. You should be fine with a small to medium size TV antenna. You will need one that receives high VHF and UHF channels since 9 and 11 will be moving their digital broadcasts back to 9 and 11 on June 13.

I've used this one from Radio Shack:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2103085

If you prefer something smaller, the antenna below is for upper VHF and all UHF channels. I haven't used it myself but the company that makes it has a very good reputation:

http://www.hdtvantennalabs.com/anten...d-HD7694P.html

It may fit on your existing pole mount from your dish. Any of the antennas can use the coax cable used by the dish to get the signal into the house.

The Channel Master 4228 would be an excellent antenna but you will need a longer pole to mount it to since it's about 3 feet tall, like a screen. It does a nice job on upper VHF and UHF. I have one in my garage attic and it pulls in a lot of signal. I live near 169 and 394.

Ness Electronics in St. Paul sells Channel Master products. Both Radio Shack and Ness have poles and mounts.

Digital TV reception is easy to get and rock solid as far as reliablility.

That's an awfully expensive antenna for most people, but it will certainly do the job, but I agree the less expensive 7695 half the price and more appropriate. If bulk is an issue, the ClearStream C4 is a smaller alternative, does a better job with High VHF since Channels 9 & 11 are returning to their High VHF locations 6/12/09 (I hope).

I am getting confused messages about KPXM Channel 41. First was told in February they were moving to Shoreview, then with delay was going to be 6/12, now I am hearing about August at the earliest

I have a tough time getting Channel 41 with my RCA ANT2000 right by the window (13-14%) on an RCA DTA800B; upstairs same antenna with the RCA DTA809 I am 25+%; both watchable but can pixilate with a lot of action occurring. Having them move to town will make it easier to keep the promise to my wife that I won't have to install an attic nor a roof or outside antenna....but WHEN!!

The FCC still has not approved KPXM's application to move to Shoreview, so that's the holdup. I suspect there may be some concern about having a transmitter site so far away from the community of license.

I forgot to post it here, but KTCI-DT now wants to relocate to channel 23 rather than 38. WDSE in Duluth paid them off.

We'll see what the FCC says.

- Trip