Charlotte, NC - OTA - Page 24

Is anybody else having problems with WB55 the past week or so? I used to pull in 90s on all channels pointing right between the towers. Now I have to point right at the WB tower (and lose FOX and ABC) just to pull in a 40 signal strength on WB55.

seems ok to me here at home..but, SNR is around 25 db,where the minimum shoudl be 27, preferably higher.. which can cause some receivers problems..
Also If they are at reduced power it would affect you more than me...

call over there and ask for Ed Mckay..

Thanks, will do.

Please tell us that was an early April Fool's joke!

Anyone else seeing a lot of video "jerkiness" on MNF tonight?

I can't even receive WSOC DT since the ice storm. Is anyone else having problems with reception?

Yes! But it didn't start until the 1st quarter was half through. Or rather that's when I noticed a difference. The 1st of the game was just as nice as usual.
It was bugging me and the wife couldn't see what I was seeing as she is more interested in fixing a stubborn string of xmas lights on the tree. Have to have our priorities after all. Seems more pronounced now. At least now I know its not my HD junk.

Whatever the problem was, it seemed to clear up about 30 seconds before halftime. The video looks fine now. Oh well, I guess we shouldn't expect perfection from an emerging technology.

They fixed it at half-time. Back to greatness. Not Farve like, but neither is he tonight.

No reception problems here other than the MNF jerky video.

Checked tonight after work and reception is working again. I figure weather conditions may play a part in how good reception comes in. I was just about to move the antenna but would rather not, since the antenna is in a good location to pick up most of the channels I watch. I have found out the hard way, moving it an inch or two in either direction can knock out reception.

With there past experience, can some please suggest me which Indoor Antenna to get for HDTV reception in the University area of Charlotte?

Turn out the lights, the party's over.

I know this might have been asked a million time but I don't feel like going through all the post to find out, but can I use a regular indoor antenna for hd or do I have to get an outside special antenna.

problem is I live in Davidson in a condo on lake norman and can't have one. I also have adelphia and don't get abc in hd through my box. I want hd for the championship game next wed, but don't know what to do.

No more MNF on ABC. It moves to ESPN next season. I'll miss ABC's outstanding HD coverage.

"Turn out the lights, the party's over " is a line from the song that Don Meredith would sing when a game's outcome became obvious.

So you want those of us who have answered that question a million times to do it
again so you don't have to read backa few pages??

Just a regular UHF indoor antenna is fine. You should have no trouble, unless you have terrain issues, picking up the ABC signal from Davidson.

I'd try the $15 Radio Shack double-bowtie first. I picked up both the Concord and Dallas towers with it from Fort Mill.

Thank you

Hello, I am new to the forum. I live in Hickory, according to Antennaweb I am 29 miles from the Dallas towers and 46 miles from the NE Charlotte towers.

I receive Channel 36 (22) at 88 to 90% very stable
Channel 3 (23) at 68% Fluctuates with weather
46 (47) at 88 to 90% very stable
55 (39) at 88 to 90% very stable
58 (44) at 88 to 90% very stable
18 (27) at 60 to 68% very stable
9 (34) at 50 to 68% Fluctuates with weather


I have the Radio Shack VU-120 XR antenna with a Radio Shack amplifier Model: 15-2507.
I have the antenna pointed in the SE direction with no rotor attached. It is approx. 30 feet above the ground. I have a Directv HR10-250 that I am receiving OTA signals on.

1) I don't understand why 36, 46, and 55 come in so well while WBTV doesn't. These towers are practically right next to one another and WBTV puts out more power.

2) The signals for 9 and 18 are stable and not pixellated even in the 60% range. Channel 9 can drop off the Charts when weather is bad, but 18 seems to be stable all the time. What is the minimum percentage a signal can come in at and I still receive a stable picture? Why does 58 come in so well when the transmission power is relatively weak in relation to the others.

3) will these stations boost there transmission signals as digital conversion becomes more mandatory? If so when will this occur? And how much more will they be boosted?

I am interested in any and all answers (save trolls) to these questions and I am sure that I will have more. What enhancements would you recommend.?

Thank You in advance.

[quote=jtshellnc]

HI JT and Welcome!


"Radio Shack amplifier Model: 15-2507." You may get better results if you use a"better", lower noise floor amp, and add a rotor for more precise aiming.

1) I don't understand why 36, 46, and 55 come in so well while WBTV doesn't. These towers are practically right next to one another and WBTV puts out more power.

Think about that, I won't comment as I used to work there.

2) The signals for 9 and 18 are stable and not pixellated even in the 60% range. Channel 9 can drop off the Charts when weather is bad, but 18 seems to be stable all the time.

Where you are, there are some terrain issues that affect reception, even tho 18 and 9 are side by side..Plus, re-aiming the antenna with a rotor should help.
Some areas of Hickory are on the fringe our our coverage area due to distance and tower height.

3) will these stations boost there transmission signals as digital conversion becomes more mandatory? If so when will this occur? And how much more will they be boosted?

No, we're all at fully liscensed power..WBTV,WCCB, and WSOC all run 1 megawatt
the maximum. (unless there is a transmitter problem)

Thank You Bob,

Your answers are enlightening. I don't understand the WBTV thing unless they are not up to the transmission poer that they are claiming. Could you give any suggestions on a good floor amp.

So if we are on the fringe, what are areas further out going to do about reception? Are they just out of lick? Because areas like Lenoir seem like they won't be able to pick up a signal OTA.

Hi JT, glad to help..
I have found that sometimes the little things make all the difference in the world. I had one viewer who couldn't get us at all, he moved the antenna to the opposite end of the house, and got perfect reception. Turning your antenna slightly may provide significant improvement. I would aim for maximum signal on WCCB/WSOC, and you may be ok on the other stations. Just don't fall off the house, the sudden stop is no fun.Look at the antenna preamps from Blonder-Tongue or Winegard, the commercial series is what we recommend for difficult areas, tho they do tend to be rather expensive. The Radio Shack ones tend to be very noisy and drift quite a bit, especially during temperature changes. I'll go find the model number of the one I have used and let you know.
Lenoir is a diffcult area. Many will have to wait until later on in the year when we get HD local on DirecTv. A good rule of thumb, is that if you can aim-position your antenna for the
best picture on analog 18, the digital should be fine. If you don't get the analog at all, then you probably won't get the digital.
Let me know if we can help you further. Look at this preamp:

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_disp...rs&PROD=AD-P16

Interesting... your experience with these stations is almost opposite to mine! I'm about 73 miles SW of these towers, and use a Radio Shack VU190XR (probably similar to your antenna but larger) without a pre-amp. I do have a distribution amp on the indoor end of the line, for splitting my signal four ways. For me, 3 comes in the 85-90% range and is very reliable. 36, 46 and 55 are usually in the 70-75%, better at night than in the daytime. They're usually pretty steady, though. Last month I recorded the Wizard of Oz from 55 on my HD DVR without a single glitch.

I use a rotator, and even though these towers are all in practically the same direction from me, I have to aim slightly differently for 36, 46 and 55, over a range of about 30 degrees. Usually I can't pick up all three of them simultaneously. I can pick up 3 over a wider range of angles, more than 45 degrees. Maybe you just need to tweak your antenna's orientation a bit.

I had already done what bdfox suggested when I mounted my antenna on my rooftop. I used the $30 3 foot tripod -- I also bought at Radio shack. I also have a 10 foot mast. I live in what is basically a 2 story house which is a single story house that has a basement that is 1/3 in the ground.

My HDTV is in a room in the basement. I was having trouble getting 9 and 18 in my original spot. I applied for a waiver to get the east coast HD feeds from DTV. I was already getting the Dallas transmissions pretty well. I was not happy with my original mounting job -- it wasn't stable and I really didn't have anything to mount the antenna to (No Chimney). 18 was the only one that gave me a waiver and Channel 9 wouldn't (very unhappy with 9 about that). I had my cousin rotate the antenna while I stood right at the door and told him when the signal was best. With the HR10-250, when adjusting the signal it makes a higher pitched sound the better the sgnal comes in. It makes a low drone the lower the signal reception gets.

I think that one of the problems may be that the antenna cable has to run about 50 feet to get to the TV. The cable runs from the antenna which is preamped outdoors to a ground and then another cable from the ground runs to the TV.

I do understand what bdfox is saying about the amplifier noise, because if I turn the amplifier higher the signal reception gets worse. Seems to have to be just right. So i guess I'm going to have to look into getting a better amplifier. I guess I'll eventually get a rotar also. It would be great to get the Winton-Salem and Spartanburg stations. Does anyone think that might be achievable from Hickory. I can get their analog signals.

I have gotten so used to HD that I now tell people when I am watching their TVs it's Like watching blurvision. They tell me I am spoiled (LOL). I don't even want to go to their houses to watch football, because it is so much better in HD.

He-He...

Is anyone else having problems with WBTV? I have the amplified Winegard Square Shooter (inside on the Entertainment Center) and can't seem to get a good signal on my HR10-250 for the life of me. WCNC-DT comes in at a good, solid High 80's/Low 90's Signal and their transmitter is the same direction/distance from me (in Rock Hill).

The signal meter is jumping all over the place - like it can't "lock" on....and never gets much above 68...

Trying to setup my OTA HD signal using the philips silver sensor. Antenna is in a closet next to my htpc...signal is erratic but mostly too low to register. before i upgrade to an attic mounted db4, wondering if anyone in south charlotte is having sucess with an indoor antenna?