[NOTE to
HDTV Technical Forum Gurus: I'm kidding around with that title - just an 'Old Fart' injecting a little levity into this topic to break up the one-sided monotony (i.e. Suggest solutions; Ask questions; Receive more questions but NO answers)!
]
I'm glad to see that
reeltoreel *FINALLY* moved his discussion to an appropriate forum (it took me THREE pushes!
) *AND*, it's been difficult getting answers to questions.
From the original
DVD Recorders Forum thread:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
ClearToLand /forum/post/19473824
I like to first address a topic previous untouched by the other posters - the preamp. A preamp cannot CREATE signal where none exists - it can only AMPLIFY the existing signal AND noise. You don't mention any splitters - is there a direct connection between the antenna and the DTA-800? Coax or twinlead? Is the antenna VHF/UHF or VHF-only? Many older OTA installations were satisfied with VHF-only (Channels 2-13) while the majority of the major networks have now moved to UHF. You can learn much more on this topic over at:
AVS: HDTV Technical (STICKYs!)
Over there you'll also find LINKs to sites where you can enter your location (street address or LAT/LON) and it will create a display of where the OTA TV stations are located, what frequencies they use and what '
type' and '
strength' antenna you'll need.
If you're handy, you can build your own antenna (from metal coat hangers, or copper wire, and a piece of wood):
AVS: How to build a UHF antenna
and 'Experiment' to see how much signal you have available to work with. If that works in the attic, you'll be set (it won't hold up outdoors). Otherwise, at least you'll now know how much '
commercially-made $$$' antenna you need to buy.
I'd suggest dragging the DTA-800 CECB and a small B&W CRT portable TV (if you have or can borrow one; or a small LCD HDTV) up into the attic and getting some '
Signal Strength' readings from the existing antenna. Especially if the existing antenna is VHF-only, you can build the ~$10 UHF Bowtie antenna (from the LINK above) and see what that can receive. It all depends on how far you are from the transmitting towers AND if there are any obstructions in the way...
Quote:
Originally Posted by ClearToLand reeltoreel,
...Have you done any further research / 'Experiments' regarding your OTA Signal Strength problem? How much 'Signal Strength' do you have on the DTA-800 CECB?
.
Did you look up your location to see 'How Much' antenna you need?
.
Did you build the 'Coat Hanger and Wood' antenna?
.
...etc...
Quote:
Originally Posted by ClearToLand reeltoreel,
You now need to move your discussion to an appropriate forum(s). Here are a few of my Bookmarks to get you started:
AVS: HDTV Technical (STICKYs!)
Local HDTV Info and Reception
AVS: How to build a UHF antenna
DHC: Over-The-Air Digital TV
HiDef Forum: Info & Reception
TVFool - Fort Collins, CO
I already responded, TWICE, regarding the pre-amp. Part of getting help from volunteers is answering their questions in a timely manner.
Good Luck!
One of his requirements is OTA (unattended) recording so a rotor would be out of the question. Whether his existing attic antenna is VHF-ONLY or VHF/UHF is another unanswered question. I suggested building a 'Coat Hanger and Wood' quickie UHF 4-Bay and dragging an old B&W portable TV and his DTA-800 CECB up into the attic to 'search' for available signals and note their strength. With the bulk of his stations between 187° and 199°, IMO, he COULD have an old VHF-ONLY antenna in the attic. *OR*, the antenna could have been accidentally NUDGED and just needs to be 're-pointed'.
As an "Old Fart", born-and-raised in NYC, and living in Central NJ for the past 3 decades, I'm simply AMAZED that TVFool believes that an attic-mounted antenna can pick up stations ~60 miles away.
Heck, I needed a roof antenna back in 1977, when I moved to Central NJ, to reliably receive 'old-fashioned' analog NTSC from the Empire State Building, ~24 miles away.
His QUOTE about the current weather:
Quote:
Originally Posted by reeltoreel /forum/post/19476901
...due to the fact that we have temps here in the 30's with snow...
lead me to believe that he waited a bit too long to research AND correct his problem this year.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arxaw /forum/post/19507974
It could be your converter box. Those RCA DTA800 tuners are not known for being very good. I've known of several instances where ditching the RCA for something better resulted in more channels being received. A Zenith/Insignia, Artec, Apex or ChannelMaster converter box may work better. All still available on eBay.
If your TVFool is correct, you shouldn't need a preamp unless you are splitting to a bunch of TVs.
You mentioned your antenna is in the attic. What is your roof made of?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mikepier /forum/post/19508014
That's the first thing I would check. It should be a VHF/UHF combo antenna. And you should have RG6 coax feeding the receiver.
I think you would benefit if you put the antenna outdoors with a rotor. You would get more channels more reliably, and plus you might not need an amp.
But if you want to keep it indoors, see if you can bring a small tv/monitor with the receiver up to the attic and connect to the antenna with a short coax. See what you can get. Try adjusting the antenna If you don't see any improvement as far as signal or getting more channels, than an amp is not going to help you.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sheer Lunacy /forum/post/19511525
All but 3 of the channels he appears to care about are on the same bearing, & one of those is within 10 degrees of the main group. Also, it doesn't appear (although I can't get the linked page to display quite right) that he needs VHF reception. So, I don't see the benefit in replacing a UHF antenna, if that is all he has (although that strikes me as quite unlikely VHF-only I wouldn't be too surprised at), with a combo, nor adding a rotor.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mikepier /forum/post/19511685
According to his plot, I see 2 VHF stations: KMGH-DT ABC (real Ch 7), and KUSA NBC (real Ch 9).
Also he has a CBS station to the North which is about 20 miles closer to the CBS to the South. Also as Trip says, Fox is mirrored on KFCT, which is to the east. Thats why I thought a rotor would be helpful.
The Magnavox 2160a/513/515 that he's looking into has an ATSC tuner so he shouldn't need another CECB, unless the DTA-800 is THAT BAD for aligning his current antenna and/or 'Coat Hanger & Wood' antenna and getting some baseline signal strength readings.
Looking forward to following this thread and reading the final resolution...