[auburn97]

Is there an online resource that can measure the distance "as the crow flies" between two points? I'm trying to determine if the medium directional antenna with pre-amp suggested at antennaweb.org will suffice before I go through all the trouble picking out the right antenna.


I live in Tuscaloosa, AL, and the HD towers are in Birmingham, approximately 1 hour by car. My guress is it would be no more than 60 miles as the crow flies between my house to the HD towers, but again, I don't know for sure.

Any help you all can provide would be great. Thanks.

 

[Scooper]

 www.ardman.net . You can put in YOUR location as LAt/ Long even.

 

[sregener]

It takes a little legwork on your part, but it's not very hard.


1) First, you need to know your location's latitude and longitude. http://www.terraserver.com , if they have a map of your area, should make this a snap to find.


2) Then, go to http://100kwatts.tmi.net/ and get the latitude and longitude of the station you're curious about.


3) Then go to http://www.indo.com/distance/ and input your numbers.


Bingo, there's your distance.

 

[goldrich]

Also, check out this website that was set up by another AVS Forum member. www.2150.com/broadcast/default.asp Just plug in your location, and the program will compute all DTV and analog stations in your area, up to something like 450 miles. It will give you the exact distance and direction of each station from your location. It's a great tool for DXers, too.


Steve

 

[sregener]

Quote:

Originally posted by goldrich Also, check out this website that was set up by another AVS Forum member. www.2150.com/broadcast/default.asp Just plug in your location, and the program will compute all DTV and analog stations in your area, up to something like 450 miles. It will give you the exact distance and direction of each station from your location. It's a great tool for DXers, too.

I entered mine and it came back with nothing within 150 miles. I *know* that ain't right.


The site it says it got its data from ( www.transmitter.com ) also has some errors for some of the stations in my area, reporting antenna power and height listings that I also know are incorrect (and dream for.)


YMMV.

 

[auburn97]

Thanks guys, that's great. I am 43.88 and 44.08 miles away from the CBS and NBC affiliate HD towers. I am looking at the Stealthtenna from Channel Master, mainly for aesthetics. It has a range of 45 miles. I wonder if it will work well enough for me.

 

[uscboy]

Thank you for the links! The 2150.com site worked great.. I'm around 19

miles from each of the towers, not too bad.

 

[greywolf]

Quote:

Originally posted by sregener I entered mine and it came back with nothing within 150 miles. I *know* that ain't right.

Did you include the minus sign in the longitude?

 

[goldrich]

sregener,


I agree with you that www.transmitter.com is not the most accurate spot for the more technical details about stations, but Doug Swallow's program at www.2150.com/broadcast/default.asp is one of the easiest sites I've found to locate direction and distance of stations from your home location.


Another website that includes better information, but gives you the distance to stations only in km., is at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/tvq.html

Scroll down that page to "Stations Within A Radius" and plug in your location. Similar to the above website, this site will calculate the distance to all stations within a predetermined range of your location.


Steve

 

[johnqpixel]

An additional site to determine your longitude and latitude (L&L) is operated by the Census Bureau and is easy to use. It can be found at:
http://tiger.census.gov/cgi-bin/mapsurfer

You will find it easiest to turn ON/OFF various layers to help you pinpoint your house. Howvere with a few clicks and zooms, you can get the L&L to 6 decimal places. The sites above allow you to get the L&L of TV transmitters and also a means of calculating distance.


Of use also would be something with topographic data so as to find out about terrain obstructions, but I have not found a free one yet. HTH

 

[Matt L]

johnpixel, for topo info try:

http://terraserver-usa.com/address.aspx

 

[mtrot]

Nice info! Apparently, my locals are all less than 20 miles from my house, although none of them transmits HD yet.


But, when they do, should I be able to pick up their DTV with some kind of indoor antenna?

 

[sat_uplinker]

That 2150.com site does nothing for me, both on Mozilla and IE web browers. I click the button and a line comes up that says somthing about transmitter.com data. Nothing other than that happens. Im trying the FCC one now.

 

[Neil L]

I have enjoyed using 2150.com for some time now for distance and azimuth info, but still need help with elevation.


I've been curious about the elevation of my location, as well as some of the surrounding hills. I suppose that http://terraserver-usa.com/address.aspx contains this info, but it doesn't seem to offer enough detail. Or I just don't know how to read the maps.


Does any know of a web site that could tell me this?

 

[goldrich]

Quote:

Originally posted by sat_uplinker That 2150.com site does nothing for me, both on Mozilla and IE web browers. I click the button and a line comes up that says somthing about transmitter.com data. Nothing other than that happens. Im trying the FCC one now.

I guessed that you are located somewhere in Baltimore and used these numbers. It came up with a huge list of stations, from those in Baltimore to WNPA, Jeannette, PA @ 148.65 miles.


Latitude 39.3029

Longitude -76.6083

Magnetic Declination -3.25

Range 150 miles


Steve

 

[BarryO]

Quote:

Originally posted by auburn97 Thanks guys, that's great. I am 43.88 and 44.08 miles away from the CBS and NBC affiliate HD towers. I am looking at the Stealthtenna from Channel Master, mainly for aesthetics. It has a range of 45 miles. I wonder if it will work well enough for me.

I have my doubts. Antenna "range" numbers are usually grossly overrated. They assume dead-flat terrain between you and the transmitter, no buildings, trees, or other obstructions, the stars coming into once-in-a-1000-year alignment, Madonna voting Republican, etc. YMMV.


Good-working antennas put alot of metal in the air, there's no real way to get around that. If all your stations are UHF, you could try starting with a Channel Master 4221, although a 4228 or a 4248 might be needed.

 

[BarryO]

Quote:

Originally posted by neil525 I have enjoyed using 2150.com for some time now for distance and azimuth info, but still need help with elevation. I've been curious about the elevation of my location, as well as some of the surrounding hills. I suppose that http://terraserver-usa.com/address.aspx contains this info, but it doesn't seem to offer enough detail. Or I just don't know how to read the maps. Does any know of a web site that could tell me this?

I'd recommend spending just a little bit of $$ and picking up a copy of Delorme TopoUSA. A regional version that just covers your area is pretty cheap. You can easily find out your long. and lat., compute distances between two points, draw an elevation plot between them, even do a 3-D plot. Also useful for planning those weekend hikes.

 

[Matt L]

I was able to drill down deep enough in the terraserver link I posted to see that the 750' line ran right across my property, it even showed every house in my sub. We've been here awhile so that may have some impact, but i would think you can get a good idea if you look in the general vicinity around you.

 

[David Richardson]

We have a few customers in NorthPort. Using the channel master 4228 8 bay we are pulling in NBC and CBS.


The link below pictures the antenna.
http://www.atechfabrication.com/prod...aster_4228.htm



Dave

 

[jautor]

Um, there's a much easier method on http://www.titantv.com Set up your location (address), then view the channel guide, and click on the digtial guide - a tab on the right hand side of the screen is "Antenna Selector". That one shows you distance from your address to the towers... (ok, it's just a line with a scale, but geez - use your finger) ;-)



Jeff