[Michael Mullis]

Well, after almost an entire month of trying to get the right antenna, I think I have what I need!!


Those who saw my other posts know the problems I was having in Baltimore with multipathing signal, and trying to use an amplified antenna. Well, today I took back the $129 Terk TV 55 to Best Buy. I asked the guy who was supposed to be the "specialist" about getting the right antenna.


Well, he told me they didn't sell mast antennas anymore. I was about to leave when I noticed in the corner of the area was an RCA antenna box. We went over to it, and lo and behold, the last mast antenna that Best Buy would ever sell. It's a UHF only antenna (which is fine, because the DTV channels are UHF), so we looked at it and a couple screws were missing, so he marked it down from 50 to 30 bucks! So I mounted it on my 20ft pole, and WALA, DTV all over the place!!


I am getting 70-85% on every station in Baltimore but one, channel 59 (NBC) which gets about 60-70 with occasional dropoff. I am thinking an in line amplifier might help?? (Yes, no??).


What is funny is I pick up 3 Washington DC stations as well as, if not better than the Baltimore ones. So when Leno starts to drop out, I switch to the DC NBC affiliate.


So the moral of the story? A cheap $30 antenna was my answer. Sigh.


------------------

Michael Mullis

Director of US Operations

Next Level Gaming http://www.nlgaming.com


[This message has been edited by Michael Mullis (edited 06-21-2001).]

 

[dagman]

Congrats!


Home Depot is a place where you can get some antenna gear.

 

[Michael Mullis]

I never thought of Home Depot as much of an electronics store. You can get antenna amplifiers there?


------------------

Michael Mullis

Director of US Operations

Next Level Gaming
http://www.nlgaming.com

 

[Impala Bob]

Home Depot sells Comscope RG-6 Quad shield at a very reasonable price. They also sell the crimping tools for terminating the cable.


Impala Bob http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

 

[Stereojeff]

Home Depot sells RCA branded antenna amplifiers. I'm not sure if they sell antenna preamplifiers. Still, I'd stick to a Channel Master preamp if I were doing it.


I forgot, that's actually what I have done.


Jeff Hipps


[This message has been edited by Stereojeff (edited 06-22-2001).]

 

[Michael Mullis]

What gets me is that even without an amplifier, I get Washington DC stations BETTER than Baltimore ones, AND I AM 5 MILES AWAY FROM THEM!! So far an amplifier has done nothing for me.,


Now I also found out I need a rotor, becuase WBAL and WJZ won't come in at the same time, so I'll need to rotate the antenna depending on which station I want. Right now I chose to keep it towards WJZ since that is our CBS affiliate. If I need NBC, I have WUSA Washington.


------------------

Michael Mullis

Director of US Operations

Next Level Gaming
http://www.nlgaming.com

 

[Ken H]

Do a search here for Winegard & Channel Master, they have the best consumer RF preamps available. There are some recent RS preamps that will also work pretty well, but older RS product will amplify noise (reducing reception reliability) as much as anything else.


To get specs,
http://www.starkelectronic.com/allamps.htm


Also, for the rotor, get the Channel Master with the IR remote control. You can surf OTA DTV from different directions without getting off the couch. YES! It has 69 different preprogrammed locations for your use. It's on the Stark web site, too.


------------------

"better living thru modern expensive electronics"

tm


[This message has been edited by Ken H (edited 06-22-2001).]

 

[Michael Mullis]

My need seems to be the rotor. Like I said, I can pick up Washington DC stations with 80-90% signal strength 40 miles away. I can get the Baltimore stations 5 miles away, but I have to fight to get 2 of the stations at the same time, so I'll need the rotor. I'm almost done spending money for this! http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif


------------------

Michael Mullis

Director of US Operations

Next Level Gaming
http://www.nlgaming.com

 

[Stereojeff]

I'm almost done spending money for this!


Famous last words....At one time or another that's what we all thought.


Jeff Hipps

 

[mangoldm]

The rotor will help a lot. My house is south of Annapolis and I have to rotate the antenna quite a bit. I'm in a heavily wooded area so my signal for Balto stations is only in the 60s and 70s, with DC stations a bit weaker. I still haven't been able to get WETA 27 though http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/frown.gif


I hate watching a picture that isn't OTA now. Who'd have thunk that we'd be going back to the future in 2001.