[szpor]

can someone tell me if there is an antenna that can pick up stations 200 miles away?

 

[Scooper]

Except for unusual atmospheric conditions (see tropospheric ducting) - no.

 

[sregener]

Quote:

Originally posted by szpor can someone tell me if there is an antenna that can pick up stations 200 miles away?

Under extremely rare circumstances, *any* television antenna can pick up stations 200 miles away. However, under most circumstances, *no* antenna is going to get terrestrial television broadcasts over such a distance.

 

[DonBerg]

You would have to live on top of a high mountain, say 5000feet elevation and the broadcast towers would also have to be on a real high mountain! At normal elevations, the curvature of the earth pretty much limits to 60miles for UHF band signals. Low VHF band (2-6) can bounce but very few digital TV channels are on that band, most are on the high UHF band - which is only line-of-sight transmission.

 

[kenglish]

We are getting line-of-sight DTV reception between mountaintops at 100-105 miles, using a directional antenna at each end. Transmit antenna is a Scala Paraflector (17 dB of gain), the receive antenna is a 12 foot microwave dish, modified to place a small UHF yagi at it's focal point.


Probably more than you want to do at home, though .

 

[mark_la]

There's reports of several AVSFORUM members in San Diego, CA getting HDTV signals from the Los Angeles, CA transmission towers. That's over 100 miles away "as the bird flies".

 

[jurassicjockey]

Quote:

the receive antenna is a 12 foot microwave dish, modified to place a small UHF yagi at it's focal point.

You know I was thinking about something similar. Taking an old Bud dish and putting a UHF antenna at the focal point. I decided that a) it would be too hard to point and b)my wife would definitely leave me. Oh well, it's probably for the best

 

[brothermaynard]

Quote:

Originally posted by mark_la There's reports of several AVSFORUM members in San Diego, CA getting HDTV signals from the Los Angeles, CA transmission towers. That's over 100 miles away "as the bird flies".

That's easy, mt.Wilson is at 5500 above sea level. I'm going the other way which is harder since there are several broadcast locations for SD and I don't think any are above 2000'. I am able to get many of their channels with only a 90"er and no pre amp. My elevation is about 60 feet and my antenna is mounted on the roof of a two story house (apx. 30'). I don't know what wattage they are transmitting or the elevations but at 100 miles I think i'm doing ok. I plan on testing with the cheap radio shack yagi stacked side by side since i'm sure I have multi-path issues.

 

[bryan27]

The higher your antenna the more distant it will "see". However, you also leave yourself open to receiving more interference. For 200 miles you will either need to be on a mountain, will need to put up 300ft tower, or both.


There is also the problem of what is between you and the station. Both your antenna and the stations antenna may be at the same height, but if something (like a mountain) is in between, you won't pick the station up.


Locally it is possible to receive Columbus, OH 120 miles away provided you live above 1,200ft, use a 75ft. tower, and a high gain antenna.

 

[labmansid]

Quote:

Originally posted by jurassicjockey You know I was thinking about something similar. Taking an old Bud dish and putting a UHF antenna at the focal point. I decided that a) it would be too hard to point and b)my wife would definitely leave me. Oh well, it's probably for the best

Which one is for the best: the antenna or the wife?!?!


Sid

 

[dswallow]

Quote:

Originally posted by szpor can someone tell me if there is an antenna that can pick up stations 200 miles away?

Almost any highly directional antenna placed on a tower just shy of 5 miles higher than ground level on a rotator with a tilt mechanism would be capable of this.

 

[rogo]

5 miles, huh? So I could borrow Everest or K2, set 'em up in the yard, and I'm so there!


Damn curvature of the earth [email protected]##@$#@%[email protected]#. If only Columbus had fallen off the edge.


Mark

 

[jurassicjockey]

Quote:

Which one is for the best: the antenna or the wife?!?!

Aaahh, she was a good lass. I'll miss her dearly.

 

[lomax]

now where did I put that weather balloon? Dam! and how much does five miles of cable cost? am I going to need a special pre-amp?

 

[dswallow]

Quote:

Originally posted by lomax now where did I put that weather balloon? Dam! and how much does five miles of cable cost? am I going to need a special pre-amp?

You're going to need about 800 pounds of coax cable, or 27 1000' spools. It'll need to have an attached wire for support since the coax cable alone would stretch under its own weight. That's probably another 150 pounds. It's gonna need to be the mother of all balloons what with the solar panels, batteries, gyroscope platform to keep the antenna pointed properly, 1,000 pounds of cable...

 

[tonov12]

Can you provide links to where this stuff can be purchased? Also, do you know if there are any installers of such a system in Colorado?

 

[dswallow]

Quote:

Originally posted by tonov12 Can you provide links to where this stuff can be purchased? Also, do you know if there are any installers of such a system in Colorado?

I can only divulge the installation companies and materials once you obtain the FAA permit for having the weather balloon anchored in place above your property.

 

[DonBerg]

How much gain on a preamp are you going to need for a 5mile RG6 coax cable?

 

[rogo]

I have used the leftover camp sites from Everest as "amplifier points." There are multiple camps from past expeditions and small kerosene heaters that I've adapted to generate electricity.


It seems to be working so far except my city council is debating whether keeping a mountain in the back yard is a zoning violation.


Also, please don't tell the Nepalese and Tibetans where the mountain is hidden. As you can imagine, this might be a sensitive issue.


mark