[sdossick]

Just got a gorgeous new Panasonic PA42PA20UP plasma, which is hooked up to a Samsung TS160 STB.


After seeing the PQ of the DirecTV-provided locals (which are all standard def of course), I decided to try an OTA UHF antenna to get my HD locals (I'm in the seattle area).


According to AntennaWeb, I need the smallest of the various sizes of antenna. I'm about 11mi from the transmission source (and all the networks I care about are in the same direction).


I just tried a $20 Radio Shack antenna (U-75R) and get almost no signal. Granted, it's not mounted as high as it could be, but it is outdoors and I have no real obstructions. I live toward the top of a hill, and there are no buildings taller than 2-3 stories visible anywhere.


I've just ordered a channelmaster 3021 from SolidSignal...any ideas if I'll receive some kind of a signal? Or do I need to resign myself to the crappy quality of DirecTV's locals?

 

[Kipp Jones]

Have you tried adjusting the direction of your antenna? Where are you located?

 

[sdossick]

Yes, I started with pointing the antenna in the compass direction I got from antennaweb.org, and went on from there when I got no signal.


I'm over in northeastern Bellevue towards Lake Sammamish. I was able to get OTA VHF channels pretty easily for the few days while I was waiting for my DTV installer, so I can't imagine I'm SOL on HD channels...

 

[jautor]

I have the same antenna in my attic, the TS-160, and I'm 20 miles from the HD antenna array. I was able to get all the local HD stations, but ended up needing a small 10dB amplifier to get 85-95% signal strength all the time...


Being only 11 miles, you shouldn't have a problem. Is the antenna new (meaning just installed)? Do any analog UHF stations show up? I would suspect cabling issues or you're pointing in the opposite direction...


Tune to one of the digital channels, and check the OTA signal strength in the TS-160. I experienced dropouts or 'no signal' if the 160 was reporting less than 70%...


Jeff

 

[Nitewatchman]

Quote:

Originally posted by sdossick Yes, I started with pointing the antenna in the compass direction I got from antennaweb.org, and went on from there when I got no signal. I'm over in northeastern Bellevue towards Lake Sammamish. I was able to get OTA VHF channels pretty easily for the few days while I was waiting for my DTV installer, so I can't imagine I'm SOL on HD channels...

You might also want to check and make sure you have the STB set to receive "Over the air"(or "antenna, or "air"/etc, if your T-160 has such a setting ,which my guess is it probably does) signals rather than Cable. If it is set to scan Cable Frequencies, VHF stations would be all it would find OTA.

 

[Neil L]

The antenna is not your problem. I have one of those U-75R antennas myself. It will pick up channels 30 miles away just fine pointed about any direction. It really isn't very directional, which actually might be a problem for you come to think of it. You may be getting multi-path signals, which will kill ATSC reception. Do you see "ghosts" on analog channels?


With a pre-amp, I can often get channels from 70 miles away with it. Mounted about 28' above ground.


So one or the other of the suggestions above should get you going.

 

[koopalei]

Quote:

Originally posted by Nitewatchman You might also want to check and make sure you have the STB set to receive "Over the air"(or "antenna, or "air"/etc, if your T-160 has such a setting ,which my guess is it probably does) signals rather than Cable. If it is set to scan Cable Frequencies, VHF stations would be all it would find OTA.

Yep, you need to set the TS160 to "Over The Air OTA", and also pick

digital and analog and let it scan all the channels. It will use sub-number

for channels with multiple signal (sat/analog/digital). I also made the same

mistake, but once I let it scan everything works fine. FYI, I bought a

Channel Master 3010 Stealth Antenna, my local channels are much sharper

than D* local channels. I plan to get a signal amplifier and see if if that

inproves the picture any further.

 

[Chriš2]

Quote:

Originally posted by sdossick I just tried a $20 Radio Shack antenna (U-75R) and get almost no signal. Granted, it's not mounted as high as it could be, but it is outdoors and I have no real obstructions.

I use that antenna and pick up New York about 40 miles away, through a bunch of tall trees! At 11 miles you should be getting the signal even if it isn't aimed properly. I get CT ABC about 20 miles away even when aimed in a different direction.


A couple other ideas - I assume you bought the proper 75 ohm transformer, and the antenna spreader bars where it connects are fully extended? And your cable (RG6) is not loose or faulty?

 

[hdtvforme]

I have a U-75R and pickup clean signals 60 miles away. Make sure your coax cable isn't bad and move the antenna just in case it's sitting in a dead spot.

 

[sdossick]

Thanks for all the responses!


I'm sure the cable works. I temporarily used it with an old VHF antenna and got great signals through it.


I moved the antenna up to about 14' off the ground (thank goodness for balconies and I was able to get one signal -- not from the 'main' tower which hosts the locals I'm interested in, but another, closer one which has PAX and other less important (to me) channels. So I'm positive my setup _can_ work.


So, I'm noticing that many people here have their antennas mounted much higher than mine (28ft?) -- I wonder if this makes a lot of difference in signal quality?

 

[SteveK2]

Quote:

It will use sub-number for channels with multiple signal (sat/analog/digital)

...which TS160 do *you* have that it does this?


The Samsung TS160 that *I* (and others) have uses sub-numbers for digital broadcast channels only....this is the standard for hdtv stb's. If there are multiple signals (sat/analog/digital) on the same 'channel number', the sub-numbers still only appear on the digitals. The sat and analog channel numbers are the same, but have the word 'satellite' or 'analog' directly beneath the channel number.


As as example, WCBS (channel 2) in New York City. I can receive it in 3 different versions. Satellite (shows as '2'), Analog (shows as '2'), and digital (shows as '2-1')


For sdossick,

height usually helps, but primarily if you are in a low area. you can check the web for sites that list your elevation (sorry, a url for such a site escapes me at the moment). but as pointed out, there are cases of dead spots, so it is best to also walk the antenna around a roof, or balcony, and re-test signal strength in the different locaiton.


Good Luck

 

[Bomool]

sdossick,


I used Radio Shack antenna as well (UHF only) - what I noticed is that the transformer (300-75ohm) used made a huge difference for me. I would get crappy signal (UHF channels) using the basic transformer BUT when I paid few $$$ more to get the GOLD Premium transformer from Radio Shack, it made a HUGE difference. You might want to try that as it will cost you only few more dollars and Radio Shack will take back if it doesn't work. Good luck.

 

[gpflepsen]

Are you sure they are broadcasting full power, or at least at a level above their bare minimum? Some stations are going on but with a signal that is so weak people outside a few miles will have problems.

 

[jwehman]

Quote:

Originally posted by gpflepsen Are you sure they are broadcasting full power, or at least at a level above their bare minimum? Some stations are going on but with a signal that is so weak people outside a few miles will have problems.

ie...Denver Metro


Rgds,

JohnW