[ceci123]

I just bough a new house and the house has an old and simple looking antenna. Pic below... I can't get a better picture. https : // www . dropbox . com/s/bj5k2offusnkpth/oldAntenna.png
I am new to this forum so I can't upload an image or hyperlink it. I hope you can see the pic using the link above.

I followed the coax cable and connected to my HDTV and nothing seem to happen. Is there a way to test(testing tools) if it has any signal coming in?

I would like to use it I can get it to send any type of signal. Any thoughts?

Thank you.

Ceci

 

[Andrew K]

It's kinda hard to see the antenna in that picture. It's camouflaged by the tree branches. Are all the antenna elements there? Worst case... you can reuse the mount (assuming it's mounted properly to roof trusses below) to put up a new antenna and wire it yourself.

 

[sdowney717]

The balun might be defective either open or shorted, no signal will flow.

I attached your picture.

 

[GreySkies]

When you connected it to your tv, did you scan for channels?

 

[ceci123]

It's kinda hard to see the antenna in that picture. It's camouflaged by the tree branches. Are all the antenna elements there? Worst case... you can reuse the mount (assuming it's mounted properly to roof trusses below) to put up a new antenna and wire it yourself.

i'll try to take a better picture tomorrow. The antenna to up high and don't have a ladder to go there...that said do you know any tools to test or troubleshoot the signal Strength.

Based on my area code I am supposed to get the following channels.

NetworkStation Channel
PBS WNED-DT1 17-1
WORLD WNED-DT2 17-2
TCT WNYB-DT1 26-1
TCT2 WNYB-DT2 26-2
TCT3 WNYB-DT3 26-3
TCT4 WNYB-DT4 26-4
CW WBXZ-LD1 56-1
HEARTLAND WBXZ-LD2 56-2
RTVNET WBXZ-LD3 56-3
IND WBXZ-LD4 56-4
PBJ WBXZ-LD5 56-5
ION WPXJ-DT1 51-1
QUBO WPXJ-DT2 51-2
IONLIFE WPXJ-DT3 51-3
SHOP WPXJ-DT4 51-4
QVC WPXJ-DT5 51-5
HSN WPXJ-DT6 51-6
CW WNLO-DT1 23-1
BOUNCE WNLO-DT2 23-2
METV WBBZ-DT1 67-1
THISTV WBBZ-DT2 67-2
DAYSTAR WBBZ-DT4 67-4
TCT WBNF-CD1 15-1
TCT WBNF-CD2 15-2
TCT WBNF-CD3 15-3
FOX WUTV-DT1 29-1
ZUUS WUTV-DT2 29-2
GRIT WUTV-DT3 29-3
CBS WIVB-DT1 4-1
MYNET WNYO-DT1 49-1
GETTV WNYO-DT2 49-2
NBC WGRZ-DT1 2-1
ATV WGRZ-DT2 2-2
JUSTNET WGRZ-DT3 2-3
DAY null -
ABC WKBW-DT1 7-1

 

[ceci123]

The balun might be defective either open or shorted, no signal will flow.

I attached your picture.

I am guessing the belun is attached to the rooftop antenna. Correct? My house is very high and I don't feel confident going up there.... might fall.

 

[Andrew K]

i'll try to take a better picture tomorrow. The antenna to up high and don't have a ladder to go there...that said do you know any tools to test or troubleshoot the signal Strength.

Based on my area code I am supposed to get the following channels.

NetworkStation Channel
PBS WNED-DT1 17-1
WORLD WNED-DT2 17-2
TCT WNYB-DT1 26-1
TCT2 WNYB-DT2 26-2
TCT3 WNYB-DT3 26-3
TCT4 WNYB-DT4 26-4
CW WBXZ-LD1 56-1
HEARTLAND WBXZ-LD2 56-2
RTVNET WBXZ-LD3 56-3
IND WBXZ-LD4 56-4
PBJ WBXZ-LD5 56-5
ION WPXJ-DT1 51-1
QUBO WPXJ-DT2 51-2
IONLIFE WPXJ-DT3 51-3
SHOP WPXJ-DT4 51-4
QVC WPXJ-DT5 51-5
HSN WPXJ-DT6 51-6
CW WNLO-DT1 23-1
BOUNCE WNLO-DT2 23-2
METV WBBZ-DT1 67-1
THISTV WBBZ-DT2 67-2
DAYSTAR WBBZ-DT4 67-4
TCT WBNF-CD1 15-1
TCT WBNF-CD2 15-2
TCT WBNF-CD3 15-3
FOX WUTV-DT1 29-1
ZUUS WUTV-DT2 29-2
GRIT WUTV-DT3 29-3
CBS WIVB-DT1 4-1
MYNET WNYO-DT1 49-1
GETTV WNYO-DT2 49-2
NBC WGRZ-DT1 2-1
ATV WGRZ-DT2 2-2
JUSTNET WGRZ-DT3 2-3
DAY null -
ABC WKBW-DT1 7-1

Go to TVFool.com and post your results for your address here in this discussion. That will reveal a lot.

 

[sdowney717]

I am guessing the belun is attached to the rooftop antenna. Correct? My house is very high and I don't feel confident going up there.... might fall.

It is always a risk to go onto a roof.
The balun attaches direct to the antenna wing nuts and outputs the 75 ohm coax. I suppose antenna can get high resistance where the elements swing out. Simply moving in and out might help that. Usually the elements snap off, not corrode off.

Baluns can go bad, I seen them get wet and corrode. Maybe when snow goes away, someone will be willing to go up and change it out. We went through 2 baluns in 6 years at my wife's fathers house. My balun has been replaced once in 15 years. You unbolt the antenna pole and lower antenna to roof.

Your roof angle does not look steep. Roofer trick is to use foam cushions, they give great grip onto the roof. If the shingles have lots of loose stone that's not good for walking up there. Use soft rubber shoes for a good grip.

 

[ProjectSHO89]

You'll also get absolutely nothing if you don't program your TV correctly, assuming its new enough to have a digital tune. See your owner's manual.

 

[ceci123]

It is always a risk to go onto a roof.
The balun attaches direct to the antenna wing nuts and outputs the 75 ohm coax. I suppose antenna can get high resistance where the elements swing out. Simply moving in and out might help that. Usually the elements snap off, not corrode off.

Baluns can go bad, I seen them get wet and corrode. Maybe when snow goes away, someone will be willing to go up and change it out. We went through 2 baluns in 6 years at my wife's fathers house. My balun has been replaced once in 15 years. You unbolt the antenna pole and lower antenna to roof.

Your roof angle does not look steep. Roofer trick is to use foam cushions, they give great grip onto the roof. If the shingles have lots of loose stone that's not good for walking up there. Use soft rubber shoes for a good grip.

I will have to wait until it gets warm and dry. I am thinking about getting one of this http : // i.dslr. net/syms/be3f390b7b308fabef5251db9041f880.jpg for my ladder.

I did program it correctly. Right now I am using a regular indoor antenna next to the tv. I get 10 channels but not very clear. I am supposed to get all the following channels:

Strong Signal WNLO CW 23-1 UHF
Strong Signal WUTV FOX 29-1 UHF
Strong Signal WGRZ NBC 2-1 UHF
Strong Signal WIVB CBS 4-1 UHF
Strong Signal WNED PBS 17-1 UHF
Strong Signal WKBW ABC 7-1 UHF
Strong Signal WNYO MYTV 49-1 UHF
Strong Signal WBBZ unknown 67-1 Hi-V
Strong Signal WNYB IND 26-1 UHF
Moderate Signal WPXJ ION 51-1 UHF


The website says that I need an "Outdoor Medium Range Digital TV Antenna" for my location. I am not sure if
a) I should buy a new outdoor antenna or b) try using the existing antenna or c) create my own DYI HD Antenna. I saw some videos online on how to create your own HD Antenna. I guess the cheapest would be to trying fixing the exiting antenna....maybe the balun did go bad. I just don't know if buying a new antenna is going to give me any better results for the money.

Any suggestions?

 

[ceci123]

Go to TVFool.com and post your results for your address here in this discussion. That will reveal a lot.

tvfoo results

http : // www .tvfool. com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3df1f0263f8aa1c7

I am not allowed to add full links yet.

 

[ceci123]

tvfoo results

http : // www .tvfool. com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3df1f0263f8aa1c7

I am not allowed to add full links yet.

If the above link didn't work try this.
http : // www. tvfool. com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3df1f0263f8aa1c7

 

[ceci123]

I just tested the link above and its not working. It somehow adds an extra space at the end bet. the 'c' and the '7'. Pls remove it. Thanks. Sorry for the mess.

 

[Calaveras]

If the above link didn't work try this.
http : // www. tvfool. com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3df1f0263f8aa1c7

Here's your corrected link:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=f1f0263f8aa1c7

Your TV Fool report is kind of a mess. Your signals range from adequate with a good outdoor antenna to extremely strong and they're in many directions including one on VHF. The real solution is a combo antenna such as the Winegard HD7698P or the AntennaCraft HBU55 outdoors on a rotor. You can work down from there eliminating stations. If you only care about the main network stations around 283 degrees and those in the 160-170 degree range you could get away with two UHF antennas on an A/B switch.

 

[bj33813]

you said it does not work connected to your tv. You might check with a ohm meter to see if there is continuity in the cable from antenna to tv: disconnect cable at antenna, and while up there you might physically look to see if you can spot any disconnected or broken wires on the antenna itself. use a jumper wire to connect the center wire of cable to the connector screw-on terminal and then check with a meter at tv end of cable to see if you have continuity. If not, bad cable.
Most tv's have a signal strength indicator, try that to see what strength if any.

 

[bj33813]

sorry, forgot to say you should also check the cable continuity at tv end BEFORE jumping the center wire at antenna end. It should NOT show continuity . If it does, the ground shield is touching the center wire inside and you need a new cable.

 

[ceci123]

Here's your corrected link:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=f1f0263f8aa1c7

Your TV Fool report is kind of a mess. Your signals range from adequate with a good outdoor antenna to extremely strong and they're in many directions including one on VHF. The real solution is a combo antenna such as the Winegard HD7698P or the AntennaCraft HBU55 outdoors on a rotor. You can work down from there eliminating stations. If you only care about the main network stations around 283 degrees and those in the 160-170 degree range you could get away with two UHF antennas on an A/B switch.

A local Radioshack is going out of business and have this antenna for sale http://www.antennacraft.net/pdfs/HBU22_.pdf Should I get this one if price is right or just I buy the one you've suggested AntennaCraft HBU55?

I went to antennapoint website and this is what they show me based on my physical address: https://www.dropbox.com/s/05fxc57i75yy23g/mylocation.png its a bit less messy than the previous link I sent.

 

[ceci123]

sorry, forgot to say you should also check the cable continuity at tv end BEFORE jumping the center wire at antenna end. It should NOT show continuity . If it does, the ground shield is touching the center wire inside and you need a new cable.

I would need an ohm meter for this. I don't have one. I'll check if I one of my friends has it or maybe I should buy one and learn how to use it

Good suggestion.

 

[Calaveras]

A local Radioshack is going out of business and have this antenna for sale http://www.antennacraft.net/pdfs/HBU22_.pdf Should I get this one if price is right or just I buy the one you've suggested AntennaCraft HBU55?

I went to antennapoint website and this is what they show me based on my physical address: https://www.dropbox.com/s/05fxc57i75yy23g/mylocation.png its a bit less messy than the previous link I sent.

You still need at least 2 antennas or one with a rotor.

The HBU22 outside on a rotor would probably get all your network stations.

 

[ceci123]

How difficult is it to install an antenna rotator?

Now I look at it it doesn't look too old. Should I consider replacing it?

Below is a better pic for my existing/old antenna.