The missing channel in Chattanooga

792 Views 11 Replies 6 Participants Last post by ProjectSHO89, Feb 28, 2014

billspar

Discussion Starter · Feb 18, 2014

Since going to a single income household, I am trying to cut the cable and go all OTA. The problem is I can't get NBC no matter what I try. My goal is to have one antenna that serves 5 TVs spread throughout the house. But my current set-up doesn't even work on a single TV right next to the antenna. Please, please, please help, as this science seems a black art to me!

Here is the tvfool info

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d5b94562dbccfd3

My antenna is a Solid Signal Xtreme Signal HDB4X High Definition Blade 4 Bay Xtreme VHF/UHF Antenna (HDB4X)

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=HDB4X&d=Solid-Signal-Xtreme-Signal-HDB4X-High-Definition-Blade-4-Bay-Xtreme-VHFUHF-Antenna-%28HDB4X%29&c=TV%20Antennas&sku=700112818400

This goes into a pre-amp

Antennacraft by RadioShack 10G202 High Gain Premium Grade VHF/UHF TV Antenna Pre-Amplifier (10G202)

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=10G202&d=Antennacraft-by-RadioShack-10G202-High-Gain-Premium-Grade-VHFUHF-TV-Antenna-PreAmplifier-%2810G202%29&c=Pre-Amplifiers&sku=

I have tested the set-up without the amp and there was no improvement. I started with the antenna in the attic, but moved it to the roof (10ish feet higher (25? feet total)) and got the same results. The most frustrating thing is that my brother, who lives across the street, is able to pick up all of the major channels (with only some issues on channel 9) using a cheap $30 GE antenna (model 34762)

Does this make sense to anybody?

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ProjectSHO89

· #2 · Feb 18, 2014

You can't get NBC because it's a VHF station because you bought a UHF-only antenna. You cannot amplify your way out of that mistake.

Either start over with a proper high-VHF/UHF antenna or plan on adding a high-VHF antenna to your UHF antenna.

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Ratman

· #3 · Feb 18, 2014

Quote:
Originally Posted by ProjectSHO89 /t/1518567/the-missing-channel-in-chattanooga#post_24375970

You can't get NBC because it's a VHF station because you bought a UHF-only antenna. You cannot amplify your way out of that mistake.

Either start over with a proper high-VHF/UHF antenna or plan on adding a high-VHF antenna to your UHF antenna.

did you look at the specs of the antenna?

Receives UHF digital broadcasts at 50+ miles and 15 Miles High Band VHF

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ctdish

· #4 · Feb 18, 2014

Both the previous comments have some merit. You have an antenna that is a good design for UHF (channels higher than 13). Any antenna will pick up some signal on frequencies for which it is not designed so the advertising department of the antenna company can say it will work to some degree on VHF channels. Your ABC and NBC stations are VHF and very strong so there was a chance your antenna could work but you did not luck out.

This is a better antenna for your location: http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=CM2016&d=Channel-Master-CM2016-HDTV-VHF-High-Band-and-UHF-Antenna-%28CM2016%29

A high band VHF antenna could be added below your existing antenna like this: http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=Y10-7-13&ss=26962

or this: http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=cs600&d=antennacraft-by-radioshack-cs600-suburban-vhf-fm-hd-tv-antenna-%28cs600%29&utm_campaign=base&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=google_base

John

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ProjectSHO89

· #5 · Feb 19, 2014

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratman /t/1518567/the-missing-channel-in-chattanooga#post_24376187

did you look at the specs of the antenna?

Receives UHF digital broadcasts at 50+ miles and 15 Miles High Band VHF

Yes, I'm familiar with it. It has a Solid Signal marketing claim for VHF reception, but it has no specifications for VHF. Here is the Chinese manufacturer's data: http://www.qiaohua.com/products/av-0948.htm

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billspar

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 20, 2014

Wow. I guess it's back to the drawing board then. Thanks for the great feedback and your patience for those of us who are new to this. I just had no idea that I would need nearly a foot of antenna per mile to the tower. Or that RF channel 9 and RF channel 13 are so different from each other that, though the towers are 100 feet apart, you could pick up one feed easily and not even see the other.

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ctdish

· #7 · Feb 21, 2014

Both WRCB and WTVC are both quite strong but WTVC's signal is about 3 times stronger at your location according to your TVFool report.

You might try using a pair of rabbit ears especially if you have one laying around. It is likely a better antenna for VHF than the UHF one you are using now.

Another antenna appropriate for your location is the RCA ANT751.

Also your signals are likely degraded by using any preamp that covers VHF channels at your location due to overload. Abetter one for your location is this:
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=sap4700&d=Winegard-AP-4700-Chromstar-2000-Series-UHF-Pre-Amplifier-%28AP-4700%29&sku=615798100148

John

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ADTech

· #8 · Feb 21, 2014

Quote:
Also your signals are likely degraded by using any preamp that covers VHF channels at your location due to overload. Abetter one for your location is this:
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=sap4700&d=Winegard-AP-4700-Chromstar-2000-Series-UHF-Pre-Amplifier-%28AP-4700%29&sku=615798100148

Discontinued and out of stock.

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ctdish

· #9 · Feb 21, 2014

OK, any UHF only amp you can think of?

John

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tylerSC

· #10 · Feb 21, 2014

Quote:
Originally Posted by ctdish /t/1518567/the-missing-channel-in-chattanooga#post_24390290

OK, any UHF only amp you can think of?

John

It is disappointing that both Winegard and Channel Master have discontinued their UHF only preamps. Winegard had the AP-4700 and AP-4800. And Channel Master had the Titan 7775. Perhaps you could check on eBay.

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billspar

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 28, 2014

I found a couple of the Winegard pre-amps on ebay but they look a little worse for the wear. Would it be worth it to try an attenuator since ALL the other channels seem to come in so well? And if so, is there one that you would recommend? I really want to avoid installing a ten foot antenna on my house unless I absolutely have to. I am would probably not get a load of grief from my neighbors in the historic district, but I do want to do my part.

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ProjectSHO89

· #12 · Feb 28, 2014

You don't need a 10' antenna, you need an antenna with an element that's around 30-34" in length. The distance to the towers is irrelevant for the antenna element length, that length is a function of the operating channel.

An easy solution is to buy the C2 VHF upgrade kit that Antennas Direct sells and strip off the reflector. You're left with a simple high VHF antenna that comes with its own mast mount and its U/V combiner. You can move it around where it needs to be. It's on their web site under accessories and then reflectors.

You could make your own, if you wish. You'd need a matching transformer, a UVSJ, some aluminum or copper tubing or metal stock and some basic hardware and tools.

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