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trying to find the HD stations I can get

1700 Views 20 Replies 8 Participants Last post by SubaruB4, May 29, 2007

SubaruB4

Discussion Starter · May 12, 2007

My HD tuner card is shipped but to try and make this as painless as possible I do have a few questions..

First of all my zip code is 06830 for anyone that wants to look on antennaweb right now I only get analog since my hardware is not here yet.

The stations I can get is 13, 11 ,9, 7 and 5 who sometimes comes in clear and like right now it's fuzzy.

Now if you put in my zip code you will see most of the above stations are at 238°

However I have some issues with Channel 5 and since I live at a apartment where the antenna is on the roof I can't do much to that.. I just wonder why does it sometimes get clear and sometimes fuzzy and for channel 2 & 4 I really can't get at all... Maybe channel 4 is at a lower power level?

Also since this is a Outdoor antenna I connect to I think I have some backfeeding going on since I can see CNN and MSNBC and while a bit fuzzy I can get sound with it.

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

wrwine3

· #2 · May 12, 2007

Since you appear to be only getting channels between 2 and 13, the antenna on the roof may be a VHF only antenna. Are you getting any signal from channels 25, 31, 41, 47 or 68? If you do, you should be able to receive the HD signals. If you don't, you may not be able to receive the HD signals until early 2009. All your local stations are currently broadcasting on UHF channels between 30 and 56.

The issues with 2, 4 and 5 might be caused by backfeeding from someone's cable feed. Cable and over the air signals use the same transmission frequency but in different ways.

At 27 miles from the broadcast towers, you might look into getting an indoor antenna. That way you won't have to deal with the mixing of the cable and over the air interference at all.

walford

· #3 · May 12, 2007

Use your street addresse instead of your Zip code in AntennaWeb.org to get much more accurate information then the average data for your Zip code.

I agree you seem to be getting some Cable feed of somesort since AFAIK CNN and MSNBC are available only on Cable.

Ratman

· #4 · May 12, 2007

Probably.... your apartment complex no longer uses the antenna on the roof and connected to "community" cable. You'll need to set to TV/tuner to "cable".

If your TV/tuner is QAM... you may be able to get unencrypted cable channels. If the tuner is ATSC/8VSB only, you'll need an antenna. (IF my assumption is correct)

videobruce

· #5 · May 16, 2007

SubaruB4; 2/3's of your stations are around 30 miles away in the same direction;
http://www.2150.com/broadcast/defaul...=Show+Stations

Quote:
I have some backfeeding going on since I can see CNN and MSNBC and while a bit fuzzy I can get sound with it.

Is this your antenna or an antenna that is on the building? As already mentioned, if it is 'their' antenna, it might not be in use anymore. Have you asked the manager of the complex what is available from the coxial wall jack in your apartment?

SubaruB4

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 19, 2007

wow I forgot to send me an email on this thread.. what seems to be happening is some cable backfeeding going on.. the antenna is hooked up but I can see MSNBC and CNN and CNBC it's very snowy but I have sound a some picture.

also it's the complex antenna and also it does seem to be a VHF only antenna since I can't get anything higher then channel 13.

Speedskater

· #7 · May 19, 2007

See this thread:

Official TV Fool forum
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=841787

SubaruB4

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 20, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Graf /forum/post/0

See this thread:

Official TV Fool forum
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=841787

I saw that what a helpful tool.. not at home but what I can remember off hand for digital stations it was saying I had 1 Green station and the rest were yellow and red from my location.

I can show that when i get home it seems a bit more helpful then antenna web.

SubaruB4

Discussion Starter · #9 · May 20, 2007

Here is what I got for my location

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SubaruB4

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 20, 2007

Also it turns out that a building across from me has a UHF/VHF antenna but the others just get VHF...

SubaruB4

Discussion Starter · #11 · May 23, 2007

another question... I'm about I'd say 35-40 Ft lower then the roof top antenna.. would I still be able to get ANYTHING if I still point it the same direction of what the roof top antenna is pointing at?

My silver sensor just shipped off so it should be here within a few days.

Just curious I really want to see how the HD tuner worked on here.

Rick0725

· #12 · May 24, 2007

You will not know success till you try.

aim the antenna in the direction of the towers and experiment with height off the floor. add a longer coax if you need to to find the best spot.

if the sensor does not satisfy you it is plan B

It is as simple as that.

SubaruB4

Discussion Starter · #13 · May 25, 2007

I brought a philps silver sensor tonight while waiting for the other silver sensor from ebay.. I'm ready to return it now due to me not get anything.. so far up to channel 28 and the signal meter is not showing anything... I have it sitting here in front of my window.

does having the screen down effect anything?

Ok so I got 2 bars for signal but no picture.. I wished this program gave me it in percent instead of a bar.

Andrew Hornfeck

· #14 · May 25, 2007

"2 bars" and "this program" ??? Are you saying you've received your MyHD tuner card? I'd suggest you do some homework on the Home Theatre Computers forum (on here) for help with that setup. THIS forum is solely for reception issues. At 30 miles you may need the larger roof-top antenna the building offers, or an "improved" one offering UHF reception. What's the possibility the management would replace it? I'm sure you're not the only occupant with these issues, although you may be the first to express it! But trying an indoor antenna pointing the right direction will prove out whether it's adequate. Keep in mind that ATSC reception can be attained at much lower power levels than NTSC. If you're receiving the old analog signals OTA you should be able to get the digital ones provided the antenna is UHF, the broadcast tower is in approximately the same location, and the coaxial cable from the antenna to your tuner isn't degraded to the point where it is incapable of transmitting the highter frequency signals. Coax cable has higher losses at higher frequencies -- and UHF is higher than VHF.

The screen? Shouldn't be anything worst than a sheetrock wall. Is it IN the line of sight to your tower? Not until you have the tuner card installed correctly, proper drivers/decoders, computer system is adequate, and software is installed, configured and working right should you be trying to pick up the OTA signal. Can you borrow a STB and try your antenna? Have you asked others whether they can pick these up? You've got to seperate reception from tuning issues.

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SubaruB4

Discussion Starter · #15 · May 25, 2007

what the heck is a MyHD tuner card? my tuner card is a Hauppauge HVR-1600 and I've had it about 3 weeks now...

like I said in this thread and the other im not line of site with the tower.. and from line of sight I take it that takes in factor the height as well. pointing the silver sensor gave me nothing on any channels.

Anyways my tuner card is set up correct and I don't know if the management would change the antenna.. I would be willing to buy it if they install it.

Say here.. if they say no and OTA was what I watched and in 2009 when they cut it off could I go after them?

I will try with this antenna one more time before it goes back today.

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Andrew Hornfeck

· #16 · May 26, 2007

Don't be so rude. If you read your post you referred to your tuner as "My HD tuner card" without being specific to brand/model.

That aside, if all the pertinent parameters (I mentioned above) are correct then the only thing left IS antenna placement and reception. I'd say you're da man and will figure it all out.

SubaruB4

Discussion Starter · #17 · May 26, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Hornfeck /forum/post/0

Don't be so rude. If you read your post you referred to your tuner as "My HD tuner card" without being specific to brand/model.

That aside, if all the pertinent parameters (I mentioned above) are correct then the only thing left IS antenna placement and reception. I'd say you're da man and will figure it all out.

lol and your calling me rude...

Ratman

· #18 · May 27, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by SubaruB4 /forum/post/0

what the heck is a MyHD tuner card? .

http://www.digitalconnection.com/Pro...deo/mdp130.asp

Rick0725

· #19 · May 27, 2007

Quote:
what the heck is a MyHD tuner card? my tuner card is a Hauppauge HVR-1600 and I've had it about 3 weeks now...

The myhd is a USB 2.0 external tuner with 5th generation hdtv hardware. You may want to exchange. Your card and others are problematic when processing OTA hdtv signals.

The myhd is pretty decent and processes signal well. you may have better luck with reception.
http://www.buy.com/prod/OnAir_USB_HD...202493924.html

Ratman

· #20 · May 27, 2007

MyHD tuners come in various "flavors" (USB, PCI, etc.), not just USB.

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