Antenna Shortages the Weekend of June 13th ?????

[markwooldridge]

At Wal Mart today I saw a main isle display of the RCA flat amplified antenna. ($27)

There were lots of them, maybe a 100.

Perhaps there won't be an antenna shortage after all....

Basically because those RCA flat amplified antennas at $27 are totally crap. I bought one and a piece of wire sticking out the back of the converter box worked better than that antenna.

Mark.

 

[willcail]

The Phillip "HDTV" antenna does come with an optional amplifier that is fully detectable from the antenna. The Phillip amplifier have one male that goes to the TV Tuner and the other end female. The 6V power adapter plugs into the amplifier. I can simply unplug it when needed. When I do it I loose WDEM CA. Then I do live an a steel and concrete apartment highrise that facing east away from the DTV towers .

 

[vchimpanzee]

"Adding more db's" of amplifier gain is not going to help in most cases. Amplifier gain is a poor substitute for antenna gain. A good outdoor antenna is always better than an indoor antenna, although many people can get by with an indoor one.

Amplified antennas are going to add quite a bit more noise and distortion to your signal, and if you didn't have a good enough signal without the amp, it's not going to make a bad signal better.

I haven't tried the DTV stations without the amplified antenna, but I do know the sound isn't that good. A lot of times I'll hear hissing.

But thius is what the man at Sears told me to get. A lot cheaper and a lot less trouble than instaling an outdoor one.

And come June 12, I hope to get all my stations once again.

The ones I can't are on cable, which is what I watch most of the time anyway.

 

[vchimpanzee]

"Adding more db's" of amplifier gain is not going to help in most cases. Amplifier gain is a poor substitute for antenna gain. A good outdoor antenna is always better than an indoor antenna, although many people can get by with an indoor one.

Amplified antennas are going to add quite a bit more noise and distortion to your signal, and if you didn't have a good enough signal without the amp, it's not going to make a bad signal better.

And if you have one or more strong signals, they could overload the amp, or mix together (if there are two or more) and cause all kinds of havoc, possibly obliterating the weak signals.

Between the noise generated in the active devices in the amp, plus the possibility of overload caused by strong signals, I believe an amp should be used only when absolutely necessary. Many of these consumer-grade amps are poorly designed and use cheap devices. Their noise figures and intermod performance is usually not very good, especially at UHF.

Most urban areas don't need an amp.

But I live miles away from any TV station. I need something. No problem with overload.

 

[willcail]

For the Columbus Ohio and surrounding residents that on Saturday May 30TH around 6:30PM that WBNS DT did a test for their upcoming Doppler 10 Now subchannel. Of course it will broadcast 4:3 SD. When I finished watching Lifeline Columbus on WDEM CA, thats when I saw it.

 

[kenglish]

But I live miles away from any TV station. I need something. No problem with overload.
[/quote]

Remember, the radio-frequency tuner in the TV is broadband. It accepts everything in the spectrum, from below 50 MHz, all the way up to around 1000 MHz. So, even without a TV station nearby, any transmitter that hits it hard will overload it.

Best bet is to use a good outdoor antenna, then...if needed....a good quality antenna preamp. Preamps are designed to accept a wide dynamic range without distortion, although you might still need to lower the overall signal after the preamp, going in to the TV.

 

[TheRover]

"Adding more db's" of amplifier gain is not going to help in most cases. Amplifier gain is a poor substitute for antenna gain. A good outdoor antenna is always better than an indoor antenna, although many people can get by with an indoor one.

Amplified antennas are going to add quite a bit more noise and distortion to your signal, and if you didn't have a good enough signal without the amp, it's not going to make a bad signal better.

The Phillips MANT410 46dB amplified indoor antenna that I got off the Wal Mart Web Sitehas separate gain controls for VHF (Max 45dB) and UHF (Max 30dB). So, with the gain control, you do have control somewhat. I run them at max for my situtation, about 15 miles from the broadcast antennas.

 

[radiolives]

I have been using some old rabbit ears and it has worked good, get some of the locals that are close but the other towers are about 40 miles away. I want to try and get something better but not sure what antenna would be best in my case. Antenna Web said I should get a Small Directional Antenna with pre-amp. Any ideas what antenna would work best in my case?

 

[kenrayc]

I have been using some old rabbit ears and it has worked good, get some of the locals that are close but the other towers are about 40 miles away. I want to try and get something better but not sure what antenna would be best in my case. Antenna Web said I should get a Small Directional Antenna with pre-amp. Any ideas what antenna would work best in my case?

Radioshack has a series of antennas made for high VHF and UHF. The smallest is the Winegard HD 1080 for about $60. Its range is about 50 miles and has had good review for those that are 50 miles or less from the Transmitters.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I saw an article today in an area newspaper. The article pointed out that "basic" is not basic, so if you're one of those people for whom an antenna won't help enough, don't take the "basic" package if you can't afford it. I told my barber, who hated paying so much. I had known about this for years but hadn't done anything until I had to. He said he had asked for the most basic package because he didn't need all those channels and was told what he had was basic. I told him he needed to tell them EXACTLY what he wanted.

As with most papers, they let people comment. Someone said if you can't figure this stuff out you shouldn't even have TV.

This digital TV stuff is more complicated than most people should have to be dealing with.

Two people in my neighborhood had a cable guy show up. I hadn't even noticed the dish on the one man's house. The other people don't have a dish, to my knowledge. Maybe they were upgrading or downgrading. I'll ask. When you have cable and see a van, you tend to worry. I wasn't planning to watch anything until 7, though. The other shows I watch before that aren't on cable anyway.

 

[radiolives]

I have been using some old rabbit ears and it has worked good, get some of the locals that are close but the other towers are about 40 miles away. I want to try and get something better but not sure what antenna would be best in my case. Antenna Web said I should get a Small Directional Antenna with pre-amp. Any ideas what antenna would work best in my case?

Radioshack has a series of antennas made for high VHF and UHF. The smallest is the Winegard HD 1080 for about $60. Its range is about 50 miles and has had good review for those that are 50 miles or less from the Transmitters.

I wasn't thinking about spending 60 bucks. With the old rabbit ears I am using I am able to pick up the local ABC along with CW which are both about 45 miles away. I was thinking maybe that Phillips antenna another poster said might be good. Plus isn't it true that some stations aren't at full power yet and some need to move to different channel numbers.

 

[kenrayc]

I have been using some old rabbit ears and it has worked good, get some of the locals that are close but the other towers are about 40 miles away. I want to try and get something better but not sure what antenna would be best in my case. Antenna Web said I should get a Small Directional Antenna with pre-amp. Any ideas what antenna would work best in my case?

Radioshack has a series of antennas made for high VHF and UHF. The smallest is the Winegard HD 1080 for about $60. Its range is about 50 miles and has had good review for those that are 50 miles or less from the Transmitters.

I wasn't thinking about spending 60 bucks. With the old rabbit ears I am using I am able to pick up the local ABC along with CW which are both about 45 miles away. I was thinking maybe that Phillips antenna another poster said might be good. Plus isn't it true that some stations aren't at full power yet and some need to move to different channel numbers.

Good Point in Fresno /Clovis ABC 30 KFSN is using a temporary low power VHF 9 , and at 12 noon June 12 will switch to 30 full power, along with Telemundo KNSO 51 will go from ch.5 to ch.11 with full power. KSEE NBC 24 has move to the same site as the CW 59 KFRE , CBS 47 KGPE , KFSN ABC 30 , MY 7 KAIL, Univision KFTV 21. putting almost all stations on the same site ,Except KMPH Fox 26 From Visalia which is 50 miles away at a site 8000 ft high so their staying there.

 

[kenrayc]

I have been using some old rabbit ears and it has worked good, get some of the locals that are close but the other towers are about 40 miles away. I want to try and get something better but not sure what antenna would be best in my case. Antenna Web said I should get a Small Directional Antenna with pre-amp. Any ideas what antenna would work best in my case?

Should check out Trip's website rabbitears.com for updates ANTENNAWEB doesn't even have FOX 26 KMPH listed.


Radioshack has a series of antennas made for high VHF and UHF. The smallest is the Winegard HD 1080 for about $60. Its range is about 50 miles and has had good review for those that are 50 miles or less from the Transmitters.

I wasn't thinking about spending 60 bucks. With the old rabbit ears I am using I am able to pick up the local ABC along with CW which are both about 45 miles away. I was thinking maybe that Phillips antenna another poster said might be good. Plus isn't it true that some stations aren't at full power yet and some need to move to different channel numbers.

Good Point in Fresno /Clovis ABC 30 KFSN is using a temporary low power VHF 9 , and at 12 noon June 12 will switch to 30 full power, along with Telemundo KNSO 51 will go from ch.5 to ch.11 with full power. KSEE NBC 24 has move to the same site as the CW 59 KFRE , CBS 47 KGPE , KFSN ABC 30 , MY 7 KAIL, Univision KFTV 21. putting almost all stations on the same site ,Except KMPH Fox 26 From Visalia which is 50 miles away at a site 8000 ft high so their staying there.

 

[TheRover]

I saw an article today in an area newspaper. The article pointed out that "basic" is not basic, so if you're one of those people for whom an antenna won't help enough, don't take the "basic" package if you can't afford it. I told my barber, who hated paying so much. I had known about this for years but hadn't done anything until I had to. He said he had asked for the most basic package because he didn't need all those channels and was told what he had was basic. I told him he needed to tell them EXACTLY what he wanted.

As with most papers, they let people comment. Someone said if you can't figure this stuff out you shouldn't even have TV.

Exactly..... Many Cable Companies label a package they offer as "BASIC" cable.... but this is NOT their cheapest package.

TIME WARNER has been raising my Basic-Basic cable rates staedily for 2 years now!

I have less channels than when they took over from Comcast (in that N. Texas--Phil. switch....). But good 'ol Time Warner has almost DOUBLED my Basic-Basic cable rates ! ! !

I REALLY REALLY expect Bi-Partisan support for Cable Choice legislation.

THEN I can choose just the stations I want to pay for, abd all of their back room deals with the conglomerate netowrks can go straight to H-E- L L ! ! !

 

[PTBoardOp94]

I get about 20 channels on basic cable for $11/month. Oxygen, FX, ESPN2 (but not ESPN), Discovery, WGN America, 2 x CSpan, QVC, and locals. Very reasonable, I think.

 

[TheRover]

I get about 20 channels on basic cable for $11/month. Oxygen, FX, ESPN2 (but not ESPN), Discovery, WGN America, 2 x CSpan, QVC, and locals. Very reasonable, I think.

Yes, that IS very reasonable......

The "Basic" cable rate here, was, for many, many years $10/mo.

When Time Warner took over the rate was $12/mo.

It is now closer to $18/mo.

I don't even have a converter box with this service.... But TW has raised the rates anyway. To do this to those on fixed incomes and the elderly, (and me).... shows just what a corrupt conglomerate they are !

They will get their just due when Cable Choice is the Law of the Land !

 

[eskipper411]

Yeah I would go to walmart and they would have no boxes or antennas! looks like i wlll not be prepared.

 

[Nate Wesley]

I get about 20 channels on basic cable for $11/month. Oxygen, FX, ESPN2 (but not ESPN), Discovery, WGN America, 2 x CSpan, QVC, and locals. Very reasonable, I think.

At just $11 a month, I'd be just fine with that lineup. There'd have to be something worth watching intensely on the locals or on FX/WGN America/Discovery/ESPN2--and if not, to the internet I go!

I'd probably pine for Spike or USA Network, though.

 

[TheRover]

I hooked up an amplified indoor antenna and tried to get DTV signals in Garland, Tx. with a converter box attached. Got maybe one station to come in.

I unhooked the converter box, and with the amplified antenna I was able to get several over the air stations.

Tried the amplified digital antenna in Garland today June 14th, 2 days after the cut-over.

Got only 2 didtal stations to register, CH. 11 and Ch. 52..... but neither station would give a moving picture, just the freezed picture from too low a signal.

And so..... this is the nasty part of the cut over that the Govt. in it's hundreds of millions dollars spent to get everyone prepared.... did not want to give too much emphasis....

The Facts of Digital TV Life, while not spelled out too explicitly before the cut over, just sort of glossed over.... Are now being realized by how many tens of thousands ?

I wonder just how much reporting on this negative situation will get highlighted in the mainstream media ?

What a boon for the greedy cable companies..... Especially Time Warner.... who, in my North Texas market, has seen fit to raise basic basic cable rates by almost 60% since they took over from Comcast in that swap a few years ago.

Publicly traded conglomerates are looking out for you profits at the expense of those who can least afford it.... those on fixed incomes.

 

[nd2023]

Who ever thought that people would be rushing to stores to buy a TV antenna in 2009?