I just did a rescan of my TV and I'm getting a lot of Waco and Austin stations.
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Good DTV dxing right now in Plano
- Thread starter arnoldevns
- Start date
tested said:
One can get a prediction of when ducts will be active by checking these resources:
http://www.mountainlake.k12.mn.us/ham/aprs/path.cgi?map=na
http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html
Along with distant stations coming in, the impact is that local stations get hammered with interference from afar.
As I'm writing this, KFWD/52 (RF-9) is totally gone since it's suffering from co-channel interference due to KCEN/9 from Waco-Temple. Likewise, KDTN/2 isn't receivable currently thanks to RF-43 interference coming from KEYE/42 in Austin.
I had no problem with KFWD during this particular event.
I got KHPK to come in a little bit though.
I also got:
KTBS - Shreveport
KLTV - Tyler
KSLA - Shreveport
KLRU - Austin
KVUE - Austin
KXXV - Waco
KWBU - Waco
KXAN - Austin
KNVA - Austin
I did lose K31GL for a time and KODF-LP was in and out.
I got KHPK to come in a little bit though.
I also got:
KTBS - Shreveport
KLTV - Tyler
KSLA - Shreveport
KLRU - Austin
KVUE - Austin
KXXV - Waco
KWBU - Waco
KXAN - Austin
KNVA - Austin
I did lose K31GL for a time and KODF-LP was in and out.
For DXers it was excellent Sunday and Monday until the cold front came through last night. KXII/12 was solid all day; and Sunday I climbed up on the roof and pointed my VHF-Hi antenna toward Tyler and KLTV/7 came through 5-by-5.
But for the average OTA viewer it was more likely just a pain in the ass. KTVT/11 was terrible (although KTVT/19 was fine), probably due to interference from Wichita Falls. Most folks probably have their TVs or STBs set to get KTVT via channel 19, but I'm sure there were quite a few who had problems because their equipment was set to channel 11. When is KTVT going to shut off that channel 11 signal?
But for the average OTA viewer it was more likely just a pain in the ass. KTVT/11 was terrible (although KTVT/19 was fine), probably due to interference from Wichita Falls. Most folks probably have their TVs or STBs set to get KTVT via channel 19, but I'm sure there were quite a few who had problems because their equipment was set to channel 11. When is KTVT going to shut off that channel 11 signal?
JHBrandt said:
I kept my antenna stationary (pointed to Cedar Hill). Stations from the south were pouring in such as KHCE/San Antonio and everything from Waco (except for KCEN) and Austin.
Amazing what a difference a few miles makes. In my case, it was KTVT on RF-11 that never wavered during the tropo. Instead, RF-19 was up and down perhaps due to QRM from KTXH in Houston. I'll also add that usually dependable KXII was gone during the event, probably due to interference from KSAT in San Antonio. I normally get a strong (72%) signal from KXII on the backside of the antenna.
The changes involving KTVT and KTXA are still many months away. Without disclosing my source, I've been told it will be at least six months before the new equipment is ready. I surmise that the KTVT simulcast will continue until then (much like the WLS 7 and 44 simulcast will continue for months in Chicago).
Bob E. Nelson said:
That's fine; it's good just to know a rough timeline. I guess the only ones with cause to complain are HCCN, since it's conceivable KPFW could be forced off channel 61 before 18 is available. But very few watch them, and I suppose in the event they could always lease a subchannel on KVFW/38.
I got KIAH, KRIV, KVUE, XHRIO, KZJL, KTMD, and KBTX.
The last couple of days have been good also. KXII is still coming in 5-by-5, and for a while I even picked up KETK in Jacksonville - a long, long way for a UHF signal to travel (especially since I have no antenna pointed that direction)!
OTOH I haven't noticed as much interference with the stations. Best of both worlds.
OTOH I haven't noticed as much interference with the stations. Best of both worlds.
bgrn198 said:
New boxes run about $50 to $60 but you might be able to get a used one cheaper on eBay.
Some of the local stations have subchannels which might not be on cable. And most of the low-power stations aren't on cable. OTOH, only a few are worth watching. I don't know which ones are on TWC or if any would be interesting to you, but here's a partial list of channels you might want a converter box and antenna for:
5.2 "NBC Plus" (weather)
5.3 "Universal Sports"
8.2 News/weather/traffic
8.3 "This TV" (classic movies)
13.2 "PBS World"
26.1 & 26.2 "Mega 26" (Spanish; starts in Jan.)
31.3 "Teleritmo" (Spanish; music)
31.4 "AMGTV" (http://amgtv.tv for details)
33.2 "LATV" (Spanish)
34.1 has a lot of religious programming but some general-interest stuff too
34.2 "Mexicanal" (Spanish)
34.3 has a lot of infomercials but some general-interest stuff too
50.1 "MTV Tr3s" (Spanish & English; music)
68.2 "Qubo" (children's cartoons)
68.3 "ION Life" (health/lifestyle)
Since we're talking about digital TV reception.... I want to get a portable DTV. I see some inexspensive ones with 7 inch screens. Just not sure what the best option might be. Any suggestions?
tested said:
I don't have any good suggestions; perhaps someone else will chime in. The only thing I'd want in a portable TV is a jack to connect my own antenna. The whip antennas they usually come with aren't very good, but most of the old portable TVs I've seen came with an external antenna jack, so the new ones probably do too.
For an antenna I'd probably pick up a Silver Sensor (looks kind of like a little sideways Christmas tree) or perhaps the Terk equivalent. The Terk has rabbit ears for VHF channels (like 8 and 52 in DFW); the Silver Sensor is UHF only. I'd also need a short piece of coax cable, and possibly a balun if the TV's external antenna connection is for 300-ohm ribbon cable instead of coax.
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