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Houston HD Reception 84 miles out with a dipole

J

jras20

Check out a video I posted on You tube with HD Reception 84 miles using only a dipole antenna. It does well, some drop outs but mostly ok. I have trouble picking up KRBE or is their HD off? Not sure why there signal is weaker than the rest. Here is the Video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti3S18V6_7c

My first HD radio ;).
 
jras20 said:
Check out a video I posted on You tube with HD Reception 84 miles using only a dipole antenna.
Click to expand...

Splendid accomplishment - it shows the utter folly of an HD power increase. 84 mile HD reception with a dipole is PLENTY - more power will only serve to jam the band.

I will check what is happening with KRBE this weekend, I am going to be down there. I suspect perhaps some Ike damage - HD would NOT be a priority right now, considering that other secondary services are actually profitable and have orders of magnitude more users.
 
Was this done last night? I had some crazy condition last night that made KRBE, KHMX, KTBZ, KKHH, and KILT lock. An hour later, KXTN, KPWT, KISS (over local KNFX), and KBPA locked in HD. The Houston stations are also about 85 miles away from me (College Station). I also caught them with the supplied dipole. In my case, I'm really surprised I caught the Houston stations because they are hard to get at my place. It may have to do something with the way my window is facing northwest. I can receive Austin stations way better than Houston in any day.

Also, two nights ago, I locked the same stations in HD, plus KKMJ, KAJA, KBBT, KONO and KCYY. Other stations that came in were KKBA, KMXR, KZFM, KFTX, KRYS, KSAB (Took out WACO), KNCN, KKPN, KOUL, and a whole lot of South Texas Stations. My longest one for this weekend has to be Laredo's KBDR. I checked for KRRG, and KQUR, but they weren't there. Fun weekend I guess. I have recorded KXTN and KISS lock (I noticed both of these station aren't synch right) so if anyone wants a message me.
 
That was done during day mid afternoon on Sunday. About normal conditions for down there. It does well. I got 93Q HD here just south of Austin last night, it came well over KROM. I wonder if KROM will ever go in HD?
 
I have yet to get HD lock on any Houston - I'm 280 miles out, but it is only a matter of time. I've got acceptable analog signal on a couple of them, a little skip and I should have lock.
 
Receivers? Is there a concensus, or do you all use different ones? I miss the days of testing different radio tuners. I was looking at the Sangean and the Sony, but don't know...
 
I actually use the Sony XRD-F1HD. Analog is great. But for HD, I have my doubts. My trucks stereo can lock HD way better than this sony (even though the Analog is better in the XDR-F1HD). The RDS on this sony is also a bit glitchy. I already went through two of them and the RDS display shows messages mixed up with delayed messages (EX, if the song currently playing is "Flobots - Rise", the stereo will show "Fise - Risbots". The text gets tangled up)

For DXng, this Sony receiver is great analog wise, but in order to catch HD (both AM and FM), I recommend to look somewhere else. For the vehicle, the JVC KD-HDR1 does a phenomenal job on the FM HD. I can catch HD way better than the Sony. I've noticed that in FM on the JVC, all you need is a strong, crystal clear stereo signal in order to at least display call letters (HD wise). On the sony, you need to go above crystal clear. I've had station get 3 bars and no RDS or HD. (IE KHMX, KTBZ, KPWT,). For AM, I am puzzled. In my truck, I can receive WBAP in HD (With my engine on), but I have had zero luck catching it on the XDR-F1HD. It may be that my receiver is on a desk made with an aluminum frame. I will try to move the receiver when I have time, but I still doubt it will improve my chances.
 
oldjohnny said:
I actually use the Sony XRD-F1HD. Analog is great. But for HD, I have my doubts. My trucks stereo can lock HD way better than this sony (even though the Analog is better in the XDR-F1HD). The RDS on
Click to expand...

Sangean is what I use to get 70 mile HD with a dipole. I don't have any viable HD targets in that critical 70 to 150 mile range, and no luck on Oklahoma City, Tulsa, or Houston HD with an outdoor antenna. It seems that since HD came out, skip seasons have been terrible for FM. I'd love to check it out in Florida where localized weather creates skip. I might get a chance - depending on my job situation.
 
I'm thinking of getting the newer Sangean for my place out at Lavaca county. I have one here near Austin the first Sangean.., it does a pretty decent job. I cant get San antonio HD on a dipole, but I'm pretty far into the fringe area of them anyways. Houston is a straight shot for me in Lavaca county. I can pull in HDFM better than HDTV.
 
The fun happens when you're listening to a local non-HD station, and a co-channel HD station 200+ miles away "skips in" and locks in HD!
 
when i drive home from houston back to the valley I usually pull hd up to about edna which is about 90 miles away. the other night was was picking up 106.9 in hd driving down the freeway in mission,tx.
 
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