My DTV reception update from South Texas

[jras20]

Well heres my DTV report, I got the magnavox DTV reciever, I have the secound best winegard TV antenna out there, its about 23' or so up in the air. I can tell you I can pull in Houston/San antonio analog pretty good. But when it comes to DTV, I cant. The only DTV signals I can get is out of Victoria, and that is only about a 52-58% out of a 100. San antonio has no signal, Houston has no signal. It'll be very interesting come 2009 when people find out all they can get is Victoria out there. But, the plus side, is that they have most of the networks on KAVU, and Fox19 on 11 is a strong signal.

 

[tripinva]

You get all the analogs? UHF and VHF? That could be part of the problem; the analogs from one place could be corrupting the digitals from the other or something.

- Trip

 

[jras20]

You get all the analogs? UHF and VHF? That could be part of the problem; the analogs from one place could be corrupting the digitals from the other or something.

- Trip

I get mostly VHF, 4,5,12 out of San antonio and 2,8,11,13 out of Houston from analog. Sometimes I can get UHF out of Houston, but not often.

 

[tripinva]

I get mostly VHF, 4,5,12 out of San antonio and 2,8,11,13 out of Houston from analog. Sometimes I can get UHF out of Houston, but not often.

So then you're outside of the coverage areas of these stations. Once the transition is over, KSAT, KTRK, and KUHT should also be receivable to you. KHOU will probably be killed by KVCT, and the rest will be on UHF.

- Trip

 

[jras20]

I never was able to recieve Fox out there untill DTV 11 came on the air now I can, I'm pleased with the fact I can get most major networks on one channel, I'd like to have CBS also. off the air.

 

[tripinva]

I never was able to recieve Fox out there untill DTV 11 came on the air now I can, I'm pleased with the fact I can get most major networks on one channel, I'd like to have CBS also. off the air.

Stupid question, but can you see KHOU's analog signal with KVCT-DT there? Can you make it clear by turning the antenna? Just wondering.

- Trip

 

[jras20]

I never was able to recieve Fox out there untill DTV 11 came on the air now I can, I'm pleased with the fact I can get most major networks on one channel, I'd like to have CBS also. off the air.

Stupid question, but can you see KHOU's analog signal with KVCT-DT there? Can you make it clear by turning the antenna? Just wondering.

- Trip

I can if its turned to Houston, but its more fuzzy than it usually was, but its in color.

 

[ShaneofTexas]

Have you ever picked up Houston DTV signals from your area??

 

[jras20]

Have you ever picked up Houston DTV signals from your area??

The only channel I got from Houston was KPXB-DTV and that was even breaking up a lot. I spent all that money on that DTV antenna and it doesnt do as good as I thought it would.

 

[ShaneofTexas]

DTV is on a much different frequency then the analog frequency. I just don't see pulling in DTV stations from another city over 60 miles away. I hope I am wrong though. Tropo weather conditions may not help these dtv signals like it did with analog.

someone correct me if I am wrong.
thanks

 

[tripinva]

someone correct me if I am wrong.
thanks

Will do. Digital TV operates on the same set of TV channels that analog did, just that each station is broadcasting on a different channel. Some of these, like KUHT, KHOU, KTRK, and KSAT, will revert back to operating on the same channel they did on analog once February 18, 2009 is here. Others, like KPRC, will be staying put on their new channels. Still others will be moving again, to other channels such as WOAI and KENS.

Coverage distance depends on tower height and other conditions. I'm 79 miles away from my local TV stations when I'm home and receive all except a low-VHF digital just fine.

Atmospheric conditions matter just as much with digital as they did with analog. I've DXed DT signals from 200+ miles away with only my roof antenna.

Your reception of KPXB-DT tells me that you don't have line of sight to the towers (this is important for UHF reception) but that you are receiving a bit of the signal that bends around the curvature of the Earth.

- Trip

 

[ShaneofTexas]

thanks Trip!

Great post and helps me understand better about the DTV signal.

 

[stevenNOLA]

Sounds like an antenna that doesn't have much UHF gain. Houston's 2000' UHF DTs should reach 75+ miles easily, especially with an antenna like channelmaster 4228. KPXB-DT is whispering compared to the others, which leads me to believe this antenna has little UHF gain.

 

[jras20]

I think it may be my antenna, but I'll half to see, I'm happy I can get most networks out of Victoria, even Fox. I never was able to pick up Fox out there with a antenna. I have the local channels on DirectTV but I think I may cancell them save money.

 

[tripinva]

Here's why:

KVCT Analog:
http://recnet.com/cdbs/goo_curves.php?data=28.778|96.961|155|149|64|0|19|0|1

KVCT Digital:
http://recnet.com/cdbs/goo_curves.php?data=28.845|97.126|18|290|DT|59746|11|0|2

Yes, the site is sluggish to generate the maps, please be patient. You may need to copy+paste the links in their entirety.

- Trip

 

[Gridlock Joe]

KPXB-DT is currently on VHF channel 5, but will be on UHF channel 32 post-transition.

 

[jras20]

Here's why:

KVCT Analog:
http://recnet.com/cdbs/goo_curves.php?data=28.778|96.961|155|149|64|0|19|0|1

KVCT Digital:
http://recnet.com/cdbs/goo_curves.php?data=28.845|97.126|18|290|DT|59746|11|0|2

Yes, the site is sluggish to generate the maps, please be patient. You may need to copy+paste the links in their entirety.

- Trip

Thanks for the links was helpful I am in the blue area.