SDTV Set Top Box

[pduquette]

Been Trying to get the set top unit working at my moms , but DTV signal strength registers between 10% -19% . She is about 1/2 way between Providence and Boston and gets very good analog signal . Are the broadcasters /FCC going to boost DTV signal strength after Feb ?.....Added the best powered antennea (+55db gain) and get mild improvement - but still get poor / spastic DTV skipping . Is this what we have to expect in feb???????

 

[bruceb58]

Re: SDTV Set Top Box

Did you try first without the amp?

Go to antenaweb.org to see what you can expect to get. Maybe satellite or cable will be your only option.

 

[pduquette]

Re: SDTV Set Top Box

Yes Bruce I tried with the tv's regular rabbit ears. These are the same that she uses for analog reception - and gets very good reception . She is on small budget so sat/cable would tax her finances + and exterior dish/antennea is out too. Thanks for the responce-I'll keep checking the web.........pd

 

[JCF350]

Re: SDTV Set Top Box

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/dtvantennas.html

This might work, didn't try it.
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

and this guy
http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages/antin.htm

 

[JB]

Re: SDTV Set Top Box

I had similar troubles with HD reception. I am about 65-70 miles from the DFW metroplex.

Put a booster on the antenna lead-in (HD-specific) and now get decent to good reception on 7 local HD channels in good weather. Bad weather gets me "no signal" on most of them.

 

[bhammer]

Re: SDTV Set Top Box

I had similar troubles with HD reception. I am about 65-70 miles from the DFW metroplex.

Put a booster on the antenna lead-in (HD-specific) and now get decent to good reception on 7 local HD channels in good weather. Bad weather gets me "no signal" on most of them.

I am in Fort Worth and the HD goes south on most of them during the bad weather as well. Just when you need the tube the most to see when that tornado is headed your way.

 

[muskyone]

Re: SDTV Set Top Box

make sure u have a uhf antana it must be 75 omhs if your geting the anolog ch on 1 thru 13 your going to half to spin your ant 180% most times. if you dont know what your dig chanels are i can look them up for you just need the anolog number if you have any splitters in the house make sure thay are 550 or above meg if your channels are above 35 anything else just ask

 

[pduquette]

Re: SDTV Set Top Box

Thanks Guys! JB I'll look for the signal amp and try that too , the wallyworld antennea combines UHF , VHF + FMstereo -everything but a beer locator ! Muskyone - I used the boxes auto search to locate stations , if it can't find 'em...... I'll keep reading up on the other sites JCF350 - it's hard breaking away from this one tho ....

 

[muskyone]

Re: SDTV Set Top Box

genrally specking your vhf is on oneside and the uhf is on the other

 

[JCF350]

Re: SDTV Set Top Box

Thanks Guys! JB I'll look for the signal amp and try that too , the wallyworld antennea combines UHF , VHF + FMstereo -everything but a beer locator ! Muskyone - I used the boxes auto search to locate stations , if it can't find 'em...... I'll keep reading up on the other sites JCF350 - it's hard breaking away from this one tho ....

What it boils down to is that you can buy all the amps you want and won't make any difference. Your gonna have to get an antennae that picks up the DTV signal then amplify that if needed.

If you'll notice Radio Shack shows only 3 of these as HDTV antennae.
http://www.radioshack.com/family/index.jsp?cp=2032057.2032187.2032189&categoryId=2032204&pg=1

 

[bruceb58]

Re: SDTV Set Top Box

make sure u have a uhf antana it must be 75 omhs if your geting the anolog ch on 1 thru 13 your going to half to spin your ant 180% most times. if you dont know what your dig chanels are i can look them up for you just need the anolog number if you have any splitters in the house make sure thay are 550 or above meg if your channels are above 35 anything else just ask

I assume you meant to say 180 degrees which is also not correct. The location of the antenna that transmits the the regular VHF analog tv station is typically the same location that is transmitting the UHF digital version. If you want to pick up the digital signal, you need to pick up a dedicated UHF antenna with the proper gain to suit you location. That is why I posted the antennaweb.org site. For my location I bought a Winegard antenna.

http://www.winegard.com/offair/uhf.htm

For my location, the antenna I picked up is 6 feet long. It was the shortest I could use to pick up the channels. The higher gain the antenna, the pickier it is going to be at getting aimed correctly since they get very directional as the gain goes up.

Do a little research first so that you can decide what antenna you need to buy. Those little antennas they sell at Radio Shack and Best Buy are worthless if you are in a marginal signal area.

 

[JCF350]

Re: SDTV Set Top Box

Do a little research first so that you can decide what antenna you need to buy. Those little antennas they sell at Radio Shack and Best Buy are worthless if you are in a marginal signal area.

OP stated that it had to be an indoor antennae. There are some other "small" indoor/outdoor units on other pages. But I think he may be in for a carp shoot.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: SDTV Set Top Box

OK...I see the post where it could not be an outdoor antenna.

I agree. This is going to be tough.

I have also noticed a huge difference in the sensitivity of receivers. Probably need to look at the reviews of various receivers to make sure to have the one with the best reception.

The first one I had that was integrated into my DishNetwork DVR was pretty poor. The next generation DishNetwork receiver was much better for the "over the air" signals.