Used military antennas?

[Peter R.]

I am a complete newbie to the world of antennas and am looking for a TV long range UHF/VHF antenna.

A friend says he saw some at a military surplus store.

I'm thinking of going to take a look.

Are there any unusual military antenna shapes to look for or avoid?

If so, pictures would be appreciated.

[videobruce]

Military antennas are usually for 2 way communication, not broadcast TV. While any piece of metal will receive signals, these would not be the proper choice.

[GroundUrMast]

Perhaps the best way for us to help you would start with a look at your TV Fool report. We could suggest one or more consumer grade antennas that match your situation. From there, you could decide if you want to take on a build or salvage project instead of simply buying a ready to go solution.

Quite simply, there's more to it than a general shape.

[teleview]

Your are barking up the wrong tree.

99.9% of military antennas are designed for military communications.

The military and government uses frequencies that no one else can use.

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The best course of action is to provide your tvfool radar plot report.

Use the Exact address and make the antenna height 25 feet.

Is this a , house , town home , condo , apartment , mobile home , motor home , or etc.??

How many Tv's will be connected??

[Peter R.]

OK, well now I know not to bother. I had figured that there might be special high end antennas not commercially available that could be worth it.

So as requested, here is my TVFOOL report:
473

The channels I'm mostly interested in are 75 miles away on the 222* azimuth.

The antenna would be roughly 30 feet high with a clear view in that direction (residential neighborhood with no building over two stories).

Plan to have only one TV setup initially with about perhaps 80 feet of cable. If results are good, might add second TV with an additional 20 feet of cable.


Thanks again:)

[teleview]

I do alot of research of antennas of all types and kinds , I am not aware of any high end secret military antennas that are for sale on the surplus market.

I was in the military , the military uses the same common commerical and consumer production model Tv antennas that every one else uses because the Tv antennas are made for receiving Tv channels.

Most likely the antennas that are being sold at the surplus store are the the Cheap China Rip Off antennas.

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Please do not take pictures of a tvfool report.

As the other question askers do , please provide a , Live and Active Tvfool Report.

Use the Exact address to make the live and active report and make the antenna height 30 feet.

Your Exact address will not show up in the final live and active report that you will post.

Something Odd about the tvfool channel list with no radar report map.

CIVC , French Tv.

CHEM , French Tv.

CKTM , French Tv.

CKFM , French Tv.

CBVT , French Tv,

CHLT , French Tv.

CIVS , French Tv.

CBFT , French Tv.

And -->more French Tv stations transmitting the same French programing.

Where is this place with so many French Tv stations??

As the other question askers do , please make and post a Live and Active tvfool report , not a picture of a report.

Use your exact address to make the report and make the antenna height 30 feet.

[Peter R.]

Hi Teleview,

I live in Quebec, thus the reason for all the french channels, and the reason I'm mostly interested in channels from the 222* azimuth (from Montreal) is to get english channels.

A lot of the channels are basically identical but with slight programming differences and local advertizing.

Here is the requested report:
(please click "current and pending", most pendings are now active)

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d1dda61084064c5


Just out of curiosity, what was wrong with posting a picture of the report?


Cheers,
Peter

[teleview]

Based on the Receivable Digital Pending Applications Included English Language Tv stations/channels.

CKMI-DT UHF channel 20 - Global.

CBMT-DT UHF channel 21 - CBC.

CKMI-DT VHF channel 11 - Global.

CFCF-DT VHF channel 12 - CTV ONE.

______________________________________________________________

Antenna system A.

I recommend for reception of.

CKMI-DT UHF channel 20 Global , aim a Channel Master CM4228HD UHF antenna at about 71 degree magnetic compass direction.

Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

For 1 Tv connected use No splitter. No preamplifier.

For 2 Tv's connected use a Channel Master CM3412 distribution amplifier.

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Antenna system B.

I recommend for reception of.

CBMT-DT UHF channel 21 - CBC.

CFCF-DT VHF channel 12 - CTV ONE.

Install a Winegard HD7698P antenna aimed at about 237 degree magnetic compass direction.

Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Install a Antennas Direct CPA-19 preamp.

For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a , HFS-2D , 2 way splitter.

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Antenna systems , A and B.

Are not connected together on to 1 coax.

Antenna systems , A and B , are Separate antenna systems all the way to the Tv locations.

At the Tv location/s a Remote control A/B antenna switch will be connected to the 2 Separate antenna system coaxes.

Remote control A/B antenna switching is Channel Surfing Friendly , press the button on the hand held remote control , change antennas and keep on channel surfing.http://www.mcmelectronics.com. #32-4425.

http://www.saveandreplay.com , has the same A/B antenna switch.

Here are some places to buy antennas and HFS splitters.

http://www.saveandreplay.com , http://www.trentondistributors.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.channelmasterstore.com , http://www.hollandelectronics.com.

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As always trees and tree leaves do a good job of , reflecting , reducing , blocking , Digital Broadcast Tv reception and so do buildings and other obstructions including your own roof and house.

It is best to install the antennas at a location that has little obstructions to no obstructions of any type or kind in the directions of reception including your own roof and house.

The Tv/s Must Channel Scan for the , OTA= Over The Air , Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , often named the 'Air Channels' or 'Antenna Channels' ,in the Tv setup menu because the Tv transmissions travel through the Air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.

Some Digital Tv's will automatic channel scan for cable tv channels.

DO NOT channel scan for cable tv channels.

Go into the Digital Tv setup menu and and select , 'Air Channels' / 'Antenna Channels'.

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If you will like to receive more English language channels for Free , here is a way to do it , All of the USA PBS channels and more English language channels.

Here is a good place to start.

http://www.ftalist.com.

Saveandreplay sells FTA equipment.

[GroundUrMast]

...

Just out of curiosity, what was wrong with posting a picture of the report?


Cheers,
Peter

'Wrong' is too strong a word. The static image is helpful, but lacks the HTML links for each call-sign in the list. Those links provide access to path profile information.

[Peter R.]

Thanks for all the help Teleview, that FTA link you provided is very eyeopening and seems very promising.


'Wrong' is too strong a word. The static image is helpful, but lacks the HTML links for each call-sign in the list. Those links provide access to path profile information.

Huh, I wasn't even aware that call-sign links were imbedded in the list. They are pretty neat; really helps one visualize what is going on.

[teleview]

Here is more Practical and Useful Information.

http://www.ramelectronics.net.

http://www.sewelldirect.com.

www.channelmasterstore.com.
Digital Tuners and Digital Tuners with DVR.

http://www.epvision.com.
Digital Tuners and Digital Tuners with DVR.

http://www.slingbox.com.
A sling box and a tuner (or some other device connected to the sling box) can be at some other location other then your location and the sling box and tuner will transmit over the internet to your Tv.

http://www.winegarddirect.com.

http://www.starkelectronic.com.

http://www.tigerdirect.com.

http://wwitv.com.

http://coulmbiaisa.50webs.com/homepage.htm (http://columbiaisa.50webs.com/homepage.htm). Might be slow to load , please wait.

http://www.otacanada.com. The OTACanada web site states that all Tv stations in Canada converted to Digital. This is not a true statement , there are still Analog Tv transmitters in Canada and there will be for some time to come. I contacted the owner , and told him the truth , he said he knows the truth about the fact that there are still Analog Tv transmitters , and that he still chooses to spread the false information about Digital Tv.

The OTACanada web site however does contain other useful information.


http://www.dtv.gov/rescan.html.

http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/rescan.pdf.

http://www.canada.com/entertainment/television/tv-listings/index.html.

http://www.zap2it.com.
For Canadian listings,enter Canadian post code.

[Peter R.]

Thanks again Teleview:)

I was talking to my neighbor about the subject and he offered to give me the antenna form his parents' cottage (they are selling it next year). All he could tell me was that it dates to the late 80's, is about 5 or 6 feet long and has a functioning rotor.

Wasn't planning on going up on the roof this winter anyways, so I'm more than willing to wait a few months and see if this antenna will do the job.


Cheers,
Peter