Converting from cable, rotor, multiple tvs

skylimit1959 · 30-Aug-2011, 7:31 AM

Great site. I did / do spend 20min or so searching before posting so apologies if I missed the obvious "already answered here".

I'm converting my home from cable to OTA HD. Like many cable homes I have one feed in: quality splitter with direct runs to two good HD TVS, then another run to another quality splitter feeding 4 other smaller / older TV's for basic cable.

Questions I have:
1) Assuming a correct HD Antenna setup (2nd question); can I simply swap out the cable input from the street with the HD antenna output? If not; what are the likely "you gots to do this and this".

2) I live in Hudson NH. If I've understood... One HD Antenna with a rotor will get the TV you're watching tuned in; but all bets are off for the other TV's (if I'm watching WMUR out of manchester; I'll have those wanting boston shows screaming at me? So... as Tiger suggested; two HD antennas... combine and then based upon question 1... connect and let that... byebye cable smile slowly drift across my face :--)

thanks so much.
-Paul

John Candle · 30-Aug-2011, 8:19 AM

To reduce the amount of guessing down to as close to zero as we can get it , do what the other question askers do , Do This --> http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=4 , make and post a tvfool radar report. Use your exact address and expected antenna height.

skylimit1959 · 1-Sep-2011, 12:04 PM

As suggested here's the report for my house. With that said: I wasn't really asking about OTA reception; rather is there a rule of thumb with regard to cutting over to OTA from Cable. Can one simply start the process with reasonable hope of success; by disconnecting the cable from the street and connecting the antenna feed?

many thanks.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...9e74230f002138

phone man · 1-Sep-2011, 12:59 PM

Once you establish where your antenna(s) will be located, you need to calculate total signal loss from that point to each tv location to see if the existing system will work as is.
Splitters feeding splitters is not good. One distribution point is best and hopefully you have RG6 coax throughout rather than the old RG59 cable.

John Candle · 1-Sep-2011, 5:37 PM

For reasonable hope of success , need to know if there are Tv stations that are receivable at your location and yes there are. Your location has many easy to receive Strong LOS = Line Of Sight Digital Tv Stations. The antenna will supply signal to 2 Tv's. Yes you can disconnect the cable from the street where it connects at the house and connect the RG-6 coax that comes from the antenna. For a antenna I recommend a Antennacraft U4000 aimed at about 187 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. Mount the antenna above the roof. Here are some antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html. Here are places to buy antennas and ect. , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.3starinc.com

John Candle · 1-Sep-2011, 5:48 PM

Read and understand about , REAL Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , Virtual Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , Analog Broadcast Tv Channels , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=695. . Here are some free tv guides , http://www.zap2it.com , http://www.television.aol.com , http://tv.yahoo.com , http://www.titantv.com , http://tv.entertainment.excite.com , http://www.tvzap.com. Most Tv guides list the channels as Virtual channels.

John Candle · 1-Sep-2011, 5:55 PM

The U4000 will receive the stations to the south and north including WMUR and WNEU and WPXG. No rotor needed.

GroundUrMast · 1-Sep-2011, 6:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skylimit1959

... is there a rule of thumb with regard to cutting over to OTA from Cable. Can one simply start the process with reasonable hope of success; by disconnecting the cable from the street and connecting the antenna feed?

...

Generally, if the cable feed was working well at the time you disconnected the cable from the grounding block, OTA signals of similar strength and adequate quality (net NM of 10 dB or better) will distribute through the building cabling without difficulty. As a rule, CATV grade parts such as coax and splitters are interchangeable in OTA applications.

The cable company spends a great deal of money to manage signal levels of all the channels on their system, keeping levels matched to within just a few dB. Consumer grade OTA reception technology does not provide a means to control signal levels of individual channels so you will be faced with differences of 40 dB or more. If you have trouble with a few weak signals you may need to look carefully at the cabling throughout the building to determine if it can be optimized.

Successful OTA reception starts at the antenna, it's mounting location and it's design. Compromise here, and none of the down-stream components will be able to correct the deficiency.

GroundUrMast · 1-Sep-2011, 6:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Candle

The U4000 will receive the stations to the south and north including WMUR and WNEU and WPXG. No rotor needed.

I generally agree. However, the FCC received notice July 2010 that W33AK was resuming operation on real channel 33. This would pose a significant co-channel interference challenge for reception of WPXG. Not a big deal given that WBPX is also an Ion affiliate.

If there are problems with reception of WENH, real channel 11 or WMUR, real channel 9, a high-VHF can be added. Try the 4-bay UHF by itself first.

John Candle · 1-Sep-2011, 6:49 PM

Thanks GUM for also recommending the U4000. And I agree about ION TV , has went to Hyped Up Violent Programing so no loss. And there is also a second station transmitting ION , WBPX , so if can't receive one then receive the other. And even so is W33AK resuming operation on UHF 33 or Real channel VHF 3 as planed?? Yes I can look it up , and will do so.

John Candle · 1-Sep-2011, 8:31 PM

Yes it looks like W33AK is on the air as UHF 33 , however if the 2 stations are interfering with each other then one will have to change to a different channel. http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=9764

Tower Guy · 1-Sep-2011, 9:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroundUrMast

If there are problems with reception of WENH, real channel 11 or WMUR, real channel 9, a high-VHF can be added. Try the 4-bay UHF by itself first.

I'd be surprised if WMUR was dropout free with a mis-aimed UHF only antenna. For perfect reception, plan on adding a Y5-7-13 aimed at WMUR using a UVSJ.

skylimit1959 · 5-Sep-2011, 1:14 AM

All, thanks you so much and I hope this thread helps others. Great site and fantastic members!

Thanks again.