TV Fool  

Go Back   TV Fool > Over The Air Services > Help With Reception

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 5-Aug-2013, 4:38 PM   #1
OberGeiss
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NJ/VT
Posts: 50
Question Over the border from NEK VT to Sherbrooke

Hi All, I have a nice rig in place for Vt Pub TV broadcast from Burke Mtn (virtual 20.1, et seq); I have an A/B switch in place and would like to change my second rig to pick up the various stations at 7, 11 and 24 (real and virtual) all at 357 degrees magnetic.

Here is location report.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...46ae61aed2157e

I have some deciduous trees on the norther boundary of the prop and could cut a few if necessary. I could also mount up at the property line (clear of the trees) and that would be about a 75' run to the home and then another 40' or so in the home.

I had a 4 bay bowtie pointing that way, mounted on the gable end home about 20' off the ground that and seemed to work pretty well in the winter. The roof is metal.

Any and all insights appreciated. Thanks in advance. David
OberGeiss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 6-Aug-2013, 2:09 AM   #2
GroundUrMast
Moderator
 
GroundUrMast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Greater Seattle Area
Posts: 4,773
Moderate and even long cable runs can be made reliable with the aid of a properly spec'd amplifier. For example, RG-6 cable should have less than 6 dB loss per 100'. that suggests that a preamplifier with 15 dB gain should be able to drive over 200' of RG-6 coax.

Reliable reception of weak / distant signals will generally be easier if the antenna is able to point at a clear horizon, free of obstructions such as vegetation, buildings and terrain. To 'chase down' the signals on azimuth 357° I would upgrade to an Antennas Direct 91XG combined with an Antennacraft Y10713 using the Antennas Direct EU385CF UHF/VHF Antenna Combiner. The Antennas Direct PA-18 preamp would be a good choice, capable of driving all the cable you've mentioned... With gain left over for splitter losses if needed.

So, yeah, I would look at a somewhat remote mounting if it provided a clear path along the antennas aim path.

You could consult with tinlee.com re. an antenna combiner that would allow you to drop the A/B switch. I'm thinking of the AC7 tuned for real channel 18 (WVTB).
__________________
If the well is dry and you don't see rain on the horizon, you'll need to dig the hole deeper. (If the antenna can't get the job done, an amp won't fix it.)

(Please direct account activation inquiries to 'admin')

Last edited by GroundUrMast; 6-Aug-2013 at 2:16 AM. Reason: tinlee AC7 suggestion
GroundUrMast is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-Aug-2013, 2:41 PM   #3
OberGeiss
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NJ/VT
Posts: 50
Red face

Thanks GroundUrMast...as always your insights are spot on and greatly appreciated. Sorry it took me a while to get back as I was on the road and then catching back up.

I am a little perplexed over something with reception at this location. From time to time I get solid reception of New Hampshire Public Television on virtual 11.1 through 11.4.

On the location report, it's showing 11.1, etc, real and virtual, emanating from Sherbrooke Quebec as a CBC channel. I am not understanding at all how I am pulling in NH PTV or why it's sporadic. How can I pull this in reliably and where I am likely pulling this in from?

Many thanks in advance. I like your idea of a 91XG up there as I am happy with the same rig down here in 07083.

Best, David aka Obergeiss
OberGeiss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-Aug-2013, 5:18 AM   #4
GroundUrMast
Moderator
 
GroundUrMast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Greater Seattle Area
Posts: 4,773
According to Wikipedia, NPTV operates three transmitters. WENH, licensed in Durham, NH operates on real CH-11 and sources several virtual channels 11.1 through 11.4.

When I measure the distance between your approximate location and the WENH tower, using Google Earth, I come up with about 119 miles.

It's clear that you are seeing the signal via a tropospheric path and that's subject to weather / atmospheric conditions. I doubt you'll be able to get reliable reception of their signal. It may be the subject of a DXing hobby though... (Do you want to build a really big rhombic array? http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=2865)
__________________
If the well is dry and you don't see rain on the horizon, you'll need to dig the hole deeper. (If the antenna can't get the job done, an amp won't fix it.)

(Please direct account activation inquiries to 'admin')
GroundUrMast is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-Aug-2013, 2:59 PM   #5
OberGeiss
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NJ/VT
Posts: 50
Really fascinating the NH PTV programming is similar to that offered to VT PTV so don't think the incentive is there to construct a rhombic display for that catch.

I looked into this a bit further and my guess is that my intermittent grab of virtual 11.1, et seq, is by virtue of real channel 34.1 et seq, broadcasted from Pittsburgh NH.
Perhaps I am picking it up off the back of my bowtie pointed to Sherbrooke QC?

http://www.rabbitears.info/market.ph...ility_id=69321

As to real station 26, W26CQ, not sure whether it's broadcasting DTV or analog..here's some interesting history relating to broadcasts from Mt Washington in NH.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WMTW

Last edited by OberGeiss; 11-Aug-2013 at 3:03 PM.
OberGeiss is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Go Back   TV Fool > Over The Air Services > Help With Reception


Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 3:29 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright © TV Fool, LLC