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17-Dec-2011, 6:10 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 5
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Need Some Help with Existing Setup
I have a Radio Shack U4000 (4 bay) Antennacraft antenna. I am also using a Phillips pre-amp http://www.amazon.com/Philips-SWS208.../dp/B003QP42KU. I have a Magnavox convertor box model TB100MW9.
My report is as follows: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...40334d066a5201
I get KATV (7.1) all the time (except during major storms). I get KARK (4.1) about 25 % of the time. The other channels show up on the listings, but I don't have enough signal to pull them in.
What antenna/pre-amp setup should I purchase to get all the channels since what I have isn't working?
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18-Dec-2011, 2:12 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,832
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Tv Reception with Tv antennas
Your tvfool radar report says in big Red Letters , Warning Address Was Resolved To Zip Code Level Only And May Not Reflect Your Reception Situation. Repost with a Exact Address and also Raise the Antenna Height to 25 feet.
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18-Dec-2011, 5:59 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,832
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Tv Reception with Tv antennas
This recommendation is based on the tvfool current and Pending Applications Included , with exact address and antenna height of 25 feet. The antennas will be above the roof. Install a Winegard HD5030 antenna aimed at 306 degree magnetic compass for the reception of K04RA-D 4 America One Tv http://americaone.com and KAFT 9 PBS. . . Also install a Winegard HD7698P antenna aimed at 134 degree magnetic compass. For the reception of , KTHV-DT 12 CBS , KARK-DT 32 NBC , KARZ-DT 44 MyNetwork , KLRT-DT 30 FOX , KATV 22 ABC , KKYK-CD 20 This Tv. . . Separate coax from HD5030 and the HD7698P will go to the location of the tv. Do Not combine the two antenna coaxes on to one coax. The two separate coaxes will be connected to a , http://www.mcmelectronics.com # 32-4425 or http://www.radioshack.com #15-1968 , remote control A/B antenna switch and the output of the A/B switch is connected to the tv. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. 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 by antennas and etc. , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.3starinc.com
Last edited by Electron; 1-Jan-2012 at 7:01 AM.
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18-Dec-2011, 11:25 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 5
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Any idea why my u4000 doesn't work?
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19-Dec-2011, 12:39 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: USA Gulf South
Posts: 231
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Huntingfool
Any idea why my u4000 doesn't work?
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You have a UHF-only antenna. The only channels that you are receiving are broadcasting on UHF. However, your strongest channel broadcasts on VHF--KTHV (RF12). The U4000 is not the correct single-antenna for your area.
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19-Dec-2011, 1:26 AM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 5
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I'm only interested in UHF. That's why I have this antenna but it only picks up one station consistently
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19-Dec-2011, 2:34 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,832
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Reception
Now is the time for those helpers here at tvfool that limit the information they provide to only what the question asker says. To get in here and provide very limited information. Here are the digital tv channels that will not be received , CBS , America One , PBS .
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19-Dec-2011, 6:11 AM
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#9
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Greater Seattle Area
Posts: 4,773
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Huntingfool
Any idea why my u4000 doesn't work?
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Four reasons;
1) Five of the stations listed in the top twelve entries of your TV Fool report are broadcast on VHF frequencies. (MisterMe is correct, the U4000 is not designed to receive VHF frequencies well.)
2) All of the signals on your report are weak or extremely weak.
3) There is terrain blocking your line of sight.
4) Even in the UHF band, the U4000 and similar 4-bay panel antennas lack the gain needed in your situation.
On a related note, in case you or someone reading this later wonders, an amplifier does not increase the gain of any antenna. Amplifiers (distribution and preamplifiers) are only able to overcome cable and splitter loss on the output side of the amplifier and (to a limited degree) poor tuner noise figure. They do so at the cost of adding some interfering noise. As a general rule: Beware of antennas with built-in amplifiers. If you do not want to receive any VHF signals, it's not my place to say you're wrong. (But I'm curious to hear why you're "...only interested in UHF.") If I were in your situation, I would opt for a large high gain antenna system that has both UHF and VHF capability. I'm curious about America One Network so I would likely risk some money trying to get a reliable signal. To do so, I would expect to need an antenna with the highest low-VHF gain available.
The Winegard HD7698P suggested by Electron is one of the best consumer grade options for a single UHF/high-VHF combo antenna.
The HD-5030 would be an option if you wanted to try receiving real channel 4. The low VHF gain of the HD-8200U is better by more than 2.5 dB.
Other valid options exist... all of which will be large 'deep fringe' designs.
(Here at TV Fool, there's an honest difference/range of opinion regarding your chance of success receiving low VHF channels when signal levels are as weak as is the case here. My hope is that those with first hand experience with DTV signals in the L-VHF band will share the details of their experience in the Low VHF reception (2 - 6) Experience & Opinions thread. I would hope that everyone with some experience with DTV reception in the low-VHF band would weigh in and then respect your decision.)
__________________
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; 19-Dec-2011 at 9:44 PM.
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19-Dec-2011, 9:17 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 5
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Thinking of going with the xg91 from antennadirect.
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19-Dec-2011, 10:15 PM
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#11
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Greater Seattle Area
Posts: 4,773
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Huntingfool
I have a Radio Shack U4000 (4 bay) Antennacraft antenna. I am also using a Phillips pre-amp http://www.amazon.com/Philips-SWS208.../dp/B003QP42KU. I have a Magnavox convertor box model TB100MW9.
My report is as follows: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...40334d066a5201
I get KATV (7.1) all the time (except during major storms). I get KARK (4.1) about 25 % of the time. The other channels show up on the listings, but I don't have enough signal to pull them in.
What antenna/pre-amp setup should I purchase to get all the channels since what I have isn't working? |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Huntingfool
I'm only interested in UHF. That's why I have this antenna but it only picks up one station consistently
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Huntingfool
Thinking of going with the xg91 from antennadirect.
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I'm a bit unsure of your goals. "What antenna/pre-amp setup should I purchase to get all the channels...?" is contradicted by "I'm only interested in UHF". Total guess on my part... Do you think UHF=HD or digital and VHF=SD or analog? KTHV-CBS, real VHF channel 12 broadcasts two sub-channels, one is the primary CBS affiliate programing in HD 1080i 5.1 and the other is news in SD 480i - digital, ATSC, not analog NTSC.
The XG91 is an excellent high gain UHF only antenna. However, don't expect to reliably receive KTHV, K04RA, KEMV, KAFT or KETS with it.
The published technical specifications for the Philips SWS2083W/17 preamp do not include the noise figure or maximum signal capability. The preamp may be adequate... but the manufacturer doesn't provide the information needed to make an informed decision. If I were starting from scratch I would look at the Antennas Direct CPA-18.
As I mentioned earlier, I would also include VHF capability if I were building an antenna system next door to you.
__________________
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; 19-Dec-2011 at 10:25 PM.
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