need help with digital

middleofnowhere · 18-Sep-2011, 11:58 PM

i recently bought a Digital converter box to run my early 90's analog TV, but i'm not getting anything. here's the list of channels: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...14f345467088ce i had a digital designed set-top i got from a second-hand store, but no go. my old analog monster antenna is a worthless heap of scrap metal after the last storm when it blew off my roof, but it didn't pick anything up anyway. i used to get 1 very weak analog signal, KOTI-2, before the switch. any ideas? i tried my amp in the loop but it made it worse. i pick up a 30% signal from somewhere, but no actual channel. Currently hooked up to a analog scrap heap from the 60's that was borrowed from a cousin.

MisterMe · 19-Sep-2011, 5:00 AM

The fact that you are receiving only KOTI leads me to believe that you have a VHF-only antenna. With a decent VHF-UHF antenna, you ought to receive KOTI-DT (Real 13), KFTS (Real 33), and KDKF (Real 29) without an amplifier. Your signals from these three broadcast towers are quite strong. Point your antenna 210° magnetic. Also be sure that your cable has continuity between the antenna and your converter box. Also make sure that your 75 ohm to 300 ohm matching transformer is operational.

John Candle · 19-Sep-2011, 5:35 AM

Digital tv reception at your location is easy. I recommend a Winegard HD7082P antenna aimed at about 228 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. Here are Strong and Sturdy 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 etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.3starinc.com. Use new RG-6 coax from the antenna to the tv.

John Candle · 19-Sep-2011, 5:43 AM

Many digital channels will be received.

Dave Loudin · 19-Sep-2011, 1:03 PM

The two low-VHF translators (on 5 and 6) relay KOTI, which the OP should receive readily. Save some money (at least $20) and get the Winegard HD 7696P instead. Per your TVFool report, you have line-of-sight to a host of stations. You probably had LOS to the analog facilities, so your statement about not getting much even back then leads me to believe that you should check the cable from the antenna to your set-top box. If you think you need to replace it, use RG-6 coax and a new balun.

middleofnowhere · 20-Sep-2011, 5:36 PM

my old antenna had the UHF dipoles on it, the really short ones? anyway, won't VHF dipoles work with UHF with a slight signal decrease? BTW, one of the reasons KOTI-2 analog might of not come in well was the low-end VHF dipoles on the old antenna were broken, and i wasn't the one who put it in, it is aimed horribly, i can't get up on my metal 45 degree roof to fix it, and there are a ton of trees where the antenna was. only the medium, high and UHF dipoles worked. this monster old one from a cousin isn't on the post yet, it was set on top of a BIG (11 feet high) rock with rubber pad insulating it. not to mention, i can't spend more than 30$ for an antenna. I'm looking at a model that a neighbor uses with great success, with 11 different channels for 29.99$! i can't remember the mod number, i'll have to ask her.

MisterMe · 20-Sep-2011, 6:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by middleofnowhere

my old antenna had the UHF dipoles on it, the really short ones? anyway, won't VHF dipoles work with UHF with a slight signal decrease? ...

No. A VHF antenna may pull-in a UHF signal, but the signal decrease will be substantial. There are many ways to design an antenna, but the size of the elements is closely related to the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave that carries the signal. Many antennas are designed around quarter-wave elements--the length of the element is one-fourth the wavelength of the signal to be received. For certain specialized applications, an antenna may be designed to receive a single channel. Because UHF waves are substantially shorter than VHF waves, UHF antennas tend to be substantially different in design than VHF antennas. Look at any TV antenna. If it is VHF-only, then it will have a clearly different design than a UHF-only antenna. If it is VHF-UHF, then you can see clearly the differences between the UHF and VHF sections.

middleofnowhere · 20-Sep-2011, 7:22 PM

hmm.....i'll try this VHF monster, and report back. If no go, i'll scrap the aluminum and buy a high-quality one. If i'm lucky, i might pull a station from 65 miles that i want!