Recommendations to receive WKTB-CD in Marietta, GA

[TheFu]

I've been reading the posts here for a few months. Built a few DB4 antennas and saw the number of received channels go from 19 to 28 to 58 to 61 with a better antenna and higher placement inside the house, then in the attic. It is amazing what 7 feet of added height can do for reception.

Here's a photo of my last built antenna that is working very well.

Not bad for $20 in parts and about an hour of time. That doesn't include the 20 hours of research or other builds which didn't work nearly as well, however.

Here's the tvfool report:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...67d97b09a04e18

A single DB4 antenna receives almost every channel on the report for green and yellow colors. Real channel 47 is missing. I will never hear the end of it until that channel is received, if you know what I mean.

We get lots of channels in the 127 deg, 150-160 deg and the Ion and PBS channels at 340-ish deg. Most of these come in with 3.5-5 bars on the TV signal display. Even Hi-VHF channels 8 and NBC (10 real - 11.1 virt) come in very strong. No reflector is currently installed.

Here is a reasonble lineup guide for Atlanta area OTA channels http://www.atlantadigitaltv.com/3.html
Out of this list, only 47.1, WKTB has never been received.

I've tried pointing the antenna directly at the WKTB transmitter using a compass to be certain the direction was perfect. Oddly, all the other stations came in fine, so I know the antenna is not super sensitive in direction.

The tv-fool report says channel 47 has both co-channel and adjacent channel warnings. Is there anything I can do about that? I'm not against trying a pre-amp, but I've read that other stations will probably be negatively impacted since those already have good levels.

After this is working well, I'll connect it to an HDHR3 network tuner, but I'd like to split for an extra direct TV connection.

I'm seeking recommendations to tune in 1 more specific channel, WKTB, even if a dedicated antenna is needed for just this channel.

Just found this coverage map for WKTB https://maps.google.com/?q=http://tr...26state=GA.kml

The house is inside the circle. and not in a ditch or valley. It is near the top of a hill on the same side as the transmitter.

What can I do?

Thanks for any help!

[GroundUrMast]

The co-channel interference from WDGA from 333° is not too severe according to your report. You have adjacent channel interference from at least two sources, WSB @ 83° (not very strong) and the powerful signal from WUVG @ 154°. (all azimuths are magnetic)

I would try an Antennas Direct 91XG dedicated to WKTB. Another HDHR3 would provide the means to combine the independent antennas into the same HTPC network. http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=820

You'll need to avoid trees and other obstructions.

The following is Teleview recommendation for broadcast Tv reception.

Above the roof install a Winegard HD7698P antenna aimed at about 118 degree magnetic compass direction.

Do not connect any other antennas to the HD7698P antenna system.

The HD7698P antenna system stands alone , as a antenna system.

No preamplifier.

For 1 Tv connected use no splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a common simple 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a common simple 3 way splitter.

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

Here are some Strong and Sturdy antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com.

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box.

Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.amazon.com.

As always , trees and tree leaves do a real fine job reducing and blocking Tv reception and so do buildings and other obstructions.

It is best to locate the antenna at a location that has the least amount to no amount of any type or kind of obstructions in the direction of reception.

The Tv/s Must Channel Scan for the Broadcast Tv Channels , sometimes 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.

DO NOT channel scan for cable tv channels.

[GroundUrMast]

If the OP were asking for a general purpose antenna recomendation, I would concur. The 7696 is a very good antenna, but I anticipate that the strong adjacent channel interference from WUVG is going to be too much for the weaker WKTB. Given the nearly 50 dB higher power levels, this qualifies as needing 'extreme measures'.

Given the specific request, I believe a very directional antenna like the 91XG is needed if WKTB is to be seen reliably. I would even anticipate that the OP may need to experiment with mounting locations and will certainly need to carefully adjust the aim for best results. Stacking for adjacent channel rejection may be needed as well. http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=1024

[TheFu]

Many thanks to both of you for the helpful replies AND discussion of the issues that my location faces.

I'm pretty certain that I'll be lucky to get a working solution, but at least there's a small chance. The effort to solve this issue may show enough good faith to get me out of the doghouse.

[TheFu]

So I looked at the Antennas Direct 91XG - it is huge for the 16.7dB gain. I do not believe there is room in the attic for that monster, but I can't find the dimensions now, but it is the length that worries me.

What do you think about the smaller Antennas Direct 42XG or 43XG models? Would I be wasting my time? The predicted gain is a little less, but still 14dB and 15.7dB respectively.

Thanks again.

[GroundUrMast]

WKTB is predicted to have a noise margin of 13.1 dB in the air. The gain of the 42XG is more than enough... in theory, a simple dipole should be 'enough'. However, your challenge is to keep the interfering signals out. Using a less directional antenna and mounting in the attic both add noise/interference while reducing the preferred signal.

My suggestion is to use a highly directional antenna, and mount it outside clear of obstructions.

[TheFu]

Some follow up comments from last month ...

So the 43XG arrived a few days ago and I've been testing with it. Haven't been able to receive WKTB signals at all. No signal levels seen. The current antenna mounts are near the northeast corner of the house just with roof nails in the way. The house runs is roughly S to N.

There must be something blocking signals from WKTB the next community over. Large trees are my assumption.

The next step is to relocate one of the antennas to the southeast side of the attic. More trees exist there in both our's and the neighbor's yard to the south, but fewer large trees to the east in other communities. That is my hope.

BTW, the 43XG doesn't seem to work as well as the $20 home-built DB4 antenna when pointed in the same direction. It is also harder to mount in the attic since it needs to be supported at 2 points. The db4 has a single nail for a mount. How well any antenna works seems to be extremely localized. I know you've been saying that.

I think the 43xg would be easier to mount outside and it is definitely better made for that use. If the inside mount doesn't help, I'll have to strongly consider that option. I should also point out that the 43xg is a much, much, much better antenna than the "clothes hanger antenna" making the rounds on the internet for a directional receiver requirement.

I've tested both pointing directly at WKTB and at the cluster of transmitter towers 18-ish miles SE with both antennas. The DB4 receives signals from 69 channels, including 5 important VHF stations and the 43xg only gets 58 channels. The signal levels are about the same for the those UHF stations both receive, but the DB4 did tend to lock on weaker channels more often. I don't know if this is good or not, since that lock seemed to fade in and out causing loss of audio and video. Almost getting a station isn't good.

I should also mention that WYGA-LD comes in fairly strong - at least 3 bars of signal. Too bad there isn't anything on those 4 channels but the "off-air" color bars. Looks like buying some longer coax is in my plans for today.

I also tested using a splitter to join the signals from both antennas during these tests. It definitely dropped the signal levels regardless of whether they were pointed in the same or a different direction.

I'll update more here http://blog.jdpfu.com/2012/08/03/diy...nt-and-results as new thoughts come to me.

[TheFu]

Wow. Been a long time.

Turns out that the WKTB station is also re-broadcast from another transmitter about 50 miles north of my location on RF16, while using the same virtual channel. So I just needed to tell the TV recording software to get 47.1 on RF16 to pick it up. I'm pointing the 43XG antenna in that direction - signals are strong and clear.

In total, we receive over 90 channels now (2019) with a $20 amp with very good S/N and Symbols.

With the DIY antenna, the only downside is that annual heating/cooling in the attic means the screws need tightening each fall and spring. Eventually, I might just replace them with bolts, but after 7 yrs of working well, that is doubtful. The location in the attic is very convenient, so that is a 3 minute effort when changing the HVAC filters out.

The main reason I'm back is because a bunch of local channels changed their RF broadcast frequencies over the weekend. ABC moved and NBC which is Hi-VHF also added a UHF signal using virtual channel 11.11.

Unfortunately, the tvfool DB doesn't have the updated RF frequencies at this point. I made a list, if it would help to update them, let me know how.

[rabbit73]

Hello, TheFu

If you can do a new TVFool report, I might be able to do another report from a more accurate site based on my estimate of your location. Ideally, I would like your address by PM to protect your identity, but you might not want to do that. A cross street might be close enough.

I see WKTB on a generic Marietta report:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...9038e0a1f13397

I see it listed on a generic rabbitears.info report for Marietta which should have a more accurate list of channels:
https://www.rabbitears.info/searchma...study_id=11432

[TheFu]

Thanks, but it seems you missed the most important part:

signals are strong and clear.

[rabbit73]

Originally Posted by TheFu

Thanks, but it seems you missed the most important part:

No I didn't, you missed the important part.

Unfortunately, the tvfool DB doesn't have the updated RF frequencies at this point. I made a list, if it would help to update them, let me know how.

First of all, the TVFool staff is very small; they are not able to make corrections to the database, especially with the many changes from Repack by the FCC. I'm sure they appreciate your offer, but they are not able to act on it.

I gave you a source for a more accurate list of channels. The rabbitears.info site is run by Trip in VA who also works for the FCC. Can you think of a more accurate list?

Atlanta Repack plan:
https://www.rabbitears.info/repackch...=&lss=&status=

NBC which is Hi-VHF also added a UHF signal using virtual channel 11.11.

That's a WATL subchannel:
https://www.rabbitears.info/market.p...n=WATL#station

Anyway, corrections to the database belong on the corrections thread, not on a reception thread:
https://forum.tvfool.com/forumdisplay.php?f=4

Why don't you post your list on the corrections thread. Some people in your area might find it helpful.