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OTA DIgital Reception

H

HalfCracked

Weaksauce
Joined
Dec 13, 2002
Messages
77
OK I'm going batty - & search is not being my friend.

I just bought a new 52" Mitsubishi HD integrated set; problem is reception of digital signal is Terrible! It's better in the evening than it is durig the day but most stations can't seem to stay locked for more than 5 min. at best & with digital it's all or nothing :mad:

Now I've checked & I'm with in 9 miles of most stations (almost all to the SE of me). I have one of the huge antenna's (12' I believe similar to this only i bought it looong before DTV {compatability?} ) on a rotator in my attic.

What can I do to improve reception?
Am I swimming in too much signal?
Where are some problem spots I should check?

I'm thinking a signal amp won't help if i'm not getting good signal in the first place.

Thoughts? ideas?

BTW: here's antennaweb.org's listing for my area

Stations
Address Location Results
The address you entered was located at the Street level.

Show All Stations

DTV Antenna
Type/Call Sign/Channel/Network/City/State/Orientation/Miles/Frequency
Assignment
red - uhf KAZH 57 AZA BAYTOWN TX 134° 32.5 57
red - uhf KAZH-DT 41.1 AZA BAYTOWN TX 136° 7.5 41
red - uhf KXLN 45 UNI ROSENBERG TX 139° 8.0 45
red - uhf KXLN-DT 46.1 UNI ROSENBERG TX 139° 8.0 46
red - uhf KZJL 61 SAH NASHVILLE TN 137° 8.6 61
red - uhf KZJL-DT 44 SAH HOUSTON TX TBD 137° 8.6 44
red - uhf KTXH 20 UPN HOUSTON TX 134° 7.2 20
red - uhf KTXH-DT 19.1 UPN HOUSTON TX 139° 8.0 19
red - uhf KTBU 55 IND CONROE TX 30° 48.6 55
red - uhf KTBU-DT 55.1 IND CONROE TX 139° 8.0 42
red - vhf KPRC 2 NBC HOUSTON TX 133° 8.1 2
red - uhf KPRC-DT 2.1 NBC HOUSTON TX 133° 8.1 35
red - vhf KPXB-DT 5.1 PAX CONROE TX 136° 7.5 5
red - uhf KRIV 26 FOX HOUSTON TX 129° 8.0 26
red - uhf KRIV-DT 26.1 FOX HOUSTON TX 129° 8.0 27
red - vhf KUHT 8 PBS HOUSTON TX 129° 8.0 8
red - vhf KUHT-DT 8.1 PBS HOUSTON TX 129° 8.0 9
red - uhf KNWS 51 IND KATY TX 136° 8.4 51
red - uhf KNWS-DT 51.1 IND KATY TX 136° 8.4 52
red - uhf KTMD 48 TEL GALVESTON TX 116° 25.6 48
red - uhf KTMD-DT 47.1 TEL GALVESTON TX 136° 7.5 47
red - vhf KTRK 13 ABC HOUSTON TX 129° 8.0 13
red - uhf KTRK-DT 13.1 ABC HOUSTON TX 129° 8.0 32
red - uhf KLTJ 22 DAY GALVESTON TX 134° 32.5 22
red - uhf KLTJ-DT 22.1 DAY GALVESTON TX 134° 32.5 23
red - uhf KETH 14 TBN HOUSTON TX 137° 8.6 14
red - uhf KETH-DT 24 TBN HOUSTON TX 139° 8.0 24
red - vhf KHOU 11 CBS HOUSTON TX 136° 8.4 11
red - uhf KHOU-DT 11.1 CBS HOUSTON TX 136° 8.4 31
red - uhf KFTH 67 TFA ALVIN TX 133° 8.1 67
red - uhf KFTH-DT 67.1 TFA ALVIN TX 136° 7.5 36
red - uhf KHWB 39 WB HOUSTON TX 133° 8.1 39
red - uhf KHWB-DT 39.1 WB HOUSTON TX 133° 8.1 38
red - uhf KBPX-LP 33 PAX HOUSTON TX 134° 7.2 33
blue - uhf KPXB 49 PAX CONROE TX 21° 46.7 49
violet - vhf KBTX 3 CBS BRYAN TX 332° 67.5 3
violet - uhf K30CV 30 IND HOUSTON TX 38° 20.1 30
Note:
The above listing is a conservative prediction of stations received. Depending on the specifics of your installation, you may be able to receive stations that do not appear in this list.
 
Radioshack sells an attunetor(sp) which can job the signal strength down. If you have the antenna aimed correctly I would deffinately take a look at reducing the signal and seeing if you can get a better signal.
 
If you find a solution, please post it here. I'm going to be getting OTA HDTV once I decide how I want to do it, via set top box, or pci card. I'm going to guess that you're getting too much signal, how do the analog stations signal look, espicially channel 2? Channel 2 OTA comes in terrible where I am in clear lake.

Just to let you know, time warner does a terrible job of HDTV services in Houston. They have horrible compression problems that make the standard definition look better most of the time than the HD channels.
 
I'm beginning to think I may be fubared. Driving home from work I realized there's a double set of high voltage Transmission wires running about 20deg off perpendicular to my line of sight to the antenna farm. That can't be good for signal. :( They're maybe a block away behind some 2 story houses.
 
sandmanx said:
If you find a solution, please post it here. I'm going to be getting OTA HDTV once I decide how I want to do it, via set top box, or pci card. I'm going to guess that you're getting too much signal, how do the analog stations signal look, espicially channel 2? Channel 2 OTA comes in terrible where I am in clear lake.

Just to let you know, time warner does a terrible job of HDTV services in Houston. They have horrible compression problems that make the standard definition look better most of the time than the HD channels.
Click to expand...

Chanel 2 looks great. It's the UHF frequencies I'm having problems with. major multiplexing - no digital love in over 3 days. none of em not one stinkin station not even chanel 9 (8.1) which should look good being in the VHF bands.

well I tried an attenuator - no love
I tried a terk directional indoor antenna - no love

Right now I'm wading through the avsforum.com stuff.
good thread
 
I got a set top box over the weekend, and I'm receiving OTA digital now. I'm in Clear Lake with a 3rd floor apartment, here is my list of distances:

red - uhf KAZH 57 AZA BAYTOWN TX 198° 18.4 57
* red - uhf KAZH-DT 41.1 AZA BAYTOWN TX 270° 23.5 41
red - uhf KXLN 45 UNI ROSENBERG TX 268° 23.4 45
* red - uhf KXLN-DT 46.1 UNI ROSENBERG TX 268° 23.4 46
red - uhf KZJL 61 SAH NASHVILLE TN 268° 22.9 61
* red - uhf KZJL-DT 44 SAH HOUSTON TX TBD 268° 22.9 44
red - uhf KTXH 20 UPN HOUSTON TX 271° 23.5 20
* red - uhf KTXH-DT 19.1 UPN HOUSTON TX 268° 23.4 19
* red - vhf KPXB-DT 5.1 PAX CONROE TX 270° 23.5 5
red - uhf KRIV 26 FOX HOUSTON TX 271° 22.5 26
* red - uhf KRIV-DT 26.1 FOX HOUSTON TX 271° 22.5 27
red - vhf KUHT 8 PBS HOUSTON TX 271° 22.5 8
* red - vhf KUHT-DT 8.1 PBS HOUSTON TX 271° 22.5 9
red - uhf KNWS 51 IND KATY TX 268° 22.9 51
* red - uhf KNWS-DT 51.1 IND KATY TX 268° 22.9 52
red - uhf KTMD 48 TEL GALVESTON TX 224° 8.3 48
* red - uhf KTMD-DT 47.1 TEL GALVESTON TX 270° 23.5 47
red - vhf KTRK 13 ABC HOUSTON TX 271° 22.5 13
* red - uhf KTRK-DT 13.1 ABC HOUSTON TX 271° 22.5 32
red - uhf KLTJ 22 DAY GALVESTON TX 198° 18.4 22
* red - uhf KLTJ-DT 22.1 DAY GALVESTON TX 198° 18.4 23
red - uhf KETH 14 TBN HOUSTON TX 268° 22.9 14
* red - uhf KETH-DT 24 TBN HOUSTON TX 268° 23.4 24
red - vhf KHOU 11 CBS HOUSTON TX 268° 22.9 11
* red - uhf KHOU-DT 11.1 CBS HOUSTON TX 268° 22.9 31
red - uhf KFTH 67 TFA ALVIN TX 270° 22.8 67
* red - uhf KFTH-DT 67.1 TFA ALVIN TX 270° 23.5 36
red - uhf KHWB 39 WB HOUSTON TX 270° 22.8 39
* red - uhf KHWB-DT 39.1 WB HOUSTON TX 270° 22.8 38
* red - uhf KTBU-DT 55.1 IND CONROE TX 269° 23.4 42
* red - uhf KPRC-DT 2.1 NBC HOUSTON TX 270° 22.8 35
blue - uhf KPXB 49 PAX CONROE TX 347° 50.1 49
blue - vhf KPRC 2 NBC HOUSTON TX 270° 22.8 2
blue - uhf KBPX-LP 33 PAX HOUSTON TX 271° 23.5 33
blue - uhf KTBU 55 IND CONROE TX 355° 47.3 55
violet - vhf KBTV 4 NBC PORT ARTHUR TX 53° 79.9 4
violet - vhf KBTX 3 CBS BRYAN TX 318° 88.4 3
violet - vhf KFDM 6 CBS BEAUMONT TX 54° 79.8 6
violet - uhf K30CV 30 IND HOUSTON TX 323° 26.5 30

I'm using an old indoor antenna on it now, and all DTV stations except 2 and 8 come in great. There are some fade problems on both 2 and 8, and I couldn't tune in 51 or 55 at all(not a big suprise, considereing they are not broadcasting for Missouri City.) I think I'm going to get an Channel Master 3021/4221 4-Bay antenna and try it out. I still haven't decided what to do for pbs, damn them for being the only station to broadcast in the vhf high band. My signal is very stong though on 11, 13, 20, 26, and 39. My signal strength was at full tilt on all these stations, with 11 coming in so strong the amplifier on the antenna overfed the HD box.
 
Also, I forgot to mention I took ym box down to a friends house this weekend in League City, and 2, 8, 11, 13, 20, 26, and 39 all came in clear. He has a cheap attic antenna(single story house) and it produced very good results. The analog stations from the same antenna look terrible, I was quite inpressed how there was no problem with the signal. It also helps that he has a 52" widescreen hdtv monitor to watch it on, it was great watching the Big 12 championship game on.
 
Well picture quality of digital is nothing to go by as far as signal strength goes. If you get a lock you get a perfect picture. This is both a boon & a bane of DT. You'll never get snow or ghosting on a digital picture. You will however get pixelation, sound drop out, & total drop out.

Given my curren't circumstances I almost wish that weren't the case.

from your antenna web listings looks like you're a little further out than me. Possibly on a better side of the antenna too. Some of the broadcast towers are directional & pointed away from me.

multiplexing (ghosts in analog) is terrible for digital. It will shut down a chanel even if you're getting a strong signal.
 
Yeah, I get a pretty good picture on most channels in analog. I think the main reason is the height. I used the same indoor antenna at my friends house in League City(ground level) and got no signal at all. I figured ghosting would be bad for a digital signal, which is why I was very suprised to see my friends attic antenna which produces about 4 ghosts on ch 13 tune all the stations in without any artifacting/blocking problems.

There used to be an fcc web site that showed the antenna pattern of all the towers. The one's in Missouri City were all slightly directional toward the city, and a weaker pattern behind them to the Gulf. I wish I could find another site that showed the patterns again.

I don't have any real problems with power lines where I am, and I'm high enough up that the only thing in my way is trees, but Ellington AFB is only about 2 miles from me, and nasa's JSC is less than a mile. The only problem I see myself having is rain fade, which is why I am thinking of going with the large directional antenna and aim it toward all the main towers.
 
I think your problem is not enough signal.
Most DTV stations are currently only broadcasting on low power until the full switchover when the analog stations are taken off air. At least that's how it is in my area right now.I'm about 6 miles from the towers here and I use a Channel Master 4228 in my attic with excellent results.Even pick up stations from a couple neighboring cities aprox. 50 miles away.
 
Well, after some one gave me the code to see signal strenght on a Mitsubishi DLP TV & discovering that I was getting 8-10's I thought it wasn't an antenna problem afterall. I remembered an off the cuff comment from some one about resetting their reciever & tried that.

Boom - everything but fox. Apparently the mitsubishi's occasionally "forget" that they're a digital TV & need to be reset by the front panel.

UGH- feeling really dumb now 5 days of no digital because I didn't push a readily accessible button.
 
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