Digital Antennas

[Weldangrind]

I have a digital antenna that came with our trailer, so I connected a TV to it, and I was amazed at the clarity of the broadcasts. I've never experienced a digital OTA (over the air) signal before.

I was able to pull down seven channels with the little antenna, and it makes me wonder what a rooftop antenna would be capable of. Perhaps I could pull down KVOS out of Bellingham, but I think that Seattle would be too much of a stretch, since it's 117 miles away. I did some preliminary research about OTA antennas, and "the design of a television broadcast receiving antenna is the same for the older analog transmissions and the digital television (DTV) transmissions which are replacing them." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_antenna

Has anybody here used an old analog UHF antenna to pull down digital tv? Has anybody tried signal amplifiers? I'm quite interested in whatever the forum has to say.

[culcune]

We bought an old '73 Silver Streak (which resembles and is supposed to be a higher end trailer to the Airstream brand trailers) which came with a built in antenna. We had some old tvs, including DTV capable ones (the massive old school kind) which pulled in the local digital channels attached to the analog antenna with no problem. The only issue is that since you can turn the antenna around with a knob, I could never really find the 'sweet' spot again. Either way, if that can pull down signals, there should be no problem if you bought one of the old-school style roof antennas. I don't know broadcast strength, so couldn't guess either way if you could pull in some far away signals.

[cheesy]

I'm trying to ween Mrs. C off the cable so I'm using both. One set is just OTA, two can switch between the two, and one is solely cable.

With OTA, I get something like 67 channels with nothing to watch compared to the 500+ on cable with nothing to watch. I have to say that the OTA has a much better picture. I am using a signal booster on three of the sets but still drop signals on occasion. As I don't give a poop about TV, it doesn't bother me much. As Mrs C seems to get crabby when the TV isn't working, I will be adding a larger booster at the antenna when the weather cools a bit.

[katoranger]

We only have OTA tv. Just an old school antenna on a tall mast. No amp.

[Weldangrind]

Cheesy, please teach me about boosters. What have you tried that works for you?

[humanbeing]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

... teach me about boosters...

Booster w/ lower SNR is better than high db gain in digital days.

[Weldangrind]

Can you recommend one?

[humanbeing]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

Can you recommend one?

Find something similar to this:
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=35290877254

[Weldangrind]

Thanks! I'll grab that on my next TB order.

[humanbeing]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

Thanks! I'll grab that on my next TB order.

Registered at sat-china.com will get more info. For example:
http://bbs.sat-china.com/forum.php?m...ead&tid=149663 What's inside the power supply:
---
http://bbs.sat-china.com/forum.php?m...ead&tid=148827
278A40 / Belgian (johansson.be) http://s.taobao.com/search?initiativ...5%B4%F3%C6%F7/ 博力高(polecoz.com) 25db http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=13247975504 (Q: Looks like the Belgian? A: They made for them)
----
http://bbs.sat-china.com/forum.php?m...ead&tid=136768 One of those "trip"

[cheesy]

Good thing humanbeing chimed in or I'd be giving you all kinds of wrong advice.

[humanbeing]

Std chinese "2 pin" is slightly different (unpolarized/ pin length/ no holes) from NEMA 1-15P.
If believes S/W OFF = cut the "hot", replace it w/ polarized plug. Double-insulated (class 2) mains equipment doesn't matter that in theory.

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by cheesy

Good thing humanbeing chimed in or I'd be giving you all kinds of wrong advice.

I'd still like to hear what you have to say.

[cheesy]

When I get back home, I'll let you know what I tried.