TV Antenna instead of cable/dish

[buickanddeere]

Digital signals are line of sight. The curvature of earth limits that distance to a maximum of 90 miles. That's why we had to get sat TV at the farm.

Digital signals still ride the same analog radio waves and carry the same. During the swap to digital it is possible that nearby analog transmitters were replaced with lower powered or more distant digital transmitters. Channels 2-6 are rarely used anymore as per watt of transmitter power those channels travel farther than the higher frequency bands of 7-13 and in particular channel 14 and up.
I checked tvfool and there are 11 different station transmitters located less than 20 miles from Richmond VA.TV Fool
From Boydton a 30ft tower, that channel master antenna I posted, a 30 db pre amp up at the antenna, RG-6 cable and a rotor would bring in all network stations.TV Fool

 

[keegs]

Hi lakngulf,

I've always used OTA analog and now digital. Any of the Yagi antenna are pretty good performers. There's websites that will help you direct/orient your antenna based on a street map of your location. I use my PC and the TV to stream online movies and shows and the OTA digital signal from the antenna for local broadcasts. The PC is on the home network with access to the internet through my internet provider. I run the antenna signal into a receiver (called HD HomeRun) that converts the OTA digital broadcast signal to IP (internet protocol) that the PC's antenna receiver connects to over the home network.

A good Yagi runs around $70. The HD HomeRun receiver runs about $80.

 

[lakngulf]

Thanks all. Good info. Obviously I have a little studying to do.
Keep those cards and letters coming!

 

[Oaktree]

Sobetter HDTV Antenna Outdoor 150 Mile Long Range Amplified Digital Outdoor TV Antenna with Signals UHF/VHF/FM/Radio - 360ｰRotation - High Performance Outdoor Antenna for TV with 33-Feet Coax Cable
by Sobetter
Link: http://a.co/dmlhSRK

This one works well in rural Mississippi

I'm extremely skeptical about claimed 150 mile range. I've never gotten that with analog signals, and digital ones are much wimpier. Maybe half that if you're lucky.

uring the swap to digital it is possible that nearby analog transmitters were replaced with lower powered or more distant digital transmitters.

Digital transmitter powers are a lot lower, something like 10-20% of the former analog transmitters.

If you had a city-grade signal in the analog era digital should be fine but in fringe areas you're most likely outta luck.

 

[JD15302155870]

We live about 60 miles from the city to the south and 70 miles from the city to the north. They both have all the networks. We are using the antenna we had long before digital ota transmission began. If the signal from one direction doesn't come thru the other does. I really like the side channels that are available as well. There are a lot of good shows on them.

 

[davesl708]

I'm extremely skeptical about claimed 150 mile range. I've never gotten that with analog signals, and digital ones are much wimpier. Maybe half that if you're lucky.



Digital transmitter powers are a lot lower, something like 10-20% of the former analog transmitters.

If you had a city-grade signal in the analog era digital should be fine but in fringe areas you're most likely outta luck.

When I was young (1960's) we lived in Salina, KS. With antenna on a 60ft tower we could pick up Topeka (102 miles) and Wichita (90 miles). On good days Kansas City (175 miles).

Now I live in the KC metro and use a high grade antenna. The digital signals are so weak I use a booster to get the local channels. Depending on the time of year I can pick up St Joe, MO (65 miles) but still get low signal from stations just a few miles away.
I do pick up Topeka during the summer (55 miles).

I think the stations invested as little as possible in the OTA transmissions.

A good antenna and high tower with booster should get some good results.

 

[antlers125]

Here is another site to check out. Some good information.


You're complete guide to TV antenna installation

 

[teejk]

Now here's an interesting question...my parents bought a house back in the early 60's. It had a sectional TV tower comprised of metal rods at the four corners with a metal wire (maybe like 6 or 4 gauge????) welded in a diagonal pattern along the entire length of each section to fix the 4 rods into a square of about 4-5 inches that stacked together...it was ground based but attached to the fascia board when the stack got that high. Anybody know of any outfit that sells those tower sections anymore?

 

[jones6780]

Most antenna mast are telescoping tube or American Towers Special Series 3' Bracketed Flat Base Residential Antenna Tower (AME3RFTOW) from Solid Signal

 

[buickanddeere]

When I was young (1960's) we lived in Salina, KS. With antenna on a 60ft tower we could pick up Topeka (102 miles) and Wichita (90 miles). On good days Kansas City (175 miles).

Now I live in the KC metro and use a high grade antenna. The digital signals are so weak I use a booster to get the local channels. Depending on the time of year I can pick up St Joe, MO (65 miles) but still get low signal from stations just a few miles away.
I do pick up Topeka during the summer (55 miles).

I think the stations invested as little as possible in the OTA transmissions.

A good antenna and high tower with booster should get some good results.

High gain amplifiers can be a dodgy thing in high signal and high noise environments. Using an antenna for channel 7-51 avoids those long elements that are nearly resonant with high powered FM broadcast radio. Combined with a variable gain amplifier with a built in FM trap will find the compromise between amplifying signal and amplifying noise. It's like being in a noisy bar and the person beside you having to yell in your ear to be heard. Too strong of a signal or a strong signal mixed with strong noise will overload the TV tuner and result in no image. A directional Yagi antenna tends to amplify in the direction it is pointing and tune out signals from the sides.