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Direct TV Signal Issues
I wanted to tap into the Planets expert advice regarding a TV signal from hell. Most of the time my Direct TV signal is great on the satellite, but when it comes to the "local channel's" they fade in and out like the wind. Unfortunately, in my area, Direct TV doesn't offer the locals yet, so I am forced to get the locals off an antenna. I have the B Band converters hooked up, so that's not the issue.
<O:p When the Direct TV guy was here about a year ago, he mentioned there was some kind of booster box and also some kind of a "super antenna" if you will. He claimed the antenna was the cats ass and or the king daddy of antennas. Does any of this ring a bell? (Radio Shack?) I am tired of the local CBS, ABC, NBC fading out and not even being able to get the local FOX station at all. I PMed Direct TV guru Skip, which seems like the logical choice, but I thought there may be others out there who have had the same problems and worked through it.<O:p <O:p Any ideas? :shrug:<O:p |
How far are you from the TV towers and are they basically in the same direction from your home? The booster is only to overcome signal loss from the antenna to the TVs.
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I got your PM but I'll answer here. Several companies make signal amplifiers. The kind that actually work have two parts. One part goes up on the pole (near the antenna). The other part sits near the TV and plugs into 110v. The existing co-ax is still used. Radio Shack probably has them but they are high priced. I'd try Home Depot or Lowes first.
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Go here and put in your address and see what the signal strength is for your home: http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx |
As I stated in the Thread, the Direct TV guy also claimed there was an antenna that was a cut above the rest as well, that you could get at the Shack, does that ring a bell. I don't remember what he called it, so I'll call it the Lightning Rod 5000. :)
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Bwana, I've used these but they won't help if the problem is a weak signal at the antenna. They are good to overcome long coax runs where signal loss is a problem, or going through splitters.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2103913 |
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<TABLE class=text cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5><TBODY><TR align=left bgColor=#e6e6e6><TH>DTV</TH><TH>Antenna Type</TH><TH>Call Sign</TH><TH>Channel</TH><TH>Network</TH><TH>City, State</TH><TH>Live Date</TH><TH>Compass Heading</TH><TH>Miles From</TH><TH>RF Channel</TH></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD class=text align=middle>*</TD><TD bgColor=#ffcc33 align=middle>yellow uhf</TD><TD class=text>KBGS-DT</TD><TD class=text>16.1</TD><TD class=text>IND</TD><TD class=text>BILLINGS, MT</TD><TD class=text></TD><TD class=text>86°</TD><TD class=text>5.4</TD><TD class=text>16</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#e6e6e6><TD class=text align=middle>*</TD><TD bgColor=#ffcc33 align=middle>yellow vhf</TD><TD class=text>KULR-DT</TD><TD class=text>8.1</TD><TD class=text>NBC</TD><TD class=text>BILLINGS, MT</TD><TD class=text></TD><TD class=text>92°</TD><TD class=text>5.7</TD><TD class=text>11</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD class=text align=middle>*</TD><TD bgColor=#ffcc33 align=middle>yellow vhf</TD><TD class=text>KTVQ-DT</TD><TD class=text>2.1</TD><TD class=text>CBS</TD><TD class=text>BILLINGS, MT</TD><TD class=text></TD><TD class=text>88°</TD><TD class=text>5.4</TD><TD class=text>10</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#e6e6e6><TD class=text align=middle>*</TD><TD bgColor=#cc0000 align=middle>red uhf</TD><TD class=text>K20HB-D</TD><TD class=text>20.1</TD><TD class=text>PBS</TD><TD class=text>BOZEMAN, MT</TD><TD class=text></TD><TD class=text>88°</TD><TD class=text>5.4</TD><TD class=text>20</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD class=text align=middle>*</TD><TD bgColor=#cc0000 align=middle>red uhf</TD><TD class=text>KSVI-DT</TD><TD class=text>6.1</TD><TD class=text>ABC</TD><TD class=text>BILLINGS, MT</TD><TD class=text></TD><TD class=text>68°</TD><TD class=text>11.1</TD><TD class=text>18</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#e6e6e6><TD class=text align=middle>*</TD><TD bgColor=#333399 align=middle>blue uhf</TD><TD class=text>K25BP-D</TD><TD class=text>25.1</TD><TD class=text>ABC</TD><TD class=text>BILLINGS, MT</TD><TD class=text></TD><TD class=text>87°</TD><TD class=text>5.4</TD><TD class=text>25</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD class=text align=middle>*</TD><TD bgColor=#9966ff align=middle>violet uhf</TD><TD class=text>KHMT-DT</TD><TD class=text>4.1</TD><TD class=text>FOX</TD><TD class=text>HARDIN, MT</TD><TD class=text></TD><TD class=text>86°</TD><TD class=text>20.9</TD><TD class=text>22</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> |
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FOX had an edge before the digital switch, but vanished after that. |
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check out directv.com i was looking at it yesterday they have some sort of signal booster for 50 dollars
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Since I've done antenna design in my career, I'll chime in here.
Skip is pretty close to the solution. First, antennas; you need to look at the "gain" factor. A lot of spiffy looking antennas sell looks and not performance. Gains on the order of 10 dB on the lower channels (2-13) is average and 20-25 db on the UHF channels are probably all you will find. The higher gain factor means the antennas beamwidth is narrow and that's where a antenna rotator may be needed. Now, the "F" factor. All TV stations now have switched to digital. The old designs for analog antennas are limited by the same physics, however digital modulation is much narrower in beamwidth thus exacerbating the directional issue. Bottom line, look at the transmitter locations and if they are more than 20° difference invest into a rotor. Amplifiers are often useless. If you live on the fringe, they just amplify noise. Having said that, digital is impervious to noise so there may be some trade off but I would be pessimistic but don't let this prevent you from trying one. Look for the BER (Bit Error Rate) factor and select one with the highest number. Splitters will specify losses in dB usually with factors of 3, 7.5. That number aggregates with the number of splitters you use so if you start splitting splitters it would be best to add amplification. Also, look at the coaxial cable. New cable is normally stamped "RG6" with a phrase "Swept to 1 GHz " some number like that. That is very important in terms of digital reception. Hope this helps. One reason I dropped DTV is that locals were not included. Plus I get a great package from Comcast for my TV/Phone/INet. |
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On a side note, this place never ceases to amaze me with the wealth of information that it can provide on any given topic. I would guess that if I'm having this problem, there are 20 other people that are following the thread as well, looking for the same answers. I really appreciate the information!
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Before you buy a rotor, try turning your antenna and see if the signal improves. In analog, you would see a clearer picture with some ghosting of the signal. With digital, when the signal starts dropping you see frame freezing or digital breaking (small squares in the picture). So it is best if you pause and the the BER catch up. The constant frozen frame means you have lost the signal. That's the difference between analog and digital TV. As far as the best antenna model, Skip's suggestion may be the best. But the other posters seem to have some good alternatives also. Try suing DTV. . . |
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If it does come in better, the ABC station may be a casualty. It's worth a try before spending any money. |
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I was about ready to last Sunday, when I had to miss the playoff game. :D |
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One more thing. You might knock on the doors of some neigbors and see what reception they are getting. Someone may have already tried some of this stuff.
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Heh, I will be doing my best to avoid a "slide off." I don't bounce as well as I did 10 years ago. :doh!: |
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Greg, This is the one I got last summer. Couldn't be happier. I get stations out of Wyoming and South Dakota. :thumb:
http://cgi.ebay.com/MOTORIZED-TV-ANT...item1c0f1077b6 |
IMHO..
This one |
What I did a couple years ago was to purchase this antenna:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2103088 I put that up on my chimney. I have 4 digital tv station signals here that I pick up over the air. According to antennaweb.org, they range from 257 degrees to 297 degrees. The furthest is 19.0 miles away and I pick it up with an upper 90s percent reception. Sounds similar to your situation. Although I don't know if you have any obstacles. I pretty much don't have any obstructions between my house and the stations. |
Before direct tv had local stations in my market I was able to get "other" fox/abc/cbs stations through directv. It cost about $3 a month per station and i was able to get abc west(i live in ny) and fox west.If the local stations are not offered by direc tv you should qualify to get those stations but you have to ask direc tv they dont just give them to you. Prime time schedule would be screwed up but at least you could get games which is what I got them for.
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DT |
I just thought of something else, Greg. I think the cable company, by law, has to offer a locals only package at a nominal price. I don't know if you want that but it is an option.
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Terrestrial broadcast is fast becoming obsolete and it amazes me why stations hold on so hard. Another thing is if they deny, send a letter to the FCC and copy the broadcaster. |
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I will follow up using both techniques, if I get the go pound sand letter. So I take it after you did that, they "changed their mind" and decided it wouldn't be such a bad thing for old Jack to get the free pass? |
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So no pictures showing your legs pointing upward out of a snow drift or six holes in a 3 inch group in the dish. A very disappointing end to a thread that had great potential :shake:
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http://thismighthurt.files.wordpress.../08/rodney.jpg |
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Heh ! I just did the same thing last week . They told me the same as you , waiver request and 45 days. damn playoffs. It's a good thing the Chiefs are out or somebody would be in grave danger! |
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Drop a few buzzwords like "denying my request is not what the FCC calls ""in the best interest of the viewing public"". Complaints to the FCC carry a lot of weight when the stations think they might get involved.
Your tax dollar funds the FCC. When I retired I started doing part-time consulting work for public safety agencies in my state regarding their licensing with the FCC. Having dealt with the FCC in the last 30 years of my career, I found that they do take their job quite seriously and will act on any citizens complaint, albeit slow at times. They are life and death to broadcasters. So just inferring you will take the matter to the FCC with extreme prejudice may hurry things along. Make your case that you simple cannot get an acceptable signal from their station your risk/benefits are greatly out of proportion. Good luck, you sound like me. After a while it just becomes the issues and their failure to act is what counts. |
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There was some great advise in this thread. I would say more than enough to play hardball with, if it comes down to that. Hardball + Ornery = results. :D |
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