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Antenna gurus HELP please

This topic can be found at:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/320601935/m/4030046994

March 25, 2023, 10:10 AM
quil57
Antenna gurus HELP please
My daughter is buying ahome and this is on the roof and I have no idea. I thought it might be HD air antenna but all I look at don't match these pics.

any help is much appreciated!!

https://flic.kr/p/2op8Y8o

https://flic.kr/p/2op9JTX
March 25, 2023, 10:14 AM
cas
I'd say so. Not this model / brand, but this style.

https://www.channelmaster.com/...tv-antenna-cm-4221hd


EDIT TO ADD: once I knew what to call it...
https://www.solidsignal.com/an...sEAQYCCABEgIckPD_BwE
March 25, 2023, 10:18 AM
ltz400
try this link.https://www.frugalfamilytimes.com/
it shows that brand. its just a tv antenna.
March 25, 2023, 10:50 AM
smschulz
All antennas are HD.
March 25, 2023, 11:43 AM
old rugged cross
Whoa, what is that thing. Looks like a constellation Eek
What are they trying to pull in with that thing?



"Practice like you want to play in the game"
March 25, 2023, 11:57 AM
SigSAC
That setup is designed to pull signals from different directions - some towns are between major cities and need to point in different directions - think a more permanent solution to having a rotator on a directional antenna. The problem is how the cables are routed - you might actually be reducing the signal if they are combined.

You might check and see if there are any TV stations still using VHF in the area - if so, these antennas will not pick up those signals.

Some sites to check for who transmits on what frequencies:

https://www.antennaweb.org

https://rabbitears.info
March 25, 2023, 12:15 PM
Krazeehorse
I would guess those are UHF. And IIRC most digital signals are in the UHF spectrum.


_____________________

Be careful what you tolerate. You are teaching people how to treat you.
March 25, 2023, 01:07 PM
architect
quote:
Originally posted by Krazeehorse:
I would guess those are UHF. And IIRC most digital signals are in the UHF spectrum.
Possibly because the UHF "band" is so much wider than VHF.

In the DC area, at least, there are no analog stations left, VHF/UHF are all digital. This based on every OTA auto-scan I've performed in about the last two years on multiple TVs in multiple locations. Only digital station are found, most stations providing three or more sub-channels (probably why digital has prevailed). I'm sure the FCC has definitive data on this, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that there are no remaining commercial analog broadcasts in the US.
March 25, 2023, 01:15 PM
41
I have a high gain directional antenna in the attic and get 92 channels.


41
March 25, 2023, 01:35 PM
smschulz
You need to scan the area to determine you stations in your area.
Find out the direction and the actual band they are in.
Like mentioned above most all are shifted to UHF bands because Low VHF are very difficult to get and require a long antenna element.

There is a kid from PA on YouTube that is very knowledgeable on the subject:

https://www.antennamanpa.com/index.html

https://www.youtube.com/@AntennaMan


The scan report you do will determine the direction, distance and relative signal quality expected.

The FCC Website will provide all you need to know.

https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps
March 25, 2023, 01:35 PM
bendable
quote:
Originally posted by 41:
I have a high gain directional antenna in the attic and get 92 channels.


Brand name and model please





Safety, Situational Awareness and proficiency.



Neck Ties, Hats and ammo brass, Never ,ever touch'em w/o asking first
March 25, 2023, 01:46 PM
Skins2881
I don't know crap about antennas, but I saw you post and just went and bought This inexpensive one off Amazon.

Been wanting to drop cable, I very infrequently turn the TV on outside of football season. It does mean I'll have to watch the games live or buy a DVR.

Hopefully this thing works because I'll have to run a line to the attic and remove my TV to hook it up.

Edit, based on smschulz YouTube channel, the one I've ordered is no good. Number 1 on his list Big Grin Thanks for the links!

Edit #2 bou this one instead.





Jesse

Sic Semper Tyrannis
March 25, 2023, 03:06 PM
walkinghorse
Wonder how it is grounded for lightening protection?


Jim
March 25, 2023, 04:06 PM
4MUL8R
Exactly! If struck, without protection the feed line goes right into the house. I think I see it going into the eave. Ham radio antenna safety is a huge topic that results in bitter and contentious arguments on www.qrz.com.


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Trying to simplify my life...
March 25, 2023, 04:35 PM
clang
Antennas Direct and other websites will help you point your antenna. You definitely have antennas facing 2 directions.

I cut the cable a few years ago. I use a Channel Master EXTREMEtenna 80 that I mounted in my attic. I split the feed to several TVs in the house and use an distribution amplifier to keep my signal strength up. I live about 35 miles from Chicago and get about 100 channels, although there are a good number of home shopping, foreign language and religious channels in the mix.

Sometimes I channel flick with nothing to watch, but it's really not much different than when I had cable. Live sports is the only real let down when you get rid of cable, but there are streaming options available.
March 25, 2023, 06:54 PM
41
quote:
Originally posted by bendable:
quote:
Originally posted by 41:
I have a high gain directional antenna in the attic and get 92 channels.


Brand name and model please


The antenna was in the attic when I bought the house. The owner had the antenna pointed towards the end wall which is covered with insulated foil resulting in nothing. Big Grin

I moved the antenna so it shoots through the roof towards TV hill and Baltimore. I also added a preamp with about 10 db gain.


41
March 25, 2023, 07:12 PM
ensigmatic
quote:
Originally posted by quil57:
My daughter is buying ahome and this is on the roof and I have no idea. I thought it might be HD air antenna but all I look at don't match these pics.
As smschulz wrote: All antennas are HD antennas.

What's pictured is a pair of directional stacked bowtie UHF antennas. My guess is the desired stations were far away and on bearings more or less 90° to each other. Odds are the two antennas either do, or once did, feed a combiner, converting two feeds into one.

Somebody went to a lot of trouble for OTA TV Smile



"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe
"If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher
March 25, 2023, 08:24 PM
quil57
What's pictured is a pair of directional stacked bowtie UHF antennas. My guess is the desired stations were far away and on bearings more or less 90° to each other. Odds are the two antennas either do, or once did, feed a combiner, converting two feeds into one.

Somebody went to a lot of trouble for OTA TV Smile

thanks can you tell me what hardware she will need inside to connect to the antenna?

only one smart TV
March 25, 2023, 09:04 PM
ensigmatic
quote:
Originally posted by quil57:
thanks can you tell me what hardware she will need inside to connect to the antenna?

only one smart TV
Without more information: Not really.

I assume they combined the feeds from the two antennas into one with a combiner. If so, and if it's still there, then she need only hook the output of that to the coaxial antenna connection on the TV, tell the TV to scan for OTA stations and she's done.

If the two antenna feeds are not combined, then see if either antenna, alone, provides a suitable selection of stations (this would involve doing the channel scan thing for each antenna, separately) or acquire a combiner.



"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe
"If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher
March 25, 2023, 09:11 PM
DonDraper
That person REALLY wanted to cut the cord to cable TV and get all that was available free over the air-waves. They skipped all of the Micky Mouse interior antenna options and went Ron Swanson "whole-ass" on that TV antenna setup.


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I like Sigs and HK's, and maybe Glocks