The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
Please vote in the Forum Structure Poll. Polling will close at 2PM EST on January 21, 2025.
Digital OTA Reception
artifexite
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
A little background: I don't have cable or satellite, and while I can probably make room in my budget for one, I don't really want to, or need that many channels. For the past couple years, I have been watching fuzzy television off a cheap rabbit ears/loop antenna. However, the family was amazingly generous this year, and bought me an HDTV, specifically a Toshiba 40RV52U.
In addition to being way bigger than I am used to, it has digital tuners in it apparently, for ATSC and QAM. So I figure, free HDTV. I started reading about how to get digital signals over the air, I bought a fancy little silver sensor clone with a signal amplifier, and mapped out where my local stations are with antennaweb.org. But things aren't working very well.
Here are some issues. I am on the first floor of a two floor building. Directly in the way of the majority of the stations, literally across the street, is a three story building. Anyway, even though antennaweb says I only need a small antenna, I cannot get any digital reception on any channel, except for one channel that I am supposed to need a large antenna for.
I don't really have any option to install an outdoor or attic antenna, so waving the little silver sensor around is my only option at this point. Are there any tips, tricks, things I'm missing to get better OTA reception? Or am I stuck with one HD channel, which happens to be the CW?
In addition to being way bigger than I am used to, it has digital tuners in it apparently, for ATSC and QAM. So I figure, free HDTV. I started reading about how to get digital signals over the air, I bought a fancy little silver sensor clone with a signal amplifier, and mapped out where my local stations are with antennaweb.org. But things aren't working very well.
Here are some issues. I am on the first floor of a two floor building. Directly in the way of the majority of the stations, literally across the street, is a three story building. Anyway, even though antennaweb says I only need a small antenna, I cannot get any digital reception on any channel, except for one channel that I am supposed to need a large antenna for.
I don't really have any option to install an outdoor or attic antenna, so waving the little silver sensor around is my only option at this point. Are there any tips, tricks, things I'm missing to get better OTA reception? Or am I stuck with one HD channel, which happens to be the CW?
artifexite on
0
Posts
The only thing I can think of that may or may not help. Does the building you are in have standard cable hookups that are actually connected to a line? I have used those before to act as an antenna and it has worked quite well. The DTV antenna you bought may not have a place to plug the cable into, but perhaps just plugging cable from the wall into your TV would do it? Or perhaps even just making connection with a cable from the wall to your TV by just having them physically touch may improve. Just something to try I suppose.
Doing some digging around there are DTV antennae that do have a passthrough for connecting standard coax cable input. If yours does, try connecting it to a cable outlet and see what happens.
PSN : Bolthorn
SC2 NA: exoplasm.519 | PA SC2 Mumble Server | My Website | My Stream
If that doesn't work, try buying a different antenna from a store where you can return it if it doesn't work. The Silver Sensor is a highly directional antenna, meaning it will pick up stuff only in the direction it's pointed. This might not be a great thing in your case, since your signals are being blocked by a building. You might have more luck with a more standard antenna, which will pick up signals more directions.
There's a 60 ft. eucalyptus tree directly between our roof and the mountain that all the TV stations broadcast from. It worked a few years ago but as the tree has grown it just got worse to the point that we could only get one channel (fortunately it wasn't the CW, ouch).
You may look into getting basic analog cable, whatever the lowest package they have. Shouldn't run you more than $20. At least in California, the cable companies are required by law to provide the high def local broadcast channels on the coaxial connection. As long as your TV has a built in ATSC tuner, they should come right up after each regular local channel (7, 7-1, 8, 8-1, etc.). We don't have digital cable or anything, but they're there and perfect.
Going slightly offtopic...depending on your cable operator, you may be able to pick up other digital channels you're not supposed to get. For example, we have the Universal HD channel on 86-125 or something...every other one only lasts for 10-15 minutes until it switches to another numbered channel. If we actually had digital cable the box would switch with it...I'm assuming that's how they keep people out who aren't paying for it. The only explanation I can think of for the Universal HD channel is that I live very close to Universal Studios Hollywood and they are big on free stuff for the surrounding community (parking passes, etc. ) and it might be intentional on their part as a service.