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Kevin E. Davis
Intermediate Member
Username: Kedavis
Post Number: 40
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 15, 2010 - 09:18 pm: | 
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Ever since the digital changeover that was supposed to make things better I have NEVER been able to get CBS (KFMB 8.1) or ABC (10.1 KGTV). Also, CW (XETV 6.1) has gone from being reliable to marginal. Thanks a lot, FCC!
That wasn't much of an issue until I decided I am dumping my $100 a month Cox cable bill (digital channels plus DVR plus HBO). Now I really needed to get all channels off the air.
I live in North Park San Diego in a two story condo with an attic. I have been using either a simple antenna like on a car or an amplified VHF/UHF rabbit-ear antenna with a disk, and on my second floor.
So I just got a big UHF antenna (Antennas Direct DB4 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna) and I STILL Can't get CBS or ABC (some people said they could pick up VHF stations with this antenna). I even went to my second-story balcony and aimed the antenna directly northwest and only a weak signal from the two.
Now I have ordered a big VHF antenna (CLEARSTREAM5 HDtv Antenna) which is coming on Tuesday. I hope it will work and I hope I can put it in my attic. (The cheapest I could find for rooftop installation was $350 plus any inside wiring necessary).
If this doesn't work I am going to have to rely on downloading TV from the Internet. |
Mike Mantle
Advanced Member
Username: Mm1
Post Number: 412
Registered: 09-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 16, 2010 - 03:18 pm: |
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Kevin,
6.1, 8.1 and 10.1 are VHF, not UHF. You are likely suffering from a lot of signal loss with your new antenna. I'm sure one of the users here can suggest a good antenna. 6.1 is VHF Low however and may require an antenna different from 8.1 and 10.1. It's also transmitted from a different direction, making it even more likely that you would need a separate antenna for it.
Conversely, you might consider getting Cox Basic Cable. I think it runs about $15/month. You will get all of the local channels in HD with that subscription as long as your TV has a built in QAM tuner. |
Don-RB
Advanced Member
Username: Donrb
Post Number: 3248
Registered: 08-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 16, 2010 - 06:15 pm: |
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XETV 6.1 digital broadcasts on UHF channel 23, their analog channel is on VHF6. |
Ivan
New member
Username: Psipher
Post Number: 2
Registered: 03-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 17, 2010 - 09:36 am: |
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Kevin,
I live near you in University Heights (near Florida & Adams) and had the same issue with indoor antennas.
I got the Winegard HD-1080 antenna on my roof now and get a strong signal on all channels...no problems recording 3 shows at once on my TiVo's. The antenna is less than $35 (got it at Willy's)...greatest investment ever. |
JimboG
Intermediate Member
Username: Jimbog
Post Number: 53
Registered: 03-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 17, 2010 - 06:23 pm: |
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Kevin,
The Clearstream 5 VHF antenna is overpriced for what you get (in my opinion). If you have the option to put an antenna on the roof instead of in the attic, that would be preferable.
Even if you must keep your antenna inside, you should be able to get far stronger VHF reception with a dedicated hi band VHF antenna from Antennacraft or Winegard.
Make sure you are pointing your VHF antenna to the Northwest in the direction of La Jolla Mesa. Check www.tvfool.com to see what direction you need to point your antennae.
Use a UHF-VHF Joiner Spliter from Willy's Electronics to join your UHF and VHF antennae.
Best of luck! |
Kevin E. Davis
Intermediate Member
Username: Kedavis
Post Number: 41
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 - 06:08 am: |
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Well the VHF antenna will be arriving today from Amazon so I'll see how it works. The $15 Cox basic option was also a good suggestion. I don't want to do anything on my roof if I can help it because of the expense and liability. (I live in a condo and if I damage the roof it would bankrupt me.)
That $100 a month TV bill was just too much. Until I moved to San Diego a few years ago I just watched TV from a rabbit-eared antenna and recorded shows on my VCR.
I wrote to channels 8 and 10 about the issue. No response from 10 but 8 (CBS, KFMB) wrote back that if I did certain things with my antenna "...I might have a chance of receiving KFMB." Can you believe that? I replied that if he increased his signal strength he might have a chance that I will watch KFMB. |
Mike Mantle
Advanced Member
Username: Mm1
Post Number: 413
Registered: 09-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 - 09:09 am: |
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Kevin,
I feel your frustration but KFMB cannot simply increase their signal strength. The FCC licenses TV and radio stations for specific power levels and antenna patterns. The stations cannot deviate willy nilly. |
Kevin E. Davis
Intermediate Member
Username: Kedavis
Post Number: 42
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 - 07:01 pm: |
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Success! The Clearstream 5 VHF antenna came today and with it in my second floor office I can pick up everything! (8.1, 10.1, 10.15, 51.1, 69.1, 57.1, 6.1, 28.1, 29.1, 15.1, 15.2, 12.1, 33.1, 39.1, 39.2, 39.3.)
The antenna even picks up the UHF stations at full strength.
I tried the UHF/VHF combiner one of the antennas came with and it made all the signals come in worse. The best I can do is get no signal loss if I make sure the two antennas (Clearstream5 and DB4) are far apart and the combiner is shielded it its plastic case.
I can't see any benefit in using both if the best I can do is get the same signal strength as I do with the VHF alone.
So now I put the antenna in the attic and attached the cable to the TV two floors below. Without even aiming it everything comes in. The only issue I am having now is that 15.1 and 39.1 fade in and out. I'll try pointing the antenna towards them or getting an amplifier.
(Message edited by kedavis on January 19, 2010)
(Message edited by kedavis on January 19, 2010)
(Message edited by kedavis on January 20, 2010) |
Andy
Advanced Member
Username: Andydrew
Post Number: 406
Registered: 04-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 22, 2010 - 07:52 pm: |
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Kevin,
You should really consider pointing the ClearStream5 towards Mt. Soledad (La Jolla) and the DB4 towards Mt. San Miguel (Spring Valley). You should be able to use the UHF/VHF combiner that came with the Clearstream5. Are you sure you had the ClearStream5 plugged into the VHF input and the DB4 plugged into the UHF input?
You will have a much better chance of picking up 15.1 and 39.1 if you have the DB4 oriented correctly towards Mt. San Miguel. |
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