got hd dvr and hd antenna but few chans

[mikedz4]

I got the hd dvr and antenna installed today. I am disappointed though because I only get 2 local digital stations and 6 or so hd national stations. What can I do? Can I call DirecTV and complain because I can't get any locals in hd and if they can't do anything return the dvr and equipment? All I'm looking for is a better antenna so I can get the wheeling/pittsburgh locals in hd.

 

[jim tressler]

give us some more info on where you are at..

I am assuming they gave you a sensar? if so - then its not usefull beyond 25-30 miles from the towers..

check out antennaweb.org for the type of antenna they recomend

also check out avs forum pittsburgh local ota thread
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=188135&goto=newpost

wheeling is here
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=468383&goto=newpost

 

[mikedz4]

weirton,wv. I believe it is a wingard. It's a bowtie antenna. It picks up the analog signals fine as does my rabbit ears. Why can't it pickup the digital signals?

 

[iceturkee]

it's funny.....i was going to put up the ota when i upgraded to hd but the installer told me it would be a waste of money. anyhow, after the fact, d* told me that they couldn't guarantee whether or not the antenna would work. i got so fed up with the nightmare, i went to cable for my hd while d* gets their act together.

i would bitch and moan, though. i managed to get out of my 2-year contract, get a $120 rebate over 6 months and keep the equipment.

 

[steelerfulk]

I would try antennasdirect. I got the DB8 antenna and it works great. I get all the hd stations (ABC, CBS NBC,FOX). When I went to the web site the other people are talking about it showed I would not get that much either. I'm picking up channels 40-50 miles awayand I'm in a low valley area.

 

[mikedz4]

How much is the antenna and will it mount on the dish? My dad won't let me mount anything on the roof or else i would go buy a radio shack antenna and install it and be done with it. That's why I want DirecTV to supply me an antenna that will pickup the stations i want to watch.

 

[jim tressler]

thats interesting.. if the sensar does well on the analog stuff, the digital stuff should be fine.. analog is usually a good barometer for the digital.. did you set up the local networks in the tivo so it knows how to remap and look for your channels? ie.. it may be channel 10 - but it broadcasts on 52 digital.

jim

weirton,wv. I believe it is a wingard. It's a bowtie antenna. It picks up the analog signals fine as does my rabbit ears. Why can't it pickup the digital signals?

 

[mikedz4]

how do you set it up to do that? The installer did the setup for ota channels.

 

[Plywodstatebum]

Go here and see what power antenna you need first.
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

 

[mikedz4]

DTV Antenna
Type Call Sign Channel Network City State Live
Date Compass
Orientation Miles
From Frequency
Assignment
* yellow - uhf WPXI-DT 11.1 NBC PITTSBURGH PA 85° 22.7 48
* yellow - uhf WTOV-DT 9.1 NBC STEUBENVILLE OH 262° 10.7 57
* yellow - uhf WCWB-DT 22.1 WB PITTSBURGH PA 79° 23.3 42
* yellow - uhf KDKA-DT 2.1 CBS PITTSBURGH PA 79° 22.6 25
* green - uhf WQED-DT 13.1 PBS PITTSBURGH PA 88° 24.5 38
* green - uhf WPGH-DT 53.1 FOX PITTSBURGH PA 79° 23.3 43
green - vhf WTOV 9 NBC STEUBENVILLE OH 262° 10.7 9
lt green - vhf WPXI 11 NBC PITTSBURGH PA 85° 22.7 11
lt green - uhf WPGH 53 FOX PITTSBURGH PA 79° 23.3 53
* lt green - uhf WQEX-DT 16.1 HSN PITTSBURGH PA 88° 24.5 26
lt green - vhf WQED 13 PBS PITTSBURGH PA 88° 24.5 13
* red - uhf WNPA-DT 49 UPN JEANNETTE PA TBD 88° 24.5 49
red - uhf WPCB 40 FMN GREENSBURG PA 97° 33.8 40
* blue - uhf WPCB-DT 50.1 FMN GREENSBURG PA 97° 33.8 50
blue - vhf WTAE 4 ABC PITTSBURGH PA 111° 33.5 4
blue - vhf WTRF 7 CBS WHEELING WV 226° 28.3 7
blue - uhf WQEX 16 HSN PITTSBURGH PA 88° 24.5 16
blue - uhf WCWB 22 WB PITTSBURGH PA 92° 37.2 22
blue - vhf KDKA 2 CBS PITTSBURGH PA 79° 22.6 2
violet - uhf WFMJ 21 NBC YOUNGSTOWN OH 355° 49.3 21
violet - vhf WJAC 6 NBC JOHNSTOWN PA 99° 75.9 6
violet - uhf WNPB 24 PBS MORGANTOWN WV 152° 59.1 24
violet - uhf WKBN 27 CBS YOUNGSTOWN OH 354° 47.7 27
violet - uhf WPTG-LP 69 BOX PITTSBURGH PA 88° 24.5 69
violet - uhf WBGN-LP 59 IND PITTSBURGH PA 88° 24.5 59
violet - uhf W65CG 65 TBN PITTSBURGH PA 94° 26.0 65
violet - uhf W56CG 56 IND GREENSBURG PA 105° 43.9 56
violet - uhf W57BH 57 IND STEUBENVILLE OH 270° 8.8 57
violet - uhf W66BQ 66 IND BEAVER PA 22° 23.5 66
violet - uhf WWBP-LP 25 BOX FREEDOM PA 32° 23.1 25
violet - uhf WQVC-CA 28 BOX GREENSBURG PA 105° 40.7 28
violet - uhf WIIC-LP 29 BOX PITTSBURGH PA 88° 24.5 29
violet - uhf WBYD-CA 35 BOX JOHNSTOWN PA 88° 24.5 35
violet - uhf W41AA 41 PBS WHEELING WV 226° 28.3 41
violet - uhf WWLM-CA 20 IND WASHINGTON PA 152° 16.8 20
violet - uhf WNEO 45 PBS ALLIANCE OH 333° 44.1 45
violet - uhf WNPA 19 UPN JEANNETTE PA 110° 68.0 19
* violet - uhf WTAE-DT 4.1 ABC PITTSBURGH PA 111° 33.5 51
violet - uhf WOUC 44 PBS CAMBRIDGE OH 255° 49.9 44
violet - uhf WYTV 33 ABC YOUNGSTOWN OH 355° 48.0 33
violet - vhf WWCP 8 FOX JOHNSTOWN PA 110° 68.5 8

I want to be able to hopefully get all of those channels but at least the washington,wheeling/steubenville,pittsburgh and wnpa. Once again my dad would prefer me not to go onto the roof and mount an antenna.

 

[mikedz4]

which antenna would meet those requirements and receive most if not all of those channels?

 

[LOBO2999]

As far as I know all antennas have a color chart to let you know what antenna will work for the colors given on the list you posted above , such as yellow , green ,blue and so on, here is a link to an antenna I got and it works great for me . After clicking on the link if you scroll down half of the page you will see right under where it says (• 20 inch Turning Radius ) there is a color chart with the letters LD under it. This tells you it will get all of the channels you have listed depending on how far you are from the stations you might need an pre amp to go with it. Another thing is you might not have to stick this on your roof , a know a few people that have them in their attic , if you have an attic you could try that 1st to see what you can get . Hope all of this helps .
http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?CAT=&PROD=ANC4228

 

[mikedz4]

there's no room in my attic for anything else. I prefer to have one mounted by my satellite dish or on the dish.

 

[mikedz4]

i found i can get 4 more channels on the digital side. Still not all of the channels I have wanted but it's getting there. Strange thing is when i scanned they weren't added.

 

[dodge]

Mounting an antenna

You could probably mount a small radio shack antenna on the back of the dish using the same mount the installer used to mount your batwing antenna

 

[mikedz4]

yeah but will it pickup all of the channels i listed? I want to get most if not all of those channels.

 

[jim tressler]

Of all the stations you list - these are the only digital ones and the only ones the hd tivo can tune - there is no analog ntsc tuner in the hd tivo. They are also all uhf - so that CM 4228 will work.. it looks like the furthest tower is 33 miles.. which should be fine.. your problem will be that they are in different directions.. so you may need a rotor to spin the antenna - but for the most part, the pitts sutff should come in just fine provided that you are not behind a large hill, or dont have a dense forrest within 150 or so feet, and that the stations are all putting out a decent amount of power. good luck - jim

edit.. you can mount the 4228 on a dss mount..


* yellow - uhf WPXI-DT 11.1 NBC PITTSBURGH PA 85° 22.7 48
* yellow - uhf WTOV-DT 9.1 NBC STEUBENVILLE OH 262° 10.7 57
* yellow - uhf WCWB-DT 22.1 WB PITTSBURGH PA 79° 23.3 42
* yellow - uhf KDKA-DT 2.1 CBS PITTSBURGH PA 79° 22.6 25
* green - uhf WQED-DT 13.1 PBS PITTSBURGH PA 88° 24.5 38
* green - uhf WPGH-DT 53.1 FOX PITTSBURGH PA 79° 23.3 43
* lt green - uhf WQEX-DT 16.1 HSN PITTSBURGH PA 88° 24.5 26
* red - uhf WNPA-DT 49 UPN JEANNETTE PA TBD 88° 24.5 49
* blue - uhf WPCB-DT 50.1 FMN GREENSBURG PA 97° 33.8 50
* violet - uhf WTAE-DT 4.1 ABC PITTSBURGH PA 111° 33.5 51

 

[mikedz4]

will the 4228 be able to pickup all of those stations?

 

[jim tressler]

should do just fine