I'm new to this digital tv stuff

[Dee_Ann]

hi!

I am just getting started on this new tv.
Actually, I'm still stumbling around on satellite stuff too.
My ex left behind a media center pc he built here and I have spent the last several months figuring it out and getting it to work. With a LOT of help from this forum.

Now that hurricane season is upon us, I realized that I had no way to pick up local tv anymore. My options were to:

1. buy a new tv (not happening)
2. buy a converter box for ONE tv
3. buy a tv card for the pc and have local tv in the whole house.

Well, I took option 3 and managed to get that to work pretty well.
I get the local digital channels in pretty darn good but I don't get the other kind of local channels, people say because my antenna is, um, garbage.

It was dubbed the ghettotenna in this thread:


Click the picture for a good laugh.

Funny as it is, it really does work.

But, I want to get the other local channels as well and most of all, I want to get KPLC in Lake Charles which is about 60 miles from me.

Well, my dad was out at a flea market and he found an antenna for $3 and he bought it for me. It says on the box that it's for fm radio but he said that it will still pick up tv and will be much better than that little wire loop thing I put up.

I took the thing home and opened it up but I can't see how to hook the cable to it. What am I missing? All that was in the box is the antenna.
It looks like it is brand spanking new. I'm pretty sure it's never been used at all.
The box was open. Don't they put instructions in these things?

I eventually want to get a REAL antenna but for now I this is what I have to work with. I'm thinking that I can put this antenna on that pole that sticks up up on the roof, I'm pretty sure it is an old satellite dish pole someone left behind.

I have never messed with any tv stuff before, old or new so I'm happy to get any advice I can.

Thanks!

 

[digiblur]

There should be two small lugs on it for a 300 to 75 ohm converter that has the standard cable jack. Not sure how well the antenna will work. If you're trying to UHF and VHF stations, I would recommend another antenna. There's an excellent group of guys and gurus for you area in this forum: Lafayette, LA / Beaumont, TX / Lake Charles, LA - HDTV - Page 212 - AVS Forum

They can recommend an exact setup for your needs as they know the stations and area.

 

[boba]

Analog and Digital were the two types of broadcasts. On June 12th Analog broadcasts stopped and were replaced by Digital broadcasting. If you are receiving all the digital for your area changing "TV Antennas" won't help you receive anything else.

FM radio is broadcast between VHF channels 6 & 7 your Ghetto antenna is picking up UHF TV signals CH 14-69 so that antenna your father bought may help pick up FM radio stations but won't do much for your TV signals.

 

[CowboyDren]

If you need a better TV antenna (which it sounds like you don't), get an Eagle Aspen DTV2B-UHF for under $20 shipped (SummitSource.com) and stick it on that satellite dish pole, point it towards town, and you'll be fine. Honestly, your coat hanger loop is pretty awesome, and you can leave it alone. Granted, the 2-bay bowtie is more rugged, but it's also more directional, but it does have very good gain. Much better gain than that FM antenna Dad got for you.

 

[digiblur]

KPLC is a VHF station RF7 so that FM antenna might just work since it is close to the FM band.