OTA antenna question

[Don_S]

I have two antennae in the attic (VHF and UHF) combined and feeding the OTA signal to a 622 DVR. Probably because the antennae are not properly aligned, I am not getting a couple of the local digital stations. I was planning on buying a new HDTV antenna or building a coat-hanger antenna (which, incidentally has gotten rave reviews by people who have built them). Before doing this, just for the heck of it I hooked up a pair of rabbit-ears VHF antenna I had lying around directly to the antenna input of the digital TV (which has an ATSC tuner built-in). I was fully expecting not to get any stations because all except one of the local TV stations are UHF. However, I was shocked to see the rabbit-ear antenna pulling in ALL of the local digital stations with no drop-outs, pixellation or any other artifacts. The picture quality was fabulous on all the stations. So what is the deal here? how can a simple rabbit-ear VHF antenna pull in all those UHF stations? I have now dropped the idea of buying or building a new antenna

 

[Bob Haller]

Well a really good antenna will provide overall better results. things like airplane flutter will be less likely.

I picked up at a flea market a 4 foot boom UHF corner reflector, for 10 bucks almst brand newe currently its on a piece of pipe ty wrapped to my chain link fence.

but i have a tv here with a hunk of coax partially stripped. for experimental purposes.

it works pretty well but drops out occasionally.

have you checked tv fool? with a really good outdoor antenna and rotor you might be able to pick up many more channels

 

[HiDefRev]

Rabbit ears

I am using a set of amplified rabbits ears on my HDTV. Not only am I able to pull in all of the stations that TV FOOL states that I should, but several more that are supposed to be out of range of an outdoor antenna. Go figure.

 

[Don_S]

have you checked tv fool? with a really good outdoor antenna and rotor you might be able to pick up many more channels

Yes, I did check TV fool and I am getting ALL the channels mentioned there.. and it is not even an amplified rabbit-ears antenna!

 

[boba]

It works, JUST USE IT AND BE HAPPY. Yelling intentional, who cares why it works.

 

[Don_S]

It works, JUST USE IT AND BE HAPPY. Yelling intentional, who cares why it works.

I think a lot of people who are contemplating shelling out hard-earned money for an "HDTV" antenna would care... there is so much hype surrounding these things that I wanted to share my experience and hopefully save a few bucks for some people. Thanks for taking the time to post..

 

[whatchel1]

True VHF & UHF combiner?

I have two antennae in the attic (VHF and UHF) combined and feeding the OTA signal to a 622 DVR. Probably because the antennae are not properly aligned, I am not getting a couple of the local digital stations. I was planning on buying a new HDTV antenna or building a coat-hanger antenna (which, incidentally has gotten rave reviews by people who have built them). Before doing this, just for the heck of it I hooked up a pair of rabbit-ears VHF antenna I had lying around directly to the antenna input of the digital TV (which has an ATSC tuner built-in). I was fully expecting not to get any stations because all except one of the local TV stations are UHF. However, I was shocked to see the rabbit-ear antenna pulling in ALL of the local digital stations with no drop-outs, pixellation or any other artifacts. The picture quality was fabulous on all the stations. So what is the deal here? how can a simple rabbit-ear VHF antenna pull in all those UHF stations? I have now dropped the idea of buying or building a new antenna

Do you have a true UHF & VHF combiner or just a coax combiner/splitter. If it is the usual coax combiner you may be producing your own multi-path. This is a true combiner of the 2 different TV frequencies : Antennas Direct EU385-CF UHF / VHF TV Antenna Combiner - eBay (item 300387201128 end time Jan-22-10 05:39:00 PST)

 

[Don_S]

Do you have a true UHF & VHF combiner or just a coax combiner/splitter.

Not sure.. I cannot get up into the attic to check (don't have a long-enough ladder) . Once I get a suitable ladder, I will check

 

[whatchel1]

Most don't know the difference

Not sure.. I cannot get up into the attic to check (don't have a long-enough ladder) . Once I get a suitable ladder, I will check

In the area I'm in it is necessary to have the correct one. The 2 VHF stations are to the west and the UHF are to the North East. Acan't really get both by using 1 antenna and it causes problems for many here.

 

[CowboyDren]

All of this, plus the tuner in the 622 and 722 aren't that great. The K-model OTA module is quite a bit better than what you and I have.