HDTV changeover

[Miramonti]

I made an hdtv antenna from one of the internet vids, and it worked great for the last 4 months. Now since the changeover, it struggles to get reception. Some days it gets some channels, other days it gets other channels, when previously it got all available channels all the time.

 

[0roo0roo]

did you try mounting it in a higher position?

what was it? coathanger antenna from make.com??

mine got better after switch. the tv nearest the antenna always got 44channels(including subchannels). the one like 75 feet away had maybe ~40..but after the switch it jumped to 43.

 

[Baked]

$20/month cable.

 

[Fox5]

One of my friends told me that after the switch over, the digital channels got moved from UHF to VHF (or maybe it was the other way around?) and the government reclaimed the one freed up, leaving poorer reception for digital broadcasts. I don't know if this is true or not though.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
did you try mounting it in a higher position?

what was it? coathanger antenna from make.com??

mine got better after switch. the tv nearest the antenna always got 44channels(including subchannels). the one like 75 feet away had maybe ~40..but after the switch it jumped to 43.

This is the video I used as a template, but also have a 3'x2' aluminum foil covered backing mounted to the back of it as well (saw it used in another hdtv antenna vid somewhere) which helps reception (atleast before the changeover it did...

Originally I had the antenna in the living room, but soon switched it to the attic where I got the best reception. Since the change over tho, I haven't been able to find an angle/direction that gets every station well.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: Fox5
One of my friends told me that after the switch over, the digital channels got moved from UHF to VHF (or maybe it was the other way around?) and the government reclaimed the one freed up, leaving poorer reception for digital broadcasts. I don't know if this is true or not though.

I wonder if something like this could affect the efficiency of the antenna, where it might need to be modded a little?

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: Baked
$20/month cable.

$20 that I don't have to spend on something that's free.

 

[state 08]

It's worse for me.

Not just me, but some of my other friends too in the local area.

 

[Lean L]

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: Baked
$20/month cable.

$20 that I don't have to spend on something that's free.

Have fun with those free ad channels

 

[zzuupp]

Originally posted by: jjsole
I made an hdtv antenna from one of the internet vids, and it worked great for the last 4 months. Now since the changeover, it struggles to get reception. Some days it gets some channels, other days it gets other channels, when previously it got all available channels all the time.

Better for me, but I've had an HDTV tuner in my computer for a few years now.

Early on, all my HDTV signals were UHF. Only one now is VHF. It is 13.

Have any of your stations reverted back to their old frequencies?

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: zzuupp

Originally posted by: jjsole
I made an hdtv antenna from one of the internet vids, and it worked great for the last 4 months. Now since the changeover, it struggles to get reception. Some days it gets some channels, other days it gets other channels, when previously it got all available channels all the time.

Better for me, but I've had an HDTV tuner in my computer for a few years now.

Early on, all my HDTV signals were UHF. Only one now is VHF. It is 13.

Have any of your stations reverted back to their old frequencies?

I had to rescan all of them, but still get the same channels found...2.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 7.1, 13.1, etc.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: iamanidiot

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: Baked
$20/month cable.

$20 that I don't have to spend on something that's free.

Have fun with those free ad channels

I don't remember complaining about them, but thanks.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
did you try mounting it in a higher position?

what was it? coathanger antenna from make.com??

mine got better after switch. the tv nearest the antenna always got 44channels(including subchannels). the one like 75 feet away had maybe ~40..but after the switch it jumped to 43.

This is the video I used as a template, but also have a 3'x2' aluminum foil covered backing mounted to the back of it as well (saw it used in another hdtv antenna vid somewhere) which helps reception (atleast before the changeover it did...

Originally I had the antenna in the living room, but soon switched it to the attic where I got the best reception. Since the change over tho, I haven't been able to find an angle/direction that gets every station well.

yea thats the one.

check antennaweb and tvfool for station strength/distance and direction

 

[0roo0roo]

and yea i think the make one is only uhf, you need to get a vhf/combiner

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1037779

 

[minendo]

Mine worked fine for a few days and now I only pick up two of the 15 or so channels I had.

 

[Miramonti]

check antennaweb and tvfool for station strength/distance and direction

Good to know, thx.

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
and yea i think the make one is only uhf, you need to get a vhf/combiner

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1037779

Thanks for the info.

From the thread:
A Better Hdtv Antenna (better than the popular coathanger vid)

I'll have to spend more time reading that thread and watching the vid a bit later when I have some more time. It looks pretty thorough, a good thing. Sucks to make another one, but if its better I'm all for it.

Most of the channels I need are UHF, only 19.1 for VHF (which has actually come in very well before and after.)

 

[0roo0roo]

does avs confirm that antenna is better? i didn't follow that stuff too closely sincei use a root antenna

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
does avs confirm that antenna is better? i didn't follow that stuff too closely sincei use a root antenna

Midway thru that link, they discuss these antennas and here's their quote:

This design uses wider spacing and longer elements to increase gain in the heart of the newly shrunken TV UHF band spectrum, and also has gain on UHF High. Much improved version of the 4 bay bowtie [original coathanger vid].