Now that 6-1 is full power......

[StarvingForHDTV]

We need something new to complain about :D

1. When will 36-1 plug in their Dolby Digital 5.1 equipment. The last time I saw them use it was when the HD was on 10-1 That was years ago.

2. What is the status of DD 5.1 for 58-1?

[GBK]

as far as I know 58-1 is working on 5.1 for this years fall lineup.

[wxndave]

MPTV has never put there 5.1 equipment on the air. When you were getting 5.1 it was the PBS network feed being passed though. This was before they started to switch locally played programs from there master control. This is the reason that they cannot air 5.1 currently. They are waiting for more equipment to fix a lip sync problem that shows up when they insert the 5.1 equipment.

[StarvingForHDTV]

Thanks for the updates.

[AndrewP]

Yeah, now when Fox 6 is in full power, I finally finished my antenna project.
1. I turned my attic ChannelMaster 4228 towards Chicago, got plenty of digital stations, inluding all majors (but CBS for now. As I know they will move it from VHF 3 to UHF 11 soon).
2. Scanned fo Milwaukee and get 0. So got the confirmation, that ChannelMaster 4228 is a very directional antenna.
3. Went to Menards and took their cheap $20.xx antenna. Stacked it with ChannelMaster 4228 (used a coax splitter backward). Connected combined signal to ChannelMaster Titan 7777 pre-amp. Got 0 channels.
4. Put pre-amp aside, connected line to ChannelMaster CM 3043 22dB Dual Output Indoor Distribution Amplifier (powered splitter for two TVs).
And everything works OK!

From my location Chicago is 173 degrees south, 70.2 miles. Milwaukee is 34 - 42 degrees, 20 miles. The setup is working in the attic. :)

[Den Mayer]

Minor Correction......

From Lo VHF 3 to Hi VHF 11

UHF runs from channel 14 thru 61 for now.

[jkane]

How about complaining about the 8 channels 10 has? Is it just my TV, or does anyone else have slowness when the TV has to change format at every channel change? Getting from 6 to 12 while passing through 10x8 takes about 45 seconds as it pauses at each channel and switches modes.

[AndrewP]

It is slow, but not 45 sec. Maybe 10-15?
Why they have these 10-5...10-7. They could have only 10-5.

[StarvingForHDTV]

I erased anything above 10-3 I couldn't handle all of that button pushing either. My tuner does not slow down between clicks. Of course I have it set to output everything as 1080i.

[kevbeck122]

Yeah I don't understand the three extra channels on the end. Why not just have one? Pick and choose what you want as background content while watching the radar?

[psubill78]

From my location Chicago is 173 degrees south, 70.2 miles. Milwaukee is 34 - 42 degrees, 20 miles. The setup is working in the attic. :)

So you are 70.2 miles from John Hancock Tower, and getting everything but channel 2?

IN THE ATTIC? I need another antenna ;)

[AndrewP]

So you are 70.2 miles from John Hancock Tower, and getting everything but channel 2?

IN THE ATTIC? I need another antenna ;)

Yes, I got all of them. Not all of the channels 100% available during th day (checked today), but all available in the evening and night. Fox32 is 100% available.
Also, I have clear site at Chicago towers - no trees or buildings.
I think, that if I put antenna outside I will get it 100%., but i reality I don't watch TV during the day, Fox Chicago will be available on Sundays, so there is no need to move antenna outside right now. Also maybe stations will increase power.

[Stanley Kritzik]

How about the fact that 10-1 and 36-1 are three hours delayed behind their analog cousins -- 10 & 36? So, for the Jim Leher Evening News at an early evening time, one needs analog 36. Etc., etc. How 20th century can they get? I'm glad I have D* and Tivo, so I can easily pick up 10 or 36 when I need them.

Stan

[Gilbert]

So you are 70.2 miles from John Hancock Tower, and getting everything but channel 2?

IN THE ATTIC? I need another antenna ;)
I'm 61 miles away, in a river valley, and with a 4228 in the attic, I get 'em all
AND occasionally channel 2! :rock:

[psubill78]

I'm 61 miles away, in a river valley, and with a 4228 in the attic, I get 'em all
AND occasionally channel 2! :rock:

OK - I am intrigued now... you guys got my attention

So, I buy a 4228. Just plug that sucker into my HD Tivo, and rescan, and with a little bit of magic {fart} i should be good to go.

with my direction to the Hancock Tower, the antenna would be pointing at the part of my roof with the shingles on it.

I am in Kenosha, WI.

[AndrewP]

If you don't have major trees you will get the solid signal.
Visit http://www.antennaweb.org, type your address and it will tell you antenna direction and distance.
You will maybe be lucky and get both Milwaukee and Chicago with one antenna. I could'n do it because of angles (36 degrees to Milwaukee and 164 degrees to Chicago), which makes 164-36=128 degrees difference. So I ended up with combining 4228 aimed at Chicago with chip Menards antenna aimed to Milwaukee.
I your case there is a chance that you don't need the second antenna, because the angle will be almost 180 degrees. If you will have problems with Milwaukee then before adding the second antenna try to remove screen from the back of 4228 (read this tip somewhere on the Web).

[psubill78]

If you don't have major trees you will get the solid signal.
Visit http://www.antennaweb.org, type your address and it will tell you antenna direction and distance.
You will maybe be lucky and get both Milwaukee and Chicago with one antenna. I could'n do it because of angles (36 degrees to Milwaukee and 164 degrees to Chicago), which makes 164-36=128 degrees difference. So I ended up with combining 4228 aimed at Chicago with chip Menards antenna aimed to Milwaukee.
I your case there is a chance that you don't need the second antenna, because the angle will be almost 180 degrees. If you will have problems with Milwaukee then before adding the second antenna try to remove screen from the back of 4228 (read this tip somewhere on the Web).

Antennaweb says chicago is 165/166 degrees and that Milwaukee is 1 and 4 degrees.

It says 50 miles from the tower, but google earth says differently.

Right now, I have an antenna that looks similiar to this (don't know what brand, etc - DirecTV installed it) http://www.antennasdirect.com/DB2_Indoor_antenna.html

And with that, I get fox chicago and nbc at 71% (according to DTV HD TIVO). The antenna is mounted off of my dish..

[dlhoppe]

Try this site out. It gives very good information regarding distance and bearing from your home. You just need to get your latitude, longitude, magnetic declination and range.

[psubill78]

Try this site out. It gives very good information regarding distance and bearing from your home. You just need to get your latitude, longitude, magnetic declination and range.


Which site would that be ? :confused:

[AndrewP]

He probably meant http://www.2150.com/broadcast/default.asp.
But antennaweb gave me the same result.
Also I tried Kenosha address (my working address) and got Chicago 171 (48 miles) and Milwaukee 357-358 (37 miles). So that address qualify for one antenna solution.
4228 is 4'X4' square, it looks similar to yuors but it has 8 elements, so it is more like DB8 from the site you mentioned.

[psubill78]

He probably meant http://www.2150.com/broadcast/default.asp.
But antennaweb gave me the same result.
Also I tried Kenosha address (my working address) and got Chicago 171 (48 miles) and Milwaukee 357-358 (37 miles). So that address qualify for one antenna solution.
4228 is 4'X4' square, it looks similar to yuors but it has 8 elements, so it is more like DB8 from the site you mentioned.

Thanks Andrew. You have me excited now. 4'x4' is enormous, but if it works in the attic, I'd be thrilled, even more if I can hit Milwaukee and Chicago.

Everything I've read says that the attic idea doesn't work well... I'm hesitant. Know of any places where I can get that antenna with a return policy?

[AndrewP]

Yeah, I read a lot about failing attic antennas, about failing combing antennas. Th truth is you will never know without trying. I have 100% success in combining two antennas in the attic. It doesn't mean it will work for everybody else. I am just suggesting to try what worked in my case.
4228 is $40 at Marmax (Rawson & 68)., no returns. It should be available in Kenosha. Ask Chester Electronics. Solidsignal.com allows returns, but double shipping will kill that Marmax price. If you need to feed more then one TV you will need pre-amp or amp. In my case I have better results with ChannelMaster amp distibutor, than pre-amp.

[psubill78]

Yeah, I read a lot about failing attic antennas, about failing combing antennas. Th truth is you will never know without trying. I have 100% success in combining two antennas in the attic. It doesn't mean it will work for everybody else. I am just suggesting to try what worked in my case.
4228 is $40 at Marmax (Rawson & 68)., no returns. It should be available in Kenosha. Ask Chester Electronics. Solidsignal.com allows returns, but double shipping will kill that Marmax price. If you need to feed more then one TV you will need pre-amp or amp. In my case I have better results with ChannelMaster amp distibutor, than pre-amp.

Thanks for the info on the antenna - What is a ChannelMaster amp distibutor? Does that split the signal to multiple sets?

What if I only want it for one TV? I am wondering if the amp is what enables you to get those signals..

[AndrewP]

Thanks for the info on the antenna - What is a ChannelMaster amp distibutor? Does that split the signal to multiple sets?

What if I only want it for one TV? I am wondering if the amp is what enables you to get those signals..

Yes, it is a powered splitter.
If you need antenna signal for just one TV then most likely you don't need pre-amps and amps. Try first without them. If signal breaks, then add them. You probably can improve reception if you add pre-amp to your existing DB2 antenna.
Again, it is error and trial method. But it is fun :D