high quality indoor hdtv antenna image
Q. I am an Arizona resident and recently cancelled my Cox cable service. For 3 or 4 months since I cancelled the service I have been using the coaxial cable to get local channels on both my digital televisions (the main tv being an Element and the smaller tv being a Westinghouse). Recently though on both televisions I have lost 2 channels and have done automatic channel searches on both the TVs (as well as other searches) and have not gotten them back (the channels are the CW and Fox). I bought a RCA Amplified indoor off-air HDTV antenna but it only found one or two channels and I made sure to do the channel search through the antenna. So I hooked up the coaxial cables again. Then today on the Element tv I can no longer get NBC or PBS but I can get it on the Westinghouse. I have tried different coaxial cables and as mentioned before the RCA antenna but both of those did not work. Does anybody have any advice? Also, if it helps I live on the bottom floor of an apartment complex.
Answer
It's truly sad how many people are led astray by junky indoor antennas that are supposed to work as well or better than anything else. Several in that category with the RCA brand can't be expected to work much better than a coathanger, if that.
With your given situation, your best hope is a top quality indoor antenna, and that would be the one in the link below. If I had to put out money for an indoor antenna, it's the only one I'd consider. If you can't get a channel with that one, it isn't going to happen with an indoor antenna.
Two side notes: (1), forget your cable wall outlet. You cancelled that subscription, so that resource is gone. And just FYI, (2), there are no "HDTV" antennas. Any time you see that in an ad or on the side of box, it's simply marketing baloney that's intended to make you think it will actually work. Absolute technical nonsense. A TV antenna is a TV antenna, period. They all work the same, whether the incoming signal is HD, SD, analog, or something else.
- - - - -
Followup per the other answer about San Francisco. The S.F. Bay Area is not a typical over-the-air TV market. The area is a major hotspot for OTA, thanks to transmitters high up and very nearby on Mt. Diablo, Mt. San Bruno, and especially Mt. Sutro in the center of S.F. itself. It's one of those places where the coathanger I mentioned would actually work. Or a cheap RCA antenna.
But this fellow isn't in one of the world's hottest reception areas for OTA. He's in Arizona, where reception can assumed to be more typical. And he's in a ground floor apartment. That means the coathanger--or the cheap RCA--isn't a good bet. Not impossible, but we can only go with the provided information. As long as he's spending money on something, $45 for an SS3000 is still a far better bet than $12 for the known poor performer.
It's truly sad how many people are led astray by junky indoor antennas that are supposed to work as well or better than anything else. Several in that category with the RCA brand can't be expected to work much better than a coathanger, if that.
With your given situation, your best hope is a top quality indoor antenna, and that would be the one in the link below. If I had to put out money for an indoor antenna, it's the only one I'd consider. If you can't get a channel with that one, it isn't going to happen with an indoor antenna.
Two side notes: (1), forget your cable wall outlet. You cancelled that subscription, so that resource is gone. And just FYI, (2), there are no "HDTV" antennas. Any time you see that in an ad or on the side of box, it's simply marketing baloney that's intended to make you think it will actually work. Absolute technical nonsense. A TV antenna is a TV antenna, period. They all work the same, whether the incoming signal is HD, SD, analog, or something else.
- - - - -
Followup per the other answer about San Francisco. The S.F. Bay Area is not a typical over-the-air TV market. The area is a major hotspot for OTA, thanks to transmitters high up and very nearby on Mt. Diablo, Mt. San Bruno, and especially Mt. Sutro in the center of S.F. itself. It's one of those places where the coathanger I mentioned would actually work. Or a cheap RCA antenna.
But this fellow isn't in one of the world's hottest reception areas for OTA. He's in Arizona, where reception can assumed to be more typical. And he's in a ground floor apartment. That means the coathanger--or the cheap RCA--isn't a good bet. Not impossible, but we can only go with the provided information. As long as he's spending money on something, $45 for an SS3000 is still a far better bet than $12 for the known poor performer.
Is there such a thing as a digital television signal amplifier?
Q. I just bought a new digital tv, so there is no converter box , and only one of the digital channels come in. the rest are just blank. I know it is because I live too far away from the transmitters in chicago. Does anyone know if there is an amplifier I can use for a tv only?
Answer
What are you using for an antenna? Before you purchase any RF amplification you should read Peter Putman’s articles and check the AntennaWeb reference, to which I’ve posted links below.
On the subject of RF amplification for DTV signals: if you’re using an outdoor terrestrial antenna (and hopefully you are) then I recommend that you take a look at the high-performance, ultra low-noise Type 9254 HDTV preamplifier (with the Type 9252* weatherproof masthead-mount enclosure) and Type 9255 power supply combo from Research Communications rather than purchasing your standard, run-of-the-mill RF line amplifier or distribution amplifier. *(If you’re using an indoor antenna simply omit the waterproof/weatherproof masthead enclosure.)
Low-noise RF (booster) amplification should be located reasonably close to your antenna elements in order to minimize the amplification of RF noise and interference, hence the masthead-mounted enclosures. It’s important to keep in mind that using RF booster amplifiers can be a ‘double-edged sword’ particularly if you live in an above-average electromagnetically noisy environment.
You may also want to consider upgrading your antenna. Again, if you are using an outdoor terrestrial antenna then you should take a look at the various off-air terrestrial TV antennas from Terrestrial Digital / Antennas Direct and other manufacturers. The optimum combination of pre/amplifier and off-air antenna, along with a good quality antenna rotor system, should provide a noticeable improvement in performance.
Research Communications, Ltd.
High Performance HDTV Preamplifiers
http://www.researchcomms.com/hdtv.html
Terrestrial Digital High Definition TV Antennas
http://www.terrestrial-digital.com/hdtv_antennas.html
http://www.antennasdirect.com
Channel Master Amplifiers and Preamplifiers
http://www.channelmasterintl.com/amplifiers.html
Winegard Off-Air Home Antenna Products
http://www.winegard.com/offair/products.htm
######## RESOURCES ########
HDTVexpert¹ — Digital TV Reception
http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages/receptionpf.htm
HDTVexpert¹ — Indoor HDTV/DTV (8VSB) Reception
http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages/8vsbpf.htm
HDTVexpert¹ — DTV Reception Out On The Fringe
http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages_b/ReceptionOnTheFringe.html
¹(I also highly recommend that you read Peter Putman’s indoor and outdoor HDTV/DTV antenna tests while you’re at it.)
AntennaWeb - “Maximize Your Antenna Reception”
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx
The National Translator Association
2007 Convention Papers
http://www.tvfmtranslators.com/nta1_005.htm
WTFDA DX Equipment Reviews
http://www.wtfda.org
WTFDA Forums
http://www.wtfda.info
________________________
Interference [to Home Electronic Entertainment Equipment] Handbook
http://www.kyes.com/antenna/interference/tvibook.html
The ARRL RFI Book
http://www.arrl.org/catalog/6834/
RF Noise Identification Website
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/rfi-noise/
________________________
Question about digital converter boxes?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080315085600AA36otT
TV converter box coupon (where to buy box with analog signal)?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080314160545AA8ID2K
What are you using for an antenna? Before you purchase any RF amplification you should read Peter Putman’s articles and check the AntennaWeb reference, to which I’ve posted links below.
On the subject of RF amplification for DTV signals: if you’re using an outdoor terrestrial antenna (and hopefully you are) then I recommend that you take a look at the high-performance, ultra low-noise Type 9254 HDTV preamplifier (with the Type 9252* weatherproof masthead-mount enclosure) and Type 9255 power supply combo from Research Communications rather than purchasing your standard, run-of-the-mill RF line amplifier or distribution amplifier. *(If you’re using an indoor antenna simply omit the waterproof/weatherproof masthead enclosure.)
Low-noise RF (booster) amplification should be located reasonably close to your antenna elements in order to minimize the amplification of RF noise and interference, hence the masthead-mounted enclosures. It’s important to keep in mind that using RF booster amplifiers can be a ‘double-edged sword’ particularly if you live in an above-average electromagnetically noisy environment.
You may also want to consider upgrading your antenna. Again, if you are using an outdoor terrestrial antenna then you should take a look at the various off-air terrestrial TV antennas from Terrestrial Digital / Antennas Direct and other manufacturers. The optimum combination of pre/amplifier and off-air antenna, along with a good quality antenna rotor system, should provide a noticeable improvement in performance.
Research Communications, Ltd.
High Performance HDTV Preamplifiers
http://www.researchcomms.com/hdtv.html
Terrestrial Digital High Definition TV Antennas
http://www.terrestrial-digital.com/hdtv_antennas.html
http://www.antennasdirect.com
Channel Master Amplifiers and Preamplifiers
http://www.channelmasterintl.com/amplifiers.html
Winegard Off-Air Home Antenna Products
http://www.winegard.com/offair/products.htm
######## RESOURCES ########
HDTVexpert¹ — Digital TV Reception
http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages/receptionpf.htm
HDTVexpert¹ — Indoor HDTV/DTV (8VSB) Reception
http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages/8vsbpf.htm
HDTVexpert¹ — DTV Reception Out On The Fringe
http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages_b/ReceptionOnTheFringe.html
¹(I also highly recommend that you read Peter Putman’s indoor and outdoor HDTV/DTV antenna tests while you’re at it.)
AntennaWeb - “Maximize Your Antenna Reception”
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx
The National Translator Association
2007 Convention Papers
http://www.tvfmtranslators.com/nta1_005.htm
WTFDA DX Equipment Reviews
http://www.wtfda.org
WTFDA Forums
http://www.wtfda.info
________________________
Interference [to Home Electronic Entertainment Equipment] Handbook
http://www.kyes.com/antenna/interference/tvibook.html
The ARRL RFI Book
http://www.arrl.org/catalog/6834/
RF Noise Identification Website
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/rfi-noise/
________________________
Question about digital converter boxes?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080315085600AA36otT
TV converter box coupon (where to buy box with analog signal)?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080314160545AA8ID2K
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