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View Full Version : HR20 - Any way to get OTA with only 2 coax

jtallbright
12-02-07, 02:54 PM
Hi,
New to DTV and I really like it so far. Been reading a lot here and you guys really seem to know your stuff. I have a question. I have DTV and no local HD channels. I have one HR-20 I would like to get the OTA channels on. However, prior to the DTV install I had only one coax going to my bedroom (location of the HR20) When they installed, they ran an additional coax for the DVR. However, I had a Terk TV55 OTA antenna installed and the installer (not the same guy that installed DTV) ran a coax from the attic (location of the antenna) to the junction box outside of the house. He said I could diplex the signal onto the same cable as the coax going to the HR20. From what I read on here, that is inaccurate. Correct? My bedroom walls are insulated and its really going to be a job to run another coax from the attic to my receiver so I would like to avoid doing so if at all possible.

I found a post at one point talking about cutting the cable going to the HR20 in the attic, adding in the B Band converter, the adding the diplexer and the OTA antenna AFTER the BBC and supposively it would work like that. Anyone help me out on that?

Also, one more question about OTA while im at it. I dont really have an accurate way to even connect my antenna to my HR20 right now since I dont have a third cable. To test it, I have been putting a splitter on the OTA wire at the junction block outside, disconnecting the new second coax the DTV installer ran to my bedroom for the DVR, connecting the OTA feed to the new coax, then hooking that coax to the back of my TV and been using the ATSC tuner in the TV to pick up the channels. I get 17 digital channels, however I cant get FOX or CBS. They are both within about 10 degrees of each other. One is 54 miles away and one is 56 miles away. Any suggestions on what I can do to possibly get those channels? I can get the analog FOX and CBS with a substantial amount of snow but cant lock onto the digital signal at all.

Any help is appreciated!
jtallbright
12-02-07, 08:21 PM
Well I got the first problem figured out. I found the post about moving the BBC, then diplexing. I went to Lowes, got the stuff, diplexed in the attic then again at the back of the receiver - worked like a charm.

Now, I am back to the second problem. Any suggestions on how to pickup signal strength? Now that I have the signal meter, I got 0% on FOX and CBS. NBC is closest to me with 85% and then ABC is around 70%. Anyone recommend an amp or anything like that? I have also thought about buying a second "old school" directional UHF antenna, mounting it in the attic, aiming it at FOX and CBS then combining the two antennas before the diplexer.
1948GG
12-02-07, 08:32 PM
Now, I am back to the second problem. Any suggestions on how to pickup signal strength? Now that I have the signal meter, I got 0% on FOX and CBS. NBC is closest to me with 85% and then ABC is around 70%. Anyone recommend an amp or anything like that? I have also thought about buying a second "old school" directional UHF antenna, mounting it in the attic, aiming it at FOX and CBS then combining the two antennas before the diplexer.

There is no real way to 'pick up' the signal strength, particularly as you are wacking probably 99% of the RF signal by having the antenna in the attic.

Get an decent antenna out in the open, well away from the roof line of your home (minimum 10'+). You need to do some research (FCC site is the best) on where your local stations broadcast antenna are (presumably you know where you are, lat/long wise), what power level (and I presume you already know the frequency/channel they are for the digital/ATSC channel), and go from there.

You may try an amplifier (antenna mounted is best) although the % you are getting is actually pretty good, IF it's 'steady' without any multipathing and such. But again, you don't say how far away from the transmitter you are, the FCC data will tell you that (as well as the output power).
jtallbright
12-02-07, 09:31 PM
Is the fact that the antenna is inside my attic that much of a signal killer? I didnt really expect that it would make that much difference but maybe if I get that outside I will be able to pick up all the channels. FWIW, NBC is 21 miles away at 301° and ABC is 41.7 miles at 344°. Both of those channels are crystal clear. FOX is 56.5 miles at 298° and CBS is 54.4 miles at 301° and I dont get anything at all on them.
techrep
12-02-07, 11:15 PM
I am sorry but the Terk TV55 just doesn't have very good gain. You will get much better results with either one of these.

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=TD-42XG

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=TD-DB4
texasbrit
12-02-07, 11:20 PM
It's true the Terk is not the best antenna but should do much better outside. Please post your zip code, then we can see what sort of antenna you might need. But at 50 miles plus you really need a good fringe antenna mounted outside - something like a CM4228 or a 91XG if your stations are UHF only. The 42XG and the DB4 are probably not enough of a step up to make a whole load of difference.
techrep
12-02-07, 11:42 PM
Sorry again, I only read the first post. With those distances for Fox and CBS; I like the 91XG, in particular, suggested by texasbrit.
jtallbright
12-03-07, 06:57 PM
My zip code is 42003. I have an antenna I have seen that Lowes carries that really looks like it might do the job. Its a Philips SDV7700K/17 with 51 elements advertised as "the longest range reception." The good thing about it is that Lowes stocks it and if it doesnt work for some reason I can return it. It says that the UHF range is 80 miles. I wonder if that is powerful enough to work in the attic. I have a three story house with a really tall roof line that I could mount in the top of the eave in the attic. I dont want to get on the roof to mount the antenna, but even more I dont want an eyesore like that on the outside of my house.

Anyone have any experience with that antenna or know anything about it? Thanks
texasbrit
12-04-07, 10:08 AM
My zip code is 42003. I have an antenna I have seen that Lowes carries that really looks like it might do the job. Its a Philips SDV7700K/17 with 51 elements advertised as "the longest range reception." The good thing about it is that Lowes stocks it and if it doesnt work for some reason I can return it. It says that the UHF range is 80 miles. I wonder if that is powerful enough to work in the attic. I have a three story house with a really tall roof line that I could mount in the top of the eave in the attic. I dont want to get on the roof to mount the antenna, but even more I dont want an eyesore like that on the outside of my house.

Anyone have any experience with that antenna or know anything about it? Thanks

The Philips web site has no spec information on this at all, even dimensions. My guess is it is manufactured by someone else and packaged under the Philips name. Certainly I can't find any meaningful testing, so I have no idea how well it performs.
I think all your digital stations are on UHF right now but a couple are moving back to VHF-hi in 2009. The Philips antenna might not be the best value for the money but if it is available locally IMHO you should try it. The UHF section will not be as good as a separate UHF antenna though.
Maybe you can get more ideas on antennas from http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=430359&page=11 which is the local HD thread for your area.