Noob OTA Question

jbake37 · 10-14-2005, 04:00 PM

Hi, I have been trying to get High def tv for sometime now.
I recently bought a new antenna the popular Zenith Gemini,alot of people have had good performance with. I tryed to today hooking it up to my Sony KDF-55WF tv which has a tuner bulit in. This is the second antenna I have tryed and still nothing. I have also gone to antenna web, pointed my antenna to the right directions, nothing. I am so confused, not sure If I have the right equipment or If we just do not get Hd in La Verne, Ca. All I do know is my picture on this tv was better without this antenna. If somebody could please give me some insight or suggestions on what I can do to receive some Hd channels I would appreciate it. Again, my TV is a Sony KDF-WF655 and the antenna is a Zenith ZHDTV1 HDTV-UHF Digital Indoor Antenna. Thanks for the help.

**rbinck** · 10-14-2005, 04:09 PM

What is your zip?

jbake37 · 10-14-2005, 04:27 PM

91750

oblioman · 10-15-2005, 12:19 PM

You have a ton of stations all within 20 miles of you. In theory you should get some reception but I really would suggest a better antenna - and put it outdoors.

**rbinck** · 10-15-2005, 01:03 PM

We use the zip to put into http://antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx which will give a list of digital stations, how far the transmitters are from you and the compass orentation. Try it yourself.

As obioman said, you have a lot of DTV stations at about 18 miles, so you should not be having much trouble getting the stations.

Since you said the picture was better before trying this antenna, I assume you are getting some sort of a picture.

Your TV has both the NTSC (analog) and ATSC (digital) tuners and some people have trouble at first knowing which they are watching. Analog stations will have snow with weak signals and so if you have this or ghosts then you are on an analog station. Also the channel display will only contain one number, like 7 for ABC in your area. The DTV station would show 7.1 or 7-1.

DTV stations are either a go or no go deal. They can come and go depending on signal level or they can get a bit blocky looking due to compression or they can have sections of the picture that fail to form correctly leaving some small black squares, but they never have snow or ghosts.

Getting an outdoor antenna will probably solve your delimma.

jbake37 · 10-15-2005, 02:01 PM

I Guess I will try the outdoor antenna because I have a got absolutely no DTV with an indoor antenna. What kind of outdoor antenna does everybody suggest. Thanks Alot

RSawdey · 10-15-2005, 02:53 PM

Hope you know you'll need to do a 'channel scan' to teach your tuner what stations are locally available...

jbake37 · 10-15-2005, 03:12 PM

Is that like like Auto Program, same thing right?

**rbinck** · 10-15-2005, 03:51 PM

Very similar.

slash-Nevada · 10-16-2005, 10:24 AM

You are lucky that your channels all come over the UHF band and from one direction basically, I am surprised an indoor antenna does not work only being 18 miles away?? Make sure you are using RG6 cable and don't use any connectors, greatly decreases digital signal, run your auto program and then use the onscreen signal meter to get it to the highest strength. An indoor antenna should bring in some channels to start with but if you need an outdoor, I have heard Channel Masters UHF bowtie antennas are about the best, they even work in the attic. Also the squareshooter sounds like it works although being more expensive. good luck, let us know what you went with and how it works.

jbake37 · 10-16-2005, 02:35 PM

Thanks Nevada, but what is a RG6 connector? I am just using the basic coaxial cable that was provided when I received my antenna. After I connected my antenna I ran auto program and got like 1 shown Hd channel. I dont think I have a screen that gives me any visual as to how I can adjust signal strength, unless you know something about my TV that I don't. It's weird, I unplugged and packaged my antenna back up this morning and I have like 4 channels in HD without the antenna, cuts out though. Thanks for the help.

whalepirot · 10-16-2005, 02:57 PM

RG6 is a type of coaxial cable. The type of cable you have may be printed on it. The connectors are added at the cable ends to connect to devices like antennas and TVs.

I receive KABC-7 HDTV real well in South Orange County, (at 48 miles) with an amplified, top-of-the-line Winegard VHF-UHF inside my tiled roof. Other L.A. channels are weaker and are reputed as such by local TV shops.

I get screen freezes too, due I think, to data loss from weaker reception from other stations. My reception of HD improved on them when I removed the splitter from the HD tuner feed.

jbake37 · 10-16-2005, 03:20 PM

The type of cable I have is a 3C2v Cable. It seems pretty weak. Where can I get a RG6 cable? If this is what I may need to get some HD reception. Probably find it anywhere.

**rbinck** · 10-16-2005, 06:49 PM

That 3C2v is the European 75ohm coax. It is probably not the problem, the indoor antenna is.

doggie · 10-17-2005, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbake37

The type of cable I have is a 3C2v Cable. It seems pretty weak. Where can I get a RG6 cable? If this is what I may need to get some HD reception. Probably find it anywhere.

The old cable lines used the thinner RG59 coax cable, but for HDTV, you really need RG6. It's pretty cheap and not hard to find - Target, RadioShack, eBay. I bought a 100 foot roll for $20. You can also try adding a signal booster, but before you invest, check out antennaweb to see if you even have the right size or design antenna.

10-14-2005, 04:00 PM	#1
jbake37 A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 13	Noob OTA Question Hi, I have been trying to get High def tv for sometime now. I recently bought a new antenna the popular Zenith Gemini,alot of people have had good performance with. I tryed to today hooking it up to my Sony KDF-55WF tv which has a tuner bulit in. This is the second antenna I have tryed and still nothing. I have also gone to antenna web, pointed my antenna to the right directions, nothing. I am so confused, not sure If I have the right equipment or If we just do not get Hd in La Verne, Ca. All I do know is my picture on this tv was better without this antenna. If somebody could please give me some insight or suggestions on what I can do to receive some Hd channels I would appreciate it. Again, my TV is a Sony KDF-WF655 and the antenna is a Zenith ZHDTV1 HDTV-UHF Digital Indoor Antenna. Thanks for the help.

10-14-2005, 04:09 PM	#2
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,983	What is your zip? __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com

10-15-2005, 01:03 PM	#5
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,983	We use the zip to put into http://antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx which will give a list of digital stations, how far the transmitters are from you and the compass orentation. Try it yourself. As obioman said, you have a lot of DTV stations at about 18 miles, so you should not be having much trouble getting the stations. Since you said the picture was better before trying this antenna, I assume you are getting some sort of a picture. Your TV has both the NTSC (analog) and ATSC (digital) tuners and some people have trouble at first knowing which they are watching. Analog stations will have snow with weak signals and so if you have this or ghosts then you are on an analog station. Also the channel display will only contain one number, like 7 for ABC in your area. The DTV station would show 7.1 or 7-1. DTV stations are either a go or no go deal. They can come and go depending on signal level or they can get a bit blocky looking due to compression or they can have sections of the picture that fail to form correctly leaving some small black squares, but they never have snow or ghosts. Getting an outdoor antenna will probably solve your delimma. __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com

10-15-2005, 03:51 PM	#9
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,983	Very similar. __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com

10-16-2005, 10:24 AM	#10
slash-Nevada A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada. Posts: 14	VHF or UHF stations? You are lucky that your channels all come over the UHF band and from one direction basically, I am surprised an indoor antenna does not work only being 18 miles away?? Make sure you are using RG6 cable and don't use any connectors, greatly decreases digital signal, run your auto program and then use the onscreen signal meter to get it to the highest strength. An indoor antenna should bring in some channels to start with but if you need an outdoor, I have heard Channel Masters UHF bowtie antennas are about the best, they even work in the attic. Also the squareshooter sounds like it works although being more expensive. good luck, let us know what you went with and how it works. Last edited by slash-Nevada; 10-16-2005 at 10:37 AM.

10-14-2005, 04:27 PM	#3
jbake37 A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 13	91750

10-15-2005, 12:19 PM	#4
oblioman Possum Tipper at large. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Someville TN Posts: 5,607	You have a ton of stations all within 20 miles of you. In theory you should get some reception but I really would suggest a better antenna - and put it outdoors.

10-15-2005, 02:01 PM	#6
jbake37 A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 13	I Guess I will try the outdoor antenna because I have a got absolutely no DTV with an indoor antenna. What kind of outdoor antenna does everybody suggest. Thanks Alot

10-15-2005, 02:53 PM	#7
RSawdey Mr. Wizard Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ferndale, Michigan Age: 62 Posts: 5,981	Hope you know you'll need to do a 'channel scan' to teach your tuner what stations are locally available...

10-15-2005, 03:12 PM	#8
jbake37 A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 13	Is that like like Auto Program, same thing right?

10-16-2005, 02:35 PM	#11
jbake37 A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 13	Thanks Nevada, but what is a RG6 connector? I am just using the basic coaxial cable that was provided when I received my antenna. After I connected my antenna I ran auto program and got like 1 shown Hd channel. I dont think I have a screen that gives me any visual as to how I can adjust signal strength, unless you know something about my TV that I don't. It's weird, I unplugged and packaged my antenna back up this morning and I have like 4 channels in HD without the antenna, cuts out though. Thanks for the help.

10-16-2005, 02:57 PM	#12
whalepirot High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: So. OC Posts: 37	RG6 is a type of coaxial cable. The type of cable you have may be printed on it. The connectors are added at the cable ends to connect to devices like antennas and TVs. I receive KABC-7 HDTV real well in South Orange County, (at 48 miles) with an amplified, top-of-the-line Winegard VHF-UHF inside my tiled roof. Other L.A. channels are weaker and are reputed as such by local TV shops. I get screen freezes too, due I think, to data loss from weaker reception from other stations. My reception of HD improved on them when I removed the splitter from the HD tuner feed.

10-16-2005, 03:20 PM	#13
jbake37 A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 13	The type of cable I have is a 3C2v Cable. It seems pretty weak. Where can I get a RG6 cable? If this is what I may need to get some HD reception. Probably find it anywhere. Last edited by jbake37; 10-16-2005 at 03:26 PM.

10-16-2005, 06:49 PM	#14
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,983	That 3C2v is the European 75ohm coax. It is probably not the problem, the indoor antenna is. __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com

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