Newbie in Meridian ID needs help!

Riverhouse · 09-11-2008, 09:44 AM

I have read through many posts and below is my information (per "A Plea for Help (from you)). I am wondering what you recommend. I mainly want local channels in High Def of course. In particular, CBS and NBC would be the most important to us.

Meridian, ID 83646.
Dish Network Top 100 (new service to us)
No existing antenna for OTA yet.
DVR box: Dish ViP 722-DVR
TV: Sony KDS-50A2000
DVD: Sony DVP-NS700H

Prefer in house antenna (just for ease of installation and no more wiring) but would consider a roof antenna.
If outside, then it would be mounted about 12 feet high most likely.
Here is the antennaweb info and TVFOOL info is attached. What other information do you need from me? Thank you for your help.

yellow vhf KBCI 2 CBS BOISE, ID 51° 16.5 2
* yellow uhf KBCI-DT 2.1 CBS BOISE, ID 51° 16.5 28
yellow vhf KAID 4 PBS BOISE, ID 51° 16.4 4
* yellow uhf KAID-DT 4.1 PBS BOISE, ID 51° 16.5 21
* yellow vhf KTVB-DT 7.1 NBC BOISE, ID 51° 16.4 7 Feb 17, 2009 (post-transition)
* yellow uhf KBCI-DT 2.1 CBS BOISE, ID 51° 16.5 28 Feb 17, 2009 (post-transition)
yellow uhf KCBB-LP 51 AZA BOISE, ID 52° 14.3 51
* yellow vhf KTRV-DT 12.1 FOX NAMPA, ID 51° 16.5 12 Feb 17, 2009 (post-transition)
yellow vhf KTRV 12 FOX NAMPA, ID 51° 16.5 12
* yellow uhf KTVB-DT 7.1 NBC BOISE, ID 51° 16.4 26
* yellow vhf KTRV-DT 12.1 FOX NAMPA, ID 51° 16.5 13
yellow vhf KTVB 7 NBC BOISE, ID 51° 16.4 7
yellow vhf KNIN 9 CW CALDWELL, ID 51° 16.5 9
* yellow uhf KIVI-DT 6.1 ABC NAMPA, ID 51° 16.5 24
yellow vhf KIVI 6 ABC NAMPA, ID 51° 16.5 6
* yellow vhf KNIN-DT 9.1 CW CALDWELL, ID 51° 16.5 10
green uhf KUNS-LP 35 IND BOISE, ID 94° 13.5 35
green uhf KCLP-CA 22 TBN BOISE, ID 51° 16.5 22
green uhf KIWB-LP 43 BOX BOISE, ID 52° 14.3 43
green uhf KBSE-LP 33 HSN BOISE, ID 52° 14.3 33
green uhf KITL-LP 20 HSN BOISE, ID 52° 14.3 20
lt green uhf K47BE 47 TBN BOISE, ID 94° 13.5 47

Attachment 2834

videobruce · 09-12-2008, 07:39 AM

My first search for your cooridenates with the zip code you provided gave me this;
http://www.2150.com/broadcast/defaul...=Show+Stations

When I checled for magnetic declnation that zip code gave an error. Using the town of Meridian (zip 83642) gave me this;
http://www.2150.com/broadcast/defaul...=Show+Stations

So, I'm at a loss where you are. Assuming the 2nd link is correct, six stations, 18 miles away (all in the same direction) is a piece of cake.

Riverhouse · 09-12-2008, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by videobruce

My first search for your cooridenates with the zip code you provided gave me this;

Not sure what happened there, but I am definately not in OK or MO. My coordinates are roughly 43.39365 and -116.24066. Input those and see what comes up for you. I can't post the link (this sites gives me an error message since i have less than 5 posts I can't post a URL here.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by videobruce

When I checked for magnetic declnation that zip code gave an error. Using the town of Meridian (zip 83642) gave me this;

So, I'm at a loss where you are. Assuming the 2nd link is correct, six stations, 18 miles away (all in the same direction) is a piece of cake.

Meridian got a new zip code about 2 years ago. Their main zip code is 83642 but the new zip code is the one I live in 83646 which is on the northern side of 83642. I am about 12.5 miles from my house to downtown Boise. I don't know where the broadcast antennas are so am not sure the distance to the actual antennas. Does this help?

jim5506 · 09-12-2008, 10:04 AM

Use your Longitude and Latitude coordinates in TVFool.com it is much easier to use. And just look at Post transition Digital TV.

Riverhouse · 09-12-2008, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim5506

Use your Longitude and Latitude coordinates in TVFool it is much easier to use. And just look at Post transition Digital TV.

Ok, i did that and here are my results. What type of antenna do you guys recommend with these results? I appreciate your help very much, thanks.TVFool information2.png

jim5506 · 09-12-2008, 10:45 AM

How about a Winegard HD7694P or and Antennas Direct V10 or V15?

I'd lean toward the Winegard.

videobruce · 09-12-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Not sure what happened there, but I am definately not in OK or MO.

The 2nd link, as I thought was correct. Did you look at only the 1st?
Your stations are NE of you.

Riverhouse · 09-12-2008, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by videobruce

The 2nd link, as I thought was correct. Did you look at only the 1st?
Your stations are NE of you.

Yes thank you, I saw the second link as well, I just thought I would try and get my exact GPS coordinates instead of using the generic city zip code as that zip code is a few miles south of me most likely. But yes, thank you for looking that up. What do you recommend for an antenna? Is there a good indoor antenna that would work for me or is the general recommendation the outdoor antenna is best? Since an indoor one would be the simplest and easiest for me to try, is there one anyone recommends that I could try and if it does not work, then go with an outdoor one?

Riverhouse · 09-18-2008, 10:53 AM

After reading here a lot and other sites, I went to RadioShack and bought three different indoor antennas to see what I would get for reception. This seemed to be the easiest and least costly. So I thought I would start there and then upgrade to outdoor antennas if needed. I bought the el cheapo 15-1874 for $11.99 and the 15-1868 and the 15-1878. The budget cheap one worked the best and my signal strenghts on all digital channels ranged from 85-100 (with 6 of them being 100). So I was very pleased and happy with these results. Here in Boise our antennas are mounted up on Bogus Mtn just outside the city. It is pretty flat here so most everyone has great LOS to the towers and they are all in the same direction on the same mountain. So Indoor antennas work great for anyone in Boise. Just FYI. Thanks for your information and feedback.Radio Shack 1874 OTA antenna.jpg

klaasman · 12-01-2008, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riverhouse

After reading here a lot and other sites, I went to RadioShack and bought three different indoor antennas to see what I would get for reception. This seemed to be the easiest and least costly. So I thought I would start there and then upgrade to outdoor antennas if needed. I bought the el cheapo 15-1874 for $11.99 and the 15-1868 and the 15-1878. The budget cheap one worked the best and my signal strenghts on all digital channels ranged from 85-100 (with 6 of them being 100). So I was very pleased and happy with these results. Here in Boise our antennas are mounted up on Bogus Mtn just outside the city. It is pretty flat here so most everyone has great LOS to the towers and they are all in the same direction on the same mountain. So Indoor antennas work great for anyone in Boise. Just FYI. Thanks for your information and feedback.Attachment 2851

did you ever get an antenna for your attic? I own byDesign Home Theater Solutions in Nampa, Idaho and we install those for people.
Shane

Riverhouse · 12-02-2008, 07:27 AM

I just bought two cheap indoor Radio Shack antennas ($10 each). No indoor attic antenna. My locals come in great clarity with signal strength of at least 90-100%. It's working for me so far. Thanks for your offer. It's good to know of local resources.

09-12-2008, 07:39 AM	#2
videobruce Selectavision Support Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 602	My first search for your cooridenates with the zip code you provided gave me this; http://www.2150.com/broadcast/defaul...=Show+Stations When I checled for magnetic declnation that zip code gave an error. Using the town of Meridian (zip 83642) gave me this; http://www.2150.com/broadcast/defaul...=Show+Stations So, I'm at a loss where you are. Assuming the 2nd link is correct, six stations, 18 miles away (all in the same direction) is a piece of cake. __________________ Keep OTA TV alive. We don't need any more wireless devices! The wireless industry has taken enough of the TV spectrum.

09-12-2008, 10:04 AM	#4
jim5506 Yellow Submarine Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 3,303	Use your Longitude and Latitude coordinates in TVFool.com it is much easier to use. And just look at Post transition Digital TV. __________________ Seeking colinear harmonics! Programming: Dish AT120 Displays: Sony VPH-D50Q FPCRT - 7 ft on the wall; Hitachi 57R59 RPCRT; Panasonic 42" Plasma; 26" Sanyo LCD Receivers: DishNetwork ViP722k; DishNetwork ViP211K;2 - DishNetwork ViP211; 2 - TiVo HD Series 3; 2 - TiVo Series 2's; Accurian 6000; Samsung SIR-T351; Panasonic ShowStopper 2000; ATI HDTV Wonder Dish 1000 on 110,119,129; Dish 500 on 61.5; DPP44 Sony 80GB PS3; Toshiba HD-DVD

09-12-2008, 10:45 AM	#6
jim5506 Yellow Submarine Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 3,303	How about a Winegard HD7694P or and Antennas Direct V10 or V15? I'd lean toward the Winegard. __________________ Seeking colinear harmonics! Programming: Dish AT120 Displays: Sony VPH-D50Q FPCRT - 7 ft on the wall; Hitachi 57R59 RPCRT; Panasonic 42" Plasma; 26" Sanyo LCD Receivers: DishNetwork ViP722k; DishNetwork ViP211K;2 - DishNetwork ViP211; 2 - TiVo HD Series 3; 2 - TiVo Series 2's; Accurian 6000; Samsung SIR-T351; Panasonic ShowStopper 2000; ATI HDTV Wonder Dish 1000 on 110,119,129; Dish 500 on 61.5; DPP44 Sony 80GB PS3; Toshiba HD-DVD

09-18-2008, 10:53 AM	#9
Riverhouse Lovin' HD Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Meridian, Idaho Posts: 6	Reporting back After reading here a lot and other sites, I went to RadioShack and bought three different indoor antennas to see what I would get for reception. This seemed to be the easiest and least costly. So I thought I would start there and then upgrade to outdoor antennas if needed. I bought the el cheapo 15-1874 for $11.99 and the 15-1868 and the 15-1878. The budget cheap one worked the best and my signal strenghts on all digital channels ranged from 85-100 (with 6 of them being 100). So I was very pleased and happy with these results. Here in Boise our antennas are mounted up on Bogus Mtn just outside the city. It is pretty flat here so most everyone has great LOS to the towers and they are all in the same direction on the same mountain. So Indoor antennas work great for anyone in Boise. Just FYI. Thanks for your information and feedback.Radio Shack 1874 OTA antenna.jpg

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12-02-2008, 07:27 AM	#11
Riverhouse Lovin' HD Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Meridian, Idaho Posts: 6	I just bought two cheap indoor Radio Shack antennas ($10 each). No indoor attic antenna. My locals come in great clarity with signal strength of at least 90-100%. It's working for me so far. Thanks for your offer. It's good to know of local resources.