NeedfreeTV

EscapeVelocity

Very nice install! Great Job! Im jealous! Thanks for the pics!

I want a tower!

What model rotor did you get there? And what is that cone rain cap you installed? Very savvy!

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NeedfreeTV

Thanks EV.

Its a Channel Master 9521 rotor. The cone is just a funnel I had in my garage. Bought it at an auto parts store a while back. I got the idea from Denny's TV online. The funnel was a lot longer, and tapered down to a really small diameter.......I cut that end off at a diameter that let it fit nicely over the mast. I wish I could have found a bigger funnel that would have actually went down further than the rubber seal part. But I just couldn't find one with a big enough diameter.

Still trying to figure out all of these station numbers. There are a few stations that aren't showing up on my TV and I can't figure out why. Gotta learn the ropes yet!!

NeedfreeTV

Our TV is a Sony 52W4100. Uhhhhh......this is the first time we've had an HD signal to this TV. I swear I just had live people dancing in my living room.

I mean holy crap, HD really makes this TV POP!!!! It was on WXYZ (ABC), its the only station that has 16:9 and 720p. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!

EDIT: Found quite a few more that are broadcasting in 16:9 720. I'm liking this!!

The only issue I'm having so far with OTA is that I cannot get Channel FOX 2 Detroit. Its on channel 7 (but called 2.1)

Apparently there are issues with low VHF towers having enough power. My 8200U is supposed to pick up VHF/UHF from 2-69. But it cannot pull in FOX. That stinks, I love the show 24 and I was hoping to still catch it once I cancel DishNetwork.

Aaron62

Thanks for sharing the pics! How far away is the Fox station?

NeedfreeTV

48.4 miles

The other Detroit stations are right there from 47-49 miles, but they are Real Channels 45,39,21,44, and 41. Fox is Real Channel 7.

From what I've been reading online, it seems that there is a lot of trouble in many areas with stations that are broadcasting on Real Channel 7. Something to do with the low bandwidth and not enough power allowed by FCC.

My TV fool is HERE

No Static At All

You've got some pretty strong FM in the area. FM can be a deal breaker with fragile VHF stations, even with un-amplified systems. Do you have the trap activated?

Don_M

I'm impressed. Thanks for the photos!

You've come a long way but, apparently. WJBK's signal needs just a bit more experimentation to pull in. I went back to your TVFool report (posted Sept. 23!), and while it may be the weakest US network affiliate you're attempting to get, it's not so weak that an 8200 shouldn't be able to grab it from atop that tower. I went over a copy of the manual for your receiver online (version 3-297-694-14<1>, at the top right corner of the front cover), and here are a couple of tips:

• A signal-level meter would help you tune it if the Bravia is able to get stations manually (in this case, by entering "7," "dash" and "1" on the remote's 10-key pad). Perhaps such a meter is part of the "Signal Diagnostics" function discussed on page 31; that's the closest reference I could find to one. By slowly rotating the antenna a few degrees at a time (as in fewer than 10 degrees), you may be able to capture WJBK while monitoring the meter for the position yielding the strongest reading.

• If the set can't capture signals manually as just described, you'll have to run the "Add Digital Channels" function described on page 37, rotating the antenna slightly prior to each attempt. (If you can halt the search once it goes past "ATSC" or "digital" channel 7 each time, go ahead and do so. It shouldn't harm other channel settings but will save a lot of time.)

"Two-edge" signals like this one are notorious for being stronger off reflections than the southwest direction from which it's "supposed" to arrive. A little more time and patience should yield the desired results. Good luck!

NeedfreeTV

Static,

I don't have the FM trap on. If I turned it on, would that totally block FM signals? Or just not amplify them? I went with the 8200U so I could get FM brought into the house. I hate to have to block the FM signals and then put up a separate FM antenna. I was hoping to get it done all with one antenna.

Don,

Thanks for digging that up on the internet for me!! I'm going to pull out my manual tonight to see if its any different, but I just now looked at the online version you were talking about and read through it.......it doesn't really say how to add a digital channel (at least not a step by step process anyways). I tried everything on the TV last night, and never saw something related to adding digital channels or manually programming them.

FOX is "virtual" 2.1 and "real" 7. I can enter "2.1" on the remote, and the TV goes to a screen that has the FOX emblem at the top, but it says "Signal not Available". I did try incremental changes in the rotation too, but no luck.

My brother has an older version of what looks like a 4228 (square type antenna). He lives right next door to me, and he cannot get FOX with that one either. I figured he'd be fine because that one should be setup for at least 7-69.

There are a few other stations I'm surprised I'm not getting too that TV Fool listed only with "real" station numbers. The weird part is that there are some digital numbers the TV found in autoprogram that don't display a station......like 15.1 through 15.6, 3.1 3.2, etc. Wish I knew what/where the heck they were.

So I guess if I find out its the FM station (very close station to my house...around 5 miles....107.1FM), and I turn the FM trap ON, will that kill all the FM signals?

NeedfreeTV

Just wondering here.....If I find out I need to use a separate FM antenna, and if you look at my TV fool report, which one is the best choice for me? I know this is hindsight, but I'm wondering if I picked the wrong antenna.


1. 8200U with a separate FM antenna (I already have the 8200U installed)

2. 4228HD with a separate FM antenna

3. 7698P with a separate FM antenna

I want to make sure I get the Canadian stations (around 90 degrees on the TV fool), so I figured the VHF portion of the 8200U would be the best bet because Canada is not digital yet. Knowing what I know now, I see that it doesn't really matter, all the Canadian stations are above 7 anyways (except one - channel 6 - which I am not receiveing anyways for some reason)

Also I wanted the "all in one" so I didn't have to run separate coax lines everywhere in the house for TV and FM. But if that is what I have to do to make this work......so be it I guess.

Is there any aspect that the 7698 or 4228 perform BETTER than the 8200?

EDIT: Or, could I just use an inline FM trap right before my TV set? Would that allow me to keep the 8700 FM trap on so I can still get FM sent inside the house? Or is it bad to try to trap the FM at the TV being that it was already amplified at the 8700?

Also, I thought I would mention that I unplugged the 120volt power plug for the 8700 and it made no difference on receiving 2.1