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Old 07-06-2009, 08:13 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Default Input Needed in PA - CBS reception

Hi everyone!

I've been lurking here for a few weeks and have gotten a lot of helpful
information. I've tried being patient and waiting to see if signals improve, but it is getting frustrating.

I am trying to figure out what I must do to get a CBS
station here in south-central PA. It is the only network I can't get, and of course most shows I
watch are on CBS. If anyone has any input, I would greatly appreciate it. Admittedly, the technical jargon of coax and preamps, etc, intimidates me!

I have both a rooftop antenna (installed by previous owner) and a set of
rabbit ears. The latter picks up more stations and gets better quality
picture. I'm not sure which would be my best bet for getting CBS. I have
done many rescans, including clearing the memory and unplugging the
converter box for a time.


First, here is my TVFool info:

According to the rooftop antenna height, and then according to the rabbit ears.

Rabbitears.info:
RabbitEars.Info


So my two choices for CBS are 13.1 and 21.1. I am picking up quite a few
of the stations in the shaded pink area (even 60.1, 2.1, 25.1, etc), just
not the CBS ones. I don't know what my options are - calling someone out
to move around the roof antenna, or buying some type of indoor equipment?

Other information that may be helpful:

*When I put the tv on 13, the
signal strength "bounces" from the 20's and 30's up to the 90's very
quickly and back down. With 21.1 it just stays at 0.

*I live on a hill, no very tall trees around.

*13.1 worked beautifully before transition.

*I'm in an A-frame house, so the living room is all windows on one side. The rabbit ears are mounted up about ten feet
on a window (sounds odd but it works). I've tried moving them to many
different angle and locations with no luck.

If there is any more information I can provide, let me know. Thanks so
much for your time!

-Boleyn
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Old 07-07-2009, 09:09 AM   #2 (permalink)
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For reliable reception of the channels shown in pink on TVFool's results, you really should install an outdoor antenna. Indoor antennas usually just won't cut it, especially for interference-prone VHF channels.
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Old 07-07-2009, 06:35 PM   #3 (permalink)
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What kind of wire (ie flatlead 300 or RG6 coax) is connected to your outdoor antenna? Do you know if it's a UHF or UHF/VHF?

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Old 07-07-2009, 09:28 PM   #4 (permalink)
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If the rabbit ears are working better, then one of two things is going on with the outdoor antenna.

1) The cable to it is shot or there is a problem up at the antenna like a loose wire or bad balun.

2) There is an amp up on the pole with the antenna and the power supply for it in the house either isn't plugged in or it's lost during the move in?

Do you remember a box that was hooked to the antenna wire when you moved in? It would have also had a power cord on it.

If you don't know the model of the antenna can you tell it's approx dimensions?

If it's a long boom it would be say 6 ft to 15 ft long, and it should be between 60 to about 16 inches wide.

Try and describe it.

One thing is sure, you need an outside antenna. With a properly working outdoor antenna you may find 21 comes in better than 13.

Another question, do you have just one TV or are you splitting the service?

You probably want to do another plot at 30 ft even if you don't think that is possible to get an idea how much signal is there higher.

You will need a long boom VHF/UHF antenna at 20 ft, with a small amp.

Answer the questions here and we can go on seeing what you might buy
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