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HD Antenna Self Install over 70 Channels

Discussion in 'Homeowners Corner' started by IRideYZFR6, Oct 27, 2014.

  1. IRideYZFR6

    IRideYZFR6 Linux Guru

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    Just started cutting the cord and the following are my results here in Broadlands.

    Installed the following components, total time about 2 hours;

    Winegard HD7694P High Definition VHF/UHF Antenna (Amazon $59.92)
    Winegard LNA-200 Boost XT Digital HDTV Preamplifier (Amazon $47.99)
    Winegard HDA-200 Distribution Amplifier Adjustable Gain 5-1000 MHz 24dB (Amazon $39.99)
    Homedepot Coax cable 1x 50ft, 1x 20ft

    For the installation I used this website (http://www.antennaweb.org) to figure the best azimuth and used my iphone compass to shoot the azimuth of 108 degrees. The installation consisted of hanging the antenna in the attic with zip ties and running the coax down a vent to the basement.

    Here is a list of all the channels I get and which ones are 480i digital vs. 720p HD vs. 108oi HD

    Washington D.C.
    4-1 WRC-TV (NBC) – 1080i
    4-2 Cozi TV – 480i
    5-1 WTTG DT (FOX) – 720p
    7-1 WJLA-TV (ABC) – 720p
    7-2 Me-TV – 480i
    7-3 Live Well Network – 480i
    9-1 WUSA (CBS) – 1080i
    9-2 Bounce TV (WUSA9) – 480i
    9-3 Weather – 480i
    14-1 WFDC (Univision) – 1080i
    14-2 Get TV - 480i
    14-3 Grit TV – 480i
    14-4 Escape – 480i
    20-1 WDCA (MY 20) – 720p
    20-2 MOVIES – 480i
    20-3 MUNDO FX -480i
    26-1 WETA (PBS) – 1080i
    26-2 WETA UK – 480i
    26-3 WETA KIDS – 480i
    26-4 TV26 WETA KIDS – 480i
    30-1 MHz1 – WNVC MHz Worldwide – 480i
    30-2 MHz2 – NHK World (Japanese) – 480i
    30-3 MHz3 – CCTV News – 480i
    30-4 MHz4 – RT – 480i
    30-5 MHz5 – Blue Ocean Network (China) – 480i
    30-6 MHz6 – CCTV Documentary – 480i
    30-7 MHz7 – France 24 – 480i
    30-8 MHz8 – RT (Spanish) – 480i
    30-9 MHz9 – Airang – 480i
    30-10 MHz10 – Ethiopian TV (Amharic) – 480i
    30-11 MHz11 – VTV4 (Vietnamese) – 480i
    30-12 MHz12 – Arise News – 480i
    32-1 WHUT (PBS) - 1080i
    32-2 WHUT (PBS) – 480i
    47-1 WMDO-CA UniMas – 1080i
    47-2 WMDO-LD LATV – 480i
    49-1 WWTD-D1 – 480i
    49-2 NTDTV (Chinese) – 480i
    49-3 QVC – 480i
    49-4 VETV (Vietnamese)
    50-1 WDCW (CW) – 1080i
    50-2 Antenna TV – 480i
    50-3 This TV – 480i
    66-1 ION Television – 720p
    66-2 QUBO – 480i
    66-3 IONLIFE – 480i
    66-4 SHOP – 480i
    66-5 HSN – 480i
    66-6 QVC – 480i
    Baltimore, MD
    2-1 WMAR (ABC) - 720p
    2-2 WMAR (Live Well Network) – 480i
    2-3 BOUNCE - 480i
    11-1 WBAL (NBC) – 1080i
    11-2 WBAL (MeTV) – 480i
    22-1 WMPT (PBS) – 1080i
    22-2 MPT2 – 480i
    22-3 MPT V-Me – 480i
    24-1 WUTB (MyTV) 720p
    45-1 WBFF (FOX) – 720p
    45-2 THIS TV – 480i
    45-3 COUNTRY – 480i
    54-1 WNUV (CW) – 720p
    54-2 WNUV (Get TV) – 480i
    62-1 WFPT (MPT) – 1080i
    62-2 MPT2 – 480i
    62-3 V-ME (Spanish) – 480i
    67-1 WMPB (MPT) – 1080i
    67-2 MPT2 – 480i
    67-3 V-ME (Spanish) – 480i
     
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2014
    Mike-and-Kim likes this.
  2. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    what are you using for tuning/dvrs? I use the HD Homerun (for cable, but it's basically the same) and love it -- solid hardware. Also, there's no such thing as 720i ;)
     
  3. IRideYZFR6

    IRideYZFR6 Linux Guru

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    Yep, meant 720p :) I just use the TV's coax connection. All my HDTVs have a coax input, and I just run the search feature.
     
  4. IRideYZFR6

    IRideYZFR6 Linux Guru

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    On another note has anyone bought a 4k ultra hd tv yet? like/dislike?
     
  5. Mike-and-Kim

    Mike-and-Kim Member

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    No 4K here, we're letting them sort it out. We may get 4K over the air someday, to me it looks like it is being played with.

    1080 over the air already looks better than Netflix or Comcast/Verizon (since cable/streaming companies more heavily modify/compress the signal). They do not put that in the ad copy though...
     
  6. harrisek

    harrisek A work in progress

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    Welcome to the dark side. I cut the cord last October and have not looked back. OTA and Netflix are more than enough video entertainment for me.
     
  7. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    We can't cut the cord.... it is called Openband. Oh joy.
     
    boomertsfx likes this.
  8. Rhaegar

    Rhaegar Member

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    When I cut the cord and called VZ to deliver the news it was less expensive to take the local channels + Internet than it was for Internet alone. They are clear QAM so I'm able to connect them direct to the back of the TV without a cable card. Now I'm trying to figure out a solution for the theater room since it has a projector. I have a HDHomerun dual but it doesn't seem to pick them up so I'm not completely done yet.
     
  9. J Williams

    J Williams New Member

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    I use OTA also. I had an antenna installed on the roof by Fairfax Antenna. The coax cable from the antenna hooks in to the media box in the closet where it splits going everywhere in the house. With a home-built computer (with the Hauppauge HVR-2250 card and MythTV software) I am able to record shows and watch over my home computer network. Reception on OTA can be better than that of cable because of bandwidth issues and compression. Keep in mind that OTA is no longer analog, so picture does not get fuzzy like it was historically—with digital OTA signal you either get signal or you do not get signal.

    Another trick to save telecommunications $—if you rent a modem, you can buy one that will perform better and will pay for itself quickly. Look for at least Docsys 2.0 (3.0 is the newest version). Also confirm the modem will work with your internet service provider before opening it. Better yet, many of our homes are new enough that you have a choice between using the coax and ethernet feed coming into the house. Use the ethernet so you can bypass the modem and potentially have a snappier connection.
     
  10. J Williams

    J Williams New Member

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    Check out XBMC/Kodi. If budget is tight, you can use an old computer, or even a $35 raspberry pi, plus a tv tuner USB/card (hybrid if you use multiple sources—NTSC for OTA, DVB/QAM for cable). This solution will open up a lot of options for you.
     
  11. snoopy

    snoopy Senior Member

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    J williams,
    I'm thinking about mirroring your solution. Quick question, does the reception level stay ( you are able to watch ) during say rain storm, windy days, snow days ? Any experience you can share ?

    Also, using the media box in the basement / closet, you are able to share antenna signal with all the outlets in the house ?

    Thank you.
     
  12. J Williams

    J Williams New Member

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    Snoopy—
    I have had the setup for almost two years and I have seen no reception difference correlated with weather. In fact, I cannot recollect ever having a reception issue at all. As the installer described it to me, the OTA signal is now digital, so it is a "you either get it or not" thing. The signal is set up to go to all the outlets in my house through the media box of which I utilize it in two rooms.

    Glad to help!
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2015
  13. snoopy

    snoopy Senior Member

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    That sounds great. Leaning towards this one time cost ... I called Fairfax Antenna and got good feeling about their service.

    Thank you for sharing your experience, J williams.
     

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