Is anyone get nothing from digital KTLA 5 tonight?
Ant
are missing. Both of my DVB Viewer softwares get nothing (no signals).
TSReader v2.8.46a failed to lock signal (a). I checked my analog feed
(same antennae and same location), and it was showing (not clear as
usual). KTLA was fine this morning.
Is anyone else having problems tonight too? Thank you in advance. :)
--
"What, like I had to live with all those ants? Do you know what I did to
those ants? HoooHooo! No more ants!" --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address: phi...@earthlink.netANT
( ) or ANT...@zimage.com
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.
G-squared
> I just got home and noticed KTLA 5.1 (and 5.5 -- obviously no
TheTube)
> are missing. Both of my DVB Viewer softwares get nothing (no
signals).
> TSReader v2.8.46a failed to lock signal (a). I checked my analog
feed
> (same antennae and same location), and it was showing (not clear as
> usual). KTLA was fine this morning.
>
> Is anyone else having problems tonight too? Thank you in
advance. :)
> --
> "What, like I had to live with all those ants? Do you know what I
did to
> those ants? HoooHooo! No more ants!" --unknown
> /\___/\
Site)
> | |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL):http://
aqfl.net
> \ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address:
phi...@earthlink.netANT
> ( ) or
ANT...@zimage.com
> Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.
Since all our computers have DTV tuners, I'm looking at KTLA right now
as I write this. Signal level 82% - same as it always is. Looks
completely normal.
GG
JXStern
>I just got home and noticed KTLA 5.1 (and 5.5 -- obviously no TheTube)
>are missing. Both of my DVB Viewer softwares get nothing (no signals).
>TSReader v2.8.46a failed to lock signal (a). I checked my analog feed
>(same antennae and same location), and it was showing (not clear as
>usual). KTLA was fine this morning.
>
>Is anyone else having problems tonight too? Thank you in advance. :)
5.1 coming in OTA just fine in west LA.
J.
Ant
> I just got home and noticed KTLA 5.1 (and 5.5 -- obviously no TheTube)
> are missing. Both of my DVB Viewer softwares get nothing (no signals).
> TSReader v2.8.46a failed to lock signal (a). I checked my analog feed
> (same antennae and same location), and it was showing (not clear as
> usual). KTLA was fine this morning at about 9:00 AM PST.
>
> Is anyone else having problems tonight too? Thank you in advance. :)
Hmm, still down as of 10:19 PM PST. Weird.
Is KTLA 5.1 (31) using frequency 575 MHz?
--
At length, when they came to a (lowly) valley of ants, one of the ants
said: "O ye ants, get into your habitations, lest Solomon and his hosts
crush you (under foot) without knowing it." --Surah 27. The Ant, The
Ants, line 18
Ant
Hmm, I am east of LA in Hacienda Hts., CA 91745 on the low parts of the
hills.
--
"If you're an ant, and you're walking along across the top of a cup of
pudding, you probably have no idea that the only thing between you and
disaster is the strength of that pudding skin." --Jack Handy from
Saturday Night Live
Ant
> On Dec 13, 8:52 pm, Ant <ANT...@zimage.com> wrote:
> > I just got home and noticed KTLA 5.1 (and 5.5 -- obviously no
> TheTube)
> > are missing. Both of my DVB Viewer softwares get nothing (no
> signals).
> > TSReader v2.8.46a failed to lock signal (a). I checked my analog
> feed
> > (same antennae and same location), and it was showing (not clear as
> > usual). KTLA was fine this morning.
> >
> > Is anyone else having problems tonight too? Thank you in
> advance. :)
>
> Since all our computers have DTV tuners, I'm looking at KTLA right now
> as I write this. Signal level 82% - same as it always is. Looks
> completely normal.
Yeah, I can't even get a number value and no signal lockage. Where are
you located in So. CA? I am east of LA in Hacienda Hts., CA 91745 on the
low parts of the hills.
--
"If you're an ant, and you're walking along across the top of a cup of
pudding, you probably have no idea that the only thing between you and
disaster is the strength of that pudding skin." --Jack Handy from
Saturday Night Live
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
Ant
>> are missing. Both of my DVB Viewer softwares get nothing (no signals).
>> TSReader v2.8.46a failed to lock signal (a). I checked my analog feed
>> (same antennae and same location), and it was showing (not clear as
>>
>
>
> Is KTLA 5.1 (31) using frequency 575 MHz?
Also, does anyone know wht KTLA does different compared to other
stations that have no problems? According to
http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/programming/broadcast-market.php?dma_name[]=Los+Angeles
... it is like the other stations.
--
"Still we live meanly, like ants;... like pygmies we fight with
cranes;... Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify...
simplify..." --Henry Thoreau
Ant
>>> I just got home and noticed KTLA 5.1 (and 5.5 -- obviously no
>>> TheTube) are missing. Both of my DVB Viewer softwares get nothing (no
>>> signals). TSReader v2.8.46a failed to lock signal (a). I checked my
>>> analog feed (same antennae and same location), and it was showing
>>> (not clear as usual). KTLA was fine this morning at about 9:00 AM PST.
>>>
>>> Is anyone else having problems tonight too? Thank you in advance. :)
>>
>> Hmm, still down as of 10:19 PM PST. Weird.
>>
>> Is KTLA 5.1 (31) using frequency 575 MHz?
>
> Also, does anyone know wht KTLA does different compared to other
> stations that have no problems? According to
> http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/programming/broadcast-market.php?dma_name[]=Los+Angeles
> ... it is like the other stations.
Also,
http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/programming/broadcast-market-print.php?dma_name[]=Los+Angeles
shows the differences, but I am still puzzled why I always have problems
with KTLA 5. http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/7984/mapae8.jpg shows an
aerial map from my place to where the stations' antennae, including
KTLA's, are. They're all pretty much the same area. :(
--
"The ants are back Ted!" --Dougal from Father Ted TV show.
Alan F
> On 12/14/2007 12:50 AM PT, Ant typed:
>
>>>> I just got home and noticed KTLA 5.1 (and 5.5 -- obviously no
>>>> TheTube) are missing. Both of my DVB Viewer softwares get nothing
>>>> (no signals). TSReader v2.8.46a failed to lock signal (a). I checked
>>>> my analog feed (same antennae and same location), and it was showing
>>>> (not clear as usual). KTLA was fine this morning at about 9:00 AM PST.
>>>>
>>>> Is anyone else having problems tonight too? Thank you in advance. :)
>>>
>>> Hmm, still down as of 10:19 PM PST. Weird.
>>>
>>> Is KTLA 5.1 (31) using frequency 575 MHz?
>>
>> Also, does anyone know wht KTLA does different compared to other
>> stations that have no problems? According to
>> http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/programming/broadcast-market.php?dma_name[]=Los+Angeles
>> ... it is like the other stations.
>
> Also,
> http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/programming/broadcast-market-print.php?dma_name[]=Los+Angeles
> shows the differences, but I am still puzzled why I always have problems
> with KTLA 5. http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/7984/mapae8.jpg shows an
> aerial map from my place to where the stations' antennae, including
> KTLA's, are. They're all pretty much the same area. :(
You may be getting some local interference or phase cancellation for
th KTLA-DT 5 signal. If you have an indoor or attic mounted antenna, the
antenna could be at a null point for the particular frequency of the
signal from KTLA-DT 5 due to a reflection off of something. Can you move
the antenna forward, backward or the left & right? Sometimes moving it 6
inches is enough.
If it is interference, that is a harder problem to track down.
If you have problems with OTA reception in the LA area, the local
thread at avsforum for LA OTA is a place to check:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=191672. The thread has
been running for 5 years, so you probably want to skip to the last few
pages.
Alan F
Ant
> I just got home and noticed KTLA 5.1 (and 5.5 -- obviously no TheTube)
> are missing. Both of my DVB Viewer softwares get nothing (no signals).
> TSReader v2.8.46a failed to lock signal (a). I checked my analog feed
> (same antennae and same location), and it was showing (not clear as
> usual). KTLA was fine this morning.
>
> Is anyone else having problems tonight too? Thank you in advance. :)
And now, KTLA 5 digital is OK as of 8:05 AM PST. Signal strength is
about 60%. Strange. It makes no sense.
--
"Ladies and gentlemen, hoboes and tramps...Crosseyed Mosquitoes and
bow-legged ants...I've come to tell you the story..." --Bob Holman
Ant
> >>>> TheTube) are missing. Both of my DVB Viewer softwares get nothing
> >>>> (no signals). TSReader v2.8.46a failed to lock signal (a). I checked
> >>>> my analog feed (same antennae and same location), and it was showing
> >>>> (not clear as usual). KTLA was fine this morning at about 9:00 AM PST.
> >>>>
> >>>> Is anyone else having problems tonight too? Thank you in advance. :)
> >>>
> >>> Hmm, still down as of 10:19 PM PST. Weird.
> >>>
> >>> Is KTLA 5.1 (31) using frequency 575 MHz?
> >>
> >> Also, does anyone know wht KTLA does different compared to other
> >> stations that have no problems? According to
> >> http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/programming/broadcast-market.php?dma_name[]=Los+Angeles
> >> ... it is like the other stations.
> >
> > Also,
> > http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/programming/broadcast-market-print.php?dma_name[]=Los+Angeles
> > shows the differences, but I am still puzzled why I always have problems
> > with KTLA 5. http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/7984/mapae8.jpg shows an
> > aerial map from my place to where the stations' antennae, including
> > KTLA's, are. They're all pretty much the same area. :(
> You may be getting some local interference or phase cancellation for
> th KTLA-DT 5 signal. If you have an indoor or attic mounted antenna, the
> antenna could be at a null point for the particular frequency of the
> signal from KTLA-DT 5 due to a reflection off of something. Can you move
> the antenna forward, backward or the left & right? Sometimes moving it 6
> inches is enough.
Local interference? Like from what? I know there's a 60 FWY down the
hills. Busy traffic 24/7! I did notice there is a huge thin tall antenna
with red blinking lights on it (easy to see them at night). I am not
sure if that is the cause of interference. I don't even know who owns
it and what it is for. I believe it is in City of Industry right next to
60 FWY.
Hmm, that will be difficult to move since it is mounted in my room on a
high bookshelf on the second floor. I am using this bowtie antennae:
http://www.antennasdirect.com/DB2_Indoor_antenna.html ...
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7112/setupandoutsideviewnq4.jpg shows
my setup from 10/13/2007.
> If it is interference, that is a harder problem to track down.
Is there a cheap device or something to check?
> If you have problems with OTA reception in the LA area, the local
> thread at avsforum for LA OTA is a place to check:
> http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=191672. The thread has
> been running for 5 years, so you probably want to skip to the last few
> pages.
Excellent thread. I will bookmark it and posted my issue there.
--
"Not to engage in the pursuit of ideas is to live like ants instead of
men." --Mortimer J. Adler
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )
G-squared
> > Since all our computers have DTV tuners, I'm looking at KTLA
right now
> > as I write this. Signal level 82% - same as it always is. Looks
> > completely normal.
>
> Yeah, I can't even get a number value and no signal lockage. Where
are
> you located in So. CA? I am east of LA in Hacienda Hts., CA 91745
on the
> low parts of the hills.
> --
90274 on the northeast edge of the Palos Verdes peninsula, elevation
of 390. Does that 'low parts of the hills' mean you'r in a 'hole'
behind other hills?
We had somethin _like_ that when we first moved to this house 3 years
back. The antenna wasn't high enough and was getting diffraction from
the houses across thew street. I intially rasied the antenna another
3 feet and it was better but still not totally reliable. A year ago I
moved the antenna to the peak of the roof, (another 5 feet up and10
feet east) behind the chimney so it's not as noticeable from the
ground. The last move corrected everything and I never get signal
dropouts now. Before / after spectrum analyzer photos confirm the
improvement. All the channels in the NAB list except fot KVCR and KBEH
have textbook RF.
GG
Alan F
>> You may be getting some local interference or phase cancellation for
>> th KTLA-DT 5 signal. If you have an indoor or attic mounted antenna, the
>> antenna could be at a null point for the particular frequency of the
>> signal from KTLA-DT 5 due to a reflection off of something. Can you move
>> the antenna forward, backward or the left & right? Sometimes moving it 6
>> inches is enough.
>
> Local interference? Like from what? I know there's a 60 FWY down the
> hills. Busy traffic 24/7! I did notice there is a huge thin tall antenna
> with red blinking lights on it (easy to see them at night). I am not
> sure if that is the cause of interference. I don't even know who owns
> it and what it is for. I believe it is in City of Industry right next to
> 60 FWY.
>
> Hmm, that will be difficult to move since it is mounted in my room on a
> high bookshelf on the second floor. I am using this bowtie antennae:
> http://www.antennasdirect.com/DB2_Indoor_antenna.html ...
> http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7112/setupandoutsideviewnq4.jpg shows
> my setup from 10/13/2007.
>
>
>> If it is interference, that is a harder problem to track down.
>
> Is there a cheap device or something to check?
Not really, unless you happen to have a spectrum analyzer handy. But
looking at your photos, the trees are likely knocking down the signal.
Is the window in the 1st photo facing towards the direction to Mt.
Wilson? Hard to tell from the photo, but which side of the antenna
facing towards Mt. Wilson? Looks like it is backwards if Mt. Wilson is
through the window. The bowties should be on the front side of the
antenna facing towards the broadcast towers you want to pick. The screen
reflects the signal coming from the front to the bowties. Bowties do
pick stations from the backside but this is the weaker side.
If the antenna is on the bookshelf, it should not be hard to move it
6" to 12". The wavelength for UHF 34 is about 0.51 meters or 1.66 feet;
sometimes a move of 1/4 wavelength is enough if the antenna is at a null
point. If the window is facing the broadcast towers, the DB-2 is small
enough to be placed in the window.
However, the DB-2 is not a good choice for long term digital reception
in LA. All of the stations in LA that have analog channels on upper VHF
7 to 13 will be moving their digital channel from UHF to their upper VHF
analog channel after or during the analog shutdown on February 17, 2009.
The larger Channel Master 4220 2 Bay bowtie would have been a better
choice as it has somewhat better performance for upper VHF than the
DB-2. But since you have the DB-2 and are still at that location, give
it a go in 2009. If the DB-2 does not the upper VHF stations, you can
always add an inexpensive set of rabbit ears.
Alan F
Ant
> On Dec 13, 10:26 pm, Ant <ANT...@zimage.com> wrote:
> > On 12/13/2007 9:15 PM PT, G-squared typed:
> <snip>
> > > Since all our computers have DTV tuners, I'm looking at KTLA
> right now
> > > as I write this. Signal level 82% - same as it always is. Looks
> > > completely normal.
> >
> > Yeah, I can't even get a number value and no signal lockage. Where
> are
> > you located in So. CA? I am east of LA in Hacienda Hts., CA 91745
> on the
> > low parts of the hills.
> > --
> 90274 on the northeast edge of the Palos Verdes peninsula, elevation
> of 390. Does that 'low parts of the hills' mean you'r in a 'hole'
> behind other hills?
No, more like on a slope facing the mountains. Basically, I have a nice
view of the valley and the distance mountains. See
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/7984/mapae8.jpg for Google Maps'
aerial map (north of me is near Azusa).
> We had somethin _like_ that when we first moved to this house 3 years
> back. The antenna wasn't high enough and was getting diffraction from
> the houses across thew street. I intially rasied the antenna another
> 3 feet and it was better but still not totally reliable. A year ago I
> moved the antenna to the peak of the roof, (another 5 feet up and10
> feet east) behind the chimney so it's not as noticeable from the
> ground. The last move corrected everything and I never get signal
> dropouts now. Before / after spectrum analyzer photos confirm the
> improvement. All the channels in the NAB list except fot KVCR and KBEH
> have textbook RF.
Which antennae did you use for the chimney?
--
"Not to engage in the pursuit of ideas is to live like ants instead of
men." --Mortimer J. Adler
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
Ant
> >> th KTLA-DT 5 signal. If you have an indoor or attic mounted antenna, the
> >> antenna could be at a null point for the particular frequency of the
> >> signal from KTLA-DT 5 due to a reflection off of something. Can you move
> >> the antenna forward, backward or the left & right? Sometimes moving it 6
> >> inches is enough.
> >
> > Local interference? Like from what? I know there's a 60 FWY down the
> > hills. Busy traffic 24/7! I did notice there is a huge thin tall antenna
> > with red blinking lights on it (easy to see them at night). I am not
> > sure if that is the cause of interference. I don't even know who owns
> > it and what it is for. I believe it is in City of Industry right next to
> > 60 FWY.
> >
> > on a high bookshelf on the second floor. I am using this bowtie antennae:
> > http://www.antennasdirect.com/DB2_Indoor_antenna.html ...
> > http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7112/setupandoutsideviewnq4.jpg shows
> > my setup from 10/13/2007.
> >
> >
> >> If it is interference, that is a harder problem to track down.
> >
> > Is there a cheap device or something to check?
> Not really, unless you happen to have a spectrum analyzer handy. But
> looking at your photos, the trees are likely knocking down the signal.
Nope and it sounds expensive. ;) I noticed even without their leaves, I
can still have problems with KTLA. This morning, the feed was fine and
there's a lot of leaves. I highly doubt leaves are causing it.
> Is the window in the 1st photo facing towards the direction to Mt.
> Wilson? Hard to tell from the photo, but which side of the antenna
> facing towards Mt. Wilson? Looks like it is backwards if Mt. Wilson is
> through the window. The bowties should be on the front side of the
> antenna facing towards the broadcast towers you want to pick. The screen
> reflects the signal coming from the front to the bowties. Bowties do
> pick stations from the backside but this is the weaker side.
Oh, I did NOT know that (I think bowties are in then front facing me)! I
will have to try reversing the sides then if that is the case. How much
more strengths do you expect from doing that? Here's an aerial map
showing where I am and where the antennae on Mt. Wilson are.
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/7984/mapae8.jpg ... So, yeah out of
the window (NW) from where I was standing in the photographs is probably
correct. I don't have a compass to give the exact direction.
> If the antenna is on the bookshelf, it should not be hard to move it
> 6" to 12". The wavelength for UHF 34 is about 0.51 meters or 1.66 feet;
> sometimes a move of 1/4 wavelength is enough if the antenna is at a null
> point. If the window is facing the broadcast towers, the DB-2 is small
> enough to be placed in the window.
The issue with this antenna, it is heavy and falls easily (it hit my
head once and it hurts!!!). What can I use to prevent falling and still
be able to open and close my window blinds? I do not want to hang it to
ruin the old ceiling. I know you can't see it well, but the antennae is
taped down a lot with gray duct tape. No screws involved. ;) But I
better run away fast when the big earthquake hits (bookshelf screwed in,
but not the anteanna).
> However, the DB-2 is not a good choice for long term digital reception
> in LA. All of the stations in LA that have analog channels on upper VHF
> 7 to 13 will be moving their digital channel from UHF to their upper VHF
> analog channel after or during the analog shutdown on February 17, 2009.
> The larger Channel Master 4220 2 Bay bowtie would have been a better
> choice as it has somewhat better performance for upper VHF than the
> DB-2. But since you have the DB-2 and are still at that location, give
> it a go in 2009. If the DB-2 does not the upper VHF stations, you can
> always add an inexpensive set of rabbit ears.
I have used a basic set of new rabbit ears (2005) on the same bookshelf
and area before I bought this bowtie antenna. It could NOT get a lot and
its signal strengths were pretty bad. I remember KABC7 resulted low
signals like in the 50% and 60% (similiar to KTLA5). Bowtie helped all
the channels.
Hmm, this UHF vs. VHF issue during 2009 and later. That's not good.
Does that explain why channels 7, 9, 11, 13, 18, 28, and higher all are
perfectly clear and 2, 4, and 5 are unwatchable for analog feeds? My
rabbit ears, on top of my old 20" CRT TV (not shown in the photographs
but would on the left side of the window) had to be adjusted often for
each channel. Even channel 11, 13, etc. had to be adjusted. This was
before I started using bowtie antenna and using more of the digital
channels on my PC to my TV.
I looked at your Channel Master 4220 Two Bay HDTV UHF Antenna CM-4220 2
Bay Aerial Bowtie link. That almost looks like mine without the
mount/stand/holder. Mine didn't come with that. Are you saying DB2 is
more powerful with the same size? Did they exist back in 2005? Do any
local retail stores (e.g., Costco, Best Buy, Fry's Electronics, Circuit
City) carry these?
G-squared
> G-squared <stratu...@yahoo.com> wrote:
<snip>
> > 90274 on the northeast edge of the Palos Verdes peninsula,
elevation
> > of 390. Does that 'low parts of the hills' mean you'r in a 'hole'
> > behind other hills?
>
> No, more like on a slope facing the mountains. Basically, I have a
nice
> view of the valley and the distance mountains.
> aerial map (north of me is near Azusa).
>
> > We had somethin _like_ that when we first moved to this house 3
years
> > back. The antenna wasn't high enough and was getting diffraction
from
> > the houses across thew street. I intially rasied the antenna
another
> > 3 feet and it was better but still not totally reliable. A year
ago I
> > moved the antenna to the peak of the roof, (another 5 feet up
and10
> > feet east) behind the chimney so it's not as noticeable from the
> > ground. The last move corrected everything and I never get signal
> > dropouts now. Before / after spectrum analyzer photos confirm the
> > improvement. All the channels in the NAB list except fot KVCR and
KBEH
> > have textbook RF.
>
> Which antennae did you use for the chimney?
> --
One of these without the preamp.
http://www.winegard.com/offair/squareshooter.htm
It's not mounted on the chimney but on a 3 ft tripod 1-2 feet behind
the chimney. The antenna is small enough to get away with this. The
center of the antenna clears the chimney top by 6 inches. The wife
will not put up with a big antenna and this one makes everybody happy.
GG
Ant
>> Is the window in the 1st photo facing towards the direction to Mt.
>> Wilson? Hard to tell from the photo, but which side of the antenna
>> facing towards Mt. Wilson? Looks like it is backwards if Mt. Wilson is
>> through the window. The bowties should be on the front side of the
>> antenna facing towards the broadcast towers you want to pick. The screen
>> reflects the signal coming from the front to the bowties. Bowties do
>> pick stations from the backside but this is the weaker side.
>
> Oh, I did NOT know that (I think bowties are in then front facing me)! I
> will have to try reversing the sides then if that is the case. How much
> more strengths do you expect from doing that? Here's an aerial map
> showing where I am and where the antennae on Mt. Wilson are.
> http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/7984/mapae8.jpg ... So, yeah out of
> the window (NW) from where I was standing in the photographs is probably
> correct. I don't have a compass to give the exact direction.
When you say bowties, I assume you mean the thick X pieces. Well, they
are already face the window/wall on the bookshelf. The grid if facing me
as I look at it. I guess it was already on the right side. :( Darn it!
>> If the antenna is on the bookshelf, it should not be hard to move it
>> 6" to 12". The wavelength for UHF 34 is about 0.51 meters or 1.66 feet;
>> sometimes a move of 1/4 wavelength is enough if the antenna is at a null
>> point. If the window is facing the broadcast towers, the DB-2 is small
>> enough to be placed in the window.
>
> The issue with this antenna, it is heavy and falls easily (it hit my
> head once and it hurts!!!). What can I use to prevent falling and still
> be able to open and close my window blinds? I do not want to hang it to
> ruin the old ceiling. I know you can't see it well, but the antennae is
> taped down a lot with gray duct tape. No screws involved. ;) But I
> better run away fast when the big earthquake hits (bookshelf screwed in,
> but not the anteanna).
I just don't see any place to put this antenna right next to the window
without interferring closing/opening the blinds and window (when
temperatures get hot) and it will be lower than my bookshelf. :(
Let me know if you need more photographs to see how things are set up. :)
--
"Oh, good morning, my little worker ants! That's just a figure of
speech; I would NEVER compare you to insects. At least not after that
sensitivity training seminar those maggots at the network forced me to
attend!" --Kay, Murphy Brown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
Ant
>> I just got home and noticed KTLA 5.1 (and 5.5 -- obviously no TheTube)
>> are missing. Both of my DVB Viewer softwares get nothing (no signals).
>> TSReader v2.8.46a failed to lock signal (a). I checked my analog feed
>> (same antennae and same location), and it was showing (not clear as
>> usual). KTLA was fine this morning.
>
> And now, KTLA 5 digital is OK as of 8:05 AM PST. Signal strength is
> about 60%. Strange. It makes no sense.
Not anymore after I got home and it is about 9:37 PM PST. Can't lock the
signal. Oh and it doesn't matter if my blind is open on the window or
not. I wonder if this is a new pattern, can't get feed at night and can
get in daytime. It's clear and cold outside too (like last night). :(
Time to watch Lakers game on KCAL9 which is obviously fine.
--
"... Our world is not an ant farm!" --Duncan MacLeod (Highlander Season
3 Finale Part II)
Ant
> On 12/14/2007 8:08 AM PT, Ant typed:
>
>>> I just got home and noticed KTLA 5.1 (and 5.5 -- obviously no
>>> TheTube) are missing. Both of my DVB Viewer softwares get nothing (no
>>> signals). TSReader v2.8.46a failed to lock signal (a). I checked my
>>> analog feed (same antennae and same location), and it was showing
>>> (not clear as usual). KTLA was fine this morning.
>>
>> And now, KTLA 5 digital is OK as of 8:05 AM PST. Signal strength is
>> about 60%. Strange. It makes no sense.
>
> Not anymore after I got home and it is about 9:37 PM PST. Can't lock the
> signal. Oh and it doesn't matter if my blind is open on the window or
> not. I wonder if this is a new pattern, can't get feed at night and can
> get in daytime. It's clear and cold outside too (like last night). :(
Oh and now I can get it (haven't changed anything or even moved my thin
body)! I am only getting about 47% to 55% for its signal strength for
the last two minutes. I will try TSReader Lite later. I am off to watch
the Lakers game. ;)
--
"Hey dad, look. I put honey on my back, and now the ants are carrying me
home." --Chris from Family Guy
Ant
> > > We had somethin _like_ that when we first moved to this house 3
> years
> > > back. The antenna wasn't high enough and was getting diffraction
> from
> > > the houses across thew street. I intially rasied the antenna
> another
> > > 3 feet and it was better but still not totally reliable. A year
> ago I
> > > moved the antenna to the peak of the roof, (another 5 feet up
> and10
> > > feet east) behind the chimney so it's not as noticeable from the
> > > ground. The last move corrected everything and I never get signal
> > > dropouts now. Before / after spectrum analyzer photos confirm the
> > > improvement. All the channels in the NAB list except fot KVCR and
> KBEH
> > > have textbook RF.
> >
> > Which antennae did you use for the chimney?
>
> One of these without the preamp.
>
> http://www.winegard.com/offair/squareshooter.htm
>
> It's not mounted on the chimney but on a 3 ft tripod 1-2 feet behind
> the chimney. The antenna is small enough to get away with this. The
> center of the antenna clears the chimney top by 6 inches. The wife
> will not put up with a big antenna and this one makes everybody happy.
Interesting that small antenna can do both UHF and VHF and still do
well. I should had gotten that instead of the bowtie antenna. Maybe when
2009 comes and TV stations change my channels around to make my bowtie
antenna useless, then I will get one. How much did you spend for yours?
--
"There's an ant crawling up your back in the nighttime." --TMBG
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
Ant
> On 12/14/2007 9:39 PM PT, Ant typed:
>
>> On 12/14/2007 8:08 AM PT, Ant typed:
>>
>>>> I just got home and noticed KTLA 5.1 (and 5.5 -- obviously no
>>>> TheTube) are missing. Both of my DVB Viewer softwares get nothing
>>>> (no signals). TSReader v2.8.46a failed to lock signal (a). I checked
>>>> my analog feed (same antennae and same location), and it was showing
>>>> (not clear as usual). KTLA was fine this morning.
>>>
>>> And now, KTLA 5 digital is OK as of 8:05 AM PST. Signal strength is
>>> about 60%. Strange. It makes no sense.
>>
>> Not anymore after I got home and it is about 9:37 PM PST. Can't lock
>> the signal. Oh and it doesn't matter if my blind is open on the window
>> or not. I wonder if this is a new pattern, can't get feed at night and
>> can get in daytime. It's clear and cold outside too (like last night). :(
>
> Oh and now I can get it (haven't changed anything or even moved my thin
> body)! I am only getting about 47% to 55% for its signal strength for
> the last two minutes. I will try TSReader Lite later. I am off to watch
> the Lakers game. ;)
And I can't get KTLA 5 again. Grr.
But for once in a first time, TSReader Lite v2.8.46a didn't give me
can't lock a signal error and showed signal going back and forth with
Locked and Unlocked SNR (the lowest was 12.5 dB and the highest was 17.5
dB; seem to hang around at 13 dB a lot). After closing, I couldn't get a
signal lock again after maybe 10 times of reattempts, then I got a quick
lock. The program showed unlocked SNR for a LONG time (no up and down a
lot). I even saw its value go down to 1.8 dB a few times! Does anyone
know if this tool can log/graph so I don't have to stare at it? :D
I tried other channels and they had values in 27-28 dB (KCBS), 27-29 dB
(KNBC), 23-24 dB (KABC), 24-25 dB (KCOP), etc. None of them ever
unlocked their signals. So, it seems KTLA's SNR is going up and down too
much. Am I reading and understsanding this correctly? What values are
supposed to be good for SNRs? Or do I want stable values? Are all
stations/channels different?
I hope these give more clues. ;)
--
"Applied mathematics will always need pure mathematics, just as
anteaters will always need ants." --Paul Halmos
Alan
>>> I just got home and noticed KTLA 5.1 (and 5.5 -- obviously no TheTube)
>>> are missing. Both of my DVB Viewer softwares get nothing (no signals).
>>> TSReader v2.8.46a failed to lock signal (a). I checked my analog feed
>>> (same antennae and same location), and it was showing (not clear as
>>> usual). KTLA was fine this morning at about 9:00 AM PST.
>>>
>>> Is anyone else having problems tonight too? Thank you in advance. :)
>>
>> Hmm, still down as of 10:19 PM PST. Weird.
>>
>> Is KTLA 5.1 (31) using frequency 575 MHz?
>
>Also, does anyone know wht KTLA does different compared to other
>stations that have no problems? According to
>http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/programming/broadcast-market.php?dma_name[]=Los+Angeles
>... it is like the other stations.
Indoor antennas have the nasty feature of some channels being cancelled out
by reflections indoors cancelling the signal.
You have previously reported problems with KTLA while others had no problems.
Perhaps it is time to put the antenna out on the roof.
Alan
Ant
>>>> I just got home and noticed KTLA 5.1 (and 5.5 -- obviously no TheTube)
>>>> are missing. Both of my DVB Viewer softwares get nothing (no signals).
>>>> TSReader v2.8.46a failed to lock signal (a). I checked my analog feed
>>>> (same antennae and same location), and it was showing (not clear as
>>>> usual). KTLA was fine this morning at about 9:00 AM PST.
>>>>
>>>> Is anyone else having problems tonight too? Thank you in advance. :)
>>> Hmm, still down as of 10:19 PM PST. Weird.
>>>
>>> Is KTLA 5.1 (31) using frequency 575 MHz?
>> Also, does anyone know wht KTLA does different compared to other
>> stations that have no problems? According to
>> http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/programming/broadcast-market.php?dma_name[]=Los+Angeles
>> ... it is like the other stations.
>
> Indoor antennas have the nasty feature of some channels being cancelled out
> by reflections indoors cancelling the signal.
What do you mean by reflections indoors? From wooden walls?
> You have previously reported problems with KTLA while others had no problems.
>
> Perhaps it is time to put the antenna out on the roof.
I will have to find someone to do it for me since I have physical
disabilities. I already had a hard time putting it on my highest
bookshelf. :(
--
"Trivial hurts, tiny human accidents," said Firenze, as his hooves
thudded over the mossy floor. "These are of no more significance than
the scurryings of ants to the wide universe, and are unaffected by
planetary movements." --Harry Potter book
Alan F
Have you moved the antenna at all? Just slide it over 6" or change the
aim to the left and right if you can to see it that helps. You are
probably getting some indoor cancellation effects for the KTLA-DT 5
signal with signals reflecting off of walls or metal vent ducts. Often
moving the antenna or tweaking the aim will fix that. If it is hard to
reach, push the antenna aim to the left and right a few degrees with a
stick or broom. Good luck.
Alan F
Ant
Back in end of December 2005 when I first got the new DB2 antenna and
KTLA was having problems (not other stations), my friend and I moved it
around to see what the best position. Obviously, the signal strengths
were much better for all channels except KTLA 5 that didn't get high
signals or none. My friend even held the antenna and rotate it in
all/most of 360 degrees. It doesn't seem to help. We ended up putting it
on the highest location in the room (my bookshelf) and duct taped it
(hard to move if it is taped down, heh) since then.
As of after 11:00 AM PST, KTLA's signal strength is decent. I have seen
it from 64% to 73% (mostly 65%)! Obviously, this is during the daytime.
I need to figure out when the signal goes away and comes back. So far, I
know it is not working before 8:00 PM PST and still not working at 10 PM
PST. KTLA seems to work at 8 AM and 9:15 AM PST. I will keep testing for
this.
--
"Ants. There's a size for every picnic, a colour for every occasion, and
a bite to let you know that they are there. Apart from the bite, that
could describe a Basenji pretty well." --Len Reddie
Alan
>> Indoor antennas have the nasty feature of some channels being cancelled out
>> by reflections indoors cancelling the signal.
>
>What do you mean by reflections indoors? From wooden walls?
Not everything in a house is wood. Even wood blocks the signals to some extent.
See http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/siting.html for more info.
Walls generally have metal in them, in the form of wire screening to
hold stucco on, for example. Other than reflections, there is also
refraction from windows and the like, which produces dead spots. Even
your body moving around in a room reflects and blocks signals.
Alan
Ant
>>> by reflections indoors cancelling the signal.
>> What do you mean by reflections indoors? From wooden walls?
>
> Not everything in a house is wood. Even wood blocks the signals to some extent.
> See http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/siting.html for more info.
>
> Walls generally have metal in them, in the form of wire screening to
> hold stucco on, for example. Other than reflections, there is also
> refraction from windows and the like, which produces dead spots. Even
> your body moving around in a room reflects and blocks signals.
Wow, even behind one layer wooden wall? I know I have no buildings
blocking my view to the mountains except that big tree I showed you
earlier (still can have no KTLA without leaves from that tree). I
thought my issue was only happen when if there were multiple buildings
or walls.
I am still puzzled why day time is a lot better than night time at the
moment. However, it's almost 8:00 PM PST and the signal strength is
decent and can watch KTLA (had 50 continuity errors within the last ten
minutes according to TSReader Lite -- better than the last two nights!).
And also why only KTLA station and not other stations? I think I forgot
to mention that there is a giant antennae/transmitter(?)/something in
the valley (not on the mountains) that I can see NW out of my room's
window. At night, it is easy to see because it blinks red lights every
second and looks like this:
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
I have NO idea what it is for and what company uses it. It across the
freeway. I don't know if this is causing interferences/KTLA receiving
problems. I will see if I can get a photograph of it, but it is far away
and small. And I doubt my old digital camera (from 2001 I think) can get
a good shot of it. I also can't find it on aerial maps and bird eyes in
Google Maps and Virtual Earth. :(
--
"For while the giants have just been talking about an information
superhighway, the ants have actually been building one: the Internet."
From "The Accidental Superhighway." The Economist: A Survey of the
Internet, 1-7 July 1995, insert.
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address: phi...@earthlink.netANT
( ) or ANT...@zimage.com
Ant is/was listening to a song on his home computer: Talk Talk - Such A
Shame (12" Version)
Ant
> moment. However, it's almost 8:00 PM PST and the signal strength is
> decent and can watch KTLA (had 50 continuity errors within the last ten
> minutes according to TSReader Lite -- better than the last two nights!).
Yikes, 152 continuity errors within the last 21 minutes from KTLA! I
think the pattern is the signal gets worse at night hours compared to
day time hours. Is that normal?
--
"The tiny ant dares to enter the lion's ear." --Armenian
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address: phi...@earthlink.netANT
( ) or ANT...@zimage.com
Ant is/was listening to a song on his home computer: Kathleen Edwards -
In State
Ant
> hold stucco on, for example. Other than reflections, there is also
> refraction from windows and the like, which produces dead spots. Even
> your body moving around in a room reflects and blocks signals.
You were right about body moving around. Earlier, I waved my hands and
arms in front of my bowtie antenna (even sometimes touching it softly)
and I can see signal strengths changing and TSReader Lite's continuity
errors values rising. This was on KTLA 5.1. On other stations, not much
changes (maybe 1-2% I saw). I forgot to mention that KABC and KTTV are
the ones that don't have 100% strengths (don't recall them ever having
problems like KTLA though) while the rest have almost or at 100% strengths.
--
"God is a mean kid sitting on an ant-hill with a magnifying glass, and
I'm the ant." --Bruce Nolan (Bruce Almighty movie)
Alan F
> On 12/15/2007 7:04 AM PT, Alan F typed:
>> aim to the left and right if you can to see it that helps. You are
>> probably getting some indoor cancellation effects for the KTLA-DT 5
>> signal with signals reflecting off of walls or metal vent ducts. Often
>> moving the antenna or tweaking the aim will fix that. If it is hard to
>> reach, push the antenna aim to the left and right a few degrees with a
>> stick or broom. Good luck.
>
> Back in end of December 2005 when I first got the new DB2 antenna and
> KTLA was having problems (not other stations), my friend and I moved it
> around to see what the best position. Obviously, the signal strengths
> were much better for all channels except KTLA 5 that didn't get high
> signals or none. My friend even held the antenna and rotate it in
> all/most of 360 degrees. It doesn't seem to help. We ended up putting it
> on the highest location in the room (my bookshelf) and duct taped it
> (hard to move if it is taped down, heh) since then.
>
> As of after 11:00 AM PST, KTLA's signal strength is decent. I have seen
> it from 64% to 73% (mostly 65%)! Obviously, this is during the daytime.
> I need to figure out when the signal goes away and comes back. So far, I
> know it is not working before 8:00 PM PST and still not working at 10 PM
> PST. KTLA seems to work at 8 AM and 9:15 AM PST. I will keep testing for
> this.
How far are you from the broadcast towers on Mt. Wilson? Here is 1
wacky thing to try which given the wide beam pattern of DB-2 is a long
shot, but have you tilted the antenna up a bit? The broadcast antennas
on Mt. Wilson are at over 6000', so you may need to aim the antenna
upwards s few degrees. Just make sure that the side with the bowties is
on the side facing Mt. Wilson.
You are probably facing some propagation issues with the KTLA-DT
signal because of the wavelength, tower location, and antenna beam
pattern; not interference. Here is the antenna pattern for KTLA-DT
digital channel:
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1071795.html which is
pumping out a 1000 kW signal, the maximum allowed for digital UHF TV. A
larger antenna or moving the antenna outside would be the normal step to
fix this. Or trim the branches from the tree outside the window if you
can do that.
You could also contact KTLA and ask if they could send someone out to
check the signal strength at your location. Very unlikely that a station
in LA would do this, but it is still done sometimes in smaller markets
if there is a station engineer who has time and is concerned about the
broadcast reach of his station.
Alan F
JXStern
wrote:
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1071795.html
very kewl!
>which is
>pumping out a 1000 kW signal, the maximum allowed for digital UHF TV.
Good grief, can I put a big antenna on a Prius and run it on that kind
of broadcast power? Will that much microwave keep my Starbucks warm
all day throughout the LA area? Is this what is really causing global
warming?
J.
Ant
Under 20 miles according to two Web sites. Here are screen captures from
them: http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/237/radarallug0.png and
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/4229/antennawebdt8.gif ... Maybe they
will help with all these datas. :D
When you say bowties, I assume you mean the big X parts. If so, then
they are facing the mountains behind the window and wall.
> You are probably facing some propagation issues with the KTLA-DT
> signal because of the wavelength, tower location, and antenna beam
> pattern; not interference. Here is the antenna pattern for KTLA-DT
> digital channel:
> http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT1071795.html which is
> pumping out a 1000 kW signal, the maximum allowed for digital UHF TV. A
> larger antenna or moving the antenna outside would be the normal step to
> fix this. Or trim the branches from the tree outside the window if you
> can do that.
Well, wouldn't the tree be affecting other stations/channels too? It
seems like only KTLA is the problematic one for digital feeds. Also, I
recall having this problem when the tree didn't have any or many leaves
(I think someone trim them once a year or more). I can't trim the tree
since it is not in my yard. :(
> You could also contact KTLA and ask if they could send someone out to
> check the signal strength at your location. Very unlikely that a station
> in LA would do this, but it is still done sometimes in smaller markets
> if there is a station engineer who has time and is concerned about the
> broadcast reach of his station.
I actually e-mailed them a couple times to see if they had problems, but
I never got any replies. I did contact them for being upset that
Smallville wasn't in HD format last year, but got a reply about it
(technical problems IIRC). :(
--
"All good work is done the way ants do things: Little by little."
--Lafcadio Hearn
Alan F
Then how do you feel about that the maximum allowed power for analog
UHF TV is 5000 kW? These are peak effective radiated power (ERP)
numbers, the actual total Watts used by the transmitter hardware is
considerably less. Still the monthly electric bill for a UHF TV
broadcast station is pretty substantial.
Actually, one of the nominal benefits in the long run of the switch to
digital TV broadcasting is lower power bills as ATSC is more efficient
in using the 6 MHz of bandwidth. However, for many stations this has
been negated by the switch from low VHF which requires far less power to
UHF.
At this time, there are some 1300+ stations broadcasting at full power
on two channels: one for analog and one for digital. There are also
perhaps still some 300 stations broadcasting at full power on analog and
at low power on digital. When the 1700+ full power stations across the
US shut down their analog broadcast by or on February 17, 2009, that
will result in a considerable savings in power use. I wonder if anyone,
such as the NAB, has attempted to guess estimate how much?
Alan F
Ant
> On 12/15/2007 10:22 PM PT, Alan F typed:
> Under 20 miles according to two Web sites. Here are screen captures from
> them: http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/237/radarallug0.png and
> http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/4229/antennawebdt8.gif ... Maybe they
> will help with all these datas. :D
http://xs222.xs.to/xs222/07500/GE3DaerialmapAndTx.jpg for Google Earth's
3D map and the TX overview map facing north if that help.
--
"I'm not a worker ant. I'm like a queen. Or maybe a king. But you never
hear of king ants." --Sean Bentley
Alan
>Well, wouldn't the tree be affecting other stations/channels too? It
>seems like only KTLA is the problematic one for digital feeds.
Perhaps it would, if they were on the same frequency, but they are not.
The diffraction patterns and cancellation from reflections are different
for different frequencies.
High school physics should show you patterns of wave cancellation, diffraction,
and the like.
Alan
JXStern
wrote:
>>> which is
>>> pumping out a 1000 kW signal, the maximum allowed for digital UHF TV.
>>
>> Good grief, can I put a big antenna on a Prius and run it on that kind
>> of broadcast power? Will that much microwave keep my Starbucks warm
>> all day throughout the LA area? Is this what is really causing global
>> warming?
>
> Then how do you feel about that the maximum allowed power for analog
>UHF TV is 5000 kW? These are peak effective radiated power (ERP)
>numbers, the actual total Watts used by the transmitter hardware is
>considerably less. Still the monthly electric bill for a UHF TV
>broadcast station is pretty substantial.
I did not know that.
I thought the 50,000 watt AM powerhouse stations ... were big.
J.
Ant
You gave me an idea about frequency. I looked for other ones that were
close to KTLA's:
29 (KFTR 46) = 563 (74% to 80%)
31 (KTLA 5) = 575 (47% - 58%)
32 (KDOC 56) = 581 (almost like KTLA's signal strengths, but slightly
stronger)
KTLA is the weakest I noticed.
--
"Now I have you where I want you... where is my jar of Bull ants?" --unknown
Ant
>>>> Indoor antennas have the nasty feature of some channels being
>>>> cancelled out
>>>> by reflections indoors cancelling the signal.
>>> What do you mean by reflections indoors? From wooden walls?
>>
>> Not everything in a house is wood. Even wood blocks the signals to
>> some extent.
>> See http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/siting.html for more info.
>>
>> Walls generally have metal in them, in the form of wire screening to
>> hold stucco on, for example. Other than reflections, there is also
>> refraction from windows and the like, which produces dead spots. Even
>> your body moving around in a room reflects and blocks signals.
>
> Wow, even behind one layer wooden wall? I know I have no buildings
> blocking my view to the mountains except that big tree I showed you
> earlier (still can have no KTLA without leaves from that tree). I
> thought my issue was only happen when if there were multiple buildings
> or walls.
>
> I am still puzzled why day time is a lot better than night time at the
> moment. However, it's almost 8:00 PM PST and the signal strength is
> decent and can watch KTLA (had 50 continuity errors within the last ten
> minutes according to TSReader Lite -- better than the last two nights!).
>
> And also why only KTLA station and not other stations? I think I forgot
> to mention that there is a giant antennae/transmitter(?)/something in
> the valley (not on the mountains) that I can see NW out of my room's
> window. At night, it is easy to see because it blinks red lights every
> second and looks like this:
>
> . . . . . .
> . . . . . .
> . . . . . .
>
> I have NO idea what it is for and what company uses it. It across the
> freeway. I don't know if this is causing interferences/KTLA receiving
> problems. I will see if I can get a photograph of it, but it is far away
> and small. And I doubt my old digital camera (from 2001 I think) can get
> a good shot of it. I also can't find it on aerial maps and bird eyes in
> Google Maps and Virtual Earth. :(
OK, I found it on Virtual Earth (live.com):
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/9420/livesearchmaprm3.jpg ... Google
Earth tells me it belongs to two radio stations (side by side):
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/7369/googleearthrevealedpurptm3.jpg
I wonder if these are causing interferences to my KTLA 5 digital feed!
Is that possible?
--
"As a thinker and planner, the ant is the equal of any savage race of
men; as a self-educated specialist in several arts she is the superior
of any savage race of men; and in one or two high mental qualities she
is above the reach of any man..." --Mark Twain
Ant
>>>>> cancelled out
>>>>> by reflections indoors cancelling the signal.
>>>> What do you mean by reflections indoors? From wooden walls?
>>>
>>> Not everything in a house is wood. Even wood blocks the signals to
>>> some extent.
>>> See http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/siting.html for more info.
>>>
>>> Walls generally have metal in them, in the form of wire screening to
>>> hold stucco on, for example. Other than reflections, there is also
>>> refraction from windows and the like, which produces dead spots. Even
>>> your body moving around in a room reflects and blocks signals.
>>
Oh and this is totally NW direction from my home! Ugh! I have a feeling
this is causing intereferences. Does anyone know about radio
transmission vs. digital TV antennae. Here's the zoomed out Google Earth
map: http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/372/gezoomedoutkz0.jpg ...
--
"This is the ant. Treat it with respect. For it may very well be the
next dominant lifeform of our planet." --Empire of the Ants movie
Ant
>>>>>> Indoor antennas have the nasty feature of some channels being
>>>>>> cancelled out
>>>>>> by reflections indoors cancelling the signal.
>>>>> What do you mean by reflections indoors? From wooden walls?
>>>>
>>>> Not everything in a house is wood. Even wood blocks the signals
>>>> to some extent.
>>>> See http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/siting.html for more info.
>>>>
>>>> Walls generally have metal in them, in the form of wire screening to
>>>> hold stucco on, for example. Other than reflections, there is also
>>>> refraction from windows and the like, which produces dead spots. Even
>>>> your body moving around in a room reflects and blocks signals.
>>>
More info. and interesting read and viewing (photographs):
http://www.fybush.com/sites/2006/site-060127.html ... "Radio reception
in these very well-screened buildings (which are effectively giant
Faraday cages) is terrible!". Heh.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KTNQ ,
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?call=KTNQ ,
http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/info?call=KTNQ&service=AM ,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KTLK_(AM) , and
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?call=KTLK ...
--
"But, you may argue, our uniqueness is so extreme! More extreme than the
platypus which looks like a collection of leftover parts? More unique
than the societal honeybee with its division of labor? More unique than
the communist ants who keep aphids as farm animals?" --John Logan
G-squared
>
> >> OK, I found it on Virtual Earth (live.com):
> >>http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/9420/livesearchmaprm3.jpg...
> >> Google Earth tells me it belongs to two radio stations (side by
side):
> >>http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/7369/
googleearthrevealedpurptm3.jpg
>
> >> I wonder if these are causing interferences to my KTLA 5 digital
feed!
> >> Is that possible?
>
> > Oh and this is totally NW direction from my home! Ugh! I have a
feeling
> > this is causing intereferences. Does anyone know about radio
> > transmission vs. digital TV antennae. Here's the zoomed out
Google Earth
> > map:http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/372/gezoomedoutkz0.jpg...
>
www.fybush.com/sites/2006/site-060127.html... "Radio reception
> in these very well-screened buildings (which are effectively giant
> Faraday cages) is terrible!". Heh.
>
>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KTNQ,http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?call=KTNQ,http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/info?call=KTNQ&service=AM,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KTLK_(AM)
, andhttp://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?call=KTLK...
> --
It is _possible_ that the strong AM signals near your house are
causing some problems but the AM stations are at 1.02 and 1.15 MHz.
KTLA-DT occupies 572 to 578 MHz which is a very LARGE difference.
While I wouldn't count it out, it doesn't seem very likely.
FWIW 50 kW KNX 1070 is about 5 miles from our house and the only
issues we ever had was a cheap ATT phone picked up KNX into the
receiver ear piece. I cleared that up by spraying the inside of the
phone handle with conductive paint.
I still believe you're having more of an issue with multipath from a
nearby reflection. Have you tried changing the antenna aim somwewhat
_upward_ to reduce bouncing from the ground? Earlier you mentioned
some confusion with the antenna aim in general. The screen mesh side
is the BACK side of the antenna. Clean tight connections are extra
important in strong RF fields.
KTLA normal at 82% as usual.
GG
Ant
> causing some problems but the AM stations are at 1.02 and 1.15 MHz.
> KTLA-DT occupies 572 to 578 MHz which is a very LARGE difference.
> While I wouldn't count it out, it doesn't seem very likely.
Darn.
> FWIW 50 kW KNX 1070 is about 5 miles from our house and the only
> issues we ever had was a cheap ATT phone picked up KNX into the
> receiver ear piece. I cleared that up by spraying the inside of the
> phone handle with conductive paint.
>
> I still believe you're having more of an issue with multipath from a
> nearby reflection. Have you tried changing the antenna aim somwewhat
> _upward_ to reduce bouncing from the ground? Earlier you mentioned
> some confusion with the antenna aim in general. The screen mesh side
> is the BACK side of the antenna. Clean tight connections are extra
> important in strong RF fields.
I am not sure how I can have the antenna aiming facing up on my
bookshelf since it is duct taped onto it. I need to figure out how to
make it stable in order to change positio.
Didn't I answer the question about which side it is facing? The big
bowtie X shapes are facing the mountains and the grid part is facing me
and my room. I recalled you or someone said the bowtie parts are
supposed to face the stations' transmitter antennae.
> KTLA normal at 82% as usual.
Right now, mine ranged from 79% to 85% within the last three minutes.
See, this is what I want and I haven't even changed and moved my
antenna! When things get really bad which happen once in a while, it can
go low as 50% or worse, no signal locks, as I noted in my earlier posts.
Even with the crazy rain weather over the last few days still gave me
strong signals. Right now, it is clear blue outside. The tree with all
its leaves, behind my window, is still there too. :) I don't know what's
going on.
--
"Do not kill ants. They are your best friends." --Joe Brainard
Ant
> Right now, mine ranged from 79% to 85% within the last three minutes.
> See, this is what I want and I haven't even changed and moved my
> antenna! When things get really bad which happen once in a while, it can
> go low as 50% or worse, no signal locks, as I noted in my earlier posts.
> Even with the crazy rain weather over the last few days still gave me
> strong signals. Right now, it is clear blue outside. The tree with all
> its leaves, behind my window, is still there too. :) I don't know what's
> going on.
A few days ago, my neighbor cut his big tree's leaves (almost bare with
its bare trunks and a few thin branches and their leaves left) down the
hill that was blocking my window view to Mt. Wilson. I noticed my KTLA5
digital signal is at 48%-58% and is KABC7 is down to 45%-53%. I haven't
had any signal losses or feed corruptions within the last two minutes
for each station/channel. As you can see, the big tree doesn't affect my
feeds.
Does it still sound like interferences from multipaths?
--
"What is it all but a trouble of ants... In the gleam of a million...
million of suns? --Alfred Lord Tennyson
Ant
> On 12/21/2007 12:49 PM PT, Ant typed:
>
>> Right now, mine ranged from 79% to 85% within the last three minutes.
>> See, this is what I want and I haven't even changed and moved my
>> antenna! When things get really bad which happen once in a while, it
>> can go low as 50% or worse, no signal locks, as I noted in my earlier
>> posts. Even with the crazy rain weather over the last few days still
>> gave me strong signals. Right now, it is clear blue outside. The tree
>> with all its leaves, behind my window, is still there too. :) I don't
>> know what's going on.
>
> A few days ago, my neighbor cut his big tree's leaves (almost bare with
> its bare trunks and a few thin branches and their leaves left) down the
> hill that was blocking my window view to Mt. Wilson. I noticed my KTLA5
> digital signal is at 48%-58% and is KABC7 is down to 45%-53%. I haven't
> had any signal losses or feed corruptions within the last two minutes
> for each station/channel. As you can see, the big tree doesn't affect my
> feeds.
>
> Does it still sound like interferences from multipaths?
Wow, 36% to 42% on KABC right now during the ending of Lakers game. :(
--
"The shadows now so long do grow,... That brambles like tall cedars
show,... Molehills seem mountains, and the ant... Appears a monstrous
elephant." --Charles Cotton's poem
Ant
>>> Right now, mine ranged from 79% to 85% within the last three minutes.
>>> See, this is what I want and I haven't even changed and moved my
>>> antenna! When things get really bad which happen once in a while, it
>>> can go low as 50% or worse, no signal locks, as I noted in my earlier
>>> posts. Even with the crazy rain weather over the last few days still
>>> gave me strong signals. Right now, it is clear blue outside. The tree
>>> with all its leaves, behind my window, is still there too. :) I don't
>>> know what's going on.
>>
>> A few days ago, my neighbor cut his big tree's leaves (almost bare
>> with its bare trunks and a few thin branches and their leaves left)
>> down the hill that was blocking my window view to Mt. Wilson. I
>> noticed my KTLA5 digital signal is at 48%-58% and is KABC7 is down to
>> 45%-53%. I haven't had any signal losses or feed corruptions within
>> the last two minutes for each station/channel. As you can see, the big
>> tree doesn't affect my feeds.
>>
>> Does it still sound like interferences from multipaths?
>
> Wow, 36% to 42% on KABC right now during the ending of Lakers game. :(
And KTLA was in 70-80% range. Nuts.
--
"Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith, keeping it awake and
moving." --Fredrick Beuchner
Ant
>>>> minutes. See, this is what I want and I haven't even changed and
>>>> moved my antenna! When things get really bad which happen once in a
>>>> while, it can go low as 50% or worse, no signal locks, as I noted in
>>>> my earlier posts. Even with the crazy rain weather over the last few
>>>> days still gave me strong signals. Right now, it is clear blue
>>>> outside. The tree with all its leaves, behind my window, is still
>>>> there too. :) I don't know what's going on.
>>>
>>> A few days ago, my neighbor cut his big tree's leaves (almost bare
>>> with its bare trunks and a few thin branches and their leaves left)
>>> down the hill that was blocking my window view to Mt. Wilson. I
>>> noticed my KTLA5 digital signal is at 48%-58% and is KABC7 is down to
>>> 45%-53%. I haven't had any signal losses or feed corruptions within
>>> the last two minutes for each station/channel. As you can see, the
>>> big tree doesn't affect my feeds.
>>>
>>> Does it still sound like interferences from multipaths?
>>
>> Wow, 36% to 42% on KABC right now during the ending of Lakers game. :(
>
As of 8:45 PM PST, the signal is back to 70ish% for KABC and 80ish% for
KTLA.
--
"Not all ants use violence to dominate their world, some use more subtle
methods..." --E.O. Wilson on NOVA
G-squared
<snip>
> >>> Does it still sound like interferences from multipaths?
I would bet on that
> >> Wow, 36% to 42% on KABC right now during the ending of Lakers
game. :(
>
> > And KTLA was in 70-80% range. Nuts.
>
> As of 8:45 PM PST, the signal is back to 70ish% for KABC and 80ish%
for
> KTLA.
> --
After your 5pm post I tried KABC and it was down to 50 +/-2% then. Now
at 9:54 the level is back to 70%. At both times KTLA was 82%
GG
Ant
> > >>> Does it still sound like interferences from multipaths?
>
> I would bet on that
>
> > >> Wow, 36% to 42% on KABC right now during the ending of Lakers
> game. :(
> >
> > > And KTLA was in 70-80% range. Nuts.
> >
> > As of 8:45 PM PST, the signal is back to 70ish% for KABC and 80ish%
> for
> > KTLA.
> > --
>
> After your 5pm post I tried KABC and it was down to 50 +/-2% then. Now
> at 9:54 the level is back to 70%. At both times KTLA was 82%
I wonder what happened with KABC earlier. Someone told me it was the
winds, but I didn't experience any winds this morning at home and in L.A.
--
"For while the giants have just been talking about an information
superhighway, the ants have actually been building one: the Internet."
From "The Accidental Superhighway." The Economist: A Survey of the
Internet, 1-7 July 1995, insert.
JXStern
>I wonder what happened with KABC earlier. Someone told me it was the
>winds, but I didn't experience any winds this morning at home and in L.A.
Lot of wind early this morning in west LA.
Blew out my KCBS-DT entirely for a while, and I ended up rotating my
antenna a little.
And this is an indoor UHF antenna!!!
... but I am blending indoor UHF with VHS from the roof antenna, and
that often gets fuzzy when the wind blows, I think there's a loose
connection, could have had something to do with it.
J.
Ant
>> I wonder what happened with KABC earlier. Someone told me it was the
>> winds, but I didn't experience any winds this morning at home and in L.A.
>
> Lot of wind early this morning in west LA.
Interesting. I was up since 8:00 AM PST and don't recall any winds.
However, that does explains my allergies. :(
> Blew out my KCBS-DT entirely for a while, and I ended up rotating my
> antenna a little.
>
> And this is an indoor UHF antenna!!!
:(
> ... but I am blending indoor UHF with VHS from the roof antenna, and
> that often gets fuzzy when the wind blows, I think there's a loose
> connection, could have had something to do with it.
:(
--
"Forbear, thou great good husband, little ant." --Richard Lovelace