[mythtv] pcHDTV status -- was [PATCH] Restore ability to play MPEG-TS streams

[Brandon Beattie]

On Thu, Nov 13, 2003 at 01:40:34PM -0700, Brandon Beattie wrote:
> On Thu, Nov 13, 2003 at 01:46:04PM -0600, Brian Foddy wrote:
> > On Thu, 13 Nov 2003, John P. Poet wrote:
> > 
> > > They are about 30 miles away and I have line-of-sight.
> > > 
> > > I was hoping to get away with a standard Radio Shack UHF antenna (Catalog #:
> > > 15-2160).  Is there something better?
> > > 
> > > I have also read that the HDTV spec calls for a frequency spectrum up to 3
> > > GHz.  I have not been able to find any amps or splitter with that kind of
> > > rating.  I assume 2150 MHz splitters are "good enough"?
> > 
> > I've tried 2 antennas, the Terk something-something-55 model was pretty 
> > descent, but I found the Winegard 2000 a little better.  Both are 
> > amplified.  Its placed in the
> > attic of my garage, above the Al siding.  I'm in MSP about 25-30 miles
> > from the towers, and before this antenna had pretty poor recption.
> > Now, most days I can get any of my HD signals.  But cold overcast days
> > can still be a problem.  I guess, I have about a 66% chance that I can
> > watch any given channel in HD on any given day.  Not perfect, but I can
> > live with it.  However, I would agree with the suggestion to double
> > record any critical program in low-res just in case the weather is not
> > in your favor.
> > 
> > As for splitters, I use a standard unpowered splitter, with 4 foot 
> > cables on the end.  My parents had to use a powered splitter, but
> > they have 20-50 foot cables after the splitter.  Also, use UG6??
> > (something 6) coax cable.
> > 
> > Brian
> > 
> > 
> 
> Just to add my experience, I'm 7 miles from the tower.  Indoors I would
> get 25-84 signal with 50' of rg6 cable.  I moved my antenna outside and
> to 100' feet of cable to a wall plate, 50' of cable to a 1-4 splitter,
> 1' of cable (To each of my 2 pcHDTV cards) and I get 88-95% signal
> constant on every channel.  I had bought a 25db gain amplifier but
> didn't need it after moving the antenna outside.  
> 
> Even indoors with that amplifier I still rarely could get a good/any
> signal on 3/11 stations.  Just moving outside, and though adding all those
> extra splitters, wall plates and cable gave me a much better signal.  I
> highly advice anyone doing HDDTV to keep the antenna outside.  In my
> attic, with amplifier I never got a good signal (Had to go through 3
> walls before it went outside from where I could get in my attic).  
> 
> --Brandon
> 

I should note that I am using a 3 foot long yagi (sp?) antenna that I
paid $15.00 for from Radioshack.  It's not amplified, just a generic UHF
antenna for picking up channels 14+ (UHF band) for regular TV.  It's not
the best manufacturered, but it works.  I had an old coffee can (Yes
really) uhf antenna made 20+ years ago, and it actually picked up all
channels fine, if outside, otherwise 30-70% signal indoors (In the
basement).  But HD is UHF band, and any good UHF antenna (or cheap like
mine) can work, so you may not need to pay a premium price for a HDTV
antenna, because all they really are is a UHF antenna made to look
"new".  But rg6 cable does appear to make a good bit of difference
compared to the rg58 that my home has running through it.

And also for some fun, a coke can works.  Pepsi not as well. :)  The
maker of the card gave a demo using a coke can for his antenna.  (But
it's much harder to get a good signal with the coke can vs a real
antenna).  You also may get some luck with just using a 20' RG6 cable
with no antenna if you're close to the tower.  -- But I'd recommend
atleast a cheap $15.00 yagi antenna that you can mount outside.

--Brandon

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