[mythtv-users] Indoor HD antenna question

[Barry Martin]

Hi again, Ashu!


>> I wanted to play with indoor antenna so bought a SKY antenna.
> I tried using a Mohu Leaf, but ran into problems with VHF channels.  If
> you're in the States, I'd recommend alternatives to that style of antenna
> given the re-pack that's rolling out across the country.  My set-up
> consists of:
> home-made UHF antenna (Gray-Hoverman style)
> home-made VHF antenna (I mimicked this using some spare 8ga or 10ga copper
> wire and a 2x4:
> https://sites.google.com/site/maycreates/ota-setup/diy-vhf-loop-antenna,
> although these instructions are more succinct:
> http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/984307-post13.html)
>
> Both antennas feed into a VHF/UHF combiner (e.g. Radioshack # 1502586
> https://www.radioshack.com/products/radioshack-vhf-uhf-gold-plated-splitter-combiner
> )
>
> Output from the combiner feeds into my HDHomeRun
>
> I tried using EIT but got lousy results: descriptions were spotty and it's
> tough to let the scheduler appropriately prioritize recordings when it can
> only see 2-3 days out.  SchedulesDirect is easily worth the nominal yearly
> charge

I'll preface with a "YYMV"  ('your mileage may vary') disclaimer. As I 
mentioned in my original reply, the channels reported by the digital 
station  now are not accurate as to what their actual broadcast is.   A 
station which during the NTSC (analog) era as "Channel 6" was 
transmitting at RF 6 on the VHF band.  Now with ATSC (digital) "Channel 
6" keeps that nickname because that's what 'everybody' knows it as but 
they really transmit at RF 36, a UHF frequency.  (It just so happens 6 
went to 36.)  OTOH locally Channel 4 stayed at RF4, so they were NTSC RF 
4 and now ATSC still RF 4.

IOW  don't go by their 'nickname' for trying to figure out their 
frequencies nor bands.  Wikipedia, TVFool, etc., will give the 
information you need.

With that introduction  and reminder, here Channel 4 (transmits at VHF 
RF4) is literally 2 miles to my NE.  The rest of the local stations are 
at an antenna farm 17 miles SSE.  To receive Channel 4 I needed to 
"split the line" and add a rabbit ear antenna.  So I inserted a trusty 
2-way splitter/combiner, which worked to get Channel 4 but did some 
weird stuff to the UHF stations.  Tried a different 2x; still wrong.  
Eventually found out it's not a good idea to use a splitter/ 
splitter-combiner/etc. to add together signals from a VHF antenna and a 
UHF antenna.  One wants a "Diplexer" which (apparently) is also known as 
a "UVSJ" or "UHF VHF Separator Joiner".  That fixed my reception 
problem!  The UVSJ looks similar to the TV Accessories Department 2x 
splitter but instead of passing everything (VHF and UHF) one connector 
passes only VHF signals and the other only UHF signals into the coax to 
your TVs/MythTV, etc.  (There's a similar one for OTA and Satellite - 
wrong option.

Now, I'm not stating the Radio Shack Splitter/Combiner is wrong, I'm 
just saying for _my_ application it was wrong and just wanted to let you 
know of the possibility.   If you have a junk box you might have one 
already: there were devices sold with the rabbit-ear-and-bow-tie (or 
circular) antenna that had inputs marked "VHF" and "UHF" -- the screw 
terminals on the back of an TV is probably a diplexer.

Hope you get things figured out - MythTV for OTA is wonderful!!  And 
yes, the SchedulesDirect 'accessory' is pretty much a must-have. You do 
not need SD nor EIT to receive stations, nor tune, just a decent 
antenna, which really means a decent signal.  Point the best antenna in 
the world the wrong direction and you'll get <poop>.  A coax or bad 
connection will also give <poop>

Good Luck!
Barry


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