quick antenna question as DTV installer is here

[mdh333]

Antennaweb.org says some of my HD channels (NBC & FOX) broadcast in VHF, and thus I need a "green" antenna.

The one DTV is installing says UHF on the box.

Does that mean there is no way I'm going to be able to get the VHF channels?

The one DTV is installing attaches to the dish...and if the model number is necessary, I can go back outside and read the box.

thanks

[rlj5242]

The color equates to the antenna size not type. Some UHF antennas can pick up high VHF channels but I have no idea about the one that DirecTV supplies. Have you checked the Local HDTV section at the parent forum?

-Robert

[SleepyBob]

I don't think "green" has anything to do with VHF/UHF. The colors are more related to whether the antenna you get should be small or large, omni or directional.

But if he is installing a UHF antenna, no you won't be able to get the VHF HDTV stations, unless possibly if its physical channel is 13. No way you can pick up a channel 5 or 9.

[mdh333]

OK - the antenna box does say VHF Hi-gain -8dbF (or something very close to that)

antennaweb says....

WFLA-DT 8.1 NBC TAMPA FL 82° 23.1 7
* green - uhf WCLF-DT 22.1 CTN CLEARWATER FL 86° 23.0 21
* green - uhf WXPX-DT 66.1 i BRADENTON FL 86° 23.0 42
* red - vhf WTVT-DT 13.1 FOX TAMPA FL 87° 24.2 12


(as you may guess, I no longer live in Atlanta) so am wondering if those 2 things equate?

Though, I guess in about 15 minutes I'll know the answer for sure....

[mdh333]

ok - so the guess is that maybe I'll get Fox (13) though since it's "red" and thus harder to get, maybe not....

But I wont' get NBC (8) since the number is too low.

Hmm, since I mostly care about HD for sports, I should be kinda OK as NBC sports lineup has really gone downhill.

[chris_h]

OK - the antenna box does say VHF Hi-gain -8dbF (or something very close to that)


* red - vhf WTVT-DT 13.1 FOX TAMPA FL 87° 24.2 12




It looks like the antenna will do VHF, so you are probably fine. Even with a UHF-only antenna, channel 12 (digital 13.1) would likely come in with many antennas. My UHF-only Yagi does fine even with analog VHF 10 (which is good, because they are keeping that frequency post-transition). YMMV.

[rlj5242]

Hmm, since I mostly care about HD for sports, I should be kinda OK as NBC sports lineup has really gone downhill. Except that they have the NFL this upcoming season.

-Robert

[mdh333]

ahh - forgot about the Sunday Night/Monday Night/whatever night football that NBC has.

But...doesn't seem to matter anyway. The install is done, the antenna is up, and I can get most every local station. I can't get CBS (and I realize that will hurt me on football too) but that's because its in a very different direction than all the other stations. Guess if there's a game on locally that I really want, I'll climb up on the roof and try to figure out how to reposition the antenna. Or use it as an excuse to go to a bar...or just watch in SD.

This might be a funny first for a story about an installer though. I had to crawl under my own house to run the cables because he was afraid of small places. No matter that I'm 6'9" and he was about 5'5". But, I saved a few bucks as I figured that (as well as having to use my ladder, some of my cable, and I'm about to have to clean up my yard) covered my planned tip.

[rlj5242]

I can't get CBS (and I realize that will hurt me on football too) but that's because its in a very different direction than all the other stations. You need an antenna for CBS and a Join-Tenna (http://www.warrenelectronics.com/Antennas/joiners.htm).

-Robert