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I'd like to get KQMK-LD, physical channel 21, virtual 25. Please reference RabbitEars.Info . My working antenna (see complete setup below) is pointed to the NE and I am picking up physical channels (listed in order of field strength) 26, 29, 22, 20, 31, 12, 32, 17, 15, 33, and 35. Channel 21 has a field strength less than 33 and 35, and is in the same general direction. I thought I should be able to pick it up. However, when I look at fccdata.org the station is in a different location on the map: FCCdata.org - powered by REC
There are two locations in fccdata.org. The most recent matches with rabbitears.info, another site marked as pending shows the Ashland, NE location.
Sorry I don't know how to interpret FCC application data. Where is the station right now? To the NE or NW?
My antenna setup is on a 50-foot tower and clears the local terrain by around 15'. I have an RCA ANT3038XR pointed to the NE and a Five Star Yagi 2020 Antenna pointed to the SE. They are combined with a Wineguard CC-7870 and then into a Wineguard pre-amp on mast. Currently the cables from the antenna to the combiner are not correct, they are of different lengths and pretty sure the cable to the Five Star is damaged. As soon as the wind dies down around here I'm going to replace with equal length cables. I'd like to have an idea of where to point the Five Star when I'm up on the tower. The SE direction was intended to capture the Lincoln market but turns out I won't grab any networks I don't already have and there is competing physical channels, so I'm going to move it. At least I'll point it in the same direction as the RCA and get some gain. I could point to the NW if that's really where KQMK-LD is. I'll have my phone so I can re-scan my DVR while I'm on the tower to verify my channels.
Fairly new at this, any advice is appreciated.
There are two locations in fccdata.org. The most recent matches with rabbitears.info, another site marked as pending shows the Ashland, NE location.
Sorry I don't know how to interpret FCC application data. Where is the station right now? To the NE or NW?
My antenna setup is on a 50-foot tower and clears the local terrain by around 15'. I have an RCA ANT3038XR pointed to the NE and a Five Star Yagi 2020 Antenna pointed to the SE. They are combined with a Wineguard CC-7870 and then into a Wineguard pre-amp on mast. Currently the cables from the antenna to the combiner are not correct, they are of different lengths and pretty sure the cable to the Five Star is damaged. As soon as the wind dies down around here I'm going to replace with equal length cables. I'd like to have an idea of where to point the Five Star when I'm up on the tower. The SE direction was intended to capture the Lincoln market but turns out I won't grab any networks I don't already have and there is competing physical channels, so I'm going to move it. At least I'll point it in the same direction as the RCA and get some gain. I could point to the NW if that's really where KQMK-LD is. I'll have my phone so I can re-scan my DVR while I'm on the tower to verify my channels.
Fairly new at this, any advice is appreciated.
24 Replies
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10236 views
R
ATSC Recommended Practice:
Receiver Performance Guidelines
Document A/74:2010, 7 April 2010
RECEIVER PERFORMANCE GUIDELINES
5.1 Sensitivity
A DTV receiver should achieve a bit error rate in the transport stream of no worse than 3x10E-6 (i.e., the FCC Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service, ACATS, Threshold of Visibility, TOV) for input RF signal levels directly to the tuner from –83 dBm (-34 dBmV) to –5 dBm (+44 dBmV)for both the VHF and UHF bands.
5.2 Multi-Signal Overload
The DTV receiver should accommodate more than one undesired, high-level, NSTC or DTV signal at its input, received from transmission facilities that are in close proximity to one another. For purposes of this guideline, it should be assumed that multiple signals, each approaching –8 dBm (+41 dBmV), will exist at the input of the receiver.
Presumably for Two Strong Input Signals.
Max Signal Input and Output would need to be DERATED for more than two stromg signals.
In your case:
WOWT -27 dBm + 12 dB antenna gain + 18 dB LNA-200 gain = +3 dBm; tuner overload
Intermodulation Distortion
The IMD creates new spurious signals within the preamp (or tuner) itself that can interfere with the reception of your weakest desired signals if the spurious signals are stronger than the noise floor of the weakest desired signals. The spurious signals are caused by the interaction between two or more of your strongest signals.
IMD is not the only distortion that can be created within the preamp; you can also have distortion caused by signals so strong that the top of the strong signals are clipped, which causes compression of the signals. This can be seen if you increase the input to the preamp by, for example, 10 dB and the output increases by less than 10 dB.
Spurious Free Dynamic Range
The Spurious Free Dynamic Range needed is the difference in strength between your strongest signal and your weakest desired signal, plus 16 dB for the SNR of the weakest signal, using the dBm Pwr scale on your tvfool report. This difference is expressed in terms of dB, not dBm, because the original units are the same. The difference between the strongest signal and the weakest signal is the Signal Dynamic Range/Dynamic Range, which is 16 db less than the SFDR, because it doesn't include the SNR of the weakest signal.
Another way to think of SFDR is from the top of the strongest signal down to the bottom (noise floor) of the weakest desired signal. The top of the spurious signals must be at or below the noise floor of the weak signals if they are not to cause interference. The Signal Dynamic Range is from the top of the strongest signal down to the top of the weakest desired signal.
You can also use the Noise Margin or Signal Margin scale for your calculations, but I prefer to use the dBm Pwr scale because most tuners drop out around -85 dBm.
Receiver Performance Guidelines
Document A/74:2010, 7 April 2010
RECEIVER PERFORMANCE GUIDELINES
5.1 Sensitivity
A DTV receiver should achieve a bit error rate in the transport stream of no worse than 3x10E-6 (i.e., the FCC Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service, ACATS, Threshold of Visibility, TOV) for input RF signal levels directly to the tuner from –83 dBm (-34 dBmV) to –5 dBm (+44 dBmV)for both the VHF and UHF bands.
5.2 Multi-Signal Overload
The DTV receiver should accommodate more than one undesired, high-level, NSTC or DTV signal at its input, received from transmission facilities that are in close proximity to one another. For purposes of this guideline, it should be assumed that multiple signals, each approaching –8 dBm (+41 dBmV), will exist at the input of the receiver.
Presumably for Two Strong Input Signals.
Max Signal Input and Output would need to be DERATED for more than two stromg signals.
In your case:
WOWT -27 dBm + 12 dB antenna gain + 18 dB LNA-200 gain = +3 dBm; tuner overload
Intermodulation Distortion
The IMD creates new spurious signals within the preamp (or tuner) itself that can interfere with the reception of your weakest desired signals if the spurious signals are stronger than the noise floor of the weakest desired signals. The spurious signals are caused by the interaction between two or more of your strongest signals.
IMD is not the only distortion that can be created within the preamp; you can also have distortion caused by signals so strong that the top of the strong signals are clipped, which causes compression of the signals. This can be seen if you increase the input to the preamp by, for example, 10 dB and the output increases by less than 10 dB.
Spurious Free Dynamic Range
The Spurious Free Dynamic Range needed is the difference in strength between your strongest signal and your weakest desired signal, plus 16 dB for the SNR of the weakest signal, using the dBm Pwr scale on your tvfool report. This difference is expressed in terms of dB, not dBm, because the original units are the same. The difference between the strongest signal and the weakest signal is the Signal Dynamic Range/Dynamic Range, which is 16 db less than the SFDR, because it doesn't include the SNR of the weakest signal.
Another way to think of SFDR is from the top of the strongest signal down to the bottom (noise floor) of the weakest desired signal. The top of the spurious signals must be at or below the noise floor of the weak signals if they are not to cause interference. The Signal Dynamic Range is from the top of the strongest signal down to the top of the weakest desired signal.
You can also use the Noise Margin or Signal Margin scale for your calculations, but I prefer to use the dBm Pwr scale because most tuners drop out around -85 dBm.
R
With the LNA200, it is necessary to insert the attenuator before the preamp to keep it from being overloaded. Even a small amount of overload will produce IMD that will create spurious signals that will raise the noise floor and reduce the SNR of RF21. I redid the SFDR diagram to make it a little clearer, I hope:
An alternative is the CM3410, which isn't quite as good as the ZHL1010, but is much less expensive.
I'm still curious to see what the channel 21 signal looks like on an SDR spectrum analyzer scan. These scans were with an SDRplay RSP1A SDR ($100) and RSP Spectrum Analyser software:
Thank you for the report of your tests. It sounds like you are able to receive RF21 at times.
When you say MER I assume you mean the HDHR Signal Quality. It's often said to be eqivalent to SNR with a Signal Quality of 50 equal to an SNR of 15 dB at dropout, but it probably IS derived from MER.
With the LNA200, it is necessary to insert the attenuator before the preamp to keep it from being overloaded. Even a small amount of overload will produce IMD that will create spurious signals that will raise the noise floor and reduce the SNR of RF21. I redid the SFDR diagram to make it a little clearer, I hope:
The ZHL1010 is much more resistant to overload, so you could add any necessary attenuation after the preamp to reduce the chance of tuner overload. The Mini Circuits preamp costs $150, and there is no guarantee that it would improve your reception of channel 21; only you can decide if the gamble is worth it.
An alternative is the CM3410, which isn't quite as good as the ZHL1010, but is much less expensive.
That's true.
I'm still curious to see what the channel 21 signal looks like on an SDR spectrum analyzer scan. These scans were with an SDRplay RSP1A SDR ($100) and RSP Spectrum Analyser software:
R
The RTL-SDR.COM V3 dongle is only $25 and the SDR# (SDRsharp) software is free.
Buy RTL-SDR Dongles (RTL2832U)
But, it only covers part of a channel because the bandwidth is only about 2 MHz. See post 13.
You can also use the dongle with the free Touchstone software which covers more than one channel:
Touchstone — RF Spectrum Analyzer Software
A disadvantage is that there is no way to adjust the gain of the dongle with the Touchstone software, so you need an attenuator to get a good scan.
My amateur Videos
I didn't use a preamp for this scan. The channel 16 signal (first strong signal on the left) measured -6.3 dBmV (-55.1 dBm) with my Sadelco DisplayMax 800 signal level meter:
Touchstone RF Spectrum Analyzer 2020-10-27 14-45-43.mp4
https://www.dropbox.com/s/no068tnzs...pectrum Analyzer 2020-10-27 14-45-43.mp4?dl=1
When I used a 17 dB preamp (CM7777HD Amplify, low gain setting), more attenuation before the dongle was needed.
Touchstone RF Spectrum Analyzer 2020-10-27 14-27-48.mp4
https://www.dropbox.com/s/18g3b36dm...pectrum Analyzer 2020-10-27 14-27-48.mp4?dl=1
I use VLC Media Player.
Thanks for the report. Glad that I was able to help a little and that your other channels are OK.
The RTL-SDR.COM V3 dongle is only $25 and the SDR# (SDRsharp) software is free.
Buy RTL-SDR Dongles (RTL2832U)
But, it only covers part of a channel because the bandwidth is only about 2 MHz. See post 13.
You can also use the dongle with the free Touchstone software which covers more than one channel:
Touchstone — RF Spectrum Analyzer Software
A disadvantage is that there is no way to adjust the gain of the dongle with the Touchstone software, so you need an attenuator to get a good scan.
My amateur Videos
I didn't use a preamp for this scan. The channel 16 signal (first strong signal on the left) measured -6.3 dBmV (-55.1 dBm) with my Sadelco DisplayMax 800 signal level meter:
Touchstone RF Spectrum Analyzer 2020-10-27 14-45-43.mp4
https://www.dropbox.com/s/no068tnzs...pectrum Analyzer 2020-10-27 14-45-43.mp4?dl=1
When I used a 17 dB preamp (CM7777HD Amplify, low gain setting), more attenuation before the dongle was needed.
Touchstone RF Spectrum Analyzer 2020-10-27 14-27-48.mp4
https://www.dropbox.com/s/18g3b36dm...pectrum Analyzer 2020-10-27 14-27-48.mp4?dl=1
I use VLC Media Player.
Supporting Founder
Lifetime Supporter
Thanks to Fitch Ratings ( who gives the ratings on Credit and debt, as approved by the SEC, so they have accurate numbers) we have the totals.
DIRECTV's video subscriber base is the third-largest traditional multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD) in the U.S. with about 8.2 million subscribers at the end of 1Q26.
The last time it was reported, it was 8.8M at the end of 2Q25, so only a 600,000 loss for 3 quarters, which is a major improvement, since for many years before that, it was losing 500,000 a quarter, 2 Million a year.
It is now losing less than Dish/Sling combined, I believe the Genre Packs are helping to retain and get subscribers.
DIRECTV's video subscriber base is the third-largest traditional multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD) in the U.S. with about 8.2 million subscribers at the end of 1Q26.
The last time it was reported, it was 8.8M at the end of 2Q25, so only a 600,000 loss for 3 quarters, which is a major improvement, since for many years before that, it was losing 500,000 a quarter, 2 Million a year.
It is now losing less than Dish/Sling combined, I believe the Genre Packs are helping to retain and get subscribers.
6 Replies
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373 views
Recently came back to DirectTV Satellite service and have two boxes, Gemini and a main HR54.
DirecTV is charging me two "TV access fees" of $10 each, but can only watch TV on the one without the server. Is there anything I can do to fix this?
DirecTV is charging me two "TV access fees" of $10 each, but can only watch TV on the one without the server. Is there anything I can do to fix this?
24 Replies
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945 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
67110 Replies
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2662388 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
I feel like this was discussed in another thread, but I can't find it. I have T-Mobile and my last iPhone upgrade was in 2020. I want to get a new iPhone, but what is the best way to go about doing it? Should I order the iPhone from T-Mobile directly, or should I buy from the Apple Store? I feel like there are pros/cons to each option.
2 Replies
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36 views
I have a Hopper with Sling. (Don't know exact model.) A couple nights ago, I went into the DVR screen, and noted that it was recording three programs. Yet I was able to view live TV (that was not one of the channels being recorded.) Did something change? In the past, it would only let me watch one of the channels being recorded, or any recording in the DVR menu. Maybe it was streaming, although there was no indication of that?
Apologies if this has been covered; I searched and didn't find anything.
Thanks.
Apologies if this has been covered; I searched and didn't find anything.
Thanks.
9 Replies
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359 views
iJustine
Time for another AWESOME video from iJustine!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YJjxjYvmQ8s
Direct YouTube Link - Good Bye, Tim! Last WWDC
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YJjxjYvmQ8s
Direct YouTube Link - Good Bye, Tim! Last WWDC
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
0 Replies
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10 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Cutting Edge
WANTED DirecTV LCC
Anyone have a DirecTV Local Channel Connector that you'd like to get rid of at a reasonable price? DirecTV is currently in a contract dispute with owner of my local ABC affiliate.
12 Replies
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310 views
I did that. The response was that the LCC is not available. Escalated the issue to a tech support person with the same results.
Could be out of them I guess ... I'd keep trying, every 3-4 days.I did that. The response was that the LCC is not available. Escalated the issue to a tech support person with the same results.
If they are not out of them as them WHY you can't get one, seeing Your in a Dispute. Thats what they are for.
I would make them give you a real answer, don't let them off the hook.
I had one, and it worked well, but I believe I gave it to another D* friend (also had a AM21), I know I gave them away ...
According to the tech support guy, they don't have any in stock. He said I should receive an email when and if they have them. I even told him I would accept a refurbished unit.
I'm not sure your going to find any Refurbished ones as D* doesn't ask for them back.According to the tech support guy, they don't have any in stock. He said I should receive an email when and if they have them. I even told him I would accept a refurbished unit.
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Did anyone have a price increase today on their equipment? I own my VIP211k's, and they have been $5.00. My bill that I received last week shows the "add-ons" as being $5.00. However, I just logged into my Dish account, and my "add-ons" are now $10.00. Did the additional receivers go up by $5.00 recently?
As I mentioned, my last bill shows $5.00 and under the notes, nothing is mentioned about a price increase.
As I mentioned, my last bill shows $5.00 and under the notes, nothing is mentioned about a price increase.
11 Replies
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206 views
Hello everyone, new guy here. I'm trying to solve problem I'm having with Dish bonus view channels. When I'm watching the bonus view channels then I switch back to regular dish channels, after few minutes the screen flips to black and after 30 seconds flips back to regular channels and continues to flip back and forth until I turn off TV. After I wait 30 minutes and turn back on , I can use regular channels again. So, its after I switch from bonus view channels to regular dish channels the problem starts. Been trying to fix this for a month, but no luck
Here what I've done.
i contacted Dish support and they sent me a new Joey3, but no help. Switched to a different HDMI input on TV, no help. Used different HDMI cable , no help. Used different electrical wall plug, no help.
Finally got a Dish tech to check it. He ran all systems check and was OK. Finally he brought in a small TV and plugged in the HDMI out from the Joey to the small TV. He could not get the problem to occur on his small TV, so the new Joey was working OK. So, then the problem must be myTV. He made some phone calls and came back with the answer that there must be a problem with the analog to digital switch in my TV. Has anyone ever heard of a problem like this, or is it time to be looking for a new TV? My tv LG OLED65C8PUA. TV has been trouble free til now. Thanks
Here what I've done.
i contacted Dish support and they sent me a new Joey3, but no help. Switched to a different HDMI input on TV, no help. Used different HDMI cable , no help. Used different electrical wall plug, no help.
Finally got a Dish tech to check it. He ran all systems check and was OK. Finally he brought in a small TV and plugged in the HDMI out from the Joey to the small TV. He could not get the problem to occur on his small TV, so the new Joey was working OK. So, then the problem must be myTV. He made some phone calls and came back with the answer that there must be a problem with the analog to digital switch in my TV. Has anyone ever heard of a problem like this, or is it time to be looking for a new TV? My tv LG OLED65C8PUA. TV has been trouble free til now. Thanks
6 Replies
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104 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
House of the Dragon, the prequel to Game of Thrones, premieres on HBO Max on 8/21. I will be warching
www.syfy.com
View: https://youtu.be/fNwwt25mheo
S~
'Game of Thrones' spinoff 'House of the Dragon' fires up release date at HBO, drops new character pics
The wait’s felt a little like watching for a dragon egg to hatch, but HBO’s hugely anticipated Game of Thrones prequel series finally has a release date. House of the Dragon will debut the first of its initial 10-episode season this summer, the network revealed today in a series of tweets that...
View: https://youtu.be/fNwwt25mheo
S~
39 Replies
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5650 views
