I am sure I am not alone with having a hard time picking up HD local's. In the room where I have my tv I have tried every inch of space that I could fit an antenna into. I am always faced with picking the channels that are most imporant. Some times I can pick up Fox,NBC and ABC but then can't get CBS etc. So Is there a device that would allow me to connect like 2 or more antenna's to it then send it to the tv in one feed? I know they make a box that you can send one antenna into and it will split it into 6 or 8 different outs. If anyone knows of something like I want plese help becasue I really don't know what to search for.
Having more than one antenna?
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Channel Master makes a device called a jointenna. You'll need one on the same freq as your CBS channel. You then connect the CBS antenna to its bandpass input (blocks all freqs but CBS) and your other antenna to the "all channels" input (passes all channels but CBS), then connect the jointenna's output to your receiver.
They cost about $30 for UHF channels.. a little less for VHF channels.
Since they only make single-channel jointennas, you have to have one for each additional antenna beyond the one that gets most of your stations... In my case, I only had one channel that was in a different direction than my local "transmitter farm," so I only needed one jointenna. Also, VHF channels are not as directional as UHF, so you should be able to get your VHF channels with the "all channels" antenna, regardless of orientation.
If you have more than one channel in a direction that's different from where most of your transmitters are, you'll need an additional antenna and jointenna for each, even if 2 of them come from the same direction (becuase jointennas are only made for 1 channel).
Jointennas can really add up $$$ if you need several, but are the only way to have unattended (DVR-friendly) reception of channels in muliple directions.
You can order them from warrenelectronics, and they require a 2-3 week turnaround, as they are custom built.
They cost about $30 for UHF channels.. a little less for VHF channels.
Since they only make single-channel jointennas, you have to have one for each additional antenna beyond the one that gets most of your stations... In my case, I only had one channel that was in a different direction than my local "transmitter farm," so I only needed one jointenna. Also, VHF channels are not as directional as UHF, so you should be able to get your VHF channels with the "all channels" antenna, regardless of orientation.
If you have more than one channel in a direction that's different from where most of your transmitters are, you'll need an additional antenna and jointenna for each, even if 2 of them come from the same direction (becuase jointennas are only made for 1 channel).
Jointennas can really add up $$$ if you need several, but are the only way to have unattended (DVR-friendly) reception of channels in muliple directions.
You can order them from warrenelectronics, and they require a 2-3 week turnaround, as they are custom built.
I have heard of people having success with multiple antennas for ATSC signals. It wraks havoc with NTSC.
What are the channels and in what compass heading.
what are you planning to do...and why
what is your zipcode.
the only problem with the jointennas is that it cuts down signal 5 channels either side of the channel you order...so you need to be careful with them.
what are you planning to do...and why
what is your zipcode.
the only problem with the jointennas is that it cuts down signal 5 channels either side of the channel you order...so you need to be careful with them.
I was told that as well by several folks when I was first looking into jointennas. I think CM has recently refined their design. I have a ch 32 jointenna, and it works as advertised with ch 30 on the "all channels" input. If it was attenuating 5 channels out, my channel 30 reception would be badly degraded, but I still get a high-90's signal for it - oh, and it passes 32 from my dedicated 32 antenna, just like it was direct-connected, so loss is minimal ther as well. Perhaps one channel seperation (trying to get 32 and 31) would not work.. I think I read somewhere that they are spec'd for one channel seperation on UHF, and no channel seperation on VHF.Rick0725 said:
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UHF JOIN-TENNA® (will pass VHF)
A JOIN-TENNA for each UHF channel
Effective channel trap and blocks out interfering channels (more than 5 channels away)-20dB attenuation
VHF JOIN-TENNA® (will pass UHF)
8 models-CH 6 to 13
Effective channel trap-20dB attenuation
Do not use to trap channels adjacent to the ones you desire.
do not use these often for more than 1 ch. ...can anyone clarify this for us?
I called channel master technical last week about a similar issue and they said there were no electronics they were aware to handle multiple channels.
A JOIN-TENNA for each UHF channel
Effective channel trap and blocks out interfering channels (more than 5 channels away)-20dB attenuation
VHF JOIN-TENNA® (will pass UHF)
8 models-CH 6 to 13
Effective channel trap-20dB attenuation
Do not use to trap channels adjacent to the ones you desire.
do not use these often for more than 1 ch. ...can anyone clarify this for us?
I called channel master technical last week about a similar issue and they said there were no electronics they were aware to handle multiple channels.
Rick, looks like we were both right. The 5 Channel seperation is true for the VHF channels, with one channel seperation for the UHF channels, hence my success with using a channel 32 jointenna to get 32 of a dedicated antenna and 30 off my "all channel" antenna. I was wrong, however, about the seperation on the VHF channels, which I thought was adjacent, but is actually 5.
I had looked into a jointenna that would pass multiple channels as well, but, as you say, they are not made. On Channel Master's website, they do show a multiple jointenna setup though. To do it you connect your dedicated antennas each to a jointenna, then the "all channel" antenna to one of those jointennas, and that jointenna's output to the second joitnenna's "all channel" input. Here's the diagram from CM's website showing this application: http://www.channelmaster.com/images/CouplerApps.gif my intepretation is you could string together as many as you need, depending on the number of channel-dedicated antenna you would need.
I could see it getting rather crazy in some cases. My in-laws, for example, live smack-dab in the middle of three different DMA's. Some stations on some of the markets are closer than others, so to get the signal from the closest of each of the networks, they'd probably need 4 antennas, with 3 of them dedicated (each with a jointenna) to "off axis" stations.
I had looked into a jointenna that would pass multiple channels as well, but, as you say, they are not made. On Channel Master's website, they do show a multiple jointenna setup though. To do it you connect your dedicated antennas each to a jointenna, then the "all channel" antenna to one of those jointennas, and that jointenna's output to the second joitnenna's "all channel" input. Here's the diagram from CM's website showing this application: http://www.channelmaster.com/images/CouplerApps.gif my intepretation is you could string together as many as you need, depending on the number of channel-dedicated antenna you would need.
I could see it getting rather crazy in some cases. My in-laws, for example, live smack-dab in the middle of three different DMA's. Some stations on some of the markets are closer than others, so to get the signal from the closest of each of the networks, they'd probably need 4 antennas, with 3 of them dedicated (each with a jointenna) to "off axis" stations.
First off I live in the Milwaukee Wisconsin area
Second off we already have 2 satellites from E on the roof so having an attenna join them is out of the question.
Last off I just wanted a easy way for me maybe to put a whole bunch a antenna's in the attic so I can have perfect singnal for all my local channels! I wanted something that would be easy and on the cheaper side, but like that first post said I can buy one for $30... Kind of on the high side
Also the zip code is 53150 I have a Terk (old crappy) antenna, but still picks up good for the most part. I had a Radio shack antenna I picked up and it workes better but I needed that for the big screen.
Thanks for the help!
And to be honest I am just sick and tired of this digital antenna crap. I set up my antenna one day and every channel is in the 70's and then the next day I don't get any or some are gone and the antenna has never moved. I have spent an entire day in my room trying to find a great spot for it, but there is never any luck. It is just driving me nuts.
Second off we already have 2 satellites from E on the roof so having an attenna join them is out of the question.
Last off I just wanted a easy way for me maybe to put a whole bunch a antenna's in the attic so I can have perfect singnal for all my local channels! I wanted something that would be easy and on the cheaper side, but like that first post said I can buy one for $30... Kind of on the high side
Also the zip code is 53150 I have a Terk (old crappy) antenna, but still picks up good for the most part. I had a Radio shack antenna I picked up and it workes better but I needed that for the big screen.
Thanks for the help!
And to be honest I am just sick and tired of this digital antenna crap. I set up my antenna one day and every channel is in the 70's and then the next day I don't get any or some are gone and the antenna has never moved. I have spent an entire day in my room trying to find a great spot for it, but there is never any luck. It is just driving me nuts.
That may explain your problem !!
One GOOD Antenna is better than a "Bunch of Antennas " in the Attic !
When I get involved with something like this, I use separate lines with an a-b-c switch...if they do not want to use a rotor.
Rotors are not that much of a burden...folks usually do not like them if the are heavy into tivo or like you say...choosing between dma's with users trying to receive them on different sets at the same time.
thanks for pointing out the jointenna issue to me...I do not like to give bad info and its good to know the minute details sometimes.
Maybe I will invent a device that will allow like 8 different antennas to be hooked into it and it will auto switch between the antennas depending what station you are flipping to!
I think I could make some money off that
At least if no one else bought it I would have something for myself that would work great!!
I think I could make some money off that
At least if no one else bought it I would have something for myself that would work great!!
thats a great idea...sort of a fancy programable multiswitch for off air antennas.
But what we are talking here approaches the complexity of a cable head end ...for the local channels.
You are a genious.
Maybe its time...how a beer solved our reception problems.
But what we are talking here approaches the complexity of a cable head end ...for the local channels.
You are a genious.
Maybe its time...how a beer solved our reception problems.
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dougruss said:
Well you see thats a good antenna but what if your stations, but I can still see that being a problem if channels are coming in at different locations where a moving antenna can't even pick them up.
Customgamer1 said:
OK, I am from the same area. With $1.50 splitter I combined two OTA antennas, ChannelMaster 4228 ($40 at local Marmax store at 76&Rawson, $20 Menards antenna, coneected antenna outputs to outputs of the splitter, input from the spltter goes to the TV). Both antennas are installed in the attic. With this setup I get most Chicago HD OTA (70 miles, 150 degees) and all Milwaukee HD OTA (18 miles, 27-37 degrees).
Cobining OTA works for me fine
Omnidirectional antennas do not work well. I tried one, since my stations come from multiple directions, and it did not work. All stations were degraded, even ones that I could pickup with an indoor terk HDTVa were not able to be received by an OUTDOOR RS amplified Omnidirectional antenna.
Maybe if you're in the middle of the transmitter farm and all the towers are within 10 miles of your home, but in differnt directions, an omni would work.
Maybe if you're in the middle of the transmitter farm and all the towers are within 10 miles of your home, but in differnt directions, an omni would work.
Minsk1 said:OK, I am from the same area. With $1.50 splitter I combined two OTA antennas, ChannelMaster 4228 ($40 at local Marmax store at 76&Rawson, $20 Menards antenna, coneected antenna outputs to outputs of the splitter, input from the spltter goes to the TV). Both antennas are installed in the attic. With this setup I get most Chicago HD OTA (70 miles, 150 degees) and all Milwaukee HD OTA (18 miles, 27-37 degrees).
Cobining OTA works for me fine
If your stations are close to 180 degrees apart and you properly connect two antenna together, you may have the success that Minsk1 mentioned without a jointenna. When you combine antenna this way, you mayhave to expirement with balun/transformer connection to ensure their polarities match.
100% correct. Just to clarify what it means. If you will not get a signal after you initially setup antennas (use compass for orientation!), then disconnect and flip wires for one of the antennas. You will get a signal after that (if you can get a signal).jrfuda said:
Thats interesting.... To sum it up all I need is a splitter, 2 antennas and a cable? Becasue I have all that? but there must be something I am missing. And I am not up to speed with all the fancy equipment thats needed. So a like or something would always be nice!
