What is the most sensitive tuner available?

[Comptech]

I know Amazon loves me know, have ordered four 4k sticks in the last week! I am wired, well wireless but you get the idea.

 

[Photog_7]

Channels is now my favorite DVR server. The instructions for integrating and combining various sources such as an HD Homerun tuner together with a subscription streaming service such as Philo are pretty vague and lack some important details. But the setup process is actually easy (once you figure it out). They call this integration of two sources "TV Everywhere", and you can look that up on Wikipedia.
Channels works GREAT and its DVR can record subscription channels like History Channel, Comedy Central, Sundance and AMC movies in addition to your OTA programming. The subscribed channels are right there in the guide just like the OTA channels. Note: Not every channel I receive with Philo was available for this "TV Everywhere" function. Among the missing were AXS and BBC World News, but most everything else is there and working well. And of course you can still watch ALL the channels on the Philo app, which can also record anything (but with the commercials).

 

[Photog_7]

By the way, our ATSC 3.0 lighthouse (WBSF) lit up promptly at 10am on this past Tuesday. Pretty flawless, and I now have 4 ATSC 3.0 channels scanned into Channels. All working fine, using a Raspberry Pi 4b I bought from Comptech as the dedicated server. I have a WD Elements 4Tb USB 3.0 drive that contains the image, and all the shares needed.

I also now have 1,181 .m3u streaming channels running, and they ALL have epg data! They are all also recordable, and it all works flawlessly, even though I'm STILL trying to figure out all the capabilities of Channels Dvr software. It's amazing, that's for sure.

View attachment 156141

I noticed Plex live TV on your source list in the picture you posted. Is this your source list for Channels DVR? I didn't see Plex offered as a provider in the Channels DVR provider list. I still have a lifetime subscription to Plex, and I'd love to be able to see and record the Plex live TV channels I get with my subscription. Is there a way to do that?

 

[primestar31]

I noticed Plex live TV on your source list in the picture you posted. Is this your source list for Channels DVR? I didn't see Plex offered as a provider in the Channels DVR provider list. I still have a lifetime subscription to Plex, and I'd love to be able to see and record the Plex live TV channels I get with my subscription. Is there a way to do that?

Yes, the .m3u file is maintained and hosted by a guy from New Zealand, including EPG for the Plex channels. In order to use it and be able to record, you'll need a Channels DVR server setup for it. Or, some other software capable of parsing .m3u files and epg .xml's

 

[comfortably_numb]

resurrecting this thread to ask the question originally posted, specifically, which HD Homerun device has the best/most sensitive tuner?

I currently have the "Extend" model and my 2012 Vizio's tuner is far better.

 

[primestar31]

resurrecting this thread to ask the question originally posted, specifically, which HD Homerun device has the best/most sensitive tuner?

I currently have the "Extend" model and my 2012 Vizio's tuner is far better.

The Extend uses Silicon Labs tuner modules. The 4k Flex models use MaxLinear tuner modules. My 4k Flex is much more sensitive than my Extend. It is possible to give them too MUCH signal, and overdrive it though. I have some coax attenuators on my Flex.

 

[comfortably_numb]

coax attenuators

I'm going to try a slightly larger yagi antenna and see if that improves things overall. If not I'll give this a try. What model do you use?

I don't THINK too much signal is the problem, because I get good readings when the coax comes directly from the antenna into the Extend with absolutely nothing in between. It's when I put the splitter in between to send the other signal to my TV that I have issues.

 

[primestar31]

I'm going to try a slightly larger yagi antenna and see if that improves things overall. If not I'll give this a try. What model do you use?

I don't THINK too much signal is the problem, because I get good readings when the coax comes directly from the antenna into the Extend with absolutely nothing in between. It's when I put the splitter in between to send the other signal to my TV that I have issues.

Amazon.com

HDHomeRun Flex 4K

There's no replacement for displacement. A larger antenna should give you a higher signal margin, and you need as much as you can get if you are splitting it. Conversely, you could also just use another antenna on the other tv set.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Amazon.com

HDHomeRun Flex 4K

There's no replacement for displacement. A larger antenna should give you a higher signal margin, and you need as much as you can get if you are splitting it. Conversely, you could also just use another antenna on the other tv set.

Thanks, but I mean which attenuators do you use?

 

[primestar31]

Thanks, but I mean which attenuators do you use?

You can stack them, as they are additive:

6dB Attenuator 5Mhz-3Ghz

Holland Electronics Attenuator series has been developed to meet the requirements and improve performance of CATV, Off-Air, SMATV, and other RF distribution systems. The FAM-6 in-line attenuator can be inserted in coaxial cable feeds to reduce signal leve

www.techtoolsupply.com

10dB Attenuator 5Mhz-3Ghz

Holland Electronics Attenuator series has been developed to meet the requirements and improve performance of CATV, Off-Air, SMATV, and other RF distribution systems. The FAM-10 In-line attenuator can be inserted in coaxial cable feeds to reduce signal lev

www.techtoolsupply.com

 

[arlo]

Butting in here. If you split the incoming signal with a 2-way. You will lose 3 dB, or 1/2 of your signal.
The Extend GUI should be able to show incoming signal strength. Probably not a too-much signal issue.
Especially if you aim your antenna off axis and lowering signal from the station you're aimed at makes things worse.
Not entirely sure if all of your stations are weak. Or if some blast in while others are weak.
In that case a mast mounted amplifier could definitely hurt things. But there are amps that allow tweaking signal per channel like the Televes line. My OTA reception is definitely way-way fringy. 90 bird miles from Buffalo. Using a Channel Master amp. I don't really watch too much though. FM stereo stations have to be listened to in mono or I get nasty 19 kHz hiss.

Attenuators. I have an old Archer VHF-UHF variable attenuator. Used it recently to test when my cable modem lost sync. A little off topic but the overhead hardline had a defect and when it got wet from rain, lost signal.
The ISP crew would boost signal at the node to compensate. Internet would be ok for a few days until the sun came out and the cable dried. Then too much signal would wipe out my broadband until they went up in the bucket again to lower signal strength. A year and a half, dude. Livid?
The lead tech knew the issue. They couldn't find the spot causing the signal degradation. AKA: too cheap to replace hardline. Anyway. Hope you get it aced. You can always return an amp if it doesn't help. In my case, one did.

 

[comfortably_numb]

I'm 14.8 miles from the towers, all of which are 10,300 feet up on top of a mountain. Normally you could probably pick them up with the screws on the back of your TV, but I live in a brutalist-style apartment complex built like a brick sh*thouse with 6-inch thick stucco walls. I'm on the second floor and my balcony is 17 feet up so that helps, but I'm aiming right into the wall of the building across from me. So that's my challenge.

 

[navychop]

Attenuators. I have an old Archer VHF-UHF variable attenuator. Used it recently to test when my cable modem lost sync. A little off topic but the overhead hardline had a defect and when it got wet from rain, lost signal.
The ISP crew would boost signal at the node to compensate. Internet would be ok for a few days until the sun came out and the cable dried. Then too much signal would wipe out my broadband until they went up in the bucket again to lower signal strength. A year and a half, dude. Livid?

May I interest you in StarLink?

 

[arlo]

If I was a smart guy I'd think that the stucco was put over expanded metal mesh. It won't be good.
That's a pretty compact antenna. 15 miles and direct line of sight, sure. Shooting through buildings even with a custom cut yagi for your intended frequency probably would give a bit of an improvement. An amp and considering you aren't getting multipath could help. Tried turning the antenna and looking at signal levels? Looking to see if the buildings might be reflecting RF?

A far shot. Me being me. In Fl, I was 70 miles from Tampa. Condo assoc. and antennas were a no-no.
Took an old mast mounted booster and some 300 ohm twin lead. When nobody next door was home I stapled a chunk of the twin perpendicular to Tampa and a few chunks of copper wire to the entry way. Stained the color of the wood. 2 directors, the twin lead running to the booster. And a chunk stapled behind for reflector. For a 4 element yagi. The jankiest, stealthiest yagi using Yagi Designer. It worked! Got FM radio crystal clear. Already had catv.

And....said it before. The redneck-stumpjumpers up here. Middle of the winter, home for the holidays.
Went to an old friends for the Buffalo game. Snow out the ying-yang. Drove up to a commotion. Friend yelling out of the window to another guy with a bare bed spring hoisted up a pine tree with a couple ropes. "Go up more". "Randy, turn it a little". Using the spring to snag more signal for the chimney mounted antenna.
Yeah. You're shaking your heads like I was. BS. But apparently it worked. We watched the game and got smashed in all sorts of ways....

Chopperdy-chop. Already turned a few on to it. A bed and breakfast in the boonies whose only option was Hughesnet.
Hunters come in, capped-out in 15 minutes. 2 years ago turned them onto Starlink. I'm the mesiah! They grunted at the initial startup cost and monthly. Prices went down. No snow issues unless it gets brutal out.
REC has fiber right out the door on the pole with my ISP hardline. It's a concept thing. It worked for 12+ years. Then didn't. Like the Ford with full factory warranty. Tail light out? Fix it already. Don't tell me to ditch it and drive across the street to the Honda dealer. Right?

 

[comfortably_numb]

My best bet is convincing the landlord to allow me to put it up on the flat roof on a non-penetrating mount. After I've been there a couple more months I'm going to ask.

 

[TRG]

My best bet is convincing the landlord to allow me to put it up on the flat roof on a non-penetrating mount. After I've been there a couple more months I'm going to ask.

You know the old saying. "It is easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission."

 

[comfortably_numb]

You know the old saying. "It is easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission."

True, and there's another guy in the building across from me with a big ass antenna up there, so I doubt they would ever even notice or care. Getting up there is going to be the hard part. Wanna come help? I can pay you in beer!

 

[TRG]

True, and there's another guy in the building across from me with a big ass antenna up there, so I doubt they would ever even notice or care. Getting up there is going to be the hard part. Wanna come help? I can pay you in beer!

I'm afraid my days of climbing ladders and midnight mischief are behind me. But I'm guessing there is probably a vent pipe up there that you could clamp your mast to. No need for a NPRM.