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Started By
Message
Cut the cord and can't get CBS on my antenna.
Posted on 8/21/14 at 11:16 pm
Posted on 8/21/14 at 11:16 pm
I have tried a couple of different in door antennas. Both have signal booster and a range that should be well enough to pick up the station. The first was a mohu leaf knock off made by Amazon, and the other is a Mohu Cure 50. Ultimately it may be a line of site issue, but I'm really wary of trying to rig something on my roof.
Is my best bet to stream football games through the CBS sports page or app? Is this possible through the Internet browser on an Xbox 360 or WiiU?
Is my best bet to stream football games through the CBS sports page or app? Is this possible through the Internet browser on an Xbox 360 or WiiU?
6
Posted on 8/21/14 at 11:35 pm to Bmath
Just rig something on your roof..problem solved
Posted on 8/21/14 at 11:37 pm to Johnny4lsu
Not really sure how to run the cord.
Posted on 8/21/14 at 11:39 pm to Bmath
Have you confirmed via antennaweb or a similar website that you should be able to catch CBS?
If it's a LOS issue, it should be solved by:
1) Using a coupler an long coax to stretch the antenna to your driveway/backyard/etc or
2) Moving the tuning device (tv, most likely) and antenna to a different room for temporary testing to see if the problem is rectified. Putting the antenna in the attic may also be a choice. similar to 1. If neither of these work, a gamble for a strong indoor antenna would be to build your own. True FCC ratings of antennae are only available on outdoor ones, if I'm not mistaken, so you're really rolling the dice on every indoor antenna you consider if you need probably a "yellow" or greater distinction.
If it's a LOS issue, it should be solved by:
1) Using a coupler an long coax to stretch the antenna to your driveway/backyard/etc or
2) Moving the tuning device (tv, most likely) and antenna to a different room for temporary testing to see if the problem is rectified. Putting the antenna in the attic may also be a choice. similar to 1. If neither of these work, a gamble for a strong indoor antenna would be to build your own. True FCC ratings of antennae are only available on outdoor ones, if I'm not mistaken, so you're really rolling the dice on every indoor antenna you consider if you need probably a "yellow" or greater distinction.
Posted on 8/22/14 at 12:10 am to Hopeful Doc
Yes, I checked several websites, and the nearest station is about 35 miles. Another at about 40 miles in another direction. I was able to get it weakly when mounting high up on a window, but my wife killed that idea quickly. It really seems that trying to figure out how to run it through the attic will be the best bet. However, my attic is really more of a crawl space, and I feel like this would be quite difficult for someone with little experience.
Posted on 8/22/14 at 12:28 am to Bmath
Well, couple of options. For one, your antennae are basically discrete ones that aren't necessarily built for phenomenal reception so much as integration into the visible living room, which is fine, usually, but in this case, isn't cutting it. If this is for watching games, mount the son of a gun up high on a window for the game, and explain to the wife that it will go back later.
A second option is to possibly buy/build a better antenna. The problem is that they're unsightly and will pretty much need to be placed outside, so it's really against what you want.
Are there cable outlets in the house? If so, get up in the attic and check where the cable comes in. If you're lucky, it will come into a splitter box, and the antenna can be plugged right into that box. It probably won't be, though. To run your own coax to your TV should be simple enough if coax is already there: You find the cable that runs to the outlet near your TV in the attic. Go back downstairs, undo the jack. Tie your new coax (with more length than you anticipate needing) to the old one, place the untied in in the jack and pull while your wife watches and yells/pulls if you get close to pulling the jack through the wall. It's a one-time experience that will last about 15-30 minutes. It's probably going to suck- it's hot outside. You'll likely not have power up there and will have to forgo the amplifier, but it shouldn't matter much. If you're still getting a poor signal, a fancier antenna as described above can be stashed in the attic with no dirty looks from the wife. Your cable will have already been run, too.
ETA:
You're really on the edge of what you'll be able to catch at 40 miles. A directional antenna is recommended. Since you did get weak signal (please clarify: Was it watchable?) with the window-mount, the attic mount may work fine. Upping to a stronger multi-directional antenna may work fine. It's also possible that you have to mount an outdoor antenna to catch the channel in a viewable fashion, unfortunately.
A second option is to possibly buy/build a better antenna. The problem is that they're unsightly and will pretty much need to be placed outside, so it's really against what you want.
quote:
However, my attic is really more of a crawl space, and I feel like this would be quite difficult for someone with little experience
Are there cable outlets in the house? If so, get up in the attic and check where the cable comes in. If you're lucky, it will come into a splitter box, and the antenna can be plugged right into that box. It probably won't be, though. To run your own coax to your TV should be simple enough if coax is already there: You find the cable that runs to the outlet near your TV in the attic. Go back downstairs, undo the jack. Tie your new coax (with more length than you anticipate needing) to the old one, place the untied in in the jack and pull while your wife watches and yells/pulls if you get close to pulling the jack through the wall. It's a one-time experience that will last about 15-30 minutes. It's probably going to suck- it's hot outside. You'll likely not have power up there and will have to forgo the amplifier, but it shouldn't matter much. If you're still getting a poor signal, a fancier antenna as described above can be stashed in the attic with no dirty looks from the wife. Your cable will have already been run, too.
ETA:
quote:
about 35 miles. Another at about 40 miles in another direction
You're really on the edge of what you'll be able to catch at 40 miles. A directional antenna is recommended. Since you did get weak signal (please clarify: Was it watchable?) with the window-mount, the attic mount may work fine. Upping to a stronger multi-directional antenna may work fine. It's also possible that you have to mount an outdoor antenna to catch the channel in a viewable fashion, unfortunately.
This post was edited on 8/22/14 at 12:31 am
Posted on 8/22/14 at 1:28 am to Hopeful Doc
The weak signal was really grainy. It may have come in better if I were able to point the antenna. However, it was a flat mount flush to the wall. Not really any way to shift the angle.
Posted on 8/22/14 at 1:29 am to Bmath
quote:
However, it was a flat mount flush to the wall. Not really any way to shift the angle.
Right. An omnidirectional antenna and a directional antenna are two different things. What I'm hinting at is that you may just have insufficient equipment, unfortunately.
ETA: Sheesh. I sound like my own girlfriend
This post was edited on 8/22/14 at 1:30 am
Posted on 8/22/14 at 6:27 am to Hopeful Doc
The FCC allows any homeowner the right to extend an antenna as high as twelve feet above the top roofline of their home. Just get one of these, a pole, a rooftop tripod mount, some coax cable and connectors and you'll be good to go.
Posted on 8/22/14 at 6:56 am to Bmath
Is your internet through your old cable company? If so, have you tried to if you can still pick up basic channels?
Posted on 8/22/14 at 7:46 am to Hopeful Doc
quote:
Right. An omnidirectional antenna and a directional antenna are two different things. What I'm hinting at is that you may just have insufficient equipment, unfortunately.
This is why I bought the curve, but if it really is a strength or line I site issue then I figured my only hope was going in the attic. Just trying to avoid the risk of heat stroke or being impaled by roofing nails.
Posted on 8/22/14 at 7:48 am to LSUsmartass
quote:
Is your internet through your old cable company? If so, have you tried to if you can still pick up basic channels?
I had DSL and Directv. I now have cable Internet, but no cable TV. Are you suggesting I hook the coax up to my tv to see what happens? It might give it a shot later.
Posted on 8/22/14 at 7:58 am to Bmath
You need a better antenna. I tried the all the Mohu at first but then went with a "real" antenna on the roof. No problems now.
Just watch how many times you split the signal and the length of your run.
Just watch how many times you split the signal and the length of your run.
Posted on 8/22/14 at 8:04 am to Bmath
quote:
I now have cable Internet, but no cable TV
quote:
Are you suggesting I hook the coax up to my tv to see what happens?
Cox internet comes with basic channels...
Posted on 8/22/14 at 8:41 am to Bmath
For TV while camping, I've tried a lot of antennas. So far, nothing beats my Silver Sensor. Not even the powered antenna of the camper. Get something that looks like this,
Posted on 8/22/14 at 8:46 am to HubbaBubba
The antenna HubbaBubba shows is a good antenna! I added one in the attic before Directv added HD locals and picked up everything within 30-40 miles without any problems.
Posted on 8/22/14 at 9:48 am to Bmath
quote:
Is my best bet to stream football games through the CBS sports page or app
I have used this option in the past and the quality is always very good. Not sure if the 360 or WiiU will allow you to do that as I've never attempted it.
Posted on 8/22/14 at 12:01 pm to Bmath
Yes, plug the coax straight into the tv and see what happens, you'll have to test the coax that is running to your modem because with you previously having directv there is no guarantee that the cable coax is wired to all rooms.
If you find that you do get basic channels from the internet coax it is now just a matter of climbing in the attic and splitting the cable to the rooms you want.
If you find that you do get basic channels from the internet coax it is now just a matter of climbing in the attic and splitting the cable to the rooms you want.
Posted on 8/22/14 at 12:09 pm to Bmath
best indoor ones (such as Radioshack UFO antenna) are discontinued.
Try Terk HDTVa. They still sell them and it works well according to a guy at avsforum who tested hundreds of antennas.
Try Terk HDTVa. They still sell them and it works well according to a guy at avsforum who tested hundreds of antennas.
Posted on 8/22/14 at 12:48 pm to Phat Phil
quote:
best indoor ones (such as Radioshack UFO antenna) are discontinued.
Try Terk HDTVa. They still sell them and it works well according to a guy at avsforum who tested hundreds of antennas.
All these things are hugely YMMV. The unamplified Terk HDTVa didn't work at all for me, and even using its supplied amp, the bulky thing was still much worse than the unamplified Winegard FlatWave. In BR, the FlatWave is like magic for all but CBS, which is notorious for its shitty lower-power antenna. I just use it as backup for when the cable goes out, and I gave up on trying to find an orientation that works for all the channels. WAFB just won't cooperate.
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