PBS10 Ch-8 zero signal

[faulkner]

(Wales) Installed a Radio Shack HD Antenna 15-2185 in my attic and receive all the Madison networks but can't pickup any hint of the seven Milwaukee PBS10 HD stations.  Using Dish 811 and meter says zero signal strength for 10-1 thru 10-7.  CBS 1-1, 1-2 level are also to low to lock.

I have a regular VFH/UHF antenna in the attic, that I've used for years, PBS10 HD comes in at 75+ using this antenna, but it doesn't pickup Madison stations.

Do you think the 15-2185 is defective?  Should I take it back and try another one?

Docs say 15-2185 does VHF 170mhz, but...

[faulkner]

Hay, TV gods, how about a reply here?  Is the RS antenna or built-in pre-amp bad?  I hooked both antennas together and ch10 HD drops out.   Acts like the RS amp is blocking the signal somehow.

[Todd Wiedemann]

Hay, TV gods, how about a reply here?

I think you're simply seeing a bit of holiday lag ...

That said, the Milwaukee stations are not all broadcasting at full power nor in the most optimal directional pattern.

Have you tried //www.antennaweb.org or //www.checkhd.com ?

Both are excellent resources for antenna and pre-amp selections as well as general antenna pointing resources.

IMHO, the HD signal to tune on is WTMJ-DT which is at analog slot 28.

See if you can get that and let us know ...

[faulkner]

Thanks, WTMJ 4-1 28D comes in well, Dish 811 reports 83 using the RS 15-2185.   But that's UHF,  my notes say WMVS PBS10 8D is sending on the VHF band.  What freq is 8D using?

I think there might be something wrong with the RS HD antenna, as the VHF channels come in less clear than on my 15 year old non-amplified antenna.

UGuide says 15-2185 20db gain:
VHF 58-88, 170-216 MHz
UHF 470-810 MHz
FM 88-108MHz

Too much gain?   Attenuation helps but when I get VHF looking good, UHF signal is too low to sync.  

As a side note: I'm getting very strong FM radio signal from WHAD WPR 90.7 Mhz, about a mile away, I have to install an FM trap between the 15-2185 and my Channel Master dist amp, otherwise the CM device overloads.

[John L]

To determine where WMVS-DT ch. 8 frequencies are just follow this link to the NTSC Standard Television Frequencies http://home.tampabay.rr.com/k4lk/info/ntscfreq.htm

WMVS-DT uses frequencies of 180 to 186 MHz.  WMVS-TV uses 192-198 MHz.

All the other DTV stations in Milwaukee are on Ultra High Frequency band of 470 to 890 MHz.

For instance WTMJ-DT uses 554 to 560 MHz.

But since they are transmitting a Digital Signal they don't use the entire 6 MHz bandwidth.  Only analog signals need and require the full 6 MHz band width.  Digital signals only use a small portion of the bandwidth.

-John L.

[faulkner]

Thanks for the great URLs.

I'm going to move my older antenna (unamplified VHF/UHF 6') to my roof top and mount it on a rotor.

Will let you know how this works out.

I wish someone would invent a rotor that's powered from the RG6 and uses an RF remote!

While I'm wishing, does anyone make an amp that balances channel signal strength.

[John L]

Well maybe not power the remote on the RG6 cable along with your signal, but how about the ability to turn on and turn off your amp.  I mean the amp is mounted on the antenna mast, right?  Course it is powered by a power supply in where your lead-in comes into either by the TV or in the basement before going into the spliter.  If they only had a relay in the amp and you can operate the power supply by your TV it would help.

I bet you are having some analog rf interference on ch. 8.  By removing the amp, its very possible then you might get WMVS-DT.

-John L.

[John L]

Originally posted by Jimboy
Huh? So why all the hard work by the ATSC to cram 19.39 MBps into 6Mhz?

Actually Jimboy, I'm not all an expert on this matter.  Since you do work at a TV station and operate these transmitters, feel free to tell us how a DTV signal is transmitted.  You mean the 6 MHz bandwidth is not enough for digital?  

I guess perhaps I was assuming that it covers only a small portion of it.  

I think of a DTV transmitter similar to a modem.  Assuming the data signals are same as what your computer transceives.

-John L.

[faulkner]

Old VHF/UHF antenna w/ new rotor installed 4' above chimney box. I'll be returning the Radio Shack HD antenna next week.

PBS Ch10 (8D) problem has been resolved, and as a bonus, Madison DTV channels are coming in well.

1.1 CBS Milw 65% [46.1]
1.2 IND Milw 64% [46.2]
3.1 CBS Mdsn 90%  
3.2 UPN Mdsn 90%
4.1 NBC Milw 91%
6.1 FOX Milw 58% [heavy raster]
10.x PBS Milw 84%
12.1 ABC Milw 88%
15.1 NBC Mdsn 85%
18.1 WB Milw 61%
21.x PBS Mdsn 92%
24.1 UPN Milw 63% [light raster]
27.1 ABC Mdsn 94%
36.x PBS Milw 92%
55.1 PAX Milw 78% [audio low]
57.1 WB Mdsn 83%

Thank you, for your help.