Budget OTA in Kenosha

[Cheesehead Dave]

With football season starting and still no CBSHD for D* users, I finally bit the bullet and installed an OTA antenna over the weekend. My AM21 came earlier in the week, so that was all set to go; my task was to decide on what sort of antenna I wanted.

I decided to start out by going budget and getting a small, cheap directional outdoor model from Radio Shack. That way, if it didn't work, I could easily return it before buying one online. I went with this one which was only $30, not including the tripod and mast.

I assembled it the evening before, then decided to aim it northwards (357-359°) and plug it in inside the family room, just to see what would happen. even though I'm over 30 miles away from the antenna farm, I got a great signal, even though I was inside and at ground level.

It went up easily the next day, and at about 30' above ground, not only was this directional, unamplified, UHF-only antenna picking up all the Milwaukee stations with ease (including VHF WMVS) but I was also picking up all the Chicago stations at 171° that are over 50 miles away.

FTR, I live along Green Bay Road in Kenosha, just a little south of Parkside.

Total costs:
Antenna: $30
Tripod: $35
Mast: $22
Cable: $20
Twin lead to coax converter: $6
AM21: $50

Total cost for great-looking HD: $163

[jeaves79]

Do you have a lot of trees on your lot?  My problem is the west and southwest side of my lot is bordered with trees.

[Cheesehead Dave]

None that are blocking the view of the antenna in either direction.

[basshive]

Awesome! What chicago locals are you getting specifically?

Does the AM-21 allow for displaying locals from 2 locations in the guide? ie, can you see the Milwaukee and Chicago channels in the guide?

[Cheesehead Dave]

To answer the second question, yes, you are given the option to enter a zip code for a secondary market. I entered 60064 and up came the Chicago stations.

I'd have to double check which ones I'm getting. There's a bank of stations whose towers are 170° from me (almost due south which I suppose means I'm getting them off the back side of my antenna). I do recall that I'm at least getting 5, 7, 9, 11, and 32. I think 2 is still VHF, so no WBBM for me, and I can't get 26 (WCIU) either.

[John L]

With football season starting and still no CBSHD for D* users, I finally bit the bullet and installed an OTA antenna over the weekend.

Total costs:
Antenna: $30
Tripod: $35
Mast: $22
Cable: $20
Twin lead to coax converter: $6
AM21: $50

Total cost for great-looking HD: $163

Now that you did all that, I suppose D* will surprise you by next week!

Its the way the World Goes Around I guess.

[basshive]

Cheesehead Dave,

Yeah I knew about being able to enter the secondary zip. I guess I was hoping I could enter 2 locations for OTA.  One will suffice though and get the other locals via D.  Once it stops raining I am going to trench my OTA cable to the house from outside. Although the ground is nice and soft right now!!

[troyriley]

The Radio Shack antenna is probably the most underrated antenna I know of. I spend some time at another forum and the antenna "experts" will tell you that a $30 antenna is useless, and you need to spend $100 for a decent antenna.

I have a question about the AM 21 tuner. Are you limited to two markets in your channel list? Right now I have the Dish 722, where I can add any channel I can receive. If I switched to DirecTV, would I be able to tune into stations beyond two markets I choose (more than one secondary market)?

[Cheesehead Dave]

Now that you did all that, I suppose D* will surprise you by next week!

Its the way the World Goes Around I guess.

If they do, they do. While my main goal was getting 58 in HD, my secondary goal was to be able to pull in some of the Chicago stations as well. when the time comes that I'm satisfied with what D* is carrying out of Milwaukee, I'll probably just spin the antenna around and point it at Chicago so I get a stronger signal from there.

[Cheesehead Dave]

The Radio Shack antenna is probably the most underrated antenna I know of. I spend some time at another forum and the antenna "experts" will tell you that a $30 antenna is useless, and you need to spend $100 for a decent antenna.

I have a question about the AM 21 tuner. Are you limited to two markets in your channel list? Right now I have the Dish 722, where I can add any channel I can receive. If I switched to DirecTV, would I be able to tune into stations beyond two markets I choose (more than one secondary market)?

There was no option to add a third market. If I lived close enough to attempt to try to pull in stations from Madison or from across the lake, I don't have that option other than to go into the antenna settings and change my secondary market zip code, but that's more annoying than it's worth.

I suppose one could always split the antenna cable and hook it straight up to the TV and change channels from there. You wouldn't be able to record the extras on the DVR, but at least you'd have the option of viewing them.

[John L]

If they do, they do. While my main goal was getting 58 in HD, my secondary goal was to be able to pull in some of the Chicago stations as well. when the time comes that I'm satisfied with what D* is carrying out of Milwaukee, I'll probably just spin the antenna around and point it at Chicago so I get a stronger signal from there.

Yes being in Kenosha I would think Chicago should come in better than Milwaukee.  WBBM-DT which BTW transmits their signal on ch. 3 should come in better than WDJT-DT on ch. 46.  On Feb. 17th WBBM-DT will flashcut to ch. 12.

Here in Muskego I always get WFLD-DT and WPWR-DT OTA all the time. WGN-DT comes in when the wind is right.