jaybee Posted June 1, 2013 Posted June 1, 2013 Damnit man. I dug out some un-used equipment out of my barn. A 20" HD TV, Radio Shacks top of the line unidirectional antenna (advertised at ~150 miles), a powered signal booster. RF cables etc...blah blah blah. Why you ask? Because I like watching the games and draining my 16 beers back in my barn...like I used to when analog signals ruled, and before they converted to digital. (prior to June, 09) . Plan was to install the antenna INSIDE the barn since outdoor antennas amoeba themselves out fairly quickly in wind storms. Something I've experienced over the years. Did some testing with the antenna on saw horses...about 3 feet high. I am supposed to get 26 channels here based on web research. Well...I get 25. AND THE ONE CHANNEL I CANNOT GET IS ROC CHANNEL 8....the one that carries the Bills games. My life is horrible. Thanks for listening.
San Jose Bills Fan Posted June 1, 2013 Posted June 1, 2013 My life is horrible. Thanks for listening. I'm VERYJEALOUS that you have a barn. So there's that.
BillsfaninMyrtleBeach Posted June 1, 2013 Posted June 1, 2013 If you have kids get them to stand on the saw horse (or the hayloft) and turn the antenna till it comes in. Then when it does have them hold it there during the game. Just get them a pizza or something, they'll be fine.......
Max997 Posted June 1, 2013 Posted June 1, 2013 Damnit man. I dug out some un-used equipment out of my barn. A 20" HD TV, Radio Shacks top of the line unidirectional antenna (advertised at ~150 miles), a powered signal booster. RF cables etc...blah blah blah. Why you ask? Because I like watching the games and draining my 16 beers back in my barn...like I used to when analog signals ruled, and before they converted to digital. (prior to June, 09) . Plan was to install the antenna INSIDE the barn since outdoor antennas amoeba themselves out fairly quickly in wind storms. Something I've experienced over the years. Did some testing with the antenna on saw horses...about 3 feet high. I am supposed to get 26 channels here based on web research. Well...I get 25. AND THE ONE CHANNEL I CANNOT GET IS ROC CHANNEL 8....the one that carries the Bills games. My life is horrible. Thanks for listening. Might want to try a couple different locations for the antenna or another antenna...think you can find a decent over the air HD antenna
jaybee Posted June 1, 2013 Author Posted June 1, 2013 Might want to try a couple different locations for the antenna or another antenna...think you can find a decent over the air HD antenna Yea man ! I did that this afternoon. I think its the location of the transmitter. I get EVERYTHING....even with the antenna laying on the ground. And....facing the wrong direction even. This is a brand new Tandy VHF / UHF / FM antenna. Its 15 feet long. The signal is blasting into the tube....except for channel 8. I was up on ladders etc....the whole deal. I DID get the signal with antenna outside at 10 feet. BUT...I know from experience this antenna wont stand up to the wind I get out here. Hence my desire to keep it out of the elements. Me gonna skin this cat if its the last thing I do ! They seem to win when I watch them in the barn so I really gotta make this happen. LOL ! Thanks. jb
BillsfaninMyrtleBeach Posted June 1, 2013 Posted June 1, 2013 Maybe you could build a copula on top of the barn to enclose the antenna from the wind?
boyst Posted June 1, 2013 Posted June 1, 2013 There are ways you can stretch wire out to the antenna to pick up more signal. In Toledo we would get Ft Wayne signals to watch the Colt games by stretching wire around the house with an antenna on top. I'm VERYJEALOUS that you have a barn. So there's that. I have 2... So there is that.
OhIDunno Posted June 1, 2013 Posted June 1, 2013 Yea man ! I did that this afternoon. I think its the location of the transmitter. I get EVERYTHING....even with the antenna laying on the ground. And....facing the wrong direction even. This is a brand new Tandy VHF / UHF / FM antenna. Its 15 feet long. The signal is blasting into the tube....except for channel 8. I was up on ladders etc....the whole deal. I DID get the signal with antenna outside at 10 feet. BUT...I know from experience this antenna wont stand up to the wind I get out here. Hence my desire to keep it out of the elements. Me gonna skin this cat if its the last thing I do ! They seem to win when I watch them in the barn so I really gotta make this happen. LOL ! Thanks. jb Well.... I wish you luck, if only for your life to not be horrible... And I too wish I had a barn to kick back in!
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted June 1, 2013 Posted June 1, 2013 Damnit man. I dug out some un-used equipment out of my barn. A 20" HD TV, Radio Shacks top of the line unidirectional antenna (advertised at ~150 miles), a powered signal booster. RF cables etc...blah blah blah. Why you ask? Because I like watching the games and draining my 16 beers back in my barn...like I used to when analog signals ruled, and before they converted to digital. (prior to June, 09) . Plan was to install the antenna INSIDE the barn since outdoor antennas amoeba themselves out fairly quickly in wind storms. Something I've experienced over the years. Did some testing with the antenna on saw horses...about 3 feet high. I am supposed to get 26 channels here based on web research. Well...I get 25. AND THE ONE CHANNEL I CANNOT GET IS ROC CHANNEL 8....the one that carries the Bills games. My life is horrible. Thanks for listening. 16 beers in 3and a half hours? That is some solid work. Any chance you can squint really hard by beer 12 and convince yourself it's the bills on tv? Be it another game, another sport or just static.
GG Posted June 1, 2013 Posted June 1, 2013 Try this guy for $10. When broadcasters switched to digital many also switched broadcast frequencies, so the old Ch. 8 may not be broadcasting on the old Ch. 8 band. Try the cheapie in the link. It's about the cost of a 12-pack.
The Wiz Posted June 1, 2013 Posted June 1, 2013 Try this guy for $10. When broadcasters switched to digital many also switched broadcast frequencies, so the old Ch. 8 may not be broadcasting on the old Ch. 8 band. Try the cheapie in the link. It's about the cost of a 12-pack. Also this website has help me in the past if you know what your doing. http://antennaweb.org/Stations.aspx?Address=&City=Rochester&State=NY&ZIP=14623&Housing=S&Accuracy=4&Height=6&Obstructed=False&StationList=&Lat=43.0915814&Lon=-77.6421577
San Jose Bills Fan Posted June 1, 2013 Posted June 1, 2013 If you have kids get them to stand on the saw horse (or the hayloft) and turn the antenna till it comes in. Then when it does have them hold it there during the game. Just get them a pizza or something, they'll be fine....... Now we're getting into Green Acres territory.
Nanker Posted June 1, 2013 Posted June 1, 2013 Well, here's a picture of their broadcast footprint. So, if you're located north of their transmitter - you could be plain out of luck. "Channel 8" is their virtual channel. Could be you'll find them on digital Channel 8.1 or 8.2. Then again, they could be on Channel 45 which is their broadcast channel. Could be. Just sayin'.
jaybee Posted June 1, 2013 Author Posted June 1, 2013 Well, here's a picture of their broadcast footprint. So, if you're located north of their transmitter - you could be plain out of luck. "Channel 8" is their virtual channel. Could be you'll find them on digital Channel 8.1 or 8.2. Then again, they could be on Channel 45 which is their broadcast channel. Could be. Just sayin'. Interesting. Thanks for this. I am indeed north of the transmitter. When I experimented with the antenna outdoors it did find (via a to d converter channel search) and receive channel 8.1 and 8.2...WROC. The signal just doesn't seem to be strong enough to be picked up within the confines of the barn. Its the only channel I cant get....and as luck would have it the one the Bills are shown on. I'll fart around with it some more and see what I can do. I dont see why the Bills cant be on channel 10 !!! Thanks everybody !
Just Jack Posted June 1, 2013 Posted June 1, 2013 I dont see why the Bills cant be on channel 10 !!! Because CBS has the rights to the Sunday afternoon AFC games, not NBC. http://www.ehow.com/about_4796056_nfl-broadcasting-rules.html
The Wiz Posted June 1, 2013 Posted June 1, 2013 Interesting. Thanks for this. I am indeed north of the transmitter. When I experimented with the antenna outdoors it did find (via a to d converter channel search) and receive channel 8.1 and 8.2...WROC. The signal just doesn't seem to be strong enough to be picked up within the confines of the barn. Its the only channel I cant get....and as luck would have it the one the Bills are shown on. I'll fart around with it some more and see what I can do. I dont see why the Bills cant be on channel 10 !!! Thanks everybody ! I'm not sure the quality of your barn but if it's nothing special(a **** shack) to you why not leave the antenna in the barn and cut a part of the wall (2'x3') out and stick up a piece of plexi. Not sure if the signal would be better or not but always another option.
Nanker Posted June 1, 2013 Posted June 1, 2013 Here's a nice article that speaks about digital tv transmission and the use of amplifiers. It may or may not help you if you don't get the signal at all. A quick google search produced this array of potential candidates. P.S. Warning: I know next to nothing about TV and digital broadcasting. I was intrigued by your question/plea, and am just trying to help. There are others here that know a lot more about electronics than I do. Good luck, and keep us posted.
CodeMonkey Posted June 1, 2013 Posted June 1, 2013 Here is a good one for pointing digital antennas. http://www.antennapoint.com/
jaybee Posted June 1, 2013 Author Posted June 1, 2013 I'm not sure the quality of your barn but if it's nothing special(a **** shack) to you why not leave the antenna in the barn and cut a part of the wall (2'x3') out and stick up a piece of plexi. Not sure if the signal would be better or not but always another option. Maybe so. Yup.....Its pretty much a sh*t shack as seen in the background here. Too busy planting today to get back to this activity today but I will get back to it. Some beautiful storms today BTW. Much appreciate ALL the replies of ALL you derelicts. And..YES, I will report back when I get this thing sorted out. Many thanks. jb
Greybeard Posted June 2, 2013 Posted June 2, 2013 Damnit man. I dug out some un-used equipment out of my barn. A 20" HD TV, Radio Shacks top of the line unidirectional antenna (advertised at ~150 miles), a powered signal booster. RF cables etc...blah blah blah. Why you ask? Because I like watching the games and draining my 16 beers back in my barn...like I used to when analog signals ruled, and before they converted to digital. (prior to June, 09) . Plan was to install the antenna INSIDE the barn since outdoor antennas amoeba themselves out fairly quickly in wind storms. Something I've experienced over the years. Did some testing with the antenna on saw horses...about 3 feet high. I am supposed to get 26 channels here based on web research. Well...I get 25. AND THE ONE CHANNEL I CANNOT GET IS ROC CHANNEL 8....the one that carries the Bills games. My life is horrible. Thanks for listening. Television broadcasting is basically line of sight. The curvature of the earth limits the distance you can receive the signal. So if you want to receive the signal, higher is better. Note that television antenna's are directional so you also have to point in the correct direction. Size/design also matters. When I first moved to Central NY in the 70's, the antenna route was the only way to go. I purchased the largest antenna I could get, and the Rochester signal was still intermittent. There are times you will get some skip and the signal will be better but it never seemed to happen during Bills games. As a side note, when the Bills sucked in the 70's, the games were carried in Syracuse rather infrequently.
Recommended Posts