Posts that follow are in most recent order first

Update: 7 September 2009

After we returned home from vacation earlier this summer, we were pleasantly surprised to finally be getting Channel 6 (KRMA, local PBS Station). I had actually forgotten that we were on this antenna for the last month or so, and was surprised when we started getting occasional dropouts, as the signal levels were quite high. Surprised, because we had deer and elk wandering around the antenna is the early evening, as evidenced by their occasional piles of "gifts" near the antenna. I had thought they would be staying away from this, but apparently not!

The ground mounted VHF/UHF antenna was even picking up (occasionally) Channel 11, which is supposed to be in Colorado Springs (through the house, too much loss, didn't make sense). But, that's what the FCC told me. I am more suspicious that someone has a "home" HD transmitter that they have connected to their satellite system. There are never any commercials for local companies, no station ID, not even the little logo in the right hand corner as so many stations are doing now. Where can I get me one of those? I'd love to have a movie that I could broadcast to my other TV's without re-configuring my entire set-up to use the RF output. Decent signal level, but not too good, and very sporadically on the air (no signal all the time).

I performed an investigation for one of my friends, taking over to his home my smaller UHF antenna, and the converter and TV. When I Google-Earth'ed him, he is about 500 feet below the hilltop north (location of the local stations), and 700 feet below the hills to the south (Colorado Springs). We were both pleasantly surprised that he could get almost all of the local Denver stations, even Channel 4 (KCNC - my nemesis for reception). So, he is in the process of installing a mast and rotator, and I've lent him the VHF/UHF antenna. Well, that's a bummer for us, because that is the best antenna of the bunch, and allows us to receive Channel 4 with no problems, and decent signal strength.

I'm thinking of installing the smaller antenna at ground level, and trying a comparison with the roof mounted antenna. If is IS multi-path causing most of the troubles, then I'll take the roof mounted antenna down and place it in the ground mounted position. If that works very well, then I'll likely make a small accommodation with my friend, and he can keep the antenna. If the experiment fails, though, I'll get a new mast and mount the antenna at the north side of the house, where the reception is the best.

Update: 21 June 2009

The main problem with Channel 4 (UHF 35) is probably a multi-path issue that the antenna on the ground does not have. The signal is pretty good on the 8-bay antenna; I can likely shift the antenna (rotate it) slightly, or increase its height and change the multi-path. But for right now, it'll work fine. When the heavy snows come, though, I wonder what kind of reception we'll get.

I've hooked up the 8-bay into the set of splitters we use for distribution in the house. So now, each receptor has it's own connection to the splitters. I do have an amplifier in-line with the antenna (following a couple of FM traps to remove the FM broadcast station about 2 miles away). Without the amplifier, reception on KCNC is marginal.

I think what I'll end up doing is getting the Channel Master 4-way powered splitter, adding about 4 dB of gain for each channel and see how that works.

I'll only do that after the final analog signals are fully off of the air. Right now both KCNC and KRMA are broadcasting for 30 days to tell people they are not analog any more, but digital.

I've heard very little about how the transition is going, either locally or nationally. Any information or links would be appreciated. Send e-mail to bill @ this domain.

More information on KRMA (PBS station, UHF CH 18):

For a while I was on the distribution for comments regarding both PBS stations KRMA and KTSC (Colo Springs) and their digital transition. What it looks like (and I emphasize - "looks like") is that the delay in getting the transmitter site approved (lawsuit over the antenna) coupled with the recession and drop in funding resulted in the transmitter they need for full power to not be ready in time.

Also, the actual transmit antenna would appear to be not-yet-installed, as the talk also was around the antenna location being shielded from many viewers (located on the "ice bridge" below the ridge line, effectively shielding us from any signal at all). So, until August 2009, when they say they'll have the transmitter installed and the new antenna coupled in, we'll get PBS only from KBDI.

That is unfortunate, because the two stations complement each other's offerings. Until the DTV transition, we never really viewed KBDI because the signal was so weak. Now, though, they are coming in great!

Hmmm, guess who's going to get my contribution to their operations.

Update: 16 June 2009

The switch has occurred and things are "different". First off, the old VHF/UHF antenna that has been stuck on a pole about 3 feet off the ground well below the trees turns out to be best antenna for reception. I get all the HDTV stations I expected to get, and channel 4 (UHF 35) is pretty darn good. But the 8-bay Channel Master signal for Channel 4 is much lower in signal level, and that antenna is in the clear.

Don't know why, except that the 8-bay might be affected by multi-pathing, while the ground mounted antenna is less susceptible, as it gets all kinds of reflections from the trees/forest it's looking through.

Update: 18 April 2009

The switch has partially occurred, but all the problems are not solved.

What I didn't realize from the FCC data was that the stations, once switching to digital, would return to their original channel assignments (more or less). Ergo the statement in the TV stations ads about the switch "You'll need to re-scan your converter box".

Some more digging has revealed that KBDI (Ch. 12, currently UHF 38) will return to VHF channel 13 on the transition date in June. It would appear that the Squaw Mountain transmitter site will remain, and they will increase power by 40%. But, their website is very unclear.

KRMA (Ch. 6, currently UHF 18) will increase power on May 12 by 3x, and on June 12, will begin transmitting digital on VHF Ch 8. What is still unclear is whether they are currently transmitting at the Morrison Mountain location at 315 kW, or from the Republic Tower in downtown Denver. If the latter, it explains why I can't receive them at all. If the former, then I don't understand why I'm not getting at least something!

And, I now have 3 different kinds receivers (4 converters/DTV's), all of which have been re-scanned in the last two days. KRMA doesn't show on any of them.

I've also come to the conclusion that during the transition period, I really have no idea what power level some of these stations are using. So, not getting the signal may not be all my problem.

And, since we've had over two feet of snow here, and the trees are totally covered, and it is still snowing heavily, the signal levels have dropped way down. And, again, the amplifier does no apparent good.

I'm also finding that some of the cheap Radio Shack devices (such as the FM traps) are easily damaged and become intermittent. So, I'm stuck with some stuff that may/may-not work, and no good way to find out.

Update: 09 April 2009

The local high-power analog stations of KTVD and KUSA are switching to digital only on April 16. That probably means I get a chance to try the amplifier and the two-antenna set-up I've been unable to use earlier than I had thought.

Update: 7 March 2008

Well, the non-switch to HD is kind of a bummer, but for many people, it appears to be a delay (at best) of the inevitable. On June 12, I don't believe people will be ready in any case.

I have been experimenting with a dual-antenna set-up, feeding a single cable, then splitting things out to separate TV's in the house. I have replaced the 4-bay antenna with an 8-bay antenna, and now have the 4-bay pointed to a separate transmitting site 60 degrees off of the rest of the transmitting antennas. Now, I can pick up channel 12 (KBDI) and some other stations. But, I still have the big boomer (KTVD CH 20) to worry about. The amplifier did not help; it actually hurt, either on the dedicated antenna, or when connected to both antennas.

However, for now, at least, I can get one of the Public broadcasting stations in town in HD. But the results are mixed.

While able to get KBDI-DT, it has negatively affected reception on the previously solid KUSA. So, I futzed with the pointing of this secondary antenna. KBDI disappeared. Apparently, the location of the antenna, basically at ground level deep in the trees, is sufficiently marginal to require more precise pointing. My intent is to house mount the antenna, then bring a separate cable into the house so I can amplify/split the signal as needed,

Right now, I have both UHF antennas feeding a splitter, single cable to another splitter that then distributes the signal to the 3 receivers in the house.

More work to be done over the next several weeks.