Temecula
Valley
reception is weak, the components below are
critical!
Antenna - Pre-Amp
- Mast Rotator |
 |
Converter Box locate the vendors
BestBuy
Stores
Get a
$40 discount Coupon
Pay as little as $20 for the D/A box.
HDTV converter boxes are higher
in cost and required for HD quality.
A
box will be require by "everyone" with
old TV's using a antenna. |
| Coming
soon. . . the more compact
VHF/UHF channel 7- 51 60+ mile fringe
antennas for 2009 |
 |
DB8
Multidirectional HDTV
Antennas-Direct $119
DB8 MCM
Antennas-Direct $94New
DB8 Redesigned for 2009 - Now 22% higher net gain!
This is the best
antenna for our fringe valley area that I have
found.
I hope to report back with more info. Our
channels are above Ch-14. |
 |
AntennaCraft MXU37
UHF TV Antenna Maxus 37 Electronic Elements
Directional Fringe Outdoor Television Signal
Rooftop Local Digital HDTV Reception
Range 60 mile
This is similar to what I
use - mine is the front of a
Radio Shack VU-190XR.
|
 |
AntennasDirect 91XG Terrestrial Digital Long-Range Directional This high performance UHF antenna has a higher gain and a smaller beam angle than conventional Yagi antennas.
$99
Our channels are
above Ch-14.
Antenna recommended - courtesy of Alan F. of
Newsgroup alt.tv.tech.hdtv
|
| Mast
Mounted Pre-Amps are a Must! |
 |
Radio Shack
TV/HDTV/VCR/FM Antenna-Mounted
High-Gain Signal
Pre-Amplifier
Model: 15-2507 Catalog #:
15-2507 $59.99
Currently I use this RS VHF/UHF pre-amp which may work
better for the future 2009 channels 7- 51. Our
most possible channels are above Ch-14.
|
 |
Channel Master 7775
Titan 2 UHF Preamplifier
High Gain Mast
Mount Pre-Amplifier 26 db gain $47.95 |
| Antenna
rotators are recommended for remote fine
adjustment for the different channels. |
 |
Channel Master 9521A
Antenna Rotator "Remote Control" Automatic
System Rotor Complete 9521-A Remote with IR Head
Controller, Outdoor Off Air Signal Finder, 117
Volt 60 Hz, Part # CM9521 $79.99
<= The
9521A is better than the M61415 below because it
has a hand remote control that you can use from
your sofa, a nice feature for fringe areas.
|
|
Radio Shack
Magnavox M61415 Automatic Antenna Rotator
Model: M61415 |
Catalog #: 55019282 $89.95
<= Currently I use this
one but would prefer the 9521A above. |
Not
all areas of Temecula Valley receive a strong enough signal
to use Mount Wilson!
If your DTV signal is usable this can be a savings of over a $1000
a year. With no cable or satellite account you can now rent or
buy your favorite movies with tremendous
savings.
More on the
subject below soon:
A measurement of the TV
signal strength for Mount Wilson would be wise before
you begin this project.
You must have a view to the NW looking towards Corona,
CA. How
is TV signal strength measured?
A crude method of checking for a signal in
your location is with a simple UHF hoop antenna and finding any
weak analog channel broadcast from Mount Wilson, try for
a snowy analog channel 56? Digital channels won't show any indication of their
presence on the old standard TV analog channel tuner. A
good outdoor antenna and mast mounted amplifier will
then surprise you with many more channels.
| Analog
& Digital UHF Channels that are currently possible to receive as of
05.20.08
|
| (Every
"A" analog channel has the potential of dividing into 5 digital channels) |
| 4-1 |
KNBC |
HD |
strong signal |
| 4-2 |
|
D |
strong signal
- All gray channels will move between channels 7
- 51 |
| 4-3 |
|
D |
strong signal |
| 7 |
|
|
|
| 9-1 |
|
HD |
|
| 12 |
KUSI |
A |
always
available - out of San Diego |
| 22 |
|
A |
|
| 24-4 |
|
D |
|
| 27 |
KZSW |
A |
always
available - out of Hemet |
| 28 |
KCET |
A |
weak |
| 28-1 |
KCET |
HD |
medium
signal |
| 28-2 |
|
D |
medium
signal |
| 28-3 |
|
D |
medium
signal |
| 34 |
|
A |
|
| 34-1 |
|
D |
strong signal |
| 42-3 |
|
D |
|
| 42-4 |
|
D |
|
| 44 |
|
A |
|
| 46 |
|
A |
|
| 50-1 |
KOCE |
D |
weak signal |
| 50-2 |
|
D |
weak signal |
| 50-3 |
|
D |
weak signal |
| 50-4 |
|
D |
weak signal |
| 51 |
|
|
|
| 52 |
|
A |
|
| 56 |
|
A |
Endless
classics - Cheers, Happy Days, etc. |
| 58 |
|
A |
|
| 60-1 |
KCBS |
D |
All
gray channels will move between channels 7 - 51 |
| 62 |
|
A |
|
| A =
Analog |
D =
Standard Digital |
E =
Enhanced Digital |
HD
= High Definition |
-
| Links:
Excellent info on
off - air digital reception |
alt.tv.tech.hdtv |
| HDTVexpert
- Antenna - VHF- UHF Antennas Compared |
Tantalust |
| UltimateAVmag.com -
There's HDTV In Them Thar Hills |
Tantalust |
| UltimateAVmag.com -
Antenna Comparing |
klaatu |
| DTV
Answers - Television as we know it is about
to change |
|
| UHF propagation
- Long-haul UHF television reception |
|
| TV
Fool - Calculate the most likely channels
and their direction from your location |
|
| AntennaWeb
- Calculates distance and direction of your
channels |
|
Higher
humidity above 60% & a barometer pressure above 30
in. is better. I use Corona,
CA as a reference which is in the middle of our
reception path/distance. At your current time of
day use these measurements to determine the conditions
of good signal strength. Reception improves the higher
the humidity and barometer pressure. Sundown to sunrise seems to be the best time for our
Mount Wilson UHF
reception in Temecula Valley.
What
weakens the TV signal in the fringe areas of
Temecula Valley varies:
* The large distance to where the signal is
transmitted from, Mount Wilson is about 75 miles away!
* Having a nearby hill blocking the
direction toward Mount Wilson is the worst case scenario.
* Buildings and trees will absorb or block the weak signal
completely.
* The southwest side of Hancock in Murrieta avoids the large
hill running behind Clinton Keith.
* A thick low marine layer of clouds reduces or cancels good
reception of the signal.
* Sun solar flare activity can also play havoc on the
signal reception, it will peak in 2011.
* Most of the UHF signals travel south down the I-15 Freeway
corridor.
* A weak signal between you and Mount Wilson can have sporadic
dropouts due to atmospheric changes.
* Weak digital signals display a pixel breakup on the screen,
no sound or worse yet complete drop out.
* Analog signals
display snow in the picture and worse, complete loss of
the signal.
* Some days reception over the air will be completely
unusable or unreliable.
|
Disclaimer:
I cannot guarantee the results you will have in
your location. Every location has it's own
characteristics that influence reception. There
may be days the over all reception becomes more
frustrating than the expectation you had hoped
from your investment. The purpose
of my webpage is to reveal the components I have found that work the best from my own
experience in
receiving Digital UHF TV signals in the fringe
reception of Temecula Valley.
You must have a clear view towards the NW looking towards Corona,
CA.
|
If you try digital reception using a UHF antenna I
would enjoy knowing your location and posting your
experience. Send your email to: christopher
Last
Update 06.20.08
