TV antenna question
 

Can I ask a tv antenna question here?

My satellite service does not include local channels. I have an indoor
antenna that if connected through the satellite receiver gives me very poor
reception. (Why?) If I connect the antenna directly to the TV, and not
through the receiver, the reception improves dramatically. However, this
requires having to manually connect and disconnect cables all the time.

Can you help?

Thanks.

Get an A-B Switchbox.
Rat Shack used to have remote control A-B Switchboxes.

TTUL
Gary


"eccos" verbositized:

Can I ask a tv antenna question here?

My satellite service does not include local channels. I have an indoor
antenna that if connected through the satellite receiver gives me very poor
reception. (Why?) If I connect the antenna directly to the TV, and not
through the receiver, the reception improves dramatically. However, this
requires having to manually connect and disconnect cables all the time.

Can you help?

Thanks.

See inserted text:

--
Crazy George
Remove N O and S P A M imbedded in return address
"eccos" wrote in message
y.com...
Can I ask a tv antenna question here?

My satellite service does not include local channels. I have an indoor
antenna that if connected through the satellite receiver gives me very
poor
reception. (Why?)

Well, it depends on where you are connecting the antenna. If you are
disconnecting the dish and plugging in the local antenna there, that input
is for a different frequency range and the signal is stray coupling. And,
it has DC on the jack, so you may damage the satellite receiver.

On the other hand, if the satelite receiver has an input for an off the air
antenna, then the receiver usually has to be off for this input to be
activated and passed to the receiver.

If the above is the case, and the signal doesn't come through with the
satellite receiver turned offf, then the internal diode switch in the
satellite receiver is damaged.


If I connect the antenna directly to the TV, and not
through the receiver, the reception improves dramatically. However, this
requires having to manually connect and disconnect cables all the time.

Gary's suggestion of an A - B switch is the simplest approach, while a
hands-off method is to find a satellite system dealer who still has some of
the "insertion couplers" which have an input for channel 3 or 4 from the
satellite system and another input for an antenna, and produces a combined
output for your TV set.


Can you help?

Thanks.

An A/B switch seems like the best bet. This assumes the antenna is 75 Ohms;
if not, you need a 300:75 Ohm transformer. I assume the sat receiver input
is also 75 Ohms. If you connect 300 Ohm twinlead to it, it won't work well.
How do you connect to the TV - F connector, or screw terminals? See if the
TV has 2 antenna inputs. A lot of newer TVs do. That would let you switch
sources using your regular remote control

Tam/WB2TT
"eccos" wrote in message
y.com...
Can I ask a tv antenna question here?

My satellite service does not include local channels. I have an indoor
antenna that if connected through the satellite receiver gives me very
poor
reception. (Why?) If I connect the antenna directly to the TV, and not
through the receiver, the reception improves dramatically. However, this
requires having to manually connect and disconnect cables all the time.

Can you help?

Thanks.

Your are powering off the satellite receiver when attempting to
receive local channels, right?

Pete

"eccos" wrote in message
y.com...
Can I ask a tv antenna question here?

My satellite service does not include local channels. I have an indoor
antenna that if connected through the satellite receiver gives me very
poor
reception. (Why?) If I connect the antenna directly to the TV, and not
through the receiver, the reception improves dramatically. However, this
requires having to manually connect and disconnect cables all the time.

Can you help?

Thanks.

" Uncle Peter" wrote in message
news:JUJHb.13181$WQ3.1404@lakeread05...
| Your are powering off the satellite receiver when attempting to
| receive local channels, right?

No, I usually don't. I simply unplug the receiving cable from the dish to
the tv, and plug the cable of the indoor antenna.

"Tarmo Tammaru" wrote in message
...
| An A/B switch seems like the best bet. This assumes the antenna is 75
Ohms;
| if not, you need a 300:75 Ohm transformer. I assume the sat receiver input
| is also 75 Ohms. If you connect 300 Ohm twinlead to it, it won't work
well.
| How do you connect to the TV - F connector, or screw terminals? See if the
| TV has 2 antenna inputs. A lot of newer TVs do. That would let you switch
| sources using your regular remote control

This is way over my head. Can you walk me through this?

How do I know if the antenna is 75 Ohms? What is a 300:75 Ohm transformer?

Thanks.

Ummmm, it would help if you were a little more careful with your
phraseology. The connections go: Dish - DSS box - TV, right?

Below, you write:
"I simply unplug the receiving cable from the dish to the tv,"
Which leaves out a relatively significant component. While all those cable
connectors are interchangeable, connecting the right cable to the right box
makes a difference, as you have observed.

Which DSS (what you call "dish") do you have? What are the cable connectors
on the rear labeled? Do you have the manual for it?

--
Crazy George
Remove N O and S P A M imbedded in return address
"eccos" wrote in message
y.com...

" Uncle Peter" wrote in message
news:JUJHb.13181$WQ3.1404@lakeread05...
| Your are powering off the satellite receiver when attempting to
| receive local channels, right?

No, I usually don't. I simply unplug the receiving cable from the dish to
the tv, and plug the cable of the indoor antenna.

"eccos" wrote in message
y.com...

" Uncle Peter" wrote in message
news:JUJHb.13181$WQ3.1404@lakeread05...
| Your are powering off the satellite receiver when attempting to
| receive local channels, right?

No, I usually don't. I simply unplug the receiving cable from the dish to
the tv, and plug the cable of the indoor antenna.

There should be a F connector on the receiver for a cable or TV antenna
input. The TV automatically is switched to this input when the receiver is
powered off.

Pete

eccos wrote:
How do I know if the antenna is 75 Ohms? What is a 300:75 Ohm transformer?

TV coaxial line is 75 ohms. TV twinlead is 300 ohms. 300 ohms is the
older standard for TVs that once had two antenna screw terminals.
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp



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"Crazy George" wrote in message
...
| Ummmm, it would help if you were a little more careful with your
| phraseology.

You are right. Sorry.

| The connections go: Dish - DSS box - TV, right?

Correct.

| Below, you write:
| "I simply unplug the receiving cable from the dish to the tv,"
| Which leaves out a relatively significant component. While all those
cable
| connectors are interchangeable, connecting the right cable to the right
box
| makes a difference, as you have observed.
|
| Which DSS (what you call "dish") do you have?

Dish Network



| What are the cable connectors on the rear labeled? Do you have the manual
for it?

No, I don't have a manual.

On the rear of the TV? There is only one connector, and it's labeled
ANTENNA, and to which a cable is connected that comes from the DDS receiver.
That connector on the rear of the receiver is labeled TV SET OUT. Let's
call this "scenario 1", where I switch my TV set to Channel 3, and from
there I can select the various programming available.

[I am a little afraid I am not explaining this properly, again. Please bear
with me.]

Now, the problem occurs when I connect a cable from the DDS receiver
(connector labeled TV ANTENNA/CABLE IN) to the TV (connector labeled
ANTENNA). I use a splitter to accommodate that makes the two connections I
just described. Let's call this "scenario 2," where I can view DDS
programming on Channel 3, or local TV station on other channels, say, 12,
18, 58, etc. Well, when I swith to these "other" channels, the reception is
poor. The reception improves dramatically if I remove the DDS connection to
the TV set, and connect to it a cheap indoor antenna.

Wheew. Does this make sense?

[You know, now that I just got done explaining this, I think I know what the
problem may be. In "scenario 1" I have no antenna help whatsoever. Whereas
in "scenario 2," however cheap, I have some antenna, and for this reason the
reception is better. Duh! If my assumption is correct, then the question
is how to add an indoor antenna to "scenario 1."]




|
| --
| Crazy George
| Remove N O and S P A M imbedded in return address
| "eccos" wrote in message
| y.com...
|
| " Uncle Peter" wrote in message
| news:JUJHb.13181$WQ3.1404@lakeread05...
| | Your are powering off the satellite receiver when attempting to
| | receive local channels, right?
|
| No, I usually don't. I simply unplug the receiving cable from the dish
to
| the tv, and plug the cable of the indoor antenna.
|
|
|
|

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 17:53:32 GMT, "eccos" wrote:

In "scenario 1" I have no antenna help whatsoever. Whereas
in "scenario 2," however cheap, I have some antenna, and for this reason the
reception is better. Duh! If my assumption is correct, then the question
is how to add an indoor antenna to "scenario 1."]

Hi OM,

Successful engineering consists of explaining the problem correctly
(because it is also the answer).

Connect your cheap antenna to the DSS connector labeled TV
ANTENNA/CABLE IN (which is an input, you were using it as an output)
and when you turn off the DSS, it should allow cable or antenna
signals through to be tuned by your TV. This means that the DSS acts
as the splitter you are trying to add to this problem.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

| Hi OM,
|
| Successful engineering consists of explaining the problem correctly
| (because it is also the answer).

Are you saying that I WAS able to get my point across (albeit somewhat
roughly)?
|
| Connect your cheap antenna to the DSS connector labeled TV
| ANTENNA/CABLE IN (which is an input, you were using it as an output)
| and when you turn off the DSS, it should allow cable or antenna
| signals through to be tuned by your TV. This means that the DSS acts
| as the splitter you are trying to add to this problem.

Thanks. Why didn't I think of that?

|
| 73's
| Richard Clark, KB7QHC

"Richard Clark" wrote in message
...
| On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 17:53:32 GMT, "eccos" wrote:
|
| In "scenario 1" I have no antenna help whatsoever. Whereas
| in "scenario 2," however cheap, I have some antenna, and for this reason
the
| reception is better. Duh! If my assumption is correct, then the
question
| is how to add an indoor antenna to "scenario 1."]
|
| Hi OM,
|
| Successful engineering consists of explaining the problem correctly
| (because it is also the answer).
|
| Connect your cheap antenna to the DSS connector labeled TV
| ANTENNA/CABLE IN (which is an input, you were using it as an output)
| and when you turn off the DSS, it should allow cable or antenna
| signals through to be tuned by your TV. This means that the DSS acts
| as the splitter you are trying to add to this problem.
|
| 73's
| Richard Clark, KB7QHC

Richard,
I tried your suggestion, and I get damn near perfect reception. Wow!
Thanks again.

On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 14:52:09 GMT, "eccos" wrote:


Richard,
I tried your suggestion, and I get damn near perfect reception. Wow!
Thanks again.


Hi OM,

Give yourself more credit. Like I said, the answer is usually in the
question when you put your mind to it. You were already on the trail.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

"Richard Clark" wrote in message
...
| On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 14:52:09 GMT, "eccos" wrote:
|
|
| Richard,
| I tried your suggestion, and I get damn near perfect reception. Wow!
| Thanks again.
|
|
| Hi OM,
|
| Give yourself more credit. Like I said, the answer is usually in the
| question when you put your mind to it. You were already on the trail.
|
| 73's
| Richard Clark, KB7QHC

Forgive the ignorance, but what's OM?

"eccos" wrote in message
y.com...

"Richard Clark" wrote in message
...
| On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 14:52:09 GMT, "eccos" wrote:
|
| Richard,
| I tried your suggestion, and I get damn near perfect reception. Wow!
| Thanks again.
|
| Hi OM,
|
| Give yourself more credit. Like I said, the answer is usually in the
| question when you put your mind to it. You were already on the trail.
| 73's
| Richard Clark, KB7QHC

Forgive the ignorance, but what's OM?


Ham Speak! "Old Man" an title of respect!

wrote in message
...
| On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 00:34:44 GMT, "Roger Gt"
| wrote:
|
|
| "eccos" wrote in message
| gy.com...
|
| "Richard Clark" wrote in message
| ...
| | On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 14:52:09 GMT, "eccos" wrote:
| |
| | Richard,
| | I tried your suggestion, and I get damn near perfect reception.
Wow!
| | Thanks again.
| |
| | Hi OM,
| |
| | Give yourself more credit. Like I said, the answer is usually in the
| | question when you put your mind to it. You were already on the
trail.
| | 73's
| | Richard Clark, KB7QHC
|
| Forgive the ignorance, but what's OM?
|
|
| Ham Speak! "Old Man" an title of respect!
|
|
| Also a merchant marine abbreviation for a ship's Master.

My kids call me "old fart." So this is a tremendous improvement.