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Cheapass DIY HDTV Antennas

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usrlocal
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« on: July 14, 2014, 09:32:41 pm »

So my latest non-gaming obsession is to pull in free OTA HDTV signals. I picked up a cheap KWorld UB435-Q USB TV tuner from TigerDirect that has a coaxial connector for the antenna. The crappy little antenna that came with it can only pull in two local HD digital stations (I'm in Montreal). So, I made a gnarly coffee can antenna that looks a hell of a lot like this (not my pic):



Literally, this required a coffee can, two wood screws, a 300-75 ohm matching transformer (otherwise known as a balun) that I bummed off a neighbour, and some aluminum foil. This baby can pull in 10-11 stations (depending on orientation) including stations from Vermont (PBS and a really cool classics station called WMETV).

I think the next thing I'm going to try is a 'fractal antenna' made out of aluminum foil that I can hang in my upstairs window - that baby supposedly rocks!

The cool thing is that my Win7 box connected to the tuner/antenna can act as a PVR. Right now I'm just using the KWorld software that came with the tuner (Windows MediaCenter won't talk to the tuner for some reason), but I'm looking into XBMC as an alternative.

This box is connected to my (wired) LAN that also has a Drobo-FS NAS (currently with about 6 TB storage) and my Sony Bravia HDTV connected to it. Recorded shows get stored on the Drobo that then serves them up to the Bravia via a MiniDLNA server (the TV speaks DLNA). So far this is working great!!

Ultimately, I might go for a HD Homerun box and a roof-mounted antenna.

Anyone else doing crazy **** like this?

« Last Edit: July 15, 2014, 07:17:32 am by usrlocal » Report Spam   Logged

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egg_salad
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« Reply #1 on: July 14, 2014, 09:40:54 pm »

I've been doing OTA using Windows Media Center as a PVR for 4 years.  I have a cheap antenna and get 10-15 channels, which is plenty.  Works great.

Cable bill $$ => wargames.  Smiley
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« Reply #2 on: July 14, 2014, 09:42:06 pm »

Oh yeah I get crazy. Well, $20 to Amazon for an HDTV antenna crazy.
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« Reply #3 on: July 14, 2014, 09:44:27 pm »


Cable bill $$ => wargames.  Smiley

Amen to that. I recently restructured my Internet and phone services and am saving about $100/month. Never did get cable TV - I always thought it was horribly overpriced. Between Netflix and now OTA HDTV, I have more than I need.
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« Reply #4 on: July 14, 2014, 09:49:14 pm »

I've got the opposite problem -- so much RF power that any antenna (from a naked coax plug to fairly directional indoor things) would pick up multipath signals and be unreadable.   Ultimately found that a terminated and shielded cable killed the gain sufficiently.

(One cluster of antennas is at an elevation angle of about 30 degrees, and the other cluster is only at 10 degrees elevation, 60 degrees azimuth from the first, with clear LOS to both (but significant obstructions near the LOS).)
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« Reply #5 on: July 14, 2014, 09:50:21 pm »

I've got the opposite problem -- so much RF power that any antenna (from a naked coax plug to fairly directional indoor things) would pick up multipath signals and be unreadable.   Ultimately found that a terminated and shielded cable killed the gain sufficiently.

(One cluster of antennas is at an elevation angle of about 30 degrees, and the other cluster is only at 10 degrees elevation, 60 degrees azimuth from the first, with clear LOS to both (but significant obstructions near the LOS).)

Remember, if you check LOS you have to fire.. or something something..
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usrlocal
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« Reply #6 on: July 14, 2014, 09:54:20 pm »

I've got the opposite problem -- so much RF power that any antenna (from a naked coax plug to fairly directional indoor things) would pick up multipath signals and be unreadable.   Ultimately found that a terminated and shielded cable killed the gain sufficiently.

Where are you living? On top of the Empire State Building?
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« Reply #7 on: July 14, 2014, 09:56:47 pm »

I've got the opposite problem -- so much RF power that any antenna (from a naked coax plug to fairly directional indoor things) would pick up multipath signals and be unreadable.   Ultimately found that a terminated and shielded cable killed the gain sufficiently.

Where are you living? On top of the Empire State Building?

Popcorn just pops on its own, too
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« Reply #8 on: July 14, 2014, 09:59:21 pm »

Where are you living? On top of the Empire State Building?

Pretty much: River North in Chicago, under 1/2 mile to Hancoc k and under 2 miles to Sears Tower.
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« Reply #9 on: July 14, 2014, 10:00:20 pm »

Where are you living? On top of the Empire State Building?

Pretty much: River North in Chicago, under 1/2 mile to Han**** and under 2 miles to Sears Tower.

That would do it.   
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« Reply #10 on: July 14, 2014, 11:07:15 pm »

Wish I could cut my internet bill.

Runs me 70/month, which is insane - especially since I'm always getting throttled
at the end of the month for over-usage.
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« Reply #11 on: July 14, 2014, 11:36:05 pm »

Every time I have tried to cut cable my wife shoots down the idea. She doesn't like change and refused to talk about HDTV antennas or switching to streaming. I think we pay $160 a month for cable and internet. That's like three games!
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Meh.
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