How to you point a roof antenna?
I don't know - BUT - wouldn't you install a motor to turn the antenna so it
could be adjusted to several signal sources? K. "New Question" wrote in message ... Here is a standard roof antenna: http://www.ktielectronics.com/channe...ge_antenna.htm Which end of the antenna is supposed to be pointed in the direction of the signal source? The left end (the end with the the longests elements) or the right end (the end with the shortest elements)? |
How to you point a roof antenna?
I don't know - BUT - wouldn't you install a motor to turn the antenna so it
could be adjusted to several signal sources? K. "New Question" wrote in message ... Here is a standard roof antenna: http://www.ktielectronics.com/channe...ge_antenna.htm Which end of the antenna is supposed to be pointed in the direction of the signal source? The left end (the end with the the longests elements) or the right end (the end with the shortest elements)? |
How to you point a roof antenna?
"New Question" wrote in
: Here is a standard roof antenna: http://www.ktielectronics.com/channe...ge_antenna.htm Which end of the antenna is supposed to be pointed in the direction of the signal source? The left end (the end with the the longests elements) or the right end (the end with the shortest elements)? Think of the end with the small elements and the "open mouth"of elements as trying to eat the signal. In otherwords, the small elements point to the signal source. |
How to you point a roof antenna?
"New Question" wrote in
: Here is a standard roof antenna: http://www.ktielectronics.com/channe...ge_antenna.htm Which end of the antenna is supposed to be pointed in the direction of the signal source? The left end (the end with the the longests elements) or the right end (the end with the shortest elements)? Think of the end with the small elements and the "open mouth"of elements as trying to eat the signal. In otherwords, the small elements point to the signal source. |
How to you point a roof antenna?
On Fri, 15 Aug 2003 21:05:27 GMT, "Patch"
wrote: "New Question" wrote in message .. . Here is a standard roof antenna: http://www.ktielectronics.com/channe...ge_antenna.htm Which end of the antenna is supposed to be pointed in the direction of the signal source? The left end (the end with the the longests elements) or the right end (the end with the shortest elements)? The short elements (UHF) goes to the front. Look at some of your neighbors antennas to see what direction to aim it. You may have to fine tune it's direction a bit. If you go to www.antennaweb.org, it will give you compass bearings for all the stations you can receive. Then it's a simple matter of getting up on the roof with a compass and accurately pointing the antenna per the compass. dickm |
How to you point a roof antenna?
On Fri, 15 Aug 2003 21:05:27 GMT, "Patch"
wrote: "New Question" wrote in message .. . Here is a standard roof antenna: http://www.ktielectronics.com/channe...ge_antenna.htm Which end of the antenna is supposed to be pointed in the direction of the signal source? The left end (the end with the the longests elements) or the right end (the end with the shortest elements)? The short elements (UHF) goes to the front. Look at some of your neighbors antennas to see what direction to aim it. You may have to fine tune it's direction a bit. If you go to www.antennaweb.org, it will give you compass bearings for all the stations you can receive. Then it's a simple matter of getting up on the roof with a compass and accurately pointing the antenna per the compass. dickm |
How to you point a roof antenna?
"dicko" wrote in message
... If you go to www.antennaweb.org, it will give you compass bearings for all the stations you can receive. Then it's a simple matter of getting up on the roof with a compass and accurately pointing the antenna per the compass. Where can I purchase an inexpensive compass for doing this? The compasses I've seen on the internet appear to indicate the following: South: 0 degrees West: 90 degrees North: 180 degrees East: 270 degrees Is it possible to just look at my approximate location on a map and estimate the correct direction to point the antenna in, based upon the direction of the particular stations the I use the most? |
How to you point a roof antenna?
"dicko" wrote in message
... If you go to www.antennaweb.org, it will give you compass bearings for all the stations you can receive. Then it's a simple matter of getting up on the roof with a compass and accurately pointing the antenna per the compass. Where can I purchase an inexpensive compass for doing this? The compasses I've seen on the internet appear to indicate the following: South: 0 degrees West: 90 degrees North: 180 degrees East: 270 degrees Is it possible to just look at my approximate location on a map and estimate the correct direction to point the antenna in, based upon the direction of the particular stations the I use the most? |
How to you point a roof antenna?
Frankly the idea of pointing the antenna towards the source signal, is
not the best real life solution. In real life the signal is often bounced around so much that by the time it gets to you the best direction (strongest signal and least amount of ghosting) may be much different. I suggest taking a guess and then get back off the roof and check it out. Then go back and try moving it. A few ups and downs and you should have what works best for you. You neighbor may need a different direction. Good Luck -- Joseph E. Meehan 26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math "New Question" wrote in message ... Here is a standard roof antenna: http://www.ktielectronics.com/channe...ge_antenna.htm Which end of the antenna is supposed to be pointed in the direction of the signal source? The left end (the end with the the longests elements) or the right end (the end with the shortest elements)? |
How to you point a roof antenna?
Frankly the idea of pointing the antenna towards the source signal, is
not the best real life solution. In real life the signal is often bounced around so much that by the time it gets to you the best direction (strongest signal and least amount of ghosting) may be much different. I suggest taking a guess and then get back off the roof and check it out. Then go back and try moving it. A few ups and downs and you should have what works best for you. You neighbor may need a different direction. Good Luck -- Joseph E. Meehan 26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math "New Question" wrote in message ... Here is a standard roof antenna: http://www.ktielectronics.com/channe...ge_antenna.htm Which end of the antenna is supposed to be pointed in the direction of the signal source? The left end (the end with the the longests elements) or the right end (the end with the shortest elements)? |
How to you point a roof antenna?
In alt.home.repair on Fri, 15 Aug 2003 19:19:46 -0400 "Colbyt"
posted: Where can I purchase an inexpensive compass for doing this? The compasses I've seen on the internet appear to indicate the following: South: 0 degrees West: 90 degrees North: 180 degrees East: 270 degrees That seems strange. Have you tried turning your monitor upside down. Is it possible to just look at my approximate location on a map and estimate the correct direction to point the antenna in, based upon the direction of the particular stations the I use the most? I think that is a good start, although the transmitter is very often not at the same location as the studio. I think you want someone at the tv watching, with an intercom (finally something to use the speakerphone on your cordlss phone for) who can look at all the stations each time you move the antenna a bit, and find the best compromise. Maybe if you are in Kansas there is nothing to cause a ghost in any station, but I think most places there are tall buildings (don't have to be as tall as the transmitter, just think think of a triangle within bigger triangle with the same angles, with one corner in the same place.) that can cause ghosts. Turning the antenna a bit may get rid of them, or cause other improvements. I had a rotator on one of attic antennas, which I used for years, and unless it was bad and could be made good, rotating seemed like a lot of work each time I watched a different station. I ended up leaving it in one place. Of course all my hard to get stations were in or near DC, about 40 or 50 miles from my house, so they were all in roughly the same direction. I think I paid $2 for a 360 degree one at Wally World (Wal*Mart). I agree. What could a cheap compass do? Point north but not quite north? If it only has a needle, where else could the magnet be? Maybe if it a whole circle they could somehow assemble it wrong. Anyhow you can verify it by gettting away from steel buildings, determining which direction north is, and seeing what the compass says. Even before you buy it, you can check them out. They have to be separated, maybe a foot apart. But if 4 point in one direction and 1 points in another, don't buy the one. You can do this before you buy a thermometer or an sand-filled egg timer too. Visit the site dicko posted, if you know your zip code you are done. Meirman If emailing, please let me know whether or not you are posting the same letter. Change domain to erols.com, if necessary. |
How to you point a roof antenna?
In alt.home.repair on Fri, 15 Aug 2003 19:19:46 -0400 "Colbyt"
posted: Where can I purchase an inexpensive compass for doing this? The compasses I've seen on the internet appear to indicate the following: South: 0 degrees West: 90 degrees North: 180 degrees East: 270 degrees That seems strange. Have you tried turning your monitor upside down. Is it possible to just look at my approximate location on a map and estimate the correct direction to point the antenna in, based upon the direction of the particular stations the I use the most? I think that is a good start, although the transmitter is very often not at the same location as the studio. I think you want someone at the tv watching, with an intercom (finally something to use the speakerphone on your cordlss phone for) who can look at all the stations each time you move the antenna a bit, and find the best compromise. Maybe if you are in Kansas there is nothing to cause a ghost in any station, but I think most places there are tall buildings (don't have to be as tall as the transmitter, just think think of a triangle within bigger triangle with the same angles, with one corner in the same place.) that can cause ghosts. Turning the antenna a bit may get rid of them, or cause other improvements. I had a rotator on one of attic antennas, which I used for years, and unless it was bad and could be made good, rotating seemed like a lot of work each time I watched a different station. I ended up leaving it in one place. Of course all my hard to get stations were in or near DC, about 40 or 50 miles from my house, so they were all in roughly the same direction. I think I paid $2 for a 360 degree one at Wally World (Wal*Mart). I agree. What could a cheap compass do? Point north but not quite north? If it only has a needle, where else could the magnet be? Maybe if it a whole circle they could somehow assemble it wrong. Anyhow you can verify it by gettting away from steel buildings, determining which direction north is, and seeing what the compass says. Even before you buy it, you can check them out. They have to be separated, maybe a foot apart. But if 4 point in one direction and 1 points in another, don't buy the one. You can do this before you buy a thermometer or an sand-filled egg timer too. Visit the site dicko posted, if you know your zip code you are done. Meirman If emailing, please let me know whether or not you are posting the same letter. Change domain to erols.com, if necessary. |
How to you point a roof antenna?
In alt.home.repair on Fri, 15 Aug 2003 16:16:11 -0500 dicko
posted: On Fri, 15 Aug 2003 21:05:27 GMT, "Patch" wrote: "New Question" wrote in message . .. Here is a standard roof antenna: http://www.ktielectronics.com/channe...ge_antenna.htm Which end of the antenna is supposed to be pointed in the direction of the signal source? The left end (the end with the the longests elements) or the right end (the end with the shortest elements)? The short elements (UHF) goes to the front. Look at some of your neighbors antennas to see what direction to aim it. You may have to fine tune it's direction a bit. If you go to www.antennaweb.org, it will give you compass bearings for all the stations you can receive. Then it's a simple matter of getting up on the roof with a compass and accurately pointing the antenna per the compass. This is great. You should probably give them your street address, or you next door neighbor's ( :) ), it changed the reading for my local stations by 18 degrees, and for the dc stations by 1 degree. And I'm centrally located in my zipcode when looking towards DC, not so when looking to my city. BTW, the numbers used are standard, afaik. O is north, 90 is east, etc. This is interesting. To save the data, I selected it with the cursor and copied it to an 80 column area, a new Eudora email. Every line wrapped. The third time I used Cntl-A to highlight it all. None of the lines wrapped. Much easier to read, no fiddling necessary. dickm Meirman If emailing, please let me know whether or not you are posting the same letter. Change domain to erols.com, if necessary. |
How to you point a roof antenna?
In alt.home.repair on Fri, 15 Aug 2003 16:16:11 -0500 dicko
posted: On Fri, 15 Aug 2003 21:05:27 GMT, "Patch" wrote: "New Question" wrote in message . .. Here is a standard roof antenna: http://www.ktielectronics.com/channe...ge_antenna.htm Which end of the antenna is supposed to be pointed in the direction of the signal source? The left end (the end with the the longests elements) or the right end (the end with the shortest elements)? The short elements (UHF) goes to the front. Look at some of your neighbors antennas to see what direction to aim it. You may have to fine tune it's direction a bit. If you go to www.antennaweb.org, it will give you compass bearings for all the stations you can receive. Then it's a simple matter of getting up on the roof with a compass and accurately pointing the antenna per the compass. This is great. You should probably give them your street address, or you next door neighbor's ( :) ), it changed the reading for my local stations by 18 degrees, and for the dc stations by 1 degree. And I'm centrally located in my zipcode when looking towards DC, not so when looking to my city. BTW, the numbers used are standard, afaik. O is north, 90 is east, etc. This is interesting. To save the data, I selected it with the cursor and copied it to an 80 column area, a new Eudora email. Every line wrapped. The third time I used Cntl-A to highlight it all. None of the lines wrapped. Much easier to read, no fiddling necessary. dickm Meirman If emailing, please let me know whether or not you are posting the same letter. Change domain to erols.com, if necessary. |
How to you point a roof antenna?
In alt.home.repair on Fri, 15 Aug 2003 17:30:49 -0400 "New Question"
posted: "dicko" wrote in message .. . If you go to www.antennaweb.org, it will give you compass bearings for all the stations you can receive. Then it's a simple matter of getting up on the roof with a compass and accurately pointing the antenna per the compass. Where can I purchase an inexpensive compass for doing this? The compasses I've seen on the internet appear to indicate the following: South: 0 degrees West: 90 degrees North: 180 degrees East: 270 degrees I think this is because, when the numbers are written on the bottom of the chamber and all that rotates is the needle, this would be wrong. But when there is a disk that rotates, the labelling on the disk has to be different from the labeling on the bottom of the chamber, or it doesn't work. Anyhow, your numbers might work out on a compass with a disk, but otherwise they are wrong. Is it possible to just look at my approximate location on a map and estimate the correct direction to point the antenna in, based upon the direction of the particular stations the I use the most? Meirman If emailing, please let me know whether or not you are posting the same letter. Change domain to erols.com, if necessary. |
How to you point a roof antenna?
In alt.home.repair on Fri, 15 Aug 2003 17:30:49 -0400 "New Question"
posted: "dicko" wrote in message .. . If you go to www.antennaweb.org, it will give you compass bearings for all the stations you can receive. Then it's a simple matter of getting up on the roof with a compass and accurately pointing the antenna per the compass. Where can I purchase an inexpensive compass for doing this? The compasses I've seen on the internet appear to indicate the following: South: 0 degrees West: 90 degrees North: 180 degrees East: 270 degrees I think this is because, when the numbers are written on the bottom of the chamber and all that rotates is the needle, this would be wrong. But when there is a disk that rotates, the labelling on the disk has to be different from the labeling on the bottom of the chamber, or it doesn't work. Anyhow, your numbers might work out on a compass with a disk, but otherwise they are wrong. Is it possible to just look at my approximate location on a map and estimate the correct direction to point the antenna in, based upon the direction of the particular stations the I use the most? Meirman If emailing, please let me know whether or not you are posting the same letter. Change domain to erols.com, if necessary. |
How to you point a roof antenna?
"New Question" wrote in message
... "dicko" wrote in message ... If you go to www.antennaweb.org, it will give you compass bearings for all the stations you can receive. Then it's a simple matter of getting up on the roof with a compass and accurately pointing the antenna per the compass. Where can I purchase an inexpensive compass for doing this? The compasses I've seen on the internet appear to indicate the following: South: 0 degrees West: 90 degrees North: 180 degrees East: 270 degrees This is opposite to what it should be. A heading of North is 360 degrees, South is 180 degrees, East is 090 degrees and West is 270 degrees. Is it possible to just look at my approximate location on a map and estimate the correct direction to point the antenna in, based upon the direction of the particular stations the I use the most? Keep in mind, the directions given on the www.antennaweb.org website are based on *magnetic* north, not true north. It assumes that you will be using a magnetic compass to point your antenna. If you use a map to determine relative direction to the station, it will be based on *true* north, not magnetic north. Depending on where you live, there can be as much as 20 degrees difference between true and magnetic north. If you figure the direction to the station on the map, and then use the compass on the roof to figure relative direction based on what you came up with on the map, you could be as much as 20 degrees off (depending on where in the USA you live). This is because the geographic poles and the magnetic poles are not collocated. Plus, stray magnetic fields in the earth introduce some error as well. It's called magnetic variation. It's easy to compensate for if you know what the variation is in your particular geographic area. For example, if the magnetic variation is roughly 15 degrees east, and you calculate the relative direction to the station on the map as due West (270 degrees), you would need to subtract 15 degrees from your compass reading and point the antenna to 255 degrees magnetic. |
How to you point a roof antenna?
"New Question" wrote in message
... "dicko" wrote in message ... If you go to www.antennaweb.org, it will give you compass bearings for all the stations you can receive. Then it's a simple matter of getting up on the roof with a compass and accurately pointing the antenna per the compass. Where can I purchase an inexpensive compass for doing this? The compasses I've seen on the internet appear to indicate the following: South: 0 degrees West: 90 degrees North: 180 degrees East: 270 degrees This is opposite to what it should be. A heading of North is 360 degrees, South is 180 degrees, East is 090 degrees and West is 270 degrees. Is it possible to just look at my approximate location on a map and estimate the correct direction to point the antenna in, based upon the direction of the particular stations the I use the most? Keep in mind, the directions given on the www.antennaweb.org website are based on *magnetic* north, not true north. It assumes that you will be using a magnetic compass to point your antenna. If you use a map to determine relative direction to the station, it will be based on *true* north, not magnetic north. Depending on where you live, there can be as much as 20 degrees difference between true and magnetic north. If you figure the direction to the station on the map, and then use the compass on the roof to figure relative direction based on what you came up with on the map, you could be as much as 20 degrees off (depending on where in the USA you live). This is because the geographic poles and the magnetic poles are not collocated. Plus, stray magnetic fields in the earth introduce some error as well. It's called magnetic variation. It's easy to compensate for if you know what the variation is in your particular geographic area. For example, if the magnetic variation is roughly 15 degrees east, and you calculate the relative direction to the station on the map as due West (270 degrees), you would need to subtract 15 degrees from your compass reading and point the antenna to 255 degrees magnetic. |
How to you point a roof antenna?
wrote in message ... On Fri, 15 Aug 2003 20:57:09 GMT, "Kevin O'" wrote: I don't know - BUT - wouldn't you install a motor to turn the antenna so it could be adjusted to several signal sources? That would really depend on where you are located. For many people, there is little or no advantage to a rotator. My folks live in New Jersey between New York and Philadelphia. The antenna with rotor worked ok for one TV, but if more than one (split to the same antenna) was in use, there was a problem if all parties didn't agree on the broadcast city! Their fix was to eliminate the rotor and mount two antennas, one pointing towards the NYC towers and the other towards the Philly stations. These were both split and cabled to each TV, where they have been attached with an a/b box. Where useful, the a/b box has a remote. AStork --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.510 / Virus Database: 307 - Release Date: 8/15/03 |
How to you point a roof antenna?
wrote in message ... On Fri, 15 Aug 2003 20:57:09 GMT, "Kevin O'" wrote: I don't know - BUT - wouldn't you install a motor to turn the antenna so it could be adjusted to several signal sources? That would really depend on where you are located. For many people, there is little or no advantage to a rotator. My folks live in New Jersey between New York and Philadelphia. The antenna with rotor worked ok for one TV, but if more than one (split to the same antenna) was in use, there was a problem if all parties didn't agree on the broadcast city! Their fix was to eliminate the rotor and mount two antennas, one pointing towards the NYC towers and the other towards the Philly stations. These were both split and cabled to each TV, where they have been attached with an a/b box. Where useful, the a/b box has a remote. AStork --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.510 / Virus Database: 307 - Release Date: 8/15/03 |
How to you point a roof antenna?
wrote in message ... On Sat, 16 Aug 2003 04:49:45 GMT, "Banister Stairwell" wrote: Keep in mind, the directions given on the www.antennaweb.org website are based on *magnetic* north, not true north. It assumes that you will be using a magnetic compass to point your antenna. What the heck are you talking about? North is North. Why would a compass point different? Actually, the magnetic north pole, so to speak is not exactly up where Santa lives. And, something I just learned by a fast web search, it is moving. Check out this article. http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/space/03/20/north.pole/ So, unless you are on the exact line of longitude that the magnetic pole happens to be on, then you would get a false 'true north' reading. Maury |
How to you point a roof antenna?
wrote in message ... On Sat, 16 Aug 2003 04:49:45 GMT, "Banister Stairwell" wrote: Keep in mind, the directions given on the www.antennaweb.org website are based on *magnetic* north, not true north. It assumes that you will be using a magnetic compass to point your antenna. What the heck are you talking about? North is North. Why would a compass point different? Actually, the magnetic north pole, so to speak is not exactly up where Santa lives. And, something I just learned by a fast web search, it is moving. Check out this article. http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/space/03/20/north.pole/ So, unless you are on the exact line of longitude that the magnetic pole happens to be on, then you would get a false 'true north' reading. Maury |
How to you point a roof antenna?
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How to you point a roof antenna?
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